Need to know
- Aldi is selling a 9L dual air fryer as part of its Special Buys on Saturday 10 August
- Our experts are impressed with the features for the price, and although we weren't able to test performance for this model, other Aldi air fryers have performed quite well in our testing
- Become a CHOICE member to access our detailed reviews of 37 air fryers to help you choose the best air fryer for your needs
The middle aisle at Aldi is a place of mystery and magic. Wander down it on any given day and who knows what you'll find – a microscope, a trumpet, a log splitter? It's anyone's guess.
But on Saturday 10 August, there won't be any wandering in the Special Buys section.
In fact, you might need to wear that full-face motorcycle helmet you bought as a previous Special Buy, because things could get rough.
You might need to wear that full-face motorcycle helmet you bought as a previous Special Buy, because things could get rough
Brace yourselves, shoppers: Aldi is selling a double-drawer air fryer for just $119.
People already go bananas for air fryers, and they go bananas for Aldi. But the two together? We could be looking at Beatlemania, supermarket-style.
Is this air fryer worth braving the melee? It depends on how much you love air fryers, and whether you're okay with grocery shopping as a contact sport.
On this page:
- Is the Aldi twin air fryer worth buying?
- The must-have feature this Aldi air fryer has that its Kmart counterpart doesn't
- Does Aldi make good air fryers?
- Downsides of the Aldi air fryers we've tested
- Things to consider before buying
This 9L dual basket air fryer is a Special Buy at Aldi for $119.
Is the Aldi twin air fryer worth buying?
Full disclosure: we can provide expert insights that can help you make up your mind, but we haven't tested this exact model.
We wish we could've got our hands on one in advance of the Special Buys sale to tell you whether it's a good buy or not, but unfortunately we don't have those kinds of connections!
(And even if we did, we wouldn't use them. Except in the rarest of cases when we borrow an item, we buy the products we test in the same way as everyday consumers to make sure we're getting exactly the same products and services that you do.)
Then there's the fact that Aldi Special Buys sell out so quickly that we usually can't even get hold of them to test.
But the good news is that CHOICE home economist Fiona Mair knows everything there is to know about air fryers, and she's tested two other Aldi Ambiano air fryers.
We asked her what you should consider if you're thinking of snapping up this middle-aisle bargain.
The must-have feature this Aldi air fryer has that its Kmart counterpart doesn't
Usually, the more features an air fryer has, the more expensive it'll be.
"All but one of the twin-drawer air fryers in our air fryer review cost from $300 to $500," says Fiona.
"The only exception is the Kmart Anko 9L twin air fryer, which costs $119. As you'd expect for an appliance this cheap, it doesn't have all the bells and whistles."
Some features you can live without, but there's one that's a must-have on a twin air fryer: the sync function.
Why you'll want a sync function
The 'smart finish' function on the Aldi air fryer ensures both baskets finish cooking at the same time.
Double-basket air fryers are great because you can cook two different types of food, at different temperatures, and for different lengths of time.
But unless you're happy eating dinner in two sittings, you really want both baskets to finish cooking simultaneously.
This is what the sync function is for.
Once you've selected a cooking function for each basket, you just need to press the sync button and it takes care of all the calculations for you, ensuring that the two baskets finish cooking together.
Unfortunately the cheap Kmart twin air fryer doesn't have this option... but the Aldi Special Buy air fryer does.
Unless you're happy eating dinner in two sittings, you want both baskets to finish cooking simultaneously
"It's not really surprising that the Kmart air fryer we tested lacks the sync feature, considering how cheap it is," says Fiona.
"But the Aldi air fryer is the same price, and it has a 'Smart Finish' sync feature, so it's pretty good value for money in that regard."
'Match Cook' feature also handy
It also has a 'Match Cook' feature which, as the name suggests, allows you to 'match' the temperature and cooking time across the two baskets so you can cook, say, a double batch of fries, and have both batches ready at the same time.
"The Kmart twin air fryer doesn't have this feature either – you need to manually enter cooking functions for each zone individually, even when using the same temperature and cooking time," says Fiona.
Does Aldi make good air fryers?
While we haven't tested this twin-drawer fryer, we have tested two other Aldi Ambiano air fryers in previous years – and they're actually pretty decent air fryers, especially for the price.
The Aldi Ambiano 7L Digital Steam Air Fryer ($129).
The Aldi Ambiano 7L Digital Steam Air Fryer ($129) was great at cooking roast pork, marinated chicken wings and frozen straight-cut chips
Unfortunately, it delivered disappointing results when cooking crumbed chicken.
(It's not one for parmi lovers, apparently!)
The Aldi Ambiano Digital Air Fryer 3L ($40).
The smaller Aldi Ambiano Digital Air Fryer 3L ($40), however, was excellent at cooking crumbed chicken.
It also nailed the marinated chicken wings and roast pork.
But it was less impressive when cooking frozen straight-cut chips.
Downsides of the Aldi air fryers we've tested
A couple of drawbacks we noted about each of these air fryers we've previously tested is that they come with limited instructions and no recipe manuals (which are often supplied with other models).
So they may require a bit of trial and error when you start using them.
And as expected from a cheaper model, they're not likely to have the same features or accessories as some of the more expensive models.
Aldi has a pretty good track record with the air fryers we've tested so far in our kitchen lab
We can't tell you definitively whether you should buy one or not, but we can tell you that Aldi has a pretty good track record with the air fryers we've tested so far in our kitchen lab.
If you're not quite convinced, check our reviews to find the best air fryer for your needs and budget.
Things to consider before buying
Size and capacity
Make sure you have enough bench space. Twin air fryers can be very large, and you'll need to leave enough space around it for air flow.
Controls
Digital touch controls (such as those on the Aldi air fryer) may not be responsive if there's grease or moisture on the panel.
Warranty
The Aldi air fryer has a 12-month warranty, which is fairly common, although some brands and models such as certain Philips and Ninja air fryers come with a two-year warranty.
Customer service and replacement parts
When you're buying from a dedicated appliance retailer, you're more likely to be able to access spare parts if anything needs replacing on your air fryer – but you might not have as much luck with Aldi.
And if things go wrong and you need to deal with customer service, you might have better luck with an established brand rather than a discount retailer.
Delivery and availability
Aldi doesn't do home delivery, so you'll have to go in-store in person. And Special Buys often sell out quickly, so if there's none in stock by the time you get there, that's it.
Plus you'll have to carry the air fryer to your trolley yourself and then transfer it into your car and out again when you get home – so if you have mobility challenges, limited dexterity or anything that makes carrying a large box home difficult, you might be better off looking for an air fryer you can buy online and have delivered.
Do your research
The cheap price of Aldi's twin air fryer is very tempting, but before you hit that middle aisle, make sure you know exactly what you're looking for in an air fryer.
CHOICE has reviewed 37 air fryers, including seven twin models. Our detailed air fryer reviews will help you find the best model for your needs.
Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.
