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The quick comparison
| Air fryer | OTG | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Small, strong fan oven | Oven, toaster and grill in one box |
| How it heats | Fast moving hot air | Heating rods, often with less air movement |
| Best at | Crisp snacks, reheating | Baking, grilling, toasting |
| Space for food | One basket or a few racks | Trays, with more flat room |
| Heating up | Usually quick | Usually slower |
| Cake or pizza | Small only | Yes, within the tray size |
| Counter space | Less | More |
| Cleaning | Basket or tray | Trays, plus the inside of the oven |
The line between the two is not fixed. Some products are sold as an air fryer oven, which puts a strong fan into an OTG style box. So check how a listing describes the machine, not only the name.
How an air fryer works
An air fryer moves very hot air around food in a small space. This crisps the outside quickly, which is why it suits coated, dry foods. Food needs room, so if you pile it up, the top crisps and the bottom stays soft.
It works well for paneer and chicken tikka, cutlets, aloo tikki, frozen samosas and fries. It is also good for reheating a samosa or pakora, because the snack comes out crisper than from a microwave. It does not suit wet batters, or puris and bhaturas, which need hot oil to puff up.
Food comes out crisp, but not the same as deep frying.
How an OTG works
OTG stands for oven, toaster, griller. Heating rods above and below the food warm the whole box. You can switch them on separately on many models, so you can bake from below or grill from above.
This suits food that needs steady heat. Think of cakes, bread, biscuits, pizza and baked pasta. A tray also lets you cook a flat layer of tikkas or toast several slices at one time. The trade-off is time, since the whole box has to heat up first.
What your kitchen needs
| Your usual cooking | Start by looking at |
|---|---|
| Tea time snacks, frozen food | Air fryer |
| Reheating snacks and leftovers | Air fryer |
| Cakes and cookies | OTG |
| Pizza and toast for the family | OTG |
| Flat layers of tikka for guests | OTG or air fryer oven |
| Small counter, one or two people | Air fryer |
| Mostly gravies and rotis | Possibly neither |
As a rough guide, one to three people can look at about 4 litres in an air fryer, and bigger families at 6 litres or more. If most of your cooking is gravy and roti, either machine may sit in a cupboard.
Running cost
The wattage on the label is the most the machine can draw. It usually switches its heater on and off once it reaches the set temperature, so real use is often lower.
This table assumes full power and uses an example rate of ₹8 per unit. Your rate depends on your state and how much you use, so check your bill.
| Power | Time on | Units | Cost at ₹8 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1500 watts | 20 minutes | 0.5 | ₹4 |
| 1800 watts | 20 minutes | 0.6 | ₹4.80 |
| 1800 watts | 40 minutes | 1.2 | ₹9.60 |
The last row shows why time matters as much as watts. A machine that needs longer heating up can use more units for the same snack. For one small batch, that often favours the smaller space. For a big tray, it may not.
Many home inverters cannot run 1500 watts or more, so plan for power cuts with either machine.
Which should you choose?
Choose an air fryer if you cook snacks most days, you cook small batches, you want quick results, and you do not want to heat a big box for one plate of fries.
Choose an OTG if you bake, you want to make pizza or toast for the family, you need flat trays for larger amounts, and you have enough counter space.
Choose an air fryer oven if you want some of both and you have the space. Check how well the listing explains both jobs, because one box may not match a dedicated machine at each.
Options to look at on Amazon
We have not tested these. They are in no particular order, and the details come from the listing titles. Check the current price, wattage, warranty and reviews on Amazon.
| Product | Type | Listed detail |
|---|---|---|
| Philips NA120/00 | Air fryer | 4.2 litres |
| SOLARA air fryer oven | Air fryer oven, OTG | 12 litres, 1800 watts |
Before you buy
Measure your counter, and leave clear space around the machine, because it gives out hot air. Plug it straight into a wall socket that suits the wattage, not an extension board. If you plan to bake, measure the tins you already own against the tray size on the listing. Check whether the trays are easy to wash, and ask if a new basket or tray is available and where the nearest service centre is. Then write down three things your family will really cook every week, and buy for those.
The products in this comparison
Philips NA120/00
SOLARA air fryer oven
Read next
Common questions
Can an air fryer bake a cake?
Many can bake something small, but the basket limits the size and shape of the tin. If you bake often, an OTG gives you more room for a proper tin.
Can an OTG make crisp snacks?
It can, but it usually takes longer and may not crisp as evenly, because the air moves less. A model with a fan can help, so check the listing.
Which uses more electricity, an air fryer or an OTG?
It depends on the watts and the time. Multiply the watts by the hours and divide by 1000 to get units. Food that takes longer in one machine can use more units, even at the same wattage.