Introduction

The air fryer is a relatively new kitchen appliance that has gained popularity in recent years for its ability to cook food quickly and efficiently with little to no oil. While the concept of cooking food with hot air has been around for over a century, the modern air fryer was first introduced in 2006 by Groupe SEB. Since then, air fryers have become increasingly popular and are now a staple in many kitchens.

Air Fryer Origins and Early Development

The history of the air fryer can be traced back to the early 20th century when an electric air-pressure cooker was invented in 1904 (as documented in this article in Technical World Magazine). However, this invention did not gain much traction at the time and the concept of air frying went on the back burner for many years.

Image of an early 1900s Air Pressure cooker from Technical World Magazine

In the 1940s, William L. Maxson invented the Whirlwind Oven, which used forced air technology to cook food quickly. This invention was primarily intended for reheating frozen food and never made it to the market.

The Modern Air Fryer

The modern air fryer as we know it today emerged in 2006 when Groupe SED introduced the Actifry brand of convection ovens into the French market.

Image of the Groupe SED Actifry

Air fryers didn’t gain momentum until 2010 when Philips introduced Airfryer, which featured the distinctive egg shape and was invented by Fred van der Weij. Van der Weij’s inspiration came from a fat-free fryer he had purchased from a television advertisement, which didn’t produce satisfactory results. He worked on developing a user-friendly air fryer that could fry food without unhealthy oils, leading to the successful launch of the Philips Airfryer.

Image of the Philips Airfryer

Mass Market Adoption

Since 2010, the air fryer has undergone significant evolution and has become increasingly popular and by 2016, air fryers had become a staple kitchen appliance. Today, there are numerous air fryer brands and models available in the market, offering a variety of features and functions. 

For a rundown of the best air fryers in Australia for 2024 checkout our roundup review.