Best Air Fryers 2023

I used to be a skeptic of air-fryers, thinking that they were pointless, showy equipment that were designed to generate healthier versions of foods like French fries, mozzarella sticks, and wings, but were not helpful for anything else. But after doing a large number of interviews for this piece, I can finally see what all the fuss is about.

When air fryers first started gaining popularity a few years ago, the usual snack-y and crunchy items were what people spoke about the most (“It’s like deep-frying without all the oil” is basically what I heard over and over again), and they are still what people speak about the most today. However, it turns out that they also work their magic on other foods, including veggies, meats, baked products, and even toast. The reason for this is that toaster ovens are, in essence, little convection ovens. This means that they are equipped with a fan and exhaust system that circulates hot air around your food for more uniform cooking and browning. (this is why professional bakeries use industrial convection ovens). Whether you’re making breaded onion rings from the freezer or roasting broccoli, it works just as well for both of those things. And while though some people have the good fortune to have a convection option on their full-size oven, the majority of people do not. In addition, using an air fryer allows you to “take that quality and put it in a really small contraption, which magnifies it times ten,” as Ben Mims, a culinary columnist for the Los Angeles Times and the author of a cookbook devoted to the equipment, says. “You’re taking that quality and putting it in a really small contraption, which magnifies it times ten.”

Air fryers also have the benefit of being very handy. They cook food much more quickly than a traditional oven, with very low preheating time (if any at all), which is helpful if you are in a hurry to dine, live in a tiny area and don’t want to make your kitchen painfully warm, or need to reheat leftovers without making a fuss. After each usage, air fryers are quite simple to clean, so you won’t have to deal with a laborious and time-consuming extensive cleaning operation in the future. (as happens with your standard oven). And because some of them have more than one use, it becomes easier to justify giving up valuable space in the kitchen when they do. (more on that below).

I’ve spent some time now contrasting conventional ovens with air fryers, and some of the folks I’ve spoken to genuinely do use the former with a great deal more frequency than the latter. However, this is not an absolute requirement in order to rationalize the purchase of one. According to what Mims shared with me, “I use it as a kitchen assistant. The idea that an air fryer could replace everything else in your kitchen was never one that I supported. My first thought was that it was comparable to the Instant Pot. Either you find yourself like it or you don’t. (I have friends who love it, whereas I prefer to braise in a pot in the oven for four hours). It all comes down to whether or not it fits with the way you prepare.

If you really do believe that an air fryer may be compatible with yours, continue reading for recommendations from Mims and a few other specialists in the field.

What we’re looking for

Single- or multifunctional: The question of whether you want an air fryer that does nothing but air frying or one that also does a lot of other things is likely the one that requires the most consideration and deliberation on your part. There are some on this list that just do one thing, while others include settings that let you roast, dehydrate, proof, and do a variety of other things.

Capacity: The size of the air fryer you choose should, of course, be determined in part by how you intend to use it. Are you going to use it mostly for yourself, such as to bake off the occasional single cookie or to reheat any leftovers? Or are you planning to utilize it for the nightly dinners with your family? I have included a list of each model’s capacity below for this category. However, it is important to highlight that: Air fryers that have a basket design (which makes up the bulk of these models) are measured according to the number of quarts that they are capable of holding, whilst air fryers that have rack inserts (making them seem more like toaster ovens) are measured according to the number of inner cubic inches that they have.

Our Top Picks

Review

Best overall air fryer: Instant Vortex Plus 6-Quart Clear Cook Air Fryer

• Function: Single
• Capacity: 6 quarts

Jenny Tschiesche, the creator of Lunchbox Doctor and author of a cookbook on air-frying, has experimented with a few different models of air fryers; nevertheless, the Instant Vortex is the one that has shown to be the most reliable in her home kitchen. She explains, “Of all of them, I’ve had this one the longest; it’s been about two years.” “After using a couple of the others, you may notice that the lining has started to peel off or that there are scratches. However, this one has remained undamaged throughout. And that’s saying something when you consider how frequently it’s used by the entire family, including the two adolescents. It is something that she and her family use on a daily basis to do things like roast veggies, reheat buns, make chicken nuggets, fish, sweet potato fries, pancakes, and a variety of other things. Tschiesche considers it a major advantage that many of her Le Creuset dishes may be stored there, as this is something she values much. Not to add, the interior of the machine has a light function exactly like your oven, and the basket itself has a window in the front so you can see what’s happening on inside at any moment. This allows you to monitor the process without having to open the door.

The cookbook author Julia Turshen has a similar model, although hers does not include a glass that can be seen through. It was the thing that finally convinced her to try air-frying, and now both she and her wife use the device almost every single day of the week. (for themselves, as well as for their dogs, who get air-fried ground meat mixed in with their food). The fact that it heats up so rapidly and prepares meals without making Turshen’s kitchen unbearably stuffy is the feature that appeals to her the most. The fact that it is constructed in the form of a basket, in contrast to a few models on this list that are designed to resemble toaster ovens, enables the user to “fit way more than a skillet” and “just shake things up in the basket” rather than laboriously turning them over on a sheet tray throughout the cooking process. Last but not least, she values the fact that she is spared the chore of “cleaning the stovetop,” which is something she dreads doing.

What Tschiesche and Turshen have to say about the capability of this air fryer is echoed by co-author Bruce Weinstein, who has contributed to several cookbooks on the topic of air frying: Although some models are quite tall, which accounts for their overall capacity and ability to contain things like a large pile of French fries, this configuration does not allow for as much air movement around the food, which prevents it from becoming as crispy as you would like it to be. However, the bottom of the Vortex has a wide square area, which means that you may arrange everything in a single layer without having to worry about it being too crowded. He remarks, “It just so happens to have the ideal proportion of height to width.”

Best less expensive air fryer: Cosori Pro II XL Air Fryer

• Function: Single
• Capacity: 5.8 quarts

The Cosori comes highly recommended by three industry professionals who have each used a variety of different air fryers. The recipe inventors and authors of Air Frying Foodie, Jennifer West and Rebecca Abbott, as well as cookbook author Katie Hale, find themselves returning to this one more often than any other. (As a fun tidbit, it’s the model that Vanderpump Rules actress Lala Kent has been raving about to us as of late.) While West states that after using it so frequently over the course of a few years, she “really knows the way it cooks,” according to the assessment of Hale, “it is affordable, especially for the quality.” Although West and Abbott each possess a model that is a little bit older than the one described here, the manufacturer has confirmed that the one shown here is a very comparable version that features enhanced internal technology as well as some alternative settings.

Both Abbott and Hale find that the amount of food they cook for themselves and their spouses is the ideal amount, and they make it most of the time. She says, ” I don’t think I’ve ever come across something that you can’t fit in the basket.” “It comes with wonderful default settings for foods such as cake, pork, and fish. In addition to that, the instructions are quite straightforward to understand and follow. Some models of air fryers make me anxious. You’re attempting to select the time and temperatures, but there are too many buttons — and I’m someone who uses an air fryer on a daily basis. The two professionals agree that they might see themselves desiring an appliance with extra settings for a lifestyle like living in an RV, but for their day-to-day lives, they find that all they require is what they get with their Cosori. Abbott claims that it is capable of doing all of the tasks that are required of an air fryer.

Best even less expensive air fryer: Crux Touch Screen Electric Air Fryer

• Function: Single
• Capacity: 3.7 quarts

Before air-frying became popular, Mims was testing several kinds of culinary gadgets for Buzzfeed’s Tasty. During that time, he came upon a device called the Crux, which he has used for years and really adores. (In fact, his is an older model the company no longer makes; the one listed here is its updated version.) He informed me, “It cooks as wonderfully as it possibly can.” “Even now, I use it at least once a week, if not more, and the majority of the time it’s for roasting vegetables. While preheating is necessary for many of them, the Crux does not require it. The dishes are washed by hand because I do not have a dishwasher in my home. The basket can be removed easily, as it is detachable, and it can be cleaned by rinsing or wiping. Some of them come with built-in racks, which might make it a little bit more difficult to clean. It’s just the right size—big enough for myself and another person, so that makes it just right.

Best air fryer for beginners: Dash Tasti-Crisp Electric Air Fryer

• Function: Single
• Capacity: 2.6 quarts

Madeline Park, the recipe creator and blogger behind Cafe Maddy, recommends the Dash Tasti-Crisp model as the best option for anyone who is interested in air-frying but does not want to spend an exorbitant amount of money doing so. You simply cannot do better than this model. It is even more compact than the Crux, and the user interface consists of simply two dials: one for setting the temperature, and the other for setting the time. “I only cook one portion at a time because I live alone,” says Park, who doesn’t even want to have leftovers because her video production compels her to create new meals after new meals. “I only cook for myself because I don’t like to waste food.” It just takes twenty minutes to prepare a dish, and the instructions are quite easy to follow.

Zosima Fulwell, the founder of Cooking with Mama Z, uses her Tower T17021 Family Size Air Fryer when she needs a model that is a little bit larger but still offers the same straightforward functionality. Tower is a brand that is located in the United Kingdom, which means that shipping will practically quadruple the price of the item. However, we conducted a reverse image search and found this almost identical (and more inexpensive) variant that is available in the United States that will provide you three quarts of capacity. According to Fulwell, “There are other higher-end models, but in terms of something that is quite basic, simple, and affordable, I think this one is a really good starting point to learn.” Other models are available with more advanced features.

Best durable air fryer: Philips Premium Air Fryer XXL

• Function: Single
• Capacity: 7 quarts

Because of these two key factors, Weinstein considers this to be a very well-made machine. First, the mesh on the food tray is made of stainless steel, and according to him, it “almost looks like chicken wire.” When compared to the typical slatted nonstick trays that are located at the bottom of other basket-style air fryers, this material is designed to have a considerably longer lifespan than those trays. (Weinstein mentions that you can clean it in the dishwasher, but if you don’t have one, all you need to do is soak it immediately after use to ensure that no stubborn particles are left behind, and you can wash it whenever you’re ready.) The second reason is that there is an extra layer that is built in beneath that mesh tray. This layer is a catcher that catches any fat that has been discharged. According to him, this reduces the amount of spatter and smoke produced, which is especially helpful when cooking fatty items like steak and hamburgers. The less oil that accumulates in your air fryer over time, the longer it will remain in good working order and the better it will perform.

Best air fryer for baking: Ultrean Air Fryer – Blue

• Function: Single
• Capacity: 4.2 quarts

Gracie Bensimon, owner of Gracie Baked, at first disregarded the air fryer that her roommate had purchased since she thought it was just another kitchen gadget that she did not require. However, ever since she plucked up the courage to give it a go a few years ago, she hasn’t looked back. Although you can technically bake in any of these machines, Bensimon is completely enamored with creating cookies in hers and has waxed poetic about how delicious the goodies turn out. Bensimon explains that she typically keeps the temperature at about 370 degrees even though the air fryer is one of the more straightforward models on our list. The air fryer itself is one of the more straightforward types on this list. It is plugged in on her countertop, and all she has to do to make cookies whenever the craving hits is switch it on and place one or two balls of dough on top of a sheet of parchment paper. (yes, without even waiting for it to preheat, which she says has never been a problem). “Cookies are what pushed me over the edge into a full-blown air-fried addict,” she adds. “Toast was my air-fryer gateway snack, but cookies is what pushed me over the edge into a full-blown air-fried addict.” “I usually bake mine for between between seven and eight minutes. On the outside, the cookies get a lovely golden brown color while the inside maintain an incredibly doughy consistency. I like to sprinkle mine with bits of flaky sea salt, or I’ll build an ice cream and cookie sundae for myself.

Best air fryer for kids: Dash Compact Air Fryer

• Function: Single
• Capacity: 2 quarts

The Dash Compact Air Fryer was something that Abbott and her husband had planned to use together, but it turned out that the basket was not large enough for their requirements. Instead, she thinks that her grandson has taken on some of the characteristics of it. She shared with me that “He calls it his,” and that he knows how to use it, albeit under her watchful eye. There are no flashy buttons; instead, there are knobs for adjusting the temperature. I maintain the temperature between 380 and 400 degrees Fahrenheit, and then there is a small egg timer.” Due to the fact that it has a lower wattage than the majority of the other items on our list, it takes a little bit longer to heat up (albeit we are still talking about a difference of minutes). Abbot replies, “We’ll stick a corn dog or chicken nuggets in there,” which are are examples of fast food. “Or if we just want to bake a couple of cookies or biscuits at once.” In addition, it can be purchased in a variety of adorable colors, can be purchased for fifty dollars, and, because it is less than one foot in all directions, it can be conveniently kept in a cabinet. But as part of the Cyber Monday sale at Bed Bath & Beyond, this air fryer is currently only $40.

Best multifunctional air fryer: Breville Smart-Oven Air-Fryer Pro

• Function: Multi
• Capacity: 1 cubic foot

The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro has a total of 13 pre-programmed settings, including toast, bagel, bake, roast, broil, pizza, cookies, proof, air fry, dehydrate, reheat, warm, and slow cook. The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro can be found here. Toasting nine slices of bread at once is possible, as is roasting a turkey weighing 14 pounds and using a Dutch oven with a capacity of five quarts. To put it another way, we are not playing any games here.

Alyse Whitney, a food writer and editor, has been using hers for the last three years, and she used Breville’s prior model that was quite similar for eight years before she started using her own. She refers to it as “my life-or-death appliance” in her statement. “It is what I intend to take to my grave with me.” Because of its size, not everyone has enough room on their countertops to accommodate it. If you decide to, though, Whitney wholeheartedly endorses the move. She claims that she makes use of it as an oven on six out of the seven days of the week. “And when I’m having guests over for a party, I use it as a second oven.” Due to the fact that it has two levels, it is possible to store there two quarter sheet pans. The ones with the baskets appear straightforward but somewhat restrictive. I’m really impressed by how many different things this one can accomplish. Additionally, it includes a transparent window, which enables me to observe what is going on. As for the more challenging cleaning that Mims stated, racks, what are your thoughts on it? The issue may be remedied, according to Whitney, who says, “I put a piece of aluminum foil underneath.”

Best less expensive multifunctional air fryer: Cuisinart Air Fryer Oven with Grill

• Function: Multi
• Capacity: 0.6 cubic feet

The Cuisinart is a multi-cooker that has seven pre-programmed modes, including an air fryer, convection bake, convection broil, bake, broil, warm, and toast. Its dimensions are somewhat less than 21 by 17 by 12 inches, rather than 12 by 16 by 14 inches. According to Mims, if you want an air fryer that can do more than simply air fry, you should consider purchasing this model because it “cooks just as well as the Crux.” It comes with a tray and a basket insert, much like the Breville model does, however it can only accommodate a single level at a time.

Best basket-style multifunctional air fryer: Ninja AF101 Air Fryer

• Function: Multi
• Capacity: 4 quarts

This Ninja air fryer is a basket-style multifunction air fryer, in contrast to the Breville and Cuisinart models. (as opposed to tray style). It has over 34,000 reviews on Amazon and a perfect rating of five stars, making it one of the most popular choices among our audience when we ran an earlier version of this article. Even though there are only four options (air fry, roast, reheat, and dehydrate), this is still more than having just two buttons to regulate the time and temperature. The other two models have more settings than this one. The dehydrate option in particular is only present on other Breville models that are significantly more costly, and a number of reviewers reported having a lot of luck creating beef jerky with their models. Last but not least, an impressive number of customers remarked on how simple it is to clean this air fryer by hand. One person states, “I don’t even bother using the dishwasher,” while another asserts that they can clean the drawer and the detachable bottom plate in around one minute. “I don’t even bother using the dishwasher,” adds one person.

Best air fryer with rotisserie basket: Instant Vortex Plus

• Function: Multi
• Capacity: 10 quarts

This Instant Air Fryer is the largest on the list, and as a result, it is possible to accept various insertable accessories for cooking that are not compatible with any other model. These accessories would not fit in any other Instant Air Fryer. The first is a rotisserie-style metal spit that, according to Hale, “has the crispiest skin on all sides.” It is intended exclusively for cooking chicken in a rotisserie-style fashion. After ensuring that the chicken is properly secured on the spit, you place it inside the air fryer, pick the appropriate temperature and amount of time, then press the “rotate” button. (Although Instant claims that a bird weighing up to four pounds may be accommodated, Hale likes that her bird be closer to three pounds so that it does not scrape against the sides.) The machine also has a perforated cylindrical basket that is suspended in the center of the main chamber and spins so that the food within tumbles about and receives maximum air flow. This feature is included as standard equipment. According to Hale, this produces an even more evenly crisp exterior on foods like french fries, tater tots, and veggies when compared to other air fryers. In addition to that, it has room for two trays at once, each of which may be used for air-frying, as well as for the machine’s toasting and baking functions. Although Hale concedes that the appliance isn’t nearly as simple to clean as her Cosori XL due to its sheer size, she claims that the interior can still be cleaned easily with a wipe and that the front door can be removed entirely so that it may be scrubbed by hand in a more comprehensive manner.

Best air fryer with dual baskets: Ninja DZ201 Foodi 8 Quart DualZone 2-Basket Air Fryer

• Function: Single
• Capacity: 8 quarts

This air fryer is the only one on this list that possesses two baskets, something that the others lack. You may cook, example, wings in one compartment and fries in the other, with each side being set to a different temperature for a specific period of time. This gives you the ability to cook different meals simultaneously but in their own individual compartments. According to a comment made by one of the roughly 15,000 customers who rated the product with five stars, “I own the one-basket Ninja already, but immediately saw the issue of preparing different courses of meats and vegetables.” Because various items require varying periods and temperatures, you will need to devise a strategy that will allow you to have everything hot at the same time. That problem is solved with this twin basket.

Best combination pressure cooker and air fryer: Instant Pot Duo Crisp Air Fryer Pressure Cooker

• Function: Multi
• Capacity: 8 quarts

In point of fact, the Instant Pot Duo comes with 11 preprogrammed modes; nonetheless, it is the only model on this list that is capable of both air frying and pressure cooking. Courtney Kassel, one of the co-founders and co-writers of the newsletter Sifted, claims that she was one of the most vocal and passionate critics of air fryers for a long time. “For a long time, I was one of the most outspoken and vehement critics of air fryers.” “However, after moving in with a buddy who has an air fryer, I’m well on my way to becoming a convert. In our flat, as is the case with many others, turning on the oven requires more work than just flipping a switch. Additionally, the oven’s preheating time and temperature are frequently unpredictable. Our reliable air fryer, on the other hand, warms up in a matter of minutes and, in my opinion, surpasses the oven when it comes to a variety of duties, such as roasting veggies uniformly, rapidly cooking proteins, or just simply existing on TikTok in 2022. Because ours is a combined air-fryer and Instant Pot, I can further justify the space it chews up in our limited kitchen storage and it is a lifesaver on nights when the talk about “What’s for dinner?” doesn’t even start until 7 o’clock in the evening.

Last update on 2023-06-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API