Comparison test: basket style vs. oven style air fryers and what I found out

I got a basket style air fryer two years ago and thought it was the greatest thing. Then I bought an oven style one on sale last month because I wanted to cook bigger batches. After running both side by side for three weeks I can tell you the basket style is way better for crispy results. The oven style left my chicken wings soggy on one side no matter how much I rotated the tray. The basket model gave me even browning in 12 minutes flat while the oven needed 18 minutes and still missed spots. I'm honestly thinking of just giving the oven style to my sister. Has anyone else done this comparison and found the same thing?

3 comments

3 Comments

drew9651mo ago

Basket style is basically the one ring to rule them all for wings. Oven style seems designed for people who enjoy eating slightly warm disappointment. Your sister's about to get a mildly used lesson in appliance regret.

uma6851mo ago

Hold up, gotta correct one thing. Oven style actually gets pretty crispy if you give them enough time and don't crowd the tray. I used to think the same thing until I tried tossing them in a little baking powder first. That gets them way closer to the real deal than people give it credit for. Basket style is still faster and easier sure, but calling oven wings "slightly warm disappointment" is a little harsh on the method itself. It's more about technique than the tool I think.

eva90824d ago

That whole "oven style is for sad people" thing always makes me think of my cousin who tried to make wings in a toaster oven once... absolute disaster zone. He thought he could just throw them in there with no prep and they'd come out like Buffalo Wild Wings or something. The smoke alarm went off and his cat hid under the couch for like two hours. But yeah, I get what you're saying about technique. I've done the baking powder trick before and it actually does work pretty well, though I always end up with little white spots on the wings if I don't mix it right. Funny how different methods work for different people though... my mom swears by broiling them at the end and that's her secret weapon.