Should I buy an air fryer?

Yes—buy an air fryer if you regularly cook for 1–4 people and want faster, crispier everyday food with less oil. It’s especially worth it for frozen foods, leftovers, vegetables, potatoes, chicken, tofu, and quick weeknight meals.

Skip it if you already use a convection toaster oven, have very limited counter/storage space, mostly cook large family meals, or dislike single-purpose appliances. An air fryer can take up about as much space as a toaster oven, so the storage question matters.

My practical rule: if you’d use it at least 2–3 times a week, it’s probably worth buying. If you only want it for occasional fries or nuggets, you may not need one.