Why Are People Getting Rid of Their Air Fryers? (And When You Should Upgrade Instead)

Not that long ago, air fryers were the hero of every kitchen bench. Suddenly, there were thousands of social posts, recipe books, and “must-have” lists built around them. But lately, you might have seen a different trend: people saying they’re over their air fryer, or even getting rid of it entirely.

So what’s actually going on? Are air fryers just a passing fad, or are people ditching the wrong type of air fryer for the wrong reasons?

In this guide, we’ll look at the real reasons people are giving up their air fryers, the common frustrations, and when it makes more sense to upgrade your air fryer or accessories instead of throwing it out.

1. Why Some People Are Getting Rid of Their Air Fryers

Most people aren’t abandoning air frying as a cooking method. They’re frustrated with a particular air fryer — usually a cheap, early model that was never designed for daily, long-term use.

Reason #1: The basket is too small for real family cooking

One of the biggest complaints: the air fryer is fine for a handful of nuggets, but useless for a full family meal.

• Older or cheaper models often have a 2–3L basket.
• Food ends up stacked on top of itself, so it steams instead of crisping.
• You’re cooking in multiple batches, which kills the whole “quick and easy” promise.

If you started with a small “trial” air fryer, it’s normal to outgrow it. Upgrading to a 4–5L or larger model fixes that overnight.

Reason #2: The non-stick coating has peeled or worn out

This is another big one. Early and ultra-cheap air fryers often used average-quality coatings that didn’t tolerate metal utensils, abrasive scrubbers or very high heat over time.

Once the basket looks scratched, flaking or patchy, many people decide to bin the whole unit rather than replace it.

Reason #3: It’s noisy, slow, or smells “burnt”

If you bought a bottom-tier unit, you might get:

• Noisy fans that whine or rattle.
• Uneven heating with hot spots and cold spots.
• Burnt-plastic smells if the internals weren’t built to last.

That quickly turns “fun new gadget” into “annoying thing taking up bench space”.

Reason #4: Cleaning is a pain

People also give up on their air fryer because cleaning the basket, tray and cavity feels like too much work, especially when fat splatters and crumbs build up.

But often they’re trying to scrub every inch every time instead of using accessories and liners to make cleaning fast.

Reason #5: They never learned how to use it properly

A lot of people unbox the air fryer, throw some chips in once, get a slightly disappointing result, and then decide:

“It’s overrated.”

In reality, they just needed:

• A simple time & temperature guide
• A few go-to recipes (chips, chicken, sausages, veggies)
• Some basic tips on preheating, spacing and shaking

If you haven’t already, bookmark your own high-performing article: How Long Does It Take To Cook Sausages in an Air Fryer? — it’s one of the best all-round “starter” guides for new users.

 

2. Simple Fixes That Solve Most Air Fryer Frustrations

Before anyone chucks their air fryer in the bin, it’s worth asking: is the air fryer bad, or just badly set up?

Upgrade the accessories, not the whole unit

For a lot of people, the problem isn’t the core machine — it’s the lack of accessories. The right add-ons can turn a “meh” air fryer into a workhorse:

• Silicone liners – stop mess sticking to the basket and protect the coating.
• Wire racks – let you cook on two levels at once.
• Skewer racks or baskets – perfect for wings, skewers, sausages and small items.
• Thermometer – stops guesswork and over/undercooking.

That’s exactly what your Air Fryer Accessories Collection is for – cheaper than a new machine, but a big upgrade in usability.

Use a simple “default” method for everyday food

Most people only need 4–5 core settings they can memorise:

• Chips: 180°C, 15–20 mins, shake twice
• Chicken thighs: 180°C, 18–22 mins
• Sausages: 180°C, 10–15 mins (full guide in your sausage article)
• Frozen snacks: packet temp, reduce time by ~20%

Once they nail those, the air fryer suddenly feels “easy” again.

Line the basket for easier cleaning

Using silicone or paper liners cuts cleaning time dramatically:

• Less baked-on fat
• Less scrubbing of the non-stick surface
• Longer life for the basket

Linking from this section straight to your accessories collection is an easy conversion opportunity.

3. When It Actually Makes Sense to Upgrade Your Air Fryer

There are times when people are right to move on from their old unit. If your air fryer is:

• Under-powered and takes forever to cook
• Too small to cook for your household
• Badly scratched or the coating is peeling
• Noisy, smoky or smells burnt regularly

…then it’s fair to say: you’ve outgrown it.

Best upgrade paths for NZ homes

• For singles/couples: A compact 2.5–4L unit like the Devanti 2.5L or Devanti 4L Air Fryer.
• For families: A 5L+ digital model like the Devanti 5L LCD Touch – ideal for 2–4 people and everyday dinners.

Once people experience a good air fryer with enough power and capacity, they usually go the opposite way — they start using it more than the oven.

4. FAQs – Should You Keep, Upgrade, or Ditch Your Air Fryer?

Q: How do I know if my air fryer is “too small”?

A: If you constantly have to cook in two or three batches for one meal, or food can’t sit in a single layer, you’ve probably outgrown it. A 5L basket is usually the sweet spot for most NZ households.

Q: Is it safe to keep using a scratched basket?

A: Light surface scratches are common, but deep gouges or flaking are a sign it’s time to retire the basket (or the whole unit). Switching to liners early helps prevent this.

Q: My air fryer food is always dry – is that why people give them up?

A: Dry food usually comes from overcooking or cooking at too high a temperature. Drop the temp by 10–20°C and check your food a few minutes earlier. Fatty foods like sausages are a good way to dial in your timing – that’s why our Sausage Timing Guide is so popular.

Q: Are air fryers just a fad?

A: The early hype was definitely “fad-like”, but the underlying method (small convection oven with high air speed) is solid. What you’re seeing now isn’t people rejecting air frying – it’s people moving from cheap impulse buys to well-chosen, long-term appliances.

Final Wrap-Up

If you’ve been tempted to give up on your air fryer, chances are you’ve just had a bad first experience with the wrong size or a poor-quality unit. With the right combination of:

• A powerful, correctly sized air fryer, and
• Affordable accessories that keep it clean and easy to use

…most people end up using their air fryer more than any other appliance in the kitchen.

Instead of ditching it, consider upgrading your setup, checking out proven recipes (like our Air Fryer Sausage Guide), and grabbing a couple of accessories that make life easier.