Belaco BEL-AF-02 2L Digital Air Fryer Review: The Compact Kitchen Contender Put to the Test

In the modern kitchen, counter space is the final frontier. It’s a constant battle between the essential toaster, the life-giving coffee machine, and the ever-growing collection of gadgets we convince ourselves we need. For years, I resisted the air fryer revolution, largely due to this very issue. The thought of another bulky appliance dominating my already limited workspace was enough to make me stick with my trusty, if slow and energy-hungry, conventional oven. The problem, however, was persistent: the desire for quick, healthy, and wonderfully crispy food without the hassle and expense of heating a huge oven for a single portion of chips or a couple of chicken wings. It’s a classic culinary dilemma—sacrificing convenience for quality, or space for speed. This is the exact predicament that leads many, including myself, to search for a solution that promises the best of both worlds: powerful cooking performance in a pint-sized package. The Belaco BEL-AF-02 2L Digital Air Fryer enters the scene promising to be just that solution.

What to Consider Before Buying a Fryer

An air fryer is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for achieving deep-fried texture with a fraction of the oil, saving time, and reducing energy consumption. It uses rapid air circulation to cook food, creating a crispy exterior while keeping the inside tender. This technology is a game-changer for anyone looking to make healthier lifestyle choices without giving up their favourite foods, from chips and chicken to roasted vegetables and even baked goods. The primary benefit is convenience—it preheats in minutes and cooks significantly faster than a traditional oven, making it perfect for busy weeknight meals.

The ideal customer for this type of compact product is someone facing spatial constraints or typically cooking for one or two people. This includes students in dorms, couples in small apartments, caravan owners, or even those looking for a secondary, smaller air fryer to complement a larger appliance. It’s for the person who wants to quickly roast a handful of vegetables or cook a single fish fillet without the ceremony of using the main oven. Conversely, it might not be suitable for those who regularly cook for large families or entertain guests. If you’re hoping to prepare a whole chicken or multiple meal components at once, a 2-litre capacity will feel restrictive, and you would be better served by a larger single-basket or a dual-drawer model.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: Measure your counter space carefully. The beauty of a model like the Belaco BEL-AF-02 2L Digital Air Fryer is its tiny footprint (18D x 19W x 28H cm). Before buying any air fryer, ensure you have enough clearance around it for proper ventilation, as they exhaust hot air during operation.
• Capacity/Performance: Capacity is paramount. A 2L basket is ideal for a single person’s meal—think one portion of chips or two chicken breasts. For a couple, it might be a squeeze. Performance is tied to wattage; at 1000W, this unit is energy-efficient but may not be as fiercely powerful as larger 1800W+ models, potentially requiring slightly longer cooking times for certain foods.
• Materials & Durability: Look at the build. Most air fryers feature a plastic exterior with an aluminium, non-stick coated basket. While this keeps them lightweight, pay attention to the quality of the non-stick coating and the sturdiness of the basket. User feedback often highlights long-term durability issues like rusting or peeling, so this is a key area to investigate.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: A complicated interface can ruin the convenience. Digital touch controls offer precision, but they should be intuitive. For maintenance, a removable, dishwasher-safe basket is a non-negotiable feature for easy cleanup. The simpler the cleaning process, the more you’ll find yourself using the appliance.

Ultimately, choosing the right air fryer is about matching the appliance’s capabilities to your specific lifestyle and cooking habits.

While the Belaco BEL-AF-02 2L Digital Air Fryer is an excellent choice for solo cooks, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition, especially larger models. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

First Impressions: Sleek, Small, and Surprisingly Simple

Unboxing the Belaco BEL-AF-02 2L Digital Air Fryer, the first thing that struck me was its diminutive size. The product photos don’t quite do it justice; it’s genuinely compact and incredibly lightweight at just 2.59 kg. This is an appliance you can easily tuck away in a cupboard when not in use, a significant advantage over its bulky brethren. The high-glossy black finish gives it a modern, almost minimalist aesthetic that blends well with other kitchen appliances without drawing too much attention. There’s no assembly required; it’s ready to go straight out of the box after a quick wash of the basket.

The front is dominated by a sleek digital touch panel, which remains completely black until the unit is powered on. This contributes to its clean look. Picking it up, the plastic construction feels adequate for the price point, though it doesn’t exude the premium, heavy-duty feel of more expensive brands. The basket slides out smoothly, and the removable non-stick tray inside is easy to lift out for cleaning. My initial impression was one of thoughtful, space-conscious design. It’s clearly aimed at the solo user who values both function and form, and on that front, its design makes a compelling argument before you even cook a single chip.

A Deep Dive into the Belaco BEL-AF-02’s Real-World Performance

An air fryer lives or dies by its ability to cook well. Looks and size are important, but if it can’t deliver that signature crispy, golden-brown finish, it’s just a noisy box. We put the Belaco BEL-AF-02 2L Digital Air Fryer through its paces over several weeks, cooking everything from frozen chips and homemade potato skins to salmon fillets and roasted vegetables to see if its performance could match its convenient design.

Compact Powerhouse: Performance in a Small Footprint

The most defining characteristic of this air fryer is its 2-litre capacity, and this directly impacts its cooking performance in both positive and negative ways. On the plus side, the smaller chamber means it gets up to temperature incredibly fast. There’s virtually no preheating time required. We could go from a cold start to cooking at 200°C in under a minute. This efficiency is where it truly shines. As one user aptly put it, it’s like “microwave convenience meets oven outcomes.” Food cooks rapidly, often faster than the times suggested on packaging for fan ovens. We made homemade potato skins that were perfectly crispy and fluffy inside in just 15 minutes, a task that would take over twice as long in our main oven.

This rapid, concentrated cooking is a direct result of its size. The 1000W heating element and fan don’t have to work hard to circulate hot air in such a confined space, leading to excellent browning and crisping. For single portions, this little machine genuinely gives larger, more expensive models a run for their money. However, the limitation is stark. We found the basket could comfortably hold about 300g of frozen chips—a generous portion for one, but not enough for two. A user who wanted to cook chips and a fish fillet simultaneously noted it “doesn’t have enough room to do half a meal for one person,” which is a fair assessment if your meal has multiple components. You must cook in batches. It’s crucial to manage expectations: this is a personal-sized appliance, and for that specific purpose, its performance is impressive.

The Digital Interface Dilemma: Simplicity vs. Frustration

The Belaco BEL-AF-02 2L Digital Air Fryer features a clean, touch-sensitive control panel. When plugged in, the power button illuminates. Tapping it brings the display to life, showing default time and temperature settings. You can then toggle between adjusting the temperature (from 80°C to 200°C) and the timer (up to 60 minutes) using a mode button, and then use plus/minus icons to set your desired parameters. On paper, it’s straightforward. In practice, we discovered a quirk that is echoed loudly in user feedback.

We, too, experienced moments of frustration where the panel would become unresponsive, seemingly stuck on either the temperature or time setting. As one user cleverly discovered, the fix is often to unplug the unit, plug it back in, and then quickly tap the controls. Once we learned this “trick,” operating the machine became second nature, just as another user described. However, this is a significant design flaw. An appliance should work intuitively out of the box without needing a special workaround. While some users, like us, will adapt, many find it “impossible to get it sorted,” leading to immense frustration. This control system is the product’s Achilles’ heel. It aims for modern simplicity but introduces a learning curve and a potential point of failure that detracts from the overall user experience. It’s a shame, because once you get it working, the cooking precision it offers is a feature that really sets it apart at this price point.

Build Quality and Longevity: A Tale of Two Experiences

When evaluating a budget-friendly appliance, build quality is always a primary concern. The Belaco BEL-AF-02 2L Digital Air Fryer is constructed primarily from plastic and aluminium, which keeps it light and affordable. For many users, this is perfectly adequate. We found the main unit to be sturdy enough for daily use, and the non-stick basket performed well during our testing, with food releasing easily and cleanup being a breeze in the dishwasher. A significant number of users report being very happy, calling it a “good and portable air fryer” and “perfect size for me as I live alone.”

However, it’s impossible to ignore the severe quality control issues reported by a minority of users. We did not personally experience these, but the accounts are alarming and must be considered. One user reported the strainer basket “rusted after the first wash,” rendering it unusable. More disturbingly, another user provided a detailed account of their replacement unit overheating to the point that it “started to melt the inside of the air fryer at the back and melted the front of the draw,” with screws coming loose and the incident nearly causing a fire. These are not minor defects but serious safety hazards. While these appear to be outlier cases, their severity suggests a potential for inconsistency in the manufacturing process. It paints a picture of a product that is brilliant when you get a good unit, but potentially dangerous if you don’t. This variability is a significant gamble for any consumer.

What Other Users Are Saying

Sifting through the collective experience of other users provides a valuable, well-rounded perspective on the Belaco BEL-AF-02 2L Digital Air Fryer. The overall sentiment is sharply divided, highlighting its niche appeal and potential flaws. On one hand, it receives high praise from its target audience. One happy customer bought it for their daughter’s accommodation and said “she really liked it,” while another first-time user exclaimed, “This is my first air fryer, it’s a great size fits well on the work surface, doesn’t take up too much room and was a good price too.” These reviews confirm our findings that for solo living and small spaces, it hits the mark perfectly.

On the other hand, the negative feedback is substantial and often points to the same core issues. The “fiddly” controls are a common complaint, though some, like us, find they become “second nature” with time. More concerning are the outright functional failures and safety issues. One user stated simply, “It doesn’t work. I will out how many minutes I want it to cook but it will stop after a minute always.” This aligns with the most alarming review detailing the unit overheating and melting plastic, which they described as “Very dissatisfied… it nearly caused a fire.” This spectrum of feedback—from five-star perfection to one-star hazard—suggests that while the design is excellent, the execution and quality control can be inconsistent.

How Does the Belaco BEL-AF-02 Compare to the Alternatives?

The Belaco BEL-AF-02 2L Digital Air Fryer excels in its specific niche, but the market is filled with excellent alternatives that cater to different needs, whether it’s more capacity, greater functionality, or a different cooking technology altogether. Here’s how it stacks up against three popular competitors.

1. Tower T17039 Xpress Pro 5-in-1 Air Fryer Oven

The Tower T17039 represents a completely different approach to air frying. With its massive 11L capacity and oven-style design, it’s less of an air fryer and more of a multi-function countertop oven. It can air fry, bake, roast, and even features a rotisserie for cooking a whole chicken. This is the ideal choice for families or individuals who want maximum versatility and capacity. Compared to the Belaco, it’s a behemoth in both size and power (2000W). If you have the counter space and need to cook larger, more complex meals, the Tower Xpress Pro is a far superior option. However, for a single person just wanting to crisp up some chips, its size and complexity are complete overkill.

2. Tefal Easy Pro Deep Fryer 3L

The Tefal Easy Pro serves as a reminder of the original frying technology. This is a traditional deep-fat fryer, submerging food in hot oil. It will produce a taste and texture that, for some foods like authentic chips, air frying can’t perfectly replicate. Its 3L oil capacity can cook up to 1.2kg of food, making it suitable for about four portions. Someone who prioritizes the classic, deep-fried flavour above all else and isn’t concerned about the health implications or the hassle of managing hot oil would prefer the Tefal. The Belaco, in contrast, is for the health-conscious user seeking convenience, speed, and drastically lower fat content.

3. Russell Hobbs 4L Digital Air Fryer

The Russell Hobbs 4L model is perhaps the most direct competitor, acting as a logical step-up from the Belaco. It doubles the capacity to 4L, making it suitable for couples or small families, while retaining a relatively compact, basket-style design. It boasts seven cooking functions and a higher max temperature of 220°C for extra crisping power. This is the perfect alternative for someone who likes the concept of the Belaco but finds the 2L capacity just too restrictive. It offers more power and versatility without moving into the giant oven-style category, striking a fantastic balance for the average household.

Our Final Verdict on the Belaco BEL-AF-02 2L Digital Air Fryer

After extensive testing and analysis, our verdict on the Belaco BEL-AF-02 2L Digital Air Fryer is clear: it is a highly specialized tool that excels brilliantly within its intended niche but comes with significant caveats. Its greatest strength is its ultra-compact design, making it an undisputed champion for single-person households, student dorms, caravans, and any kitchen where counter real estate is at a premium. It’s energy-efficient, cooks single portions incredibly quickly, and delivers the crispy, satisfying results air fryers are known for. When it works as intended, it’s a fantastic little machine.

However, the recommendation cannot come without a strong word of caution. The quirky, often unresponsive controls present a frustrating learning curve, and the severe quality control issues reported by some users, including melting parts, are a serious concern. This transforms the purchase from a simple decision into a calculated risk. We would recommend the Belaco BEL-AF-02 2L Digital Air Fryer to solo users on a tight budget who are willing to overlook the control quirks for the space-saving benefits. For everyone else, particularly those cooking for two or more or those who prioritize reliability and safety above all, investing a little more in a slightly larger and more reputable model would be the wiser choice. If you fit the profile and understand the potential trade-offs, you can check the latest price and availability here.

Last update on 2025-10-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API