The quickest way to win over a home cook is to offer a shortcut. That's where the air fryer comes in. Sure, it may not be the most stylish kitchen appliance, and it certainly doesn't have the same allure as the iconic cast iron skillet or the precision of a sous vide cooker. But let's be real—it’s become a kitchen staple, even if it’s not quite the chef's favorite.
We've spent ages testing, researching, and chomping through more French fries than we'd care to admit. Our mission? To find the best air fryers on the market. After trialing over 50 models, we've seen it all. The fantastic, the mediocre, and yes, the disasters—like soggy onion rings and lifeless sweet potato fries.
We've gone through endless reviews, tried countless machines, and we've become an air fryer authority. We’ve collected all this know-how and turned it into a simple guide so you don't have to suffer through the same soggy experiments we did.
Our Top Air Fryer Picks
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Best Overall: Typhur Dome Air Fryer
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Best Dual Zone: Ninja DZ401 Foodi
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Best Toaster Oven: Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro
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Best Large Capacity: Instant Vortex Plus 6-Quart Air Fryer
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Best Value: Cosori Pro LE Air Fryer
How We Tested These Air Fryers?
The best air fryers should do two things exceptionally well: cook food quickly and evenly, and create a crispy outer crust when using the air fry function. To evaluate each air fryer's performance, we put them through a rigorous testing process. Here's how we did it.
First, we tested the air fryers' ability to cook frozen, store-bought French fries, bone-in, skin-on chicken breast, and yellow cake from a mix. This helped us determine if the air fryers could produce a crispy outer layer while ensuring the inside was fully cooked. The goal was to find air fryers that browned food evenly and created a satisfying crunch.
Next, we assessed the ease of use for each air fryer's controls. We preferred digital displays and simple buttons over clunky manual dials. Air fryers that paused when the baskets were opened to check on food scored higher in our testing.
Additional functions also played a role in our evaluations. We considered how noisy the air fryers were during operation and whether they were cumbersome to use. If two air fryers performed similarly in other tests, these factors were used as tiebreakers to determine the winner.
Cleaning was another crucial aspect of our testing. We checked how easy it was to clean each air fryer by hand and in a dishwasher, where applicable. Starting with a clean air fryer is vital to avoid smoke during cooking and to ensure optimal air circulation.
By analyzing these key factors, we were able to identify the best air fryers that offer a balance of performance, usability, and maintenance ease. Our rigorous testing process ensures that the air fryers we recommend can meet the demands of a modern kitchen.
Best Air Fryer Overall: Typhur Dome
What we like:
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Large cooking area in a single-layer
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Self-cleaning feature
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Whisper-quiet operation
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Fast cooking speed
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App control with more than 60 recipe guides
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3 year warranty
What we dislike:
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It can't accommodate taller foods, like a whole chicken
If you're on the hunt for a powerhouse air fryer that's great for most home cooks, the Typhur Dome is a fantastic choice. Inspired by pizza ovens, its arched design expands the cooking area in a single layer, ensuring food gets heated evenly for that crispy finish we all crave. This is something most air fryers don't consider—others just make the unit taller and stack food, which can lead to uneven cooking.
The Typhur Dome's interface is super user-friendly, with a touchscreen that offers 10 pre-programmed settings. It aced all our cooking tests, turning out crispy fries, juicy steaks, and perfectly roasted chicken wings. We found that the dehydration feature worked great for drying fresh lemons, and we think it would do wonders with other foods too.
One of our favorite features is the self-cleaning function. The Typhur Dome can use high heat to break down grease and grime in the top compartment, reducing the health risks of oxidized and rancid grease. This sets a new cleanliness and safety standard for air fryers.
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Presets |
Fries, Wings, Steak, Bacon, Frozen, Air Fry, Roast, Broil, Toast, and Dehydrate. |
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Temperature Range |
105℉ - 450℉ |
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Dimension |
19.7” x 15.6” x 9.6” |
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Frying Basket Material |
Ceramic Coating |
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Capacity |
5.6qt |
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Cooking Area |
139.5 sq in |
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Power Supply |
AC 120V 60Hz |
Best Dual Zone: Ninja DZ401 Foodi
What we like:
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Allows for cooking two different dishes at once
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Versatility
What we dislike:
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Louder operation
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individual basket is relatively small
The Ninja Foodi double basket air fryer is a game-changer in our kitchen. With two 4-quart baskets, you can cook different dishes simultaneously, like chicken breasts and French fries. The Smart Finish feature is brilliant, ensuring that foods with different cooking times and temperatures are done at the same time. This is perfect for busy weeknights when you want a complete meal without juggling multiple cooking times.
The Match Cook setting is also handy, allowing you to cook the same food in both baskets or set the same time and temperature for different foods. The double-basket design gives you the flexibility to prepare multiple dishes at once.
However, the individual baskets are relatively small, which might limit the quantity of food you can cook at once. This can be a drawback when preparing larger meals for gatherings or family dinners. Despite this, the Ninja Foodi double basket air fryer offers great versatility and convenience, with additional functions like baking, broiling, and dehydrating, adding more options to your kitchen.
Best Toaster Oven: Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro
Even though the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro costs more and takes up more space than the original model, we tested the appliance and found that it is worth the extra money. With 13 preset functions including air fry, slow cook, roast, broil, bake, cookies, pizza, toast, bagel, reheat, proof, dehydrate, and warm the machine's digital interface makes it easy to use.
For convenience of use, the rack levels are printed directly onto the door. For the majority of settings, this model performs a preheat cycle. This is an extra step that requires a few more minutes, but it adds a level of cooking precision that is absent from many other machines.
Best Large Capacity Air Fryer: Instant Vortex Plus
The Instant Vortex Plus is the ideal air fryer for most home cooks if you're searching for something strong. The Instant Vortex Plus model features a large basket and a modern look. With a touchscreen for pre-programmed settings and a dial that allows you to increase the temperature in 5-degree increments, the Instant Vortex Plus's interface is likewise incredibly user-friendly.
It flawlessly completed every cooking task we gave it, producing moist chicken, crispy fries, and a cake that was baked to perfection. We observed that the dehydrate function performed flawlessly on fresh strawberries and that it performed admirably on other produce.
Best Value Air Fryer: Cosori Pro LE
The best inexpensive air fryer is this 5-quart Cosori model, which fits neatly on the countertop and has a nice appearance. It performed better and cost less than any of the 4- to 6-quart models we tested. It is surprisingly roomy for a 5-quart air fryer basket, which is a welcome surprise. It can crisp food more quickly because it has a pre-heat cycle (the fries, wings, and shrimp fared well). It cleans up without any additional work and has a clear, easy-to-use display.
What I wish I knew before I get an air fryer?
Choosing an air fryer can be tricky, especially with so many models on the market. Here's what you should consider before making your purchase.
Style: Air fryers come in various styles, from compact basket models to larger toaster oven types. Basket-style air fryers are great for quick cooking and easy cleaning, while oven-style models offer more versatility with multi-layer racks. Consider which style fits your cooking habits and kitchen space.
Capacity: Think about the size of your household and what you'll be cooking. Smaller air fryers are perfect for one or two people or smaller kitchens, while larger capacities can accommodate families or those who love to host. If you often cook larger meals, opt for a bigger capacity to avoid crowding the basket.
Functions: Air fryers can do more than just air frying. Look for additional functions like roasting, baking, toasting, or dehydrating, depending on your needs. Multi-function air fryers offer more flexibility in the kitchen, allowing you to experiment with various recipes without needing multiple appliances.
Price: Air fryers range from budget-friendly to high-end models with advanced features. Determine your budget and choose an air fryer that offers the best value for your money. Keep in mind that more expensive models may come with additional features and higher build quality.
Accessories: Consider what accessories come with the air fryer or are available for purchase separately. Some air fryers include baking pans, racks, or skewers for expanded cooking options. Accessories can enhance the versatility of your air fryer and make cooking more enjoyable.
With these factors in mind, you'll be better equipped to choose an air fryer that meets your needs, fits your budget, and suits your cooking style.
FAQs about the best air fryer
How does an air fryer work?
An air fryer operates by rapidly circulating hot air around food to create a crispy exterior, similar to deep-frying but with significantly less oil. The food sits in a perforated basket, allowing hot air to move through and around it, ensuring even cooking. Inside the air fryer, a powerful fan and heating element work together to generate and distribute heat, usually reaching temperatures between 300°F and 400°F.
This rapid air circulation and high temperature not only cook food quickly but also give it a satisfying crunch without the need for excessive oil. The result is a healthier alternative to deep-frying, offering similar textures and flavors with much less fat.
2.What size air fryer do I need for a family of 4?
For a family of four, the ideal size for an air fryer typically falls within the range of 5 to 7 quarts. This capacity offers enough space to cook for a family-sized meal while avoiding overcrowding, which can lead to uneven cooking.
Summary
With more than ten years of availability, air fryers have become a household necessity for many home cooks. Thanks to their cooking mechanism, they are loved for producing results similar to deep frying without using as much oil. Air fryers are essentially countertop convection ovens that cook food from all angles using a heating element and strong fan, unlike toaster ovens, which cook food using a single heating element at the top or bottom of the machine. While some air fryers are basic convection ovens, others have additional features that let you proof baked goods or dehydrate food.