I've been thinking for like half a year now whether I should get an air fryer. My mom has a Philips and is always raving about it, but somehow I think all the models are pretty much equally expensive. Does anyone have real experience with this and can tell me if it actually helps save on oil?
If you really fry stuff regularly, the air fryer definitely saves you oil and cleaning is a million times easier than with a traditional deep fryer 🙌 For me in everyday life it pays for itself because I'm constantly making crispy stuff and the hot air is just more practical than doing a whole oil change every couple weeks. Sure, buying it isn't cheap, but if your mom would be happy with it and you'd use it at least 2-3 times a week, I'd go for it - just don't get the most expensive model, a cheaper brand works just fine most of the time.
I've been using mine daily for almost two years now and it's totally paid off for me. The biggest advantage honestly isn't even saving oil (though that's obviously nice), but that I can get food on the table way faster. When I come back from the gym and want to eat something quick, fries or chicken pieces are done in 12-15 minutes. With a regular deep fryer that takes longer and the prep is more annoying.
About the cost: yeah, 80-150€ isn't nothing, but if you really fry stuff regularly, it pays for itself. At my place with two kids we probably go through 5-10L of oil a month, so that adds up. The trick that a lot of people miss: don't cram too much in at once! If you pack the basket too tight, it'll fry unevenly. Better to do two batches, especially with bigger stuff.
But let's be real, if you only fry like 1-2 times a month, you don't really need this. Then it's actually a waste of money. Think about how often you'd actually do it. And about brands: I got a cheaper Cosori one and not the Philips like your mom has, but it works just as well. The big brands don't have as much difference as people think.
My experience is pretty mixed, because it really depends on how often you'd actually use the thing - if you only make fries like every two weeks, the money's not really worth it, but with regular use (a few times a week) you actually save quite a bit on oil and cleaning is honestly way better than with a regular deep fryer. You should probably check out the budget models, they do just as well as your mom's Philips and are way cheaper.
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