Air fryers have quickly become a must-have appliance in many kitchens: They provide functions that microwaves and toaster ovens simply can’t match. Using significantly less oil (or none at all), these countertop appliances can recreate the deliciously crispy exterior of traditional fried foods, such as fried chicken and French fries…with far fewer nutrition “red flags.” Some models also offer additional cooking functions, allowing you to roast, bake, reheat or dehydrate foods as well.
The best air fryers recreate the crunchy exterior of fried foods without the oil or the mess. Here … [+] are our top picks from Ninja, Breville, Instant Pot and more.
Jonathan Baudoin/Forbes
The best air fryer for your kitchen really depends on your needs. These machines come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from simple 2-quart models that solely air-fry foods to high-end ones that double as toaster ovens. As you shop, you’ll want to consider how much food you typically cook at once, as well as if you have use for additional functions. While it may be handy to roast or dehydrate foods in your air fryer, these bells and whistles tend to drive up the overall price of the appliance.
With these factors in mind, the following are the best air fryers to recreate less oily versions of your favorite fried foods.
A Well-Made Model That Couldn’t Be Easier To Operate And Clean
Capacity: 6.2 liters
Features: Digital display, seven presets, keep warm setting
Additional Functions: Grill, roast, bake, reheat
The Philips Essential Airfryer is a top choice for virtually any home, as it’s extremely easy to use. This gadget has a 2.65-pound capacity that can hold up to five servings at once, allowing you to cook for the whole family, and it also boasts functions for grilling, roasting, baking and reheating foods. The basket has a nonstick coating that makes it easy to clean after cooking, but you can also put any of the appliance’s removable parts in the dishwasher for hands-off cleaning.
To take the guesswork out of cooking, this model has seven preset programs for frozen snacks, French fries, meat, fish, chicken drumsticks, cake and grilled veggies. The “keep warm” function will hold your food at the perfect serving temperature for up to 30 minutes, and the appliance’s LED screen is easy to operate.
Pros:
Great value
Seven preset cooking functions
Mid-size capacity
Dishwasher safe parts
Cons:
Non-precise 25-degree temperature adjustments
Most Popular Air Fryer
A Top-Rated Model With Ample One-Touch Cooking Options
Additional Functions: Toast, roast, bake, grill, cook from frozen
It can take some trial and error to nail down air fryer cook times and temperatures, but the fan-favorite Cosori Premium Air Fryer makes it a little easier thanks to its many preset cooking options. This air fryer has a 5.8-quart capacity, and when it’s time to get cooking, you can select a one-touch preset to start your meal instantly, with options that include steak, poultry, seafood, shrimp, bacon, frozen foods, French fries, vegetables, root vegetables, bread and desserts. Alternatively, you can set the time and cooking temperature yourself, choosing anywhere from 170 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Pros:
Tons of preset options for easy operation
Includes 100-recipe cookbook
Cons:
Some users may not appreciate the excess buttons
Best Mid-Size Air Fryer
An Attractive Air Fryer With A 6-Quart Basket
Capacity: 6 quarts
Features: Touchscreen display, fast preheat, square basket
Additional Functions: Bake, roast and reheat
If you’re looking for an air fryer that’s not too big or too small, the Instant Vortex is the way to go. This mid-size air fryer can accommodate up to 6 quarts of food at a time, and it’s able to fit more food per batch thanks to its square-shaped basket. Plus, in addition to air-frying, it can also be used to bake, roast, or reheat your food.
This air fryer allows you to select temperatures between 95 and 400 degrees, and it even has customizable one-touch cooking programs that you can adjust to quickly make your favorite foods. The appliance heats up quickly, and its nonstick basket can simply be put in the dishwasher for easy cleaning.
Pros:
Square basket fits more food
Dishwasher-safe basket
Customizable one-touch programs
Cons:
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Best Large Air Fryer
An Oversized Air Fryer That Can Bake, Toast, Roast And More
Capacity: 10 quarts
Features: Minimal preheating time, simple touch controls
If you’re cooking for a family or want to be able to air-fry for guests, you may want something that’s a little larger. The Instant Vortex Pro Air Fryer offers a much larger capacity than other options on this list, sitting in at a hefty 10 quarts.
Thankfully, it’s not just big—the Instant Vortex Pro air fryer is also highly functional, offering nine settings, including the ability to bake, broil, air fry, dehydrate and more. It’s a little more expensive than some of the others on this list, but it’s still very affordable—and nowhere near the price of the premium options.
Pros:
Above-average capacity
9-in-1 functionality (including rotisserie)
Glass panel for viewing
Cons:
Best Small Air Fryer
A Simple, Compact Appliance That Solely Air Fries
Editor’s Pick
Capacity: 2.6 quarts
Features: Auto shut-off, redesigned Crisper Basket
Additional Functions: None
Many air fryers are quite large and take up a fair bit of counter space, but if you’re looking for a smaller appliance, the Dash Tasti-Crisp Air Fryer is an affordable option that will take up minimal room. This 2.6-quart air fryer is very basic, solely offering air frying with few additional features. There’s a dial on the top of the unit to set the temperature and a dial on the front to set the time, and it will automatically shut off when the timer ends to prevent overcooking.
What’s more, the Dash is Vetted-editor approved. As one staffer shares, “It is small and manageable, and the handle on top makes it easy to move around.” And if you prefer to keep it on your countertop, it comes in a variety of fun colors including red, white and this modern aqua shade.
Pros:
Compact and lightweight
Easy to operate
Budget-friendly
Cons:
Best Budget Air Fryer
A Inexpensive Model With Numerous Preset Cooking Options
Capacity: 3.7 quarts
Features: Digital display, 8 presets, recipe book
Additional Functions: N/A
Certain high-end air fryers can be quite pricey, but if you’re OK with a basic model that solely air fries, this appliance from GoWISE is a solid choice that costs a whole lot less. (If you want a wallet-friendly model with more features, the basic Ninja Air Fryer can also dehydrate, roast and reheat.) This sleek gadget comes in four different colors, and it has a sizable 3.7-quart capacity. It has a digital screen that lets you set the temperature between 170 and 400 degrees Fahrenheit, and you can set its timer anywhere from one to 30 minutes.
That’s not all, either. The budget air fryer has eight preset cooking programs, including options for warming, fries/chips, chicken, steak, shrimp, pork, cake and fish. Plus, the appliance comes with a recipe book with 50 different meals to make in your new air fryer.
Pros:
Affordable
Available in several colors
Eight preset cooking functions
Includes recipe book
Cons:
Some buyers may prefer more features
Most Versatile Air Fryer
A 12-In-1 Appliance That Can Pressure Cook, Slow Cook And More
Capacity: 8 quarts
Features: Simple digital touchpad, crisping lid
Additional Functions: Pressure cook, steam, slow cook, yogurt, sear/sauté, bake, roast, broil, dehydrate, sous vide
A versatile appliance, the Ninja Foodi Pressure Cooker and Air Fryer has air frying capabilities, as well as pressure cooking, baking, slow cooking and steaming function, among several others. This appliance has a 5-quart ceramic-coated pot and a 3-quart cook-and-crisp basket that can hold up to a 4-pound chicken or three pounds of French fries, and its 8-quart capacity makes it an ideal option for large households.
This 12-in-1 appliance includes a special Crisping Lid that gives food a crunchy, golden finish, and it has a wide range of safety features to prevent accidents while pressure cooking and air frying. The pressure cook setting prepares foods 70% faster than traditional cooking methods, all while sealing in juices. It can also cook frozen foods, saving you the hassle of defrosting.
Do you love the convenience of a toaster oven? If so, the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro might be the perfect appliance to add to your kitchen. This sleek gadget serves as both a toaster oven and air fryer, offering more ways to cook without ever turning on your oven.
This Breville appliance has a wide range of cooking functions, from toasting to slow cooking, and its 1-cubic-foot interior can feed a family (and fit a 5-quart Dutch oven). It comes with a variety of accessories, including two racks, a pizza stone, an air frying basket and more, and it has an extra-wide temperature range of 80 to 480 degrees Fahrenheit.
Pros:
Takes the place of two appliances
Includes a variety of accessories
Large capacity
Cons:
Best Small Air Fryer Toaster Oven
A Toaster Oven/Air Fryer Combo That’s Efficient But Compact
Like the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro, the Cuisinart TOA-60 is actually a toaster oven that’s equipped with air frying capabilities, but in a smaller design. It has seven cooking functions including air fry, convection bake, convection broil, warming and toasting, and comes with an oven rack, baking pan and air fryer basket for more versatility. All this plus “whisper-quiet” operation will make it your new favorite appliance.
According to one Forbes Vetted contributor, the Cuisinart TOA-60 really is worth the hype. “My family loves this air fryer, which we’ve had for about a year, and I’m glad we finally bought one after hearing so many good things about them,” she shares. “We get the most use out of its ‘air fryer’ function, which we mostly use for frozen foods like zucchini fries, chicken nuggets, onion rings and garlic bread. We also bake frozen foods using the regular ‘bake’ function, and it significantly cuts down on baking time because it preheats more quickly than our full-size oven—and cooks about twice as fast.”
Pros:
Two appliances in one
Quiet operation
Nonstick interior
Cons:
Capacity may be too small for some families
What To Consider When Buying An Air Fryer
Size
Air fryers can be fairly large, so it’s important to look at the dimensions of the appliance to ensure it will fit in your kitchen. Keep in mind that air fryers typically need several inches of room on all sides for proper ventilation during use.
Size Comparison of Air Fryers: Philips Essential Airfryer XL (left) and Instant Vortex 6-Quart Air … [+] Fryer (right).
JONATHAN BAUDOIN/FORBES
Capacity
The capacity of an air fryer, which indicates how much food it can hold, can range anywhere from 2 to 10 quarts (or more). A smaller air fryer with a capacity less than 4 quarts is ideal for a one- or two-person household, whereas bigger families will likely want a larger appliance that can cook more servings at once. You may also want to consider whether the air fryer can accommodate your family’s favorite foods, such as a rotisserie chicken or frozen pizzas.
Temperature Range
Similar to ovens, most air fryers offer a range of cooking temperatures, typically between 100 and 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Appliances with a larger temperature range will allow you to cook more recipes, while those with a smaller range are useful for basics like French fries.
Other Functions
Many of today’s air fryers offer additional functions to increase their versatility. Depending on the types of food you usually cook, you may want to look for an appliance that can broil, bake, or dehydrate foods. Some more advanced air fryers can also toast, slow cook, and even cook food on a rotisserie shaft. You can also look for options with specific preset settings to take the guesswork out of cooking the meals you make most.
How We Picked Our Air Fryers
To put together this list of the best air fryers, we included some of our staffers’ favorite picks that they use in their own kitchens. We also researched some of the top models on the market, taking the following factors into consideration:
Customer ratings
We looked at dozens of reviews from verified buyers as we compared different air fryer models, aiming only to include products with more than 1,000 reviews and an overall rating of at least 4 stars. Using these customer reviews, we noted the strengths and potential pain points of each air fryer, which helped us sort products into their best use cases.
Functions
Many of today’s air fryers do more than just air fry—some are able to roast, dehydrate, bake, broil and reheat foods, just to name a few additional functions. While compiling this list, we looked into the different functions offered by each model, selecting products that struck a good balance between versatility and value.
Callout features
We also looked at each appliance’s special features (or lack thereof) as we selected models to feature. We looked for appliances in a range of sizes that would be appropriate for different sized households, as well as options at different price points. We also aimed to include air fryers that offer special settings, such as rotisserie cooking and dual-basket cooking, as these are highly sought-after features among many shoppers.
Frequently Asked Questions About Air Fryers
What Does An Air Fryer Do?
Air fryers don’t really fry. Instead, air fryers work similarly to a countertop convection oven. They have a heating mechanism and a fan that blows hot air around the food, creating a browning and crisping effect that’s similar to a deep fryer (but without all the added oil).
What Are The Pros And Cons Of An Air Fryer?
There are many benefits that come along with owning an air fryer. These appliances excel at creating a crispy exterior on food, and most are also extremely quick and easy to operate. They’re great for reheating foods like pizza—an air fryer won’t make the crust rubbery like the microwave—and certain models, such as toaster oven combos, can even replace multiple kitchen appliances.
However, there are downsides to air fryers, as well. These appliances are often large and require space all around for proper ventilation during operation. Additionally, some models have a limited capacity inside their baskets, forcing you to cook foods in multiple batches.
