Air Frying Oven Vs. Countertop Air Fryer: Which Is Better?

Air frying has become one of the most popular cooking trends in recent years. These handy kitchen appliances use rapid air circulation to cook foods to crispy, fried perfection using little to no oil. As air frying technology advances, you now have two options for how to get your crispy fix. Air fryer functions are being built into full-size oven ranges. But traditional standalone countertop air fryers also remain a tried and true choice for many home cooks.

If you’re debating between an integrated air fryer range or a countertop air fryer, this guide will walk you through the key differences and help you determine which is best for your cooking needs. We’ll explore capacity, price, ease of use, and other important factors so you can decide which air fryer style is the winner for your household!

What is Air Frying?

Before we dive into comparing air fryer ranges versus countertop models, let’s make sure we all understand what exactly air frying is.

Air fryers use super-heated air and rapid airflow to crispy and cook foods. The convection technology circulates hot air around food quickly, cooking it thoroughly on all sides. Foods come out crispy on the outside yet tender on the inside.

So how is this different from deep frying or baking? With deep frying, food is submerged in copious amounts of hot oil. The oil helps transfer heat quickly while also adding a lot of extra calories. Air fryers use little to no oil to produce similar results but in a healthier way compared to other cooking options.

And unlike traditional baking which relies on dry oven heat, air fryers rapidly circulate hot air for faster, crispier outcomes. The technology allows you to enjoy all your traditional deep fried favorites like french fries, chicken wings, and crispy veggies with less guilt!

Breaking Down Air Fryer Ovens

Now that we’ve covered the basics of what the air frying process entails, let’s look specifically at air fryer ranges.

Air fryer ranges are ovens that have a built-in air fryer feature. Rather than existing as a separate countertop appliance, the air fryer is integrated into the full-size oven itself.

Here are some key benefits and considerations around air fryer ranges:

Benefits of Air Fryer Ranges

• Saves counter space: Since it’s built-in, an air fryer range doesn’t take up your precious countertop real estate as a standalone unit would.
• Large capacity: The roomy interior of an oven range means you can cook bigger batches of air-fried foods, like enough for the whole family.
• Doesn’t need preheating: Air fryer ranges heat up rapidly, allowing you to cook right away without waiting.
• Offers versatility: Air fryer ranges allow you to not only air fry, but also bake, broil, roast, and more using the other oven modes.

Other Air Fryer Range Considerations

• Higher price point: Air fryer ranges are more expensive than buying a separate countertop air fryer. They’re built into a full-size oven, so reflect that higher price.
• May need special accessories: Some air fryer ranges require you to purchase specific air flow racks or trays to work properly.
• Newer technology: Air fryer ranges are a relatively new concept, so there is less customer feedback and reviews available on reliability.

Overall, the biggest perk of an air fryer range is the ability to air fry larger batches without needing the counter space of a separate appliance. The trade-off is the increased cost.

Understanding Countertop Air Fryers

On the other hand, countertop air fryers have also grown tremendously in popularity over the past 5 years. Let’s look at what makes standalone air fryers advantageous:

Benefits of Countertop Air Fryers

• Compact size: Countertop air fryers are small and convenient. They take up minimal space and can easily be stored away.
• Budget-friendly price: Quality countertop air fryers are available for under $100, sometimes much less, making them very affordable.
• Great for smaller batches: The smaller basket is ideal for making individual portions or cooking for 1-2 people.
• Single-use functionality: For those who only want to air fry, a countertop model focuses solely on that without any other settings.

Other Countertop Air Fryer Considerations

• Limited capacity: The petite basket means you can’t cook large batches of food at once.
• Only air fry: Countertop air fryers don’t offer extra cooking modes like an air fryer range would.
• Takes up counter space: You lose some usable countertop spots by keeping an air fryer out.

Countertop air fryers shine for their compact shape, low cost, and streamlined functionality. Just keep portion sizes in mind.

Air Fryer Ranges vs Countertop Air Fryers

Now that we’ve highlighted the distinct benefits of both air fryer ranges and countertop air fryers, let’s directly compare some key factors between the two:

Size and Capacity

This is one of the starkest differences. Air fryer ranges have a much larger capacity, often able to hold several pounds of fries or a couple of whole chickens. Countertop air fryers max out at around 3-5 quarts typically. Good for 1-2 servings.

Price

You’ll spend $200 at minimum for a basic air fryer range, and $400+ for higher-end models with extra features. Nice countertop air fryers are readily available for under $100.

Ease of Use

Air fryer ranges operate just like a typical oven with the addition of an air fry mode. Very user-friendly. Smaller countertop air fryers have more customized controls you’ll need to learn and adjust.

Effectiveness

Both options can achieve deliciously crispy air-fried results with minimal oil when used properly. High-end models of both tend to perform the best. It’s about proper use, not the type.

As you can see, there are compelling reasons on both sides of the aisle. You’ll want to carefully consider if capacity, price, ease of use, or other factors are most important for your own needs.

Questions to Ask Yourself When Choosing

Here are some key questions to ask when deciding between an air fryer range or a countertop air fryer:

• How much counter space do you have to spare?
• What quantity of food do you typically cook at once?
• Is blasting through large batches fast a priority?
• Is keeping costs down most important?
• Are you only wanting to air fry, or would you use other cooking modes?
• Do you mind needing to learn specialized controls and settings?
• Do you prefer multifunctional appliances or single-use tools?

Think carefully about your kitchen, cooking habits, and priorities. Be honest with yourself. Then use those reflections to determine if an integrated air fryer range or a standalone countertop model makes the most sense for your lifestyle.

Tips for Using Each Type of Air Fryer

Whichever style of air fryer you choose, here are some tips to use them most effectively:

Air Fryer Ranges

• Preheating isn’t necessary, but it can help ensure even cooking.
• Use any special trays or racks designed specifically for airflow.
• Leave space between food items for the best texture.
• Adjust cook times if making multiple trays. The top rack may cook faster.
• Add a couple of minutes to cook time when air frying frozen foods.

Countertop Air Fryers

• Rotate the basket midway through cooking for even crispness.
• Fit as much food in the basket as possible without overcrowding.
• Spritz a light coat of oil on foods to get an ideal crisp exterior.
• Shake the basket occasionally to redistribute food.
• Add about 3-5 minutes when air-frying frozen items.

Follow any model-specific recommendations also.

The Verdict: Which Air Fryer is Better For You?

After comparing the pros, cons, features, and considerations around air fryer ranges versus countertop air fryers, which one reigns supreme to air fry foods?

The honest truth? It depends on your needs and preferences!

Here are some simple guidelines:

• For large families cooking big batches regularly, an air fryer range is likely the better choice.
• If you’re catering to 1-2 people, have minimal counter space, or are on a tight budget, a countertop air fryer makes more sense.
• Those who enjoy multifunctional appliances will appreciate everything an air fryer range can do.
• If you mostly want to air fry for occasional use, a countertop air fryer is probably all you need.

Take stock of your cooking habits, kitchen limitations, cooking area, and budget considerations using the info provided above. Weigh what factors matter most to your lifestyle. Then choose the type of air fryer that lines up best.

Whichever you select, both air fryer styles allow you to cook up delicious fried foods like crispy wings, fries, veggies, and more with minimal oil compared to deep frying. So you really can’t go wrong.  If you encounter any issues or need replacement parts for various brands of other appliances, you can go to AppliancePartsPros.com to find what you need. Follow us on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel for more guides and troubleshooting tips.