How consumers are seeking out built-in ovens with air-fryer functionality

Built-in ovens with integrated air fryer programmes and air fry trays are the ideal alternative to offer clients replacing the ‘must have’ countertop air fryer – Sally Smith finds out what’s on offer.

Air-frying functionality  is now available in an increasing number of built-in ovens providing healthy and time-saving cooking options. These ovens combine intense heat with forced ventilation, to generate a continuous flow of hot air around the food, resulting in fast and even cooking, creating food that is crispy on the outside and perfectly cooked on the inside.

"There has been an exponential growth in demand for air fry technology, that until recently has been limited to countertop models. One of the undeniable benefits of bringing air frying into ovens is removing the need for a large countertop appliance, clearing up space on the worktop, as well as enhancing an oven’s capabilities," says Paul Whyte, commercial director at Bertazzoni UK & Eire.

"A great alternative to traditional frying, it delivers excellent results in terms of speed, browning and crispiness. It’s highly versatile, too and is suitable for potatoes, meat, pork, chicken, fish, vegetables, vegan food and many other recipes. The air fry programme is available on all our high resolution TFT controlled models," adds Whyte.

Consumers are looking for ways to cook more healthily, which has driven the popularity of stand-alone air fryers, however this trend is now shifting towards built-in ovens offering integrated solutions.

Borislava Yotsova-Fellows, Fisher & Paykel design consultant, has seen a sharp rise in demand for air-fryer functionality. "More homeowners are expecting air frying capability to be built into their main cooking appliance. The air-fryer function available in today’s ovens delivers crisp, golden results without the need for deep frying or excess oil. It works by combining intense fan-forced heat with high-speed air circulation, which creates a dry heat environment ideal for crisping the outside of food while keeping the inside tender," she says.

Both Hoover and Haier have integrated air-fryer functionality directly into their ovens. "Demand has surged alongside the growth of conventional air fryers in the UK. We have responded by embedding air-fryer functions into our ovens, reflecting consumer desire for health-conscious, time-saving cooking solutions without any loss in taste," explains Dan Huckvale, product manager at Haier UK and Ireland.

"Customers simply place food in the dedicated air-fry tray, brush lightly with oil, and let the oven do the rest. Both smart ranges offer ‘No Preheat Air Fry’, combining multiple oven heating elements to achieve fast, crispy results without needing a separate appliance taking up valuable countertop space," adds Huckvale.

"While the lower cost of cooking with air  fryer has sparked demand, the health benefits of this cooking method have also driven an increase in investment in built-in ovens offering an integrated AirFry programme to customers, without the need to add an extra appliance to the kitchen," says John McLauchlan, head of cooking, BSH UK & Ireland.

Consumers are relying on air fryers as a mainstream cooking technique, reinforced by social media and numerous recipe platforms, ensuring this is a lasting trend.

"A major benefit of an integrated oven with an air-fry function over a countertop air fryer are the potential energy savings, particularly for someone who uses a dual air fryer as an oven has a larger capacity and can accommodate a greater quantity of food," explains Tom Hopper, kitchens manager at Miele GB.

Ovens with an air-fryer functionality work on the same principle as a countertop air fryer, by simply setting a time, temperature and programme.

"Our Air Fry function uses fan and top heat to replicate a standard counter-top air fryer. A perforated tray is also used to facilitate optimal air circulation throughout the programme, promoting the perfect crispy results that air fryers are recognised for. The oven will come to temperature in a similar time to an air fryer, so it is not necessary to pre-heat," says Hopper.

A specialised air-fry tray either used with a dedicated ‘Air Fry’ programme or simply with the ovens hot-air ventilation system will produce the same results as countertop air fryers.