Best Air Fryer Brands: Top Picks For Your Kitchen

who makes the best air fryers

Air fryers are countertop convection ovens that cook food quickly and evenly. They work by heating food at a high temperature and using a large fan to circulate the air, much like a convection oven, to cook foods quickly and make them crispy. The best air fryers are quick, powerful and easy to use.

- Instant Vortex Plus Air Fryer Oven: Our top pick. It has a window for monitoring your meal and cooks evenly and quickly.

- Ninja Foodi DualZone XL Air Fryer: Best large-capacity air fryer. It's like having two full-size basket air fryers in your kitchen. It features two 5-quart air fryer baskets that you can program to heat independently or for the same time and temperature.

- Beautiful Touchscreen Air Fryer: Our budget pick. It will save you money and perfectly cook fresh broccoli, but it lacks a front window.

- Ninja Foodi XL Pro Air Fry Oven: Best toaster oven. With its massive 26-quart size, it is one of the largest countertop air fryers you can buy.

- Midea Two-Zone Air Fryer Oven: Best dual-basket. It combines a basket air fryer with a toaster oven to make large quantities of delicious, evenly cooked food.

- Dreo Aircrisp Pro Air Fryer: Best small air fryer. It makes efficient use of space and is easy to clean and use.

- Instant Pot Duo Crisp + Air Fryer: Best versatile air fryer. It is a pressure cooker, slow cooker, and air fryer all in one, making it one of the most useful and economical small appliances.

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Best air fryer toaster ovens

Air fryer toaster ovens are a great way to combine the functions of an air fryer and a toaster oven into one appliance, saving you money and counter space. They are more versatile than pod-shaped air fryers and can cook a wider variety of foods more evenly.

Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro

This is one of the few air fryer toaster ovens that can effectively combine the functions of an air fryer and a toaster oven. It has two convection fan speeds for more control and the power to crisp up food quickly. It also has a two-rack oven capacity and comes with a few additional settings: proof, reheat, cookies, slow cook, and dehydrate. It's a pricey option, but if you're looking for an appliance that can do it all, this is the one for you.

Cuisinart Chef’s Convection Toaster Oven TOB-260N1

If you're looking for something a little more affordable, the Cuisinart Chef’s Convection Toaster Oven is a great option. It offers similar features to the Breville model but has a slightly less powerful fan, so it takes a little longer to achieve the same level of crispiness. However, it can still roast, bake, and toast with the best of them. It also comes with a ceramic pizza stone instead of a metal pan, which is a nice touch.

Cosori Original Air Fryer Toaster Oven CO130-AO

If you're on a budget, the Cosori Original Air Fryer Toaster Oven is a great choice. It shares many features with models that cost twice as much, and while it doesn't cook quite as evenly as the Breville or Cuisinart models, it still delivers decent results. It has two convection fan speeds, comes with a recipe booklet, and is considerably lighter than the other picks, making it easier to move around.

Ninja Foodi Digital Air Fry Oven

The Ninja Foodi Air Fry Oven has one of the largest air frying racks on the market, measuring 13 by 13 inches. It's also very compact and can swivel up to save space and allow for easier cleaning. It air-fried crispy and evenly cooked wings and fries, toasted bread evenly, and baked a gorgeous, level cake. It's a great option if you're short on counter space.

Cuisinart TOA-65 Digital Convection Toaster Oven Air Fryer

This air fryer toaster oven has topped many "best of" lists. It toasts bread quickly and evenly, bakes gently, and air-fries food to a crispy perfection in no time. It comes with a user guide loaded with cooking charts and recipes, and it's programmed with over 10 settings, five of which are specific to air frying. The only downside is that it cooks quicker than you might expect, so there's a bit of a learning curve involved.

Hamilton Beach Sure-Crisp Air Fryer Toaster Oven

If you're looking for an affordable option that doesn't compromise on quality, the Hamilton Beach Sure-Crisp Air Fryer Toaster Oven is a great choice. It impressed testers with its ability to air-fry, toast, bake, and broil. It has a basic control panel that's easy to operate, and it's small and compact while still being able to fit a 12-inch pizza. Wings and fries came out crispy and evenly cooked, and it's a great option if you're looking for a small but mighty appliance.

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Best for small servings

If you're looking for an air fryer that's ideal for small servings, the Dash Compact Air Fryer is a great option. It's not much bigger than a coffee maker and can cook up an air-fried chicken dinner or hamburgers for one or two people. With a pair of dials, one for temperature and one for time, it couldn’t be easier to program.

The Dreo Aircrisp Pro Air Fryer is another great option for small servings. It does an impressive job of cooking food while occupying minimal space. Its 3.6-quart capacity makes it ideal for two people. The air fryer is flat on top, so you could store items on top, though you'll need to remove them to cook.

The Instant Vortex Slim Air Fryer is also a good choice for small spaces. It manages to pack a larger internal capacity into a super narrow frame. The basket is narrow and deep, which actually works better for foods like fries or chicken tenders than a square air fryer.

The Ninja Air Fryer Pro 4-in-1 is another compact option. It's got a five-quart basket, but it's capable of meal prepping for four without any trouble thanks to its improved shape and design.

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Best smart air fryer

Air fryers are essentially countertop convection ovens that cook food quickly and efficiently. They are a healthier alternative to deep frying as they require a tiny amount of oil to make classic comfort food like chicken wings and French fries.

Cosori Pro III Dual Blaze

This smart air fryer can be controlled via your phone or smart speaker, and there's no need to preheat it or shake your food mid-cook. During tests, the default settings worked well without tweaking, and cleanup was a breeze. It is one of the more expensive options on the market, but it is a very capable cooking appliance.

Ultenic K10 Smart Air Fryer

This air fryer is perfect for beginners. It has a reminder to shake foods, an optional auto preheat, and an app with over 100 tasty-looking recipes. It is budget-friendly and delivers crunchy, golden fries with fluffy insides, as well as crispy chicken wings with moist, tender meat inside.

Dreo ChefMaker Combi Fryer

The Dreo ChefMaker is more than just an air fryer. It takes the effort and guesswork out of cooking almost any meal and is particularly great for preparing meat. It produced restaurant-quality steak every time during tests. It is highly recommended if your budget can handle it.

Instant Vortex Plus 6-in-1 with ClearCook & OdourErase

This air fryer has air filters to limit cooking smells and uses less oil than most other fryers. It includes a plastic window in the basket and an interior light so you can keep an eye on your food. It doesn't come with any cooking guides, so you will need to experiment to achieve the right cooking duration and temperature. It is relatively expensive for an air fryer.

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Best large-capacity air fryer

Instant Vortex 9-Quart Air Fryer with VersaZone Technology

If you're looking for a large-capacity air fryer, the Instant Vortex 9-Quart Air Fryer with VersaZone Technology is an excellent choice. With a 9-quart capacity, it is the largest basket-style air fryer tested by Food Network. It features a removable divider, allowing you to cook for a large crowd or make two different foods at once. You can easily fit a whole bag of frozen French fries, up to two pounds of chicken breasts, or a large cake pan in this air fryer. It also has a digital interface and a knob for temperature control. However, keep in mind that its large size may require extra counter or storage space.

Instant Vortex Plus 10-Quart Air Fryer

Another excellent option for a large-capacity air fryer is the Instant Vortex Plus 10-Quart model. This air fryer offers great performance and versatility at a reasonable price. It comes with trays and a rotisserie insert, allowing you to cook a variety of dishes. The clear display and easy-to-follow instructions make it user-friendly, and the accessories make it a versatile tool in the kitchen. While it may not be as easy to clean as smaller air fryers, the front door can be removed for more thorough cleaning.

Philips Premium Air Fryer XXL

The Philips Premium Air Fryer XXL is a durable and high-quality option with a 7-quart capacity. It features a unique stainless-steel mesh food tray that is more durable than the typical non-stick trays found in other air fryers. Additionally, it has a built-in fat catcher underneath the tray, which helps reduce splatter and smoke when cooking fatty foods. The drip tray is fully removable, making cleanup a breeze.

Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro

If you're looking for a combination of a toaster oven and an air fryer, the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro is an excellent choice. It offers a large capacity of 1 cubic foot and comes with 13 preset functions, including air fry, toast, bake, roast, broil, and more. It can fit a 14-pound turkey, a 13-inch pizza, or two quarter sheet pans. While it is a significant investment and takes up a lot of counter space, it is a versatile and powerful appliance.

Ninja DZ201 Foodi 8 Quart DualZone 2-Basket Air Fryer

For a large-capacity air fryer with dual baskets, consider the Ninja DZ201 Foodi 8 Quart DualZone model. This air fryer allows you to cook two different foods simultaneously at different temperatures and times. It is ideal for preparing a complete meal or cooking large batches. However, the individual baskets are narrow, so you may need to use both baskets for the same food if you're cooking for a larger group.

Typhur Dome

The Typhur Dome is a unique and versatile air fryer with Wi-Fi capability. You can control it from your phone and choose from ten cooking modes or over 50 built-in recipes. It has a capacity of 5.6 quarts and is quieter and faster than comparable machines due to its fan placement. However, it is quite expensive, especially considering its moderate capacity.

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Best air fryer for small families

Air fryers are a great way to cook food quickly and efficiently, and they are perfect for small families. Here are some of the best options on the market:

Ninja 4-Quart Air Fryer

The Ninja 4-Quart Air Fryer is a sturdy and compact air fryer that delivers impressive cooking results. With a 4-quart capacity, it is perfect for cooking for a small family or two people. It features a multi-function display and includes a dehydrate function, allowing you to make healthy fruit and veggie chips. The Ninja 4-Quart Air Fryer is easy to use and clean, with a non-stick basket and removable cooking tray. It is also quiet while running, making it a great choice for those who want a quiet kitchen appliance.

Instant Vortex Mini 2-Qt Mini Air Fryer

The Instant Vortex Mini 2-Qt Mini Air Fryer is perfect for small families or individuals. With a 2-quart capacity, it has a tiny footprint and takes up minimal counter or storage space. Despite its small size, it delivers the same powerful performance as larger air fryers, browning fries, chicken, and cake to perfection. The digital interface is easy to use, with a knob for adjusting the time and temperature. It comes in four colour options to match any kitchen aesthetic.

Instant Vortex 6-Quart Air Fryer

The Instant Vortex 6-Quart Air Fryer is a powerful and user-friendly option for small families. With a 6-quart capacity, it can accommodate larger portions while still being compact enough for most countertops. The interface features a touchscreen for pre-programmed settings and a dial for precise temperature adjustments. It includes several cooking functions, such as air fry, broil, roast, reheat, and dehydrate. The Instant Vortex 6-Quart Air Fryer delivers crispy and juicy results and is easy to clean, with a non-stick interior.

Beautiful by Drew Barrymore 6-Quart Touchscreen Air Fryer

The Beautiful by Drew Barrymore 6-Quart Touchscreen Air Fryer is an affordable and stylish option, retailing at just $79. It features a soft-touch screen and allows for precise temperature adjustments up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. With six standard cooking functions, it can cook crispy fries, tender chicken, and more. This air fryer comes in seven chic colour options with gold-tone accents, making it a great choice for those who want a stylish addition to their kitchen.

Cuisinart Basket Air Fryer

The Cuisinart Basket Air Fryer is a great option for small families who want the convenience of being able to see their food while it cooks. It features a window that allows you to monitor the cooking process without opening the basket. This air fryer includes multiple preset functions, such as air fry, roast, bake, broil, keep warm, and more. It performs well across all functions, cooking food evenly and to a perfect crispness. The buttons for adjusting the temperature and time could be improved, as a knob would be easier to use.

Frequently asked questions

The two main air fryer types are basket and toaster oven. Basket air fryers feature a drawer in the bottom half for the food, the controls are on top, and an internal fan blows hot air down onto the food to cook it. The best air fryer toaster ovens look just like traditional toaster ovens with a transparent door that you open to insert your food. Air fryer toaster ovens have a fan on the side or top that blows hot air to "air fry" your food.

Choose a 4- to 6-quart unit if you're only cooking for yourself or another person. For larger families, use air fryers that are 6 quarts and up. Larger air fryers give you more flexibility in what you can make.

The Dreo Aircrisp Pro Air Fryer is the best compact air fryer we tested, making it perfect for single servings of wings and fries. It does an impressive job of cooking food while occupying minimal space.

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