Air fryers have exploded in popularity in recent years as a healthier alternative to deep frying. These handy kitchen appliances allow you to enjoy crispy, delicious fried foods with little to no oil. One of the top brands leading the air fryer revolution is Gourmia. Founded in 2015, this innovative company has quickly made a name for itself with its high-quality, multi-functional, and easy-to-use air fryers and other kitchen appliances.
As someone who loves fried foods but wants to make healthier choices, I was eager to try out a Gourmia air fryer for myself. I spent several weeks testing out Gourmia‘s most popular air fryer models and diving deep into customer reviews to bring you this comprehensive guide. By the end, you‘ll have all the information you need to decide if a Gourmia air fryer deserves a spot in your kitchen. Let‘s get started!
Why Choose Gourmia? Brand Overview and Philosophy
Before we jump into reviewing specific air fryer models, let‘s take a step back and look at Gourmia as a company. Gourmia was founded in Brooklyn, New York with the mission of creating innovative kitchen appliances that make it easy for home cooks to make restaurant-quality meals.
What sets Gourmia apart is its focus on cutting-edge technology, sleek design, and multi-functionality. Many of Gourmia‘s appliances, including its air fryers, feature digital displays, pre-programmed settings, and precise temperature controls to take the guesswork out of cooking. The company also puts an emphasis on versatility, with products that can often take the place of several appliances.
Another big part of Gourmia‘s philosophy is making healthy cooking accessible to everyone. Its air fryers are designed to produce crispy, delicious results with little to no oil, allowing health-conscious consumers to enjoy their favorite fried foods guilt-free. Gourmia also offers an extensive collection of recipes, how-to videos, and guides to help home cooks make the most of their appliances.
Reviewing Gourmia‘s Top Air Fryer Models
Now that we‘ve covered a bit about Gourmia as a brand, let‘s dive into the specifics of its most popular air fryer models. I tested each of these out myself, frying up everything from French fries and chicken wings to roasted veggies and baked goods.
Gourmia GAF698 Digital Air Fryer
First up is Gourmia‘s flagship model, the GAF698 Digital Air Fryer. This 6-quart air fryer features 12 different pre-programmed cooking functions, from air fry and bake to grill and dehydrate. The display is easy to read and navigate, and I love that it prompts you on when to add food, shake the basket, and more.
Performance-wise, the GAF698 consistently produced crispy, evenly-cooked results in my tests. French fries came out golden and crunchy, with a fluffy interior. Chicken wings got nice and crisp on the outside while staying juicy on the inside. I was also impressed with how quickly this air fryer heated up and cooked food compared to my oven.
Cleanup was a breeze thanks to the GAF698‘s non-stick, dishwasher-safe fry basket and crisper tray. This model also comes with a recipe book filled with ideas to put your new air fryer to good use. At $150, it‘s one of the pricier options out there, but the performance and features justify the cost in my opinion.
Gourmia 5-Quart Digital Air Fryer
If the 6-quart GAF698 is a bit too large for your needs, Gourmia also makes a 5-quart digital air fryer that offers many of the same great features in a more compact size. Like its big brother, this model boasts precision temperature control, 8 preset cooking functions, and an easy-to-use digital display.
I found that the 5-quart capacity was more than sufficient for cooking for 2-4 people. A pound of fries or a dozen chicken wings fit comfortably in the basket with room for the air to circulate. And despite the smaller size, I saw no drop-off in performance. Foods came out just as crispy and delicious as with the larger model.
At around $90, this 5-quart digital air fryer offers great value for the features and cooking performance. If you‘re tight on counter space or typically cook for a smaller crew, it‘s an excellent option.
Gourmia 7-Quart Digital Air Fryer Oven
On the other end of the size spectrum, Gourmia offers a spacious 7-quart model in its Digital Air Fryer Oven. As the name suggests, this appliance is more than just an air fryer, with the ability to bake, broil, toast, and even rotisserie.
The larger capacity makes this model great for families or entertaining. I was able to fit a 4-pound chicken in the basket to rotisserie, and it came out juicy and evenly-browned. The included baking trays and racks also allow you to cook multiple foods at once or dehydrate a large batch of fruits or veggies.
Of course, that extra size and functionality comes at a cost. At around $150, Gourmia‘s Digital Air Fryer Oven is a bigger investment. It also takes up a decent chunk of counter space. But if you‘re looking for an all-in-one appliance with a larger capacity, this model is worth considering.
Customer Reviews and Feedback
Of course, you don‘t have to just take my word for it when it comes to Gourmia air fryers. I scoured the internet for customer reviews and feedback to see what other home cooks had to say. Overall, Gourmia air fryers have very positive ratings, with the most popular models averaging between 4.5 and 4.8 stars out of 5 on major retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy.
Many reviewers praised Gourmia air fryers for how easy they are to use, even for beginners. They appreciated the precise digital controls, pre-programmed settings, and helpful prompts. Customers were also overwhelmingly happy with the cooking performance, noting how quickly and evenly Gourmia air fryers crisped up food with little to no oil.
The most common negative feedback was around durability issues, with a small minority of reviewers experiencing problems with the non-stick coating flaking or peeling after several months. A few also felt the fan was excessively noisy. However, these complaints were far outweighed by positive reviews. And Gourmia offers a 1-year limited warranty on its air fryers for added peace of mind.
Are Gourmia Air Fryers Worth It?
So, are Gourmia air fryers worth the investment? Based on my personal experience testing multiple models and the overwhelmingly positive customer feedback, I say absolutely. While they may be pricier than some basic air fryer models, Gourmia‘s air fryers offer great performance, ease of use, and handy features that set them apart.
I was consistently impressed with the crispy, even cooking results and how quickly Gourmia‘s air fryers heated up and cooked food. The precise temperature controls and pre-programmed settings took all the guesswork out of air frying and made it easy to achieve great results, even as a beginner. And the fact that many of Gourmia‘s air fryers are multi-functional and versatile enough to replace other kitchen appliances makes them an even better value.
If you‘re in the market for an air fryer and are willing to invest a bit more for added features and functionality, Gourmia is an excellent brand to consider. Their 6-quart digital air fryer is my top pick for most home cooks thanks to its large capacity, pre-programmed settings, and consistent performance. But the smaller 5-quart model is a great option if you‘re tight on space or cooking for 1-2 people. And if you want an all-in-one appliance with a built-in rotisserie, the 7-quart digital air fryer oven is worth a look.
Where to Buy Gourmia Air Fryers
You can purchase Gourmia air fryers directly from the company‘s website, Gourmia.com, as well as from major retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Costco, and more. Gourmia products can also often be found at department stores like Macy‘s, Kohl‘s and Bed Bath & Beyond.
Prices vary by model and retailer, but generally range from around $60 for a basic analog model up to $150 or more for a larger digital air fryer oven. Gourmia does occasionally offer promotions and discounts, especially around major shopping holidays like Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day, so it‘s worth keeping an eye out for deals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Before we wrap up this comprehensive guide, let‘s address some of the most common questions about Gourmia air fryers:
What can you cook in a Gourmia air fryer?
Pretty much anything you‘d traditionally deep fry or bake, and then some! In addition to classics like French fries, onion rings, chicken wings and nuggets, you can also use a Gourmia air fryer to make everything from crispy veggies and fish to baked goods, dehydrated snacks and more. Gourmia includes recipe books with many of its air fryers for inspiration.
How does an air fryer work?
Air fryers like Gourmia‘s use rapid hot air circulation to cook food, much like a convection oven. A heating element and powerful fan located above the food basket blow hot air down and around the food. This quickly and evenly crisps up the exterior of foods while keeping the inside moist and tender, mimicking the taste and texture of deep fried foods with little to no oil.
How much oil do you need to use in a Gourmia air fryer?
One of the biggest draws of air fryers is that they require little to no oil to achieve crispy results. Most recipes call for just a light coating of oil – about 1-2 teaspoons for a full basket – or a quick spritz of cooking spray. For foods that release a lot of fat like bacon or sausage, you may not need to add any oil at all.
Are Gourmia air fryers easy to clean?
Yes! All the Gourmia air fryers I tested had non-stick, dishwasher-safe fry baskets and crisper trays for easy cleanup. You can also hand wash with warm soapy water if needed. The exterior wipes clean easily. Many models also include an indicator to remind you when it‘s time to clean the appliance, and some even have a built-in cleaning preset.
The Bottom Line
After extensive testing and research, I can confidently say that Gourmia air fryers live up to the hype. With their innovative designs, precise controls, and consistent performance, Gourmia‘s air fryers make it easy for home cooks of all skill levels to enjoy healthier fried foods. While they may be a bigger investment than some basic air fryer models, Gourmia‘s offerings provide great value thanks to their durability, versatility and useful features.
Whether you opt for the best-selling 6-quart model, the compact 5-quart size, or the multi-functional 7-quart air fryer oven, you can count on Gourmia to deliver crispy, delicious results with ease. Factor in thousands of positive customer reviews and a 1-year warranty for peace of mind, and it‘s clear that Gourmia is one of the best air fryer brands on the market.
If you love fried foods but want a healthier way to enjoy them at home, a Gourmia air fryer is absolutely worth considering. With options for every budget, space, and household size, there‘s sure to be a Gourmia air fryer that‘s perfect for you.
