Many of us are obsessed with deep fried foods: they are delicious, crunchy, and juicy with plenty of oil and calories—and certainly not healthy. This is the big reason why air fryers are rapidly popular these days. These appliances offer a healthier way to enjoy deep-fried taste without the extra calories and trans fats because of reducing 75-95% of grease than traditional frying method. Also, at the time of ‘staying home’ periods, they’re handy helpers for cooking French fries, pizzas, nuggets, wings and other frozen foods at ease.
BEST ALL-AROUND
This air fryer features everything impressive—digital, powerful, excellent cooking, easy to use, easy to clean and light to transport—in a reasonable cost. Compare to the prior models, this updated version offers not only 10 standard presets but allows to customize anything—cooking time, temperature and shake reminder—and saves them easily. The performance is admirable: it delivers delicious, crispy, and crunchy results without soggy or overdone, in quick and no-noisy operation.
Plus, this sophisticated cooker offers 100+ recipes and a community to illuminate your new cooking ideas.
Feature: Digital, 11 presets + customized setting
Power: 1700 watts, (170 - 400°F)
Capacity: 5.8 qt
THE RUNNER’S UP
This is a good pal of beginners or busy people who find an effective, easy-to-use air fryer. Among small basket models, the Ninja is a solid performer (less than the Philips but still impressive). As can reach to 400°F, it produces crunchy results, even frozen fries and delicious chicken wings—golden crispy skin with moist inside—nearly like cooked bigger machines. Also, it has an uncomplicated control panel and 4 simple presets, with a ceramic nonstick basket.
At around $100*, this is a no-regret option for daily routines of 2 to 4 serves.
Feature: 4 presets
Power: 1550 watts, (105 - 400°F)
Capacity: 4 qt
VALUE BUYING
GoWise 8-in-1 Digital Air Fryer XL
This is a real value-accent pick. At under $80*, you’ll get a decent assembly, a sizable 5.8-quart capacity, a powerful 1700-watt operation, a digital control and an easy-to-understand LCD touchscreen control. The cooking ability is reasonable: it’s ample for a starter device. The GoWise can’t be paired to the pricier models but successfully handles homemade French fries, baked veggies and frozen foods. The practical 8 presets make easier cooking for busy folks and beginners.
It also comes with an attractive design with fun color options, ready to cook and show.
Feature: Digital, 8 presets + customized setting
Power: 1700 watts (180 - 400°F)
Capacity: 5.8 qt
MOST USER-FRIENDLY
If you look for a small, uncomplicated air fryer that promises the tasty feat, this Cuisinart is deserved. Don’t underrate this compact oven as it has a noticeably quick and easy working—no need to preheat like a full-sized oven, just simply set the temperature and dial timer. With better heat element and wider basket than small-sized models, it delivers more even, faster and crispy results with less bunts. It helps making the leftovers taste better, too.
Overall, it’s highly proposed for single or couples who need a straightforward but dependable machine.
Feature: Manual
Power: n/a watts (250 - 450°F)
Capacity: 2.5 lbs
BEST PERFORMANCE OVEN
This expert’s favorite is a ‘can do everything’ machine—from regular toasts, crunchy French fries, crisp-skin wings, dehydrated fruits to a turkey roast. As a full-size model with 1800-watt, precise computerized heat element and turbo fans, it yields steady temperature and effective convection: the results are exceptional—golden brown crispness without dried out—far better than most rivals. Aside from uncomplicated, practical functions, it cooks and preheat superfast.
All along, if you need a reliable, big oven that for universal jobs with air fries, this Breville is deserved.
Feature: 13 Presets
Power: 1800 watts
Capacity: 5.8 qt
BEST AIR FRYER+TOASTER OVEN
As a specialist in the oven market, the Cuisinart makes no disappointed for their air fryer ovens. With potent 1800 watts and 7 functions, the TOA-60 is perfect for daily routines—big enough to effectively circulate heat while no need to preheat like full-sized ones. The performance is impressive: it quickly delivers very crispy, tasty results without drying out (slightly uneven toasts but still beautiful) and tender cakes. Pleasingly, the operation is quiet.
With boxy 15.5 x 16-inch shape, this gorgeous retro-look oven fits for limited countertops, too.
Feature: Manual, 7 presets
Power: 1800 watts (250 - 450°F)
Capacity: 0.6 cu.ft.
BEST COMPACT
Updated from the popular, pro’s pick Digital Turbostar HD9641/96, this new version comes with even better results and features—reducing up to 90% fat, faster and better AirFlow technology that cooks 1.5-time quicker than the ovens. The performance is surpassed: it efficiently brings crispy outside with moist inside texture, most evenness and finest brown color and very less soggy or overdone patches among the basket models. This compact-designed unit is also easy to control and clean-up.
It comes with a 100+ recipes in the app and a 30 chef’s proof dishes cookbook.
Feature: Digital, 4 presets
Power: 1425 watts (~ 176 - 396°F)
Capacity: 2.75 qt
BEST SMART TECHNOLOGY
Proscenic T21 App & Alexa Control XL
Imagine that you can simply control your cooker while lying on the sofa—this smart unit let doing this. More than digital 8 pre-programs that can be combined, the T21 can be monitored remain cooking time, change the temperature, save and share your recipes via its app. The large capacity and 1700-watts power deliver better cooking ability than standard basket models. It also has the preheat function that helps making crispier and fresher results.
Plus, the modern design and LED display fill a rich look to the kitchen.
Feature: Digital, 8 presets + customized setting
Power: 1700 watts (~ 170 - 400°F)
Capacity: 5.5 liter (~ 5.8 qt)
BIG CAPACITY & FEATURE
Iconites Plus 10-in-1 Air Fryer Oven
This multicooker is highly recommended for those who raves for cooking crispy frozen French fries, a whole juicy roasted chicken, BBQs, steaks, baked pizzas or even fruit dehydrates. With effective 1800-watt power and a massive capacity, it provides large cooking space and effective functions in fast, crunchy taste and impressively even results. Plus, it comes with a broad range of 13 handy accessories for most duties—no need to spend more!
Also, this oven requires smaller counterspace than common ovens that is benefit for limited space dwellers.
Feature: Digital, 10 presets + customized setting
Power: 1800 watts (180 - 400°F)
Capacity: 20 qt
BEST MULTI-TASKER
The Ninja Foodi is beneficially mixture of slow cooker, pressure cooker and air fryer, which is rarely found in the market. The overall performance is decent. With 1,460-watt power and TenderCrisp technology, it conveniently delivers crispy and juicy fries without excess grease, golden-brown roasts, easy potato roasts, quick and tender meat stews, delicious yogurts, freshly steamed veggies and dehydrated fruits in one pot—less mess to clean. it’s also easy to use and cleanup.
Plus, the 15 chef-inspired and 45 recipes cookbook is an extra gain.
Feature: 10 presets:
Power: 1460 watts
Capacity: 6.5 qt
Since air fryers now are vastly different in type, style, shape and function, in this review, we categorized them into 5 most popular types:
Unlike the oven-style models, the basket—bucket or pod-shaped—air fryers come in small volume and limited space to have high heat circulation, so they normally have less power, lower heating element and poorer cooking ability, even in the same capacity. But they expediently work much quicker without preheating and have tiny footprint.
Of all the basket models, the Philips air fryers win the game for effective results—most evenly, crispiest and quickest. Yet, the efficiency comes with price.
Philips HD9721/96 Premium Airfryer ($199* for 2.75 qt) is a good choice to save nearly 50 bucks to get the same capacity, cooking ability and quality as the Philips HD9741/96 Premium Airfryer ($245* for 2.75 qt), by sacrificing digital and preset functions.
Philips HD9240/94 Airfryer XL ($299* for 3.5 qt) is very similar to the HD9741/96 Premium as delivering the same results in larger capacity, 4 serves, while the HD9650/96 Airfryer XXL ($349* for 4 qt) provides even bigger cooking space for 6 serves, with more preset programs and more powerful wattage. Though the bigger machines work flawlessly, they occupy a lot of counterspace, operate noisy and is expensive as a bigger oven. For the price, you can get a good oven that cooks better and bigger.
Ninja DZ201 Foodi 6-in-1 2-Basket Air Fryer, with DualZone Technology ($149* for 8 qt), a digital control with 6 presets, comes with a fascinating concept—2 baskets for cooking 2 recipes with different temperature and time all together.
Ninja DZ201 Foodi 6-in-1 2-Basket Air Fryer
The cooking ability is relative to the Ninja AF101 ($99* for 4 qt), which outstrips for cooking crispy-skin wings and meats with moist inside, as well as frozen foods. If you can splurge more on budget and the counterspace, the DZ201 is good to consider.
Instant Vortex 4-in-1 Air Fry ($99* for 6 qt) is a par competitor of the Cosori ($119* for 5.8 qt)—around 6-quart capacity, digital control, 1700-watt power, sleek design and price. However, the Cosori produces smoother results: it delivers more even, less dried-out, juicier and less burnt fries. It’s also weaker for handling frozen foods. Moreover, many users criticized about the unbearable plastic smell that makes the food taste like burnt plastic, as well as gets dangerously hot during cooking.
Dash Compact Air Fry ($49* for 1.2 qt) is one of the smallest fryers in the market. The cooking ability are in average and inflexible: it’s too deficit in both capacity and power for many recipes. Still, unless you need an uncomplicated gadget for a single serve, it’s good for the price.
Dash Tasti Crisp Air Fryer ($59* for 2.6 qt), the bigger model with underpowered 1,000-watt power, cooks unpleasantly slower and less even than higher-tier models, like the Phillips or the Cosori—delivers acceptable fries with soggy bottoms and darken-brown wings.
Dash Deluxe Electric Air Fryer ($99* for 6 qt) is probably a best bet of Dash’s fryers. With 1700-watt power, the Dash Deluxe has good performance. It gives satisfied French fries and easy-to-cook foods, like veggies, while the greasy ingredients, such as a mozzarellas, wings or sausages, need to monitor cautiously. However, at around $100 and a manual control, there’re many competent digital models that perform better.
Ultrean AF01 Air Fryer ($80* for 4.2 qt), a 1500-watt machine, is a nice entry-leveled fryer. It has a clearly fool-proofed control and cooks nicely (but a bit slow and uneven) in an affordable price. However, it’s less durability then our pick and the nonstick basket gets scratches easily.
GoWISE GW22955 Electric Air Fryer with Dehydrator ($120* for 7 qt) is an advanced version of the GoWise GW22731 Air Fryer XXL ($90* for 7 qt). Far from a more beautiful appearance and an added dehydrator, it cooks quite like the GoWise XXL with a longer cooking timer. If you need these additional features, spending an extra 30 bucks to get this upgrader might be value.
Commonly, the toaster ovens with an air fryer feature—or, actually, convection toaster ovens enhancing with better conditions for creating hot air circulation—deliver much better-quality results from a bigger capacity, more convection fan (s) and higher power. However, these ovens are slower to preheat, bulkier to store, less energy-efficient and higher price—unfavorable for cooking small amount of foods, like snacks and side dishes.
In this market, the Breville BOV900BSS Smart Oven Air ($400*) is a gold standard that yields quality results.
This is a new type of air fryer that raises more popularity these days. The air fryer oven—a.k.a. air fryer toaster oven or air fryer with rotisserie—is a wise combo of full-sized toaster ovens and basket models, by getting rid of irrelevant features and downsizing the full-sized models.
Cuisinart TOA-60 ($199*) is a best-selling product. It gives consistency and dependable results with quick operation.
See more about the air fryer oven reviews and the best picks.
Nowadays, the all-in-one pressure cookers have the biggest shares in this market. These multicookers offer 2 different cooking elements on the lids: one for pressure cooker, another for air fry. Even Though the air fry feature isn’t as good as regular models or ovens, they’re beneficial for available various cooking techniques.
Instant Pot Duo Crisp Pressure Cooker 11-in-1 with Air Fryer ($180* for 8-qt) runs 1500-watt power smoothly in most duties, especially for pressure cooking. However, it delivers less crispy and more soggy results than the Ninja Foodi Deluxe ($199* for 6.5 qt).
Emeril Everyday Pressure Air Fryer ($200* for 8 qt) performs overall duties impressively with massive preset programs, includes air fry. However, it doesn’t come with full accessories for air fry. So, you have to spend for more additional pieces, such as a mesh basket. Moreover, it has a confusing manual that makes difficult to learn for beginners.
Carl Schmidt Sohn Multi-Use Pressure Cooker & Air Fryer Combos ($180* for 6.5 qt) is a reliable alternative for the Ninja Foodi for successful delivering crunchy results on French Fries and veggies but takes pretty longer time to cook. Also, the air fry lid is too bulky and a bit tricky to use. Else, all functions work satisfied like a basket model.
Crock-Pot Express Crock Multi-Cooker with Crisping Lid ($180* for 8 qt), another combination of pressure cooker, slow cooker and air fryer, cooks everything good except air fry—difficult to set and monitor while gives just average results.
The air fryer lids can transform a pressure cooker to air fryer easily. So, the cooking results are close to multicookers with air fryer.
Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid 6-in-1 ($80 for 6 qt), 1500-watt power, is compatible with most 6-quart Instant Pot cookers—Smart WiFi 60, Smart Bluetooth, Duo Evo Plus 6, Duo Evo Plus 60, Duo SV 60 or Max 60. The results are as good as the Instant Pot Duo Crisp. The setting is easy and flexible with 6 digital programs for air fry, roast, bake, broil, reheat and dehydrate, and a manual setting. If you already own an Instant Pot and need a small fryer for occasional use, it’s better value to buy another basket one.
Mealthy CrispLid for Pressure Cooker ($80* for 6 or 8 qt) fits both 6- and 8-quart pots. With 1,000 watts, it performs acceptably well but slower than the Instant Pot. However, it’s lack of preset programs so you need some experience to find the sweet spots of each recipe (but the cooking direction in their app can help). Still, as the lid is a tempered glass, it’s more durable and easier to monitor food while cooking.
