Hot Air Fryers: Top Brands For The Perfect Fry

Air fryers are a great kitchen tool that makes quick meals even easier. They are essentially small convection ovens that use a fan to circulate hot air to cook, crisp, or caramelize food faster than the radiant heat in a standard toaster or traditional oven. They are a healthier alternative to deep frying as they require little to no oil.

- Instant Vortex Plus Air Fryer: Our top pick for the best overall air fryer. It has a reasonable price and offers the strongest cooking results. It has a wide, square-shaped basket, is quiet, and is easy to clean.

- Cosori TurboBlaze Air Fryer: Our best value air fryer. It has a compact, powerful machine with lots of functions at a well-below-average price.

- Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer: Our best splurge air fryer. This huge combination toaster oven/air fryer has smart sensors and heating elements for perfect cooking every time.

- Ninja 4-Quart Air Fryer: Our best small air fryer. This small air fryer outperformed every other air fryer in our tests with six different foods. It is perfectly nonstick for cleanup, quiet while running, and easy to store.

- Ninja DZ071 Foodi FlexBasket Air Fryer: Our best dual-zone air fryer. You can cook two different items at two different temperatures at the same time in this clever dual-basket air fryer.

- Instant Pot Vortex Plus 10-Quart Air Fryer: Our best large capacity air fryer. For anybody who cooks for large groups, this air fryer is an absolute steal for its size and performance.

- Typhur Dome: Our most versatile air fryer. Choose your specific recipe in the phone app, and this futuristic fryer cooks it to perfection for you.

- Instant Omni Plus Air Fryer Toaster Oven: Our best air fryer toaster oven. The huge capacity, powerful wattage, and extra features of this model compete above and beyond other air fryers.

Best air fryer for small kitchens

Air fryers are a great addition to any kitchen, offering a healthier alternative to deep-fried foods and a quick way to cook tasty meals. If you're short on space, there are plenty of compact options that can still deliver the same great results as larger models. Here are some of the best air fryers for small kitchens:

Ninja 4-Quart Air Fryer

The Ninja 4-Quart Air Fryer is a powerful and versatile option for small kitchens. With a 4-quart capacity, it's perfect for cooking meals for a small family or couple. The wide temperature range allows you to cook a variety of foods, from crispy french fries to golden-brown wings, and it also has reheat, roast, and dehydrate settings. The illuminated display is user-friendly and simple to operate, although it lacks a preheat function. The components, excluding the central unit, are dishwasher-safe, making cleanup a breeze.

Instant Pot Air Fryer

If you're looking for an air fryer with a dishwasher-safe basket and tray for easy cleanup, the Instant Pot Air Fryer is a great choice. This 4-quart model offers six preset modes, fast preheating, and clear touchscreen controls. While it's on the larger side for small kitchens, it's perfect for couples or small families. Our tests showed that it provided excellent cooking results, with precise temperature control and even cooking.

Dash Compact Air Fryer

The Dash Compact Air Fryer is ideal for solo cooks or couples who want a stylish and compact air fryer. With a 2-quart capacity and a retro design available in multiple colours, it will fit seamlessly into any small kitchen. It has basic analog dials for temperature and time, and while it lacks preset options, it's easy to use and perfect for whipping up smaller side dishes. The housing stays cool during operation, and it has an automatic shut-off function to prevent overcooking.

Ninja Air Fry Countertop Oven

The Ninja Air Fry Countertop Oven is a versatile appliance that can handle a variety of cooking tasks. With eight functions, including air frying, roasting, broiling, baking, toasting, dehydrating, and warming, it's like having a small oven on your countertop. It has a family-size tray and can fit a 13-inch pizza or up to nine slices of toast. The digital crisp technology ensures precise temperature control, and the glass door lets you keep an eye on your food as it cooks. However, the glass door can get hot during use, so be careful.

GoWise USA 3.7-Quart Programmable Air Fryer

If you're looking for an affordable and compact air fryer, the GoWise USA Programmable Air Fryer is a great option. With eight preset functions and the ability to manually set the time and temperature, it's easy to use. The 3.7-quart capacity is perfect for cooking for up to three people. It has a cool-touch handgrip, overheat protection, and an automatic shut-off feature, making it a safe choice. The heating element offers a wide temperature range, and the basket and holder are dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup.

Best air fryer for large families

Air fryers are a convenient and healthy alternative to deep frying. They use a fraction of the oil and cook food quickly and evenly. If you're looking for an air fryer that can handle large portions suitable for a family, here are some great options:

Instant Vortex Plus 10-Quart Air Fryer

This air fryer has a large 10-quart capacity, making it perfect for cooking family meals. It comes with a range of accessories, including a drip pan, cooking trays, a rotisserie basket, and a rotisserie spit, all of which are dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup. It offers multiple cooking functions, including air fry, broil, bake, roast, dehydrate, and rotisserie, giving you plenty of options for preparing different types of dishes. Its powerful 1500 watts ensure fast and efficient cooking.

Ninja Foodi Countertop Oven (SP101)

The Ninja Foodi Countertop Oven is a versatile appliance that can air fry, air roast, air broil, bake, bagel, toast, dehydrate, and keep warm. It has a spacious interior that can fit a 13-inch pizza, six chicken breasts, or nine slices of toast. With a 60-second preheat time, it cooks meals up to 60% faster than a conventional oven, making it a convenient option for busy families.

Crownful 19-Quart Air Fryer

The Crownful 19-Quart Air Fryer is an excellent choice for large families who want to cook an entire meal in one go. With its generous 19-quart capacity and 1550 watts of power, it can handle cooking for a crowd. It comes with a range of accessories, including a rotisserie shaft, fry basket, roasting basket, drip tray, and more, allowing you to prepare various dishes. The glass window lets you monitor the cooking process, and it offers multiple cooking functions to suit different recipes.

Instant Vortex Plus 6-Quart Air Fryer

The Instant Vortex Plus 6-Quart Air Fryer is a popular choice for families. It has a spacious square basket that can accommodate larger portions, and its 1500 watts of power ensure efficient cooking. The air fryer offers multiple cooking functions, including air fry, roast, bake, reheat, broil, and dehydrate. It also features a unique tumbler basket that keeps food moving during the cooking process, ensuring even cooking results. The window and interior light let you monitor the cooking process without opening the basket.

Cosori Dual Blaze Air Fryer

The Cosori Dual Blaze Air Fryer is a highly-rated option for large families. With 1750 watts of power and a 6.8-quart capacity, it can handle family-sized portions with ease. It offers 14 preset options, including a frozen food setting, making it user-friendly and versatile. The lightweight design won't take up too much space on your countertop, and its even cooking ensures perfectly cooked meals every time.

Best value air fryer

The Cosori TurboBlaze Air Fryer is a great choice if you're looking for an air fryer that offers excellent value for money. With a 6-quart capacity, it's perfect for a family of four and features a sleek, compact design that won't take up too much space on your countertop. The easy-to-read and user-friendly control panel allows you to select from various cooking functions, including air fry, broil, roast, dehydrate, bake, reheat, and more.

During testing, the Cosori TurboBlaze Air Fryer delivered impressive results, with food coming out golden brown, moist, and evenly cooked. It also has a powerful motor that rivals that of more expensive models. The non-stick basket and removable tray are dishwasher-safe, making cleanup a breeze.

At a very affordable price, the Cosori TurboBlaze Air Fryer offers exceptional performance, convenience, and versatility, making it an excellent choice for those seeking the best value in an air fryer.

Other Value Options:

If you're looking for an even more budget-friendly option, the Beautiful by Drew Barrymore 6-Quart Touchscreen Air Fryer is a fantastic choice. Priced at just $69, it offers similar features and performance to higher-end models. It has a powerful motor and a soft-touch screen that makes it easy to select from various cooking presets. This air fryer also comes in seven chic color options, allowing you to choose one that matches your kitchen's aesthetic.

For those who want a more compact option, the Dash Tasti-Crisp Electric Air Fryer is a great choice. Priced at around $50, it's perfect for single servings or small portions. With a 2.6-quart capacity, it takes up minimal space on your countertop and is extremely easy to use, with just two dials for temperature and time control.

Key Considerations:

When choosing an air fryer that offers the best value, consider the following:

• Size and Capacity: Determine the size and capacity that best suits your needs. If you're cooking for a family, opt for a larger capacity like the Cosori TurboBlaze's 6-quart option. For single servings or smaller portions, consider more compact models like the Dash Tasti-Crisp Electric Air Fryer.
• Functions and Features: Look for an air fryer that offers a range of cooking functions and presets to suit your cooking needs. The Cosori TurboBlaze, for example, has a special mode for cooking frozen foods and even a proof setting for sourdough bread or pizza crust.
• Performance: Ensure that the air fryer delivers even and consistent cooking results. Look for models that have been tested and reviewed by reputable sources to ensure they provide the desired level of performance and quality.
• Ease of Use and Cleanup: Choose an air fryer with intuitive controls and a user-friendly interface. Additionally, look for dishwasher-safe parts and non-stick coatings to make cleanup a breeze.

By considering your specific needs, budget, and the features that matter most to you, you can select an air fryer that offers the best value for your needs.

Best air fryer toaster oven

If you're looking for an air fryer toaster oven, there are a few options that stand out. Here's a detailed overview of some of the best air fryer toaster ovens on the market:

Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro

This appliance is a premium option and is considered one of the best air fryer toaster ovens available. It offers a wide range of features, including 13 preset functions such as air fry, slow cook, roast, broil, bake, cookies, pizza, toast, bagel, reheat, proof, dehydrate, and warm. It has a large capacity and can fit a 13-inch pizza or a standard casserole dish. The digital interface is intuitive and easy to use, and it comes with accessories like a pizza tray, wire rack, broiling rack, roasting pan, and an air fry basket. It's a versatile and powerful machine but comes with a high price tag.

Cuisinart TOA-65 Air Fryer Toaster Oven

The Cuisinart TOA-65 is a good alternative if you're looking for something more affordable than the Breville option. It has a user-friendly interface and a decent number of pre-programmed settings. This model performed well in tests, producing golden-brown toast, crispy frozen fries, and juicy chicken breasts. It also baked cookies well according to package instructions. The air fry basket can be a bit tricky to remove, so be sure to use oven mitts. This toaster oven offers a good balance of features and performance at a more reasonable price.

Cosori 12-in-1 Air Fryer Toaster Oven Combo

If you're looking for a machine with a wide range of functions, the Cosori 12-in-1 Air Fryer Toaster Oven is a great choice. It offers 12 functions, including toast, bagel, pizza, bake, roast, air fry, broil, cookies, rotisserie, dehydrate, ferment, and warm. It has a large window and rack level indicators for convenient monitoring. The digital controls are a bit more complex than some other models, but they offer precision and flexibility. This oven performed well across all tasks and is a good option if you want a feature-rich machine.

Galanz 26 qt. Air Fry Digital Toaster Oven

For those on a budget, the Galanz 26 qt. Air Fry Digital Toaster Oven is a solid choice. It offers 8 cooking functions: air fry, broil, bake, toast, warm, pizza, dehydrate, and convection. This oven performed well in air frying, baking, and roasting tests but struggled a bit with toasting. The preheat function can take a bit longer than other models, but it's a good option if you're looking for an affordable and functional air fryer toaster oven.

Our Place Wonder Oven

If you're short on counter space, the Our Place Wonder Oven is a compact and stylish option. Despite its small size, it can handle a variety of tasks, including baking, roasting, air frying, toasting, broiling, and reheating. It has six functions and comes with a range of accessories. This oven cooked food exceptionally well in tests and is a good choice if you want a powerful yet space-saving option.

Kalorik MAXX 26-qt. Digital Air Fryer Toaster Oven

The Kalorik MAXX 26-qt. Digital Air Fryer Toaster Oven is a French door model with a manual interface and 8 cooking functions. It comes with rotisserie accessories and has a large window for easy viewing. This oven performed consistently across various tasks and is easy to use. It might be a good choice if you're looking for a manual interface and the ability to rotisserie cook.

Hamilton Beach Sure-Crisp Air Fryer Countertop Toaster Oven

For those seeking a basic and affordable option, the Hamilton Beach Sure-Crisp Air Fryer Countertop Toaster Oven is worth considering. It has a manual interface and offers four functions: air fry, broil, bake, and toast. The timer is limited to 30 minutes, and the temperature knobs have 50-degree intervals, so it's not as precise as some other models. This oven is best for those who want a simple toaster oven with air frying capabilities.

Best dual-basket air fryer

If you're looking for a dual-basket air fryer, the Ninja Foodi DualZone Air Fryer is a great option. It has two 4-quart baskets, allowing you to cook most of a meal in one go without overcooking or undercooking. It's also available in a smaller 6-quart size (two 3-quart baskets) and a larger 10-quart size (two 5-quart baskets).

The Ninja Foodi DualZone Air Fryer offers tons of power at a great price. It has all the same settings and cooking modes as the single-basket model, but allows you to set the time and temperature for each basket accordingly. There is also a handy match cook setting if you're cooking a large batch of the same food.

Another option for a dual-basket air fryer is the Instant Vortex VersaZone Air Fryer. This air fryer has a divider that can be inserted or removed, giving you the flexibility to use it as a single or dual-zone model. It has a capacity of 8.5 litres or two 4.2-litre zones and is easy to use, with a touchscreen interface.

If you're in the UK, the Ninja Foodi Max Dual Zone Air Fryer is a great option. It has two equal-sized drawers, supreme cooking power, easy-to-use controls, six functions, and a sleek design.

The COSORI Dual Air Fryer is another good option, offering an affordable alternative to the Ninja and Instant brands. It has two cooking zones that can cook at two different temperatures simultaneously and features handy viewing windows. However, the drawers sometimes fall out of sync when cooking.

Frequently asked questions