The 6 greatest air fryers for 2024, examined and reviewed

You’ve most likely been tempted to leap on the air-fryer bandwagon in current months and, you probably have not but taken the plunge, we’re right here to assist. Like the ever present Instantaneous Pot that got here earlier than it, air fryers have surged in recognition as of late, promising additional crispy meals of every kind with out the mess and hazard of an enormous vat of sizzling oil. These small home equipment are available all styles and sizes now and they could be a versatile addition to your kitchen, as long as you realize what they’re (and aren’t) able to. For individuals who are nonetheless deciding on which air fryer is true for them, our information can demystify the house for you and spotlight a few of the greatest air fryers you will get proper now.

Desk of contents

What does an air fryer do?

Let’s clear one factor up first: it’s not frying. Not likely. Air fryers are extra like smaller convection ovens, ones which can be typically pod-shaped. Most work by combining a heating factor and fan, which suggests the recent air can often higher crisp the skin of meals than different strategies. They typically attain increased prime temperatures than toaster ovens – which is a part of the attraction.

For many recipes, a skinny layer of oil (often sprayed) helps to duplicate that fried feel and appear higher. Nonetheless, it can hardly ever style exactly just like the deep-fried model when it comes out of the air fryer basket. Don’t let that put you off, although, as a result of the air fryer, in its many varieties, combines a few of the greatest components of different cooking processes and brings them collectively into an energy-efficient method of cooking dinner. Or breakfast. Or lunch.

Learn extra: We’ve additionally rounded up the best pizza ovens and the best sous vide machines.

Greatest air fryers for 2024

COSORI

Capability: 6-quart | Sort: Pod-shaped | Cooking capabilities: Air fry, broil, roast, frozen, bake, reheat, preheat, dry, proof, heat | Weight: 13 lb | Energy consumption: 1725W | Depth: 14.4” | Top: 11.9” | Width: 11.8”

We’ve examined a couple of Cosori small kitchen home equipment prior to now and have usually appreciated them, and the six-quart 9-in-1 air fryer isn’t any completely different. Whereas Instantaneous’s Vortex has the higher hand principally because of its ClearCook window, those that don’t thoughts peeking contained in the machine to take a look at their meals ought to take into account Cosori’s machine. Its six-quart capability is nice for facet dishes like brussel sprouts and onion rings, however it’s additionally giant sufficient to have fairly a couple of hen wings and an entire block of tofu with out an excessive amount of overlap. The rounded-square basket is among the roomiest I’ve seen on a tool with as (comparatively) small of a footprint as Cosori’s air fryer.

Total, this Cosori air fryer crisped up meals properly no matter in the event that they began off uncooked, frozen or fridge-cool. The 9 preset cooking modes embrace a preheat choice for beginning issues off proper on the exact temperature, a proof choice for bakers and a devoted frozen setting for premade appetizers and snacks. Most individuals will probably use the usual air fry mode probably the most, however it’s handy to have so many different choices, together with the fundamentals like broil, bake and roast.

After testing numerous air fryers over the previous few years, I admire the small options this Cosori mannequin has like a simple to make use of touchscreen, a basket launch button (a very good security function, since you need to press it to take away the basket from the primary unit) and the auto-pause function that turns the cooking factor off while you launch the basket (it’ll flip proper again on, although, for those who simply opened it up for a fast look).

Professionals

• Spacious cooking basket
• 9 preset cooking modes
• Useful basket-release button

Cons

• Just a little on the extensive facet

$120 at Amazon

Ninja

Capability: As much as 10-quart | Sort: Pod-shaped | Cooking capabilities: Fry, broil, roast, bake, reheat, dehydrate | Weight: 19.80 lb | Energy consumption: 1690W | Depth: 17.1” | Top: 12.8” | Width: 13.9”

Most machines could make one factor at a time, however Ninja’s Dual Zone digital air fryer can deal with two completely completely different meals concurrently, making it a prime air fryer by our requirements. Obtainable in 8- and 10-quart capacities, this dual-basket air fryer isn’t compact, so it gained’t be a very good choice for these with small kitchens. Nonetheless, you probably have the counter house, it may very well be one of the best air fryer to spend money on particularly for those who cook dinner for a big household. You may prep two completely completely different meals, like a hen breast and brownies, on the similar time with completely completely different cooking modes, or use Match Cook dinner to arrange meals within the twin baskets the identical method. The heating zones are impartial, so for those who solely wish to replenish one facet with french fries and depart the opposite empty, you are able to do that as nicely.

We admire how rapidly the Ninja air fryer heats up (there’s little to no preheating time in any respect) and the way it runs comparatively quietly. It additionally has a function known as Good End that may routinely alter cooking instances in order that your fried hen thighs within the first chamber and asparagus within the second will end on the similar time, so that you don’t have to attend for one a part of your meal to be prepared whereas the opposite will get chilly. Normally, dual-zone air frying capabilities aren’t mandatory for most individuals, however those that cook dinner typically will get a variety of use out of machines just like the Ninja Foodi.

Professionals

• Two separate chambers for cooking completely different meals
• Good End function adjusts cooking instances so meals end concurrently

$196 at Amazon

Instantaneous Pot

Capability: 2-quart | Sort: Pod-shaped | Cooking capabilities: Fry, bake, roast, reheat | Weight: 7.28 lb | Energy consumption: 1300W | Depth: 11.26” | Top: 11.73” | Width: 9.02”

Not solely is the Instant Vortex Mini budget-friendly with a $60 price ticket (and you may typically discover it on sale for much less), however it’s additionally one of the best small air fryer on this record. Most air fryers will take up a variety of treasured countertop house, however this two-quart mannequin is nice for individuals who don’t have rather a lot to spare and are in search of one thing that’s significantly user-friendly. The Vortex Mini can air fry, bake, roast and reheat, and you may management the temperature and cook dinner time utilizing the dial sitting in the midst of its touchscreen. In contrast to a few of the different, dearer air fryers we examined, which have quite a lot of modes and settings, the Vortex Mini is lifeless easy to make use of. Simply plug it in, press the preset cooking methodology of your alternative, customise the temperature and cook dinner time and press Begin. The machine will beep about midway by means of the cycle to let you realize when to flip your meals, and it’ll chime once more as soon as it’s completed.

Arguably the most important caveat to the Vortex Mini can be its greatest energy. It’s so compact that cooking multiple factor, or a variety of one factor, gained’t be straightforward. However I used to be in a position to cook dinner an entire block of tofu minimize into cubes (with a little bit of overlap) and reheat (and re-crisp) leftovers in it for myself and my fiancé with no issues. Total, this compact air fryer might be onerous to beat for these with tight budgets and tiny kitchens.

Professionals

• Reasonably priced
• Straightforward to make use of touchscreen and dial

$60 at Amazon

Breville

Capability: 1 cubic foot | Sort: Convection oven | Cooking capabilities: Toast, bagel, broil, bake, roast, heat, pizza, proof, fry, reheat, cookies, sluggish cook dinner, dehydrate | Weight: 38.9 lb | Energy consumption: 1800W | Depth: 17.5” | Top: 21.5” | Width: 12.7”

Hear, most individuals don’t want the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro. However for those who like to cook dinner, have a big household or throw a bunch of events, you’ll probably get a ton of use out of this machine. This stainless-steel countertop oven is a beast, measuring one cubic foot, so be ready to carve out some house in your kitchen for it. However its dimension permits it to cook dinner a whole 14-pound turkey and match issues like a five-quart dutch oven and a 9 x 13 pan inside it. This massive air fryer mainly acts like a second oven, or perhaps a major one in case your primary oven is out of fee.

As one of the best air fryer toaster oven on this record, it’s fairly succesful and its dimension helps since you’ll be able to unfold your meals out to make sure issues are as crispy as doable. It additionally helps which you can cook dinner a variety of servings directly, which can make it simpler for those who’re making ready snacks like bagels for brunch, appetizers for a celebration or a facet dish for a household dinner. Along with air frying, it has numerous different cooking modes together with toast, broil, bake, pizza, dehydrate, sluggish cook dinner and proof. Regardless of the “sensible” moniker, this mannequin doesn’t have app connectivity – however you will get that function for those who improve to the Joule. That’ll assist you to get push notifications when your meals’s prepared, and the companion app additionally has guided recipes which you’ll observe together with. Unsurprisingly, like most Breville devices, each the Joule and the usual Good Oven Air Fryer Professional are fairly costly, coming in at $500 and $400, respectively. However for those who’re trying so as to add the flexibility of a multi-use machine to your kitchen, Breville has you coated.

Professionals

• Can cook dinner a whole 14-pound turkey
• Versatile with 13 cooking modes

$300 at Amazon

Ninja

Capability: 5.5-quart | Sort: Pod-shaped | Cooking capabilities: Air fry, air roast, bake, reheat, dehydrate | Weight: 11.7 lb | Energy consumption: 1750W | Depth: 11” | Top: 14.75” | Width: 14”

Ninja’s 5.5-quart Air Fryer XL may very well be thought of an honest various funds choice contemplating it’s often on sale for between $90 and $110. Whereas that’s nonetheless at the very least $30 greater than our primary funds choose, Ninja’s machine greater than doubles the capability and provides a helpful dehydrate preset for anybody that likes to make their very own fruit or veggie chips. Some will admire the marginally raised buttons on Ninja’s air fryer for offering a bit extra tactile suggestions when adjusting cooking time and temperatures, and the truth that it’s tall quite than extensive, profiting from probably unused vertical house in between your counter and cupboards.

The most important challenge for me with this Ninja air fryer was its pod form. Whereas fairly commonplace on the earth of air fryers, I discovered its round cooking basket to really feel way more cramped than the rounded sq. basket of our Cosori prime choose. However, Ninja’s machine cooked uncooked and frozen meals nicely and is one other easy-to-use choice that solely requires a few button presses to get began.

Professionals

• Tactile raised buttons
• Contains dehydrate setting
• Makes use of vertical house in your countertop

Cons

• Barely cramped, round cooking basket

$147 at Amazon

Shopping for information for air fryers

Convection ovens

You may separate most air fryers into two varieties and every has completely different execs and cons. Convection ovens are often ovens with air fryer capabilities and options. They may have increased temperature settings to make sure that meals crisps and cooks extra like really fried meals. Most convection ovens are bigger than devoted air fryers, defeating a few of the objective of these trying to shrink cooking equipment floor space. Nonetheless, they’re typically extra versatile with a number of cooking capabilities, and most have finer controls for temperatures, timings and even fan velocity.

You could by no means want a built-in oven you probably have an honest convection oven. They typically have the amount to deal with roasts, total chickens or tray bakes, and easily cook dinner extra, capacity-wise, making them extra versatile than the pod-shaped competitors.

The flip facet of that’s that you simply’ll want counter house within the kitchen to accommodate them. It additionally means you should utilize conventional oven equipment, like baking trays or cake tins, that you simply would possibly already personal.

Pod-shaped air fryers

Pod-shaped air fryers are what you think about while you suppose “air fryer.” They seem like a cool, space-age kitchen gadget, larger than a kettle however smaller than a toaster oven. Many use a drawer to carry components whereas cooking, often a mesh sheet or a extra strong, non-stick tray with holes to permit the recent air to flow into. With a couple of exceptions, most require you to open the drawer whereas issues cook dinner and flip or shake half-cooked gadgets to make sure the even distribution of warmth and airflow to every part.

That’s one of some caveats. Most pod-shaped air fryers – there are a couple of exceptions – don’t have a window to see how issues are cooking, so that you’ll must intently scrutinize issues as they cook dinner, opening the machine to test progress. Basket-style air fryers additionally usually use much less power – there’s much less house to warmth – and lots of have components that may be put straight right into a dishwasher.

A number of the bigger pod-shaped air fryers supply two separate compartments, which is particularly helpful for anybody planning to cook dinner a whole meal with the equipment. You possibly can cook dinner a few tasty hen wings or tenders whereas concurrently rustling up sufficient frozen fries or veggies for everybody. Naturally, these choices take up more room, and so they’re often heavy sufficient to cease you from storing them in cabinets or cabinets elsewhere.

As talked about earlier, you may need to purchase additional issues to make these pod fryers work the way in which you need them to. A number of the larger producers, like Philips and Ninja, supply handy additions, however you’ll should pay for them.

Air fryer execs and cons

Past the strengths and weaknesses of particular person fashions, air fryers are fairly straightforward to make use of from the outset. Most fashions include a handy cooking time booklet masking many of the main meals you’ll be air frying, so even newbies can grasp these machines.

One of many early promoting factors is the flexibility to cook dinner fries, wings, frozen meals and different delights with much less fats than different strategies like deep frying, which will get meals the crispiest. As air fryers work by circulating heated air, the trays and cooking plates have holes that may additionally let oil and fats drain out of meats, that means much less fats and crisper meals while you lastly plate issues up. For many cooking conditions, you’ll probably must evenly spray meals with vegetable oil. If you happen to don’t, there’s the possibility that issues will burn or char. The oil will hold issues moist on the floor, and we advise refreshing issues with a splash of oil spray while you flip gadgets throughout cooking.

Most air fryers are straightforward to wash – particularly compared to a shallow or deep fryer. We’ll get into cleansing steerage just a little later.

With a smaller house to warmth, air fryers are usually extra energy-efficient for cooking meals than bigger home equipment like ovens. And for those who don’t have an oven, air fryers are way more reasonably priced – particularly the pod choices.

There are, nonetheless, some drawbacks. Whereas air fryers are straightforward sufficient to make use of, they take time to grasp. You’ll alter cooking instances for even the best varieties of meals – like hen nuggets, frozen French fries or brussels sprouts. If you happen to’re the type of person who loves to seek out inspiration from the web, in our expertise, you’ll be able to just about throw their timings out of the window. There are a variety of air fryer choices, and components like how briskly they warmth and the way nicely distributed that warmth is can – and can – have an effect on cooking.

There’s additionally an area limitation to air fryers. This isn’t a TARDIS – there’s merely much less house than most conventional ovens and lots of deep fats fryers. In case you have a much bigger household, you’ll most likely wish to go for a big capability air fryer – presumably one which has a number of cooking areas. You additionally would possibly wish to take into account a unique kitchen equipment, like a multicooker, sous vide or sluggish cooker to fulfill your particular cooking wants.

You might also battle to cook dinner many gadgets by means of as the warmth settings will cook dinner the floor of dishes lengthy earlier than it’s cooked proper by means of. If you happen to’re planning to cook dinner an entire hen or a roast, please get a meat thermometer!

Greatest air fryer equipment

Past official equipment from the producer, attempt to choose up silicone-tipped instruments. Tongs are superb, as is a silicon spatula to softly loosen meals that may get caught on the perimeters of the air fryer. These silicone mats will even assist cease issues from sticking to the wire racks on some air fryers. They’ve holes to make sure the heated air remains to be in a position to flow into across the meals.

Silicone trivets are additionally helpful for resting any cooked meals on whilst you kind out the remainder of the meal. And if you end up needing oil spray, however don’t really feel like repeatedly shopping for tiny bottles, you’ll be able to decant your favourite vegetable oil right into a permanent mister like this.

Find out how to clear an air fryer

We’re retaining clear up easy right here. Sure, you possibly can use energy cleaners from the grocery retailer, they might harm the floor of your air fryer. Likewise, metallic scourers or brushes might strip away the non-stick coating. Keep in mind to unplug the machine and let it cool fully.

Take away the trays, baskets and every part else from inside. If the producer says the components are dishwasher secure – and you’ve got a dishwasher – the job is just about completed.

In any other case, hand wash every half in a mix of heat water, with a splash of Daybreak or one other sturdy dish cleaning soap. Use a soft-bristled brush to drag away any crumbs, greasy deposits or bits of meals caught to any surfaces. Keep in mind to rinse every part. In any other case, your subsequent batch of wings might have a gentle Daybreak aftertaste. Belief us.

Take a microfiber material and deal with the outer components and handles that may additionally get just a little messy after repeated makes use of. That is particularly helpful for oven-style air fryers – use the material to wipe down the internal sides.

If Daybreak isn’t shifting oily stains, attempt mixing a small quantity of baking soda with sufficient water to make a paste, and apply that in order that it doesn’t seep into any electrical components or the heating factor. Go away it to work for a couple of seconds earlier than utilizing a moist material to drag any greasy spots away. Rinse out the material and wipe every part down once more, and you have to be prepared for the subsequent time it is advisable air fry.

Find out how to discover air fryer recipes

Past fries, nuggets and – a revelation – frozen gyoza, there are a couple of methods to seek out recipes for air-fried meals. First, we discovered that the air fryer instruction manuals typically have cooking guides and recipe ideas so that you can check out in your new kitchen gadget. The great factor with these is that they had been made in your air fryer mannequin, that means success ought to be all however assured. They’re typically just a little unimaginative, nonetheless.

Lots of the prime recipe websites and portals don’t have any scarcity of air fryer recipes, and there’s no hurt in googling your favourite delicacies and including the phrases “air fryer” on the tip of the search string. We’ve picked up some dependable choices from Delish, which additionally has a helpful air fryer time converter for altering oven and conventional fryer recipes. BBC Good Food can be price looking for some easy concepts, as is NYT Cooking, with the flexibility to straight seek for air fryer ideas. Other than that, you can too seize loads of cookbooks out of your native bookshop with plenty of recipes that you should utilize in your favourite air fryer.

And you probably have a killer recipe or distinctive use in your air fryer, tell us within the feedback. What’s the air fryer equal of the Instantaneous Pot cheesecake? We’re able to attempt it.