Air fryer buyers have been warned against one “misleading” branding tactic used for some devices by Which? experts. With the rise of the air fryer, many are ditching their oil and ovens for a healthier, quicker option.
However, some users may be losing out on maximising their usage. Most models advertise their capacity in litres, but Which? says this can “sometimes be misleading” as you can’t always use all the internal space, reports the Mirror.
Air fryers, which also use less electricity than traditional ovens due to their smaller size, have soared in popularity over the last year. The gadgets cook food by circulating hot air – so because they use less oil, they’re generally seen as healthier than deep-frying.
READ MORE: Control freak who left his partner living in fear he would kill her
READ MORE: Lancashire amber snow alert issued as Met Office upgrades weekend weather warning
However, people may be being sold somewhat short, it is being warned. Which? claims the true capacity is usually between 60% and 80% of what is claimed by some brands. Its experts measured the capacity of food in grams. In a separate round-up of the best air fryers, Which? said the smallest gadget it has tested can hold up to 400g of food, which is “about two portions of chips”.
Which? continued: “If you want to cook for more than four people – or you just have a particularly hungry household – air fryers such as the Tefal Actifry 2 in 1 can fit almost twice as much (1.7kg). Dual air fryers are also an option if you’re cooking for more people. They can fit between 0.6kg and 2.3kg of food.”
Harry Rose, Editor of Which? magazine, said: “Every year, Which?’s rigorous and independent tests uncover secrets and bust myths to help people make the right buying decision and get value for money. By keeping our testing insights in mind, consumers can cut through dubious marketing claims and spend their hard-earned cash on items that will serve them well in the long run.”
It comes after new research from Which? found some air fryers are spying on unsuspecting users. The consumer champion found several appliances sold in the UK were asking permission to listen in on users’ conversations. Which? privacy scores taken from analysing six categories – consent, transparency, data security, data minimisation, trackers, and data deletion – found that three products tested knew their customers’ precise location and wanted permission to record audio on the user’s phone.
Research has found smart speakers, doorbell cameras, TVs and even washing machines are potentially spying on families too, with Which? concerned that more data was being gathered than was needed for product function. Some of the information gathered was even being passed on to social media firms.