best air fryers
The air fryer has become a kitchen must-have because it can reduce cooking times and make foods crispy and crunchy using minimal oil. But with so many models to choose from, finding the best air fryer isn’t easy. From traditional basket-style air fryers that are perfect for snacks and small meals to large-capacity air fryer ovens that can cook for larger groups, the options are nearly endless.
The BestReviews Testing Lab put more than 15 air fryers through their paces to identify the best models for every size home. We evaluated how well each cooked commonly air-fried foods, including french fries, chicken wings and hot dogs and considered how crispy and evenly cooked the finished products were and how long they took to cook. But we also observed how much food each air fryer could hold, how user-friendly the controls were and how easy they were to clean after cooking. We also noted how versatile each air fryer was, giving extra points to those models that could replace multiple appliances on the countertop.
Ultimately, we found that the Breville Joule Oven Smart Air Fryer Pro wins the best air fryer title because of its ability to quickly make crispy french fries and chicken wings, perform additional cooking functions besides air-frying and cook for groups of 10 or more.
Which air fryer is best?
Best overall air fryer
Product specifications
Type: Oven air fryer | Capacity: 1 cu ft | Dimensions: 17.3” L x 21.5” W x 12.8” H | Weight: 22.8 lb | Material: Stainless steel | Control Type: Knob/LCD display | Number of Functions: 13 | Temperature Range: 80 to 480 degrees
The Breville Joule Oven Smart Air Fryer Pro stood out as one of the largest air fryers we tested. However, that wasn’t the only area where this air fryer oven distinguished itself. Despite its larger cooking area, it was also one of the most efficient models, cooking faster than some basket-style air fryers we tested. The Joule took just 13 minutes to get frozen french fries crispy and golden brown with a tender, fluffy interior, which was 46% faster than preparing the fries in a standard oven. It also took just 9 minutes to get our bacon extra crisp using noticeably less grease than bacon we cooked in a traditional oven. As an air fryer oven, it offers 12 cooking functions and presets besides air-frying, so its versatility was another plus. We toasted two slices of bread to a perfect golden brown in just 3 minutes and used the Cookie setting to bake chocolate chip cookies with a crispy exterior and slightly soft center in only 11 minutes. We also successfully warmed up a leftover chicken parmesan hero with the Reheat setting, which took only 10 minutes to heat through.
The Joule offers an impressive 1 cubic foot of internal cooking space, which is large enough to accommodate a 14-pound turkey. We fit an entire 2-pound bag of frozen french fries in its air-frying basket with plenty of room to spare and nearly 2 pounds of chicken wings during testing, so it can feed a family and work well for entertaining. Its extra-large capacity obviously requires a good amount of countertop space, measuring 17.3” L x 21.5” W x 12.8” H. Still, we had no trouble finding a spot for the Joule in our testing area with 4 inches of clearance on each side and 6 inches on top.
In addition to its excellent air-frying performance and efficiency and generous capacity, the Joule was one of the few Wi-Fi-enabled air fryers we tested. It connects to the Breville+ app for recipe access and to the AutoPilot feature, which walks you through the steps of multifunction recipes and automatically switches the oven’s settings as necessary. We used it to make Extra-Crispy Bar-Style Tortilla Pizza, which finished with a crispy, browned edge and perfectly melted cheese, but we weren’t sure how helpful the feature really was. Still, we give the Joule a 5 out of 5 overall for its even air-frying, impressive capacity and versatility.
Best value air fryer
Product specifications
Type: Basket air fryer | Capacity: 2 qt | Dimensions: 11’26” L x 9” W x 11.73” H | Weight: 7.23 lb | Material: Plastic | Control Type: Touchpad | Number of Functions: 4 | Temperature Range: 120 to 400 degrees
The Instant Vortex 4-in-1 Mini Air Fryer was one of the smallest models we tested, but we found its smaller size had plenty of benefits. Its 2-quart capacity is large enough to hold six hot dogs, but the air fryer doesn’t take up much counter space. The smaller size also enabled it to preheat more quickly than larger models, requiring just 2 minutes compared to most other models’ 4 or 5. It also allowed the Vortex Mini to get foods extra crisp. It got frozen french fries extremely crispy in just 12 minutes and in only 18 minutes produced some of the crispiest chicken wings of all the air fryers we tested. We also loved how crisp and flavorful it got bacon in just 9 minutes, which was 40% faster than a standard oven.
While the Vortex Mini primarily functions as an air fryer, it offers three additional cooking functions: baking, roasting and reheating. We especially liked the Reheat function, which warmed up food in 2 to 3 minutes without crisping it significantly more. We also found the air-frying function versatile enough to toast bread, which took only 2 minutes. Additionally, the air fryer didn’t cool down between cooking tasks if we air-fried foods back-to-back, so we didn’t have to wait for it to preheat again, shortening our cooking times even further.
The Vortex Mini’s compact size made the air fryer very easy to clean. Because it holds less food, it doesn’t create as much grease, so we could easily wipe most of it away with a paper towel. We only had to follow up with a sponge dampened with warm water and dish soap to get it fully clean. While it’s best for one or two people or just heating up snacks, we give it a 5 out of 5 for its compact size that works in nearly any kitchen, crispy air-frying results and super-fast preheating.
Best air fryer for multizone cooking
Product specifications
Type: Basket air fryer | Capacity: 7 qt | Dimensions: 18.19” L x 11.81” W x 11.26” H | Weight: 17 lb | Material: Plastic | Control Type: Touchpad | Number of Functions: 6 | Temperature Range: 90 to 450 degrees
The Ninja Foodi FlexBasket Air Fryer is designed to allow for multizone cooking, so its basket comes with a removable divider that can create two zones inside for different foods. The FlexBasket is paired with the Smart Finish feature, which lets you choose different cooking temperatures for the two foods and then controls the cooking to ensure that both finish at the same time. We found that it was straightforward to use and produced solid results with evenly cooked foods in both baskets, though it did increase the overall cooking time. But the Foodi FlexBasket Air Fryer didn’t require preheating, which helped shorten our cooking times a bit. It was pretty efficient at air-frying, too. It needed just 18 minutes to cook chicken wings to an even crispiness on all sides, which was 55% faster than those prepared in the oven, and 12 minutes for crisp, golden-brown Brussels sprouts with excellent flavor, which was 63% faster than those made in the oven.
In addition to air-frying, we were pleased with the Reheat feature. It didn’t restore our leftovers to their original crispness, but the results were much better than microwave reheating, leaving the food hot and tasty with no burning. One of our favorite features was the Dehydration setting. We used it to dry out fresh herbs for seasoning recipes and found the process very easy. The total size of the Foodi FlexBasket Air Fryer’s basket is 7 quarts, so we could fit six chicken wings or an entire package of hot dogs. We found that the capacity was best for two people or small families, but we were impressed by the fact that it could cook different sizes and cuts of food evenly. We made several pork chops of various sizes and all were perfectly cooked.
The Foodi FlexBasket Air Fryer’s only major flaw was its noise level. It was clearly the loudest air fryer we tested, reaching levels similar to those of a vacuum. However, it was very easy to operate with a clearly configured display. We give it a 4 out of 5 for dual cooking zones, versatile functions and even cooking.
Best large-capacity air fryer oven
Product specifications
Type: Oven air fryer | Capacity: 1 cu ft | Dimensions: 21.5” W x 17.1” D x 12.7” H | Weight: 38.9 lb | Material: Stainless steel | Control Type: Knob/LCD display | Number of Functions: 13 | Temperature Range: 80 to 480 degrees
The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro is similar to the Breville Joule in nearly every way except it is not Wi-Fi enabled. The oven offers the same capacity of 1 cubic foot, so we could fit 2 pounds of french fries in its basket with room to spare. We could also air-fry 1.75 pounds of chicken wings, so it would also work for larger families and parties. Its cooking times were a minute or two longer than the Joule’s, but it was still among the more efficient air fryers we tested. Our french fries needed just 14 minutes to get golden and crispy with a flavorful, tender interior, which was 42% faster than those cooked in a regular oven, while it took 20 minutes to produce crispy, juicy chicken wings, which was 56% faster than those made in the oven.
Like the Joule, the Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro boasts 12 additional cooking functions besides air-frying, impressing us with its versatility. We used the Pizza setting to bake a frozen pizza that developed a crisp crust and nicely browned cheese in 20 minutes and the Toast setting to perfectly toast two slices of bread in about 4 minutes. The Reheat setting also worked like a charm for warming up leftover chicken and rice in 10 minutes without drying out the food. We found its various functions cooked all foods evenly, offering an accurate temperature within 1 or 2 degrees of the set temperature on the oven thermometer used during testing.
As with the Joule, the Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro requires significant counter space that could pose an issue in smaller kitchens. However, we didn’t have trouble finding a spot for it in our testing area, even with somewhat low overhead cabinets. Ultimately, we score it a 4.5 out of 5 for its versatility, even cooking and family-approved capacity.
Best multicooker air fryer
Product specifications
Type: Multicooker air fryer | Capacity: 6 qt | Dimensions: 13.8” L x 14.1” W x 12.4” H | Weight: 16 lb | Material: Plastic | Control Type: Touch controls | Number of Functions: 12 | Temperature Range: 90 to 450 degrees
While it isn’t an air fryer oven, the Ninja Speedi Rapid Cooker and Air Fryer is one of the most versatile models we tested. It offers 11 functions besides air-frying, including baking/roasting, broiling, dehydrating, slow cooking and sous vide. Because it uses steam for non-air-frying functions, it can create moisture quickly and significantly shorten cooking times. We were pleased with its air-frying performance: it made crispy, golden brown french fries in 15 minutes, crispy, delicious bacon in only 9 minutes and tasty hot dogs with crispy skin in just 8 minutes.
The Speedi was also very easy to use thanks to its simple, intuitive control panel. It provides quick access to all of the multicooker’s features with just a few taps, and the buttons are all highly responsive, so we didn’t need to press too hard to choose a setting. While it holds up to 6 quarts, we didn’t find its cooking surface to be that large, and we could only fit two burgers inside. However, because it opens from the top and has a deeper cooking cavity, it was excellent for foods like rice that don’t require the air to circulate around them for crisping.
While the Speedi isn’t quite as large as some air fryer ovens we tested, it does have a large footprint on the counter. However, the main issue we had with it in our testing area was that its lid opens upward, so we needed approximately 2 feet of space above it to open it fully. However, its versatility made up for that inconvenience, so we scored it a 4 out of 5 because it can cook quickly in many different ways and offers excellent air-frying results.
Best compact air fryer
Product specifications
Type: Basket air fryer | Capacity: 6 qt | Dimensions: 12” L x 15.31” W x 12.72” H | Weight: 14.5 lb | Material: Plastic | Control Type: Touch buttons and select knob | Number of Functions: 5 | Temperature Range: 120 to 400 degrees
If you’re looking for an air fryer that can fit in a small kitchen but still hold enough food for two to four people, the Instant Vortex Slim Air Fryer is an excellent choice. It has a long, narrow design, so we had no trouble finding a spot for it in our testing area. Despite its compact size, it holds more food than some larger models we tested. We could even bake cookies in the Vortex Slim, which we couldn’t do in many of the basket-style air fryers we tested. Its air-frying performance was impressive, too, so it struck the ideal balance between crispy and juicy. It took 18 minutes to make perfectly crispy chicken wings with a juicy, flavorful interior and 15 minutes to make crisp, golden french fries. The air-frying function was also easy to use and didn’t make as much noise as other air fryers we tested.
The Vortex Slim offers four additional cooking functions besides air-frying. We used the Bake function to make chocolate chip cookies that were crisp on the outside and soft in the center in just 10 minutes and delicious baked potatoes in only 36 minutes. We made perfectly toasted, flavorful garlic bread with the Broil feature in 2 minutes and warmed some chicken tenders with the Reheat function, needing only 4 minutes to heat them through. The air fryer also has a connected app with recipe access, but it had limited functionality and was pretty difficult to navigate.
The one issue we ran into with the Vortex Slim was that it didn’t fully burn off the manufacturing residue that often causes air fryers to give off a plastic smell during testing. The manufacturer claims it is normal and should burn away after a few uses, but it hadn’t entirely dissipated even after 15 uses. But its top-notch air-frying performance and slim design still earn it a 4 out of 5.
Best value air fryer oven
Product specifications
Type: Oven air fryer | Capacity: 26 qt | Dimensions: 16.3” L x 16.9” W x 15.5” H | Weight: 22 lb | Material: Stainless steel | Control Type: Buttons, LCD display and selector knob | Number of Functions: 12 | Temperature Range: 80 to 450 degrees
For anyone on a budget, the Cosori Smart Air Fryer Toaster Oven is an excellent value. It offers many of the same features as higher-end models like the Breville Joule but at a fraction of the price. Its air-frying performance is on par with those premium ovens, too, so you don’t have to sacrifice quality to save money. The Smart Air Fryer Toaster Oven has a 26-quart capacity that can hold a 5-pound chicken. We easily fit a 2-pound bag of frozen french fries in its air-frying basket and a 1.75-pound London broil on its food tray during testing. The oven is pretty bulky, but we didn’t have much trouble finding a place for it in our testing area. However, its height could be an issue in kitchens with low cabinets, so it’s best for more spacious kitchens.
The Cosori Smart Air Fryer Toaster Oven was one of the most efficient air fryer ovens we tested. It took only 12 minutes to make crispy, golden french fries with a fluffy interior, 50% faster than those made in our standard oven. The chicken wings we made were some of our favorites during testing. They had crispy skin with a slight char near the edges and wonderfully juicy, flavorful meat, all in just 18 minutes, or 61% faster than those we made in the oven. We were also pleased with how well it toasted bread and reheated leftover pizza. We also used the oven to fix London broil, cooking it at 425 degrees for 7 minutes on each side. The edges of the meat were slightly overcooked, but the rest was cooked evenly.
Like the Breville Joule, the Cosori Smart Air Fryer Toaster Oven is Wi-Fi enabled, so it can connect to the VeSync app. We had no trouble connecting the oven to Wi-Fi or the app and found its functionality to be better than the Breville+ app. We could not only access recipes but also control all of the oven’s settings from our smartphone even from another room. Overall, we scored it a 4 out of 5 for its advanced features, solid air-frying and cooking performance, impressive capacity and excellent value.
Best beginner-friendly air fryer
Product specifications
Type: Basket air fryer | Capacity: 6 qt | Dimensions: 12.8” L x 11.8” W x 14.9” H | Weight: 11.35 lb | Material: Plastic | Control Type: Touchscreen and selector | Number of Functions: 6 | Temperature Range: 95 to 400 degrees
If you’re new to the world of air-frying and want a model that’s easy to use, the Instant Vortex Plus can help simplify the process. We found that its simple design was very beginner-friendly, with a one-touch button for each of the six cooking functions and a knob to set the time and temperature. It also has a progress bar to let us know how far along in the cooking process our food was and a window in the front of the basket that allowed us to observe the food while it cooked. We also liked that it beeped halfway through air-frying to remind us to turn or flip the food to ensure it cooked evenly.
The Vortex Plus offered impressive air-frying performance. It made some of the juiciest chicken wings of the models we tested in 18 minutes, 55% faster than those made in a standard oven. It also cooked bacon 40% faster and hot dogs 58% faster than those in our regular oven. We toasted bread to a crisp golden brown in just 2 minutes and reheated leftover french fries in 3 minutes. The capacity of the Vortex Plus is another major plus. It’s large enough to hold eight hot dogs, 20 ounces of steak fries, six full-size pieces of bacon or over 16 ounces of Brussels sprouts. It would work well for four or five people.
We also found it was quieter during cooking than other air fryers we tested, making a soft whirring sound that didn’t interfere with conversation. It preheated quickly, taking just 2.5 minutes to reach temperature. Overall, we score the Vortex Plus a 4 out of 5 for its user-friendly operation and family-size capacity.
How air fryers work
An air fryer combines several different cooking methods in one convenient appliance.
- An electric coil suspended above the food provides radiant heat, much like a broiler element or stovetop burner. This dry heat penetrates the food and warms it internally.
- A fan positioned above the coil creates a current of superheated air that flows around and under the food. This is convection heating, a cooking method often found in commercial ovens.
- The convection action converts the small amount of oil used into a fine mist that coats the food as it circulates. This action mimics the effect traditional deep-frying has on foods submerged in hot cooking oil.
- As the hot air flows, the food's own moisture creates the steam needed to finish the cooking process.
Types of air fryers
- Basket: Basket-style air fryers are the most common type. They are usually egg-shaped and have a removable drawer with a basket that holds the food. With a smaller cooking area, they typically preheat and cook more quickly than other air fryer types and often get food crispier. They generally have a smaller footprint, making them a good fit for kitchens with limited counter space.
- Oven: Air fryer ovens combine the functions of an air fryer with those of a toaster oven, so they usually offer more cooking functions and greater versatility. They also have a larger capacity, making them an excellent choice for families. However, they require more space on the counter, so they might not fit in smaller kitchens. But they can replace multiple appliances to maximize counter space.
- Paddle: These air fryers are similar to basket air fryers but have a rotating paddle that moves the food around to ensure it cooks evenly. Unlike basket or oven air fryers, you don’t have to manually flip or toss the food so it cooks on both sides. The paddle reduces the cooking area, but many models have a removable paddle to increase the capacity when necessary.
- Multicooker: These air fryers pair an air-frying setting with other cooking settings, such as pressure cooking, slow cooking, searing and more. Like air fryer ovens, they can replace multiple appliances but typically can’t hold as much food.
What to consider when buying an air fryer
If you want to find the right air fryer for your kitchen, it’s essential to consider key factors like the capacity that will work best for your household and the size that will fit seamlessly on your countertop. Other features like the number and versatility of the settings can help you choose the best model for your needs.
Wattage
To work their magic, air fryers typically require between 800 and 2,100 watts of power. The number of watts typically corresponds to the size of the air fryer, so larger models use more watts. A small model generally runs on 800 to 1,200 watts, medium models use 1,200 to 1,500 watts and large models utilize 1,500 to 2,100 watts.
Before you buy an air fryer, make sure your kitchen outlet can support its wattage. You can usually find a model’s running wattage in its product description on the manufacturer’s website or the online retailer’s product listing.
However, keep in mind that a standard oven typically uses 2,000 to 5,000 watts, so even the largest air fryer you choose will use less energy.
Capacity and size
Another important pre-purchase consideration is an air fryer's capacity. You want a model that can make enough food for your household so you don’t have to cook multiple batches to get a meal on the table.
Most air fryers can hold between 1.5 and 10 quarts. In general, you usually want at least 1 quart of capacity for each person you’re cooking for. A 2- to 3-quart model like the Instant Vortex 4-in-1 Mini Air Fryer is usually large enough for one or two people. For four people, a 5- to 6-quart model, such as the Instant Vortex Slim Air Fryer, works well. If your household is larger, opt for a 7- to 10-quart model like the Ninja Foodi FlexBasket Air Fryer to make sure you have enough cooking area.
If you need even more cooking space, air fryer ovens typically offer between 0.4 to 1.2 cubic feet of capacity. The Breville Joule Oven Air Fryer Pro and Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro both have 1 cubic foot of capacity, which means they’re large enough to fit a 14-pound turkey. That makes them excellent for large groups and entertaining.
However, air fryer ovens and basket air fryers with a large cooking area obviously take up more space on the countertop. If you have a small kitchen, a large-capacity air fryer oven like the Breville Joule or Cosori Smart Air Fryer Toaster Oven may have a larger footprint than you’d like. Compact models like the Instant Vortex 4-in-1 Mini Air Fryer or Instant Vortex Slim Air Fryer are a better fit for smaller kitchens.
There are benefits to both small air fryers and large-capacity ovens. Compact air fryers have a smaller cooking area to heat, so they often have shorter preheat and cooking times than larger models. A large-capacity air fryer oven not only allows you to cook for more people but also offers additional cooking functions, which means it can replace multiple countertop appliances besides an air fryer, including a toaster oven, slot toaster, slow cooker, pressure cooker and/or dehydrator, and maximize your available counter space.
Settings
All air fryers obviously have an air-frying setting, but many models include additional cooking functions and presets that increase their versatility. The number of settings you can choose ranges from 1 to as many as 13, depending on your cooking needs and habits.
The more settings an air fryer has, the more appliances it can replace on your counter. Some popular settings you’ll find on air fryers include the following:
- Air-fry: All air fryers have a convection fan for air-frying, which is ideal for foods you want to get as crispy as possible, such as french fries, onion rings, chicken wings, chicken tenders and mozzarella sticks.
- Bake: You can use this setting for dishes that require moderate temperatures like cookies, cakes and casseroles.
- Roast: This setting is ideal for foods that need slightly higher temperatures, including thick meats and hearty vegetables.
- Toast: This is the perfect setting for breads and sandwiches.
- Broil: You can use this setting to cook at high temperatures and finish off meals that need browning on top, such as casseroles or pizzas. It can even be used to cook thin pieces of meat like chicken breasts.
- Reheat: This setting relies on low temperatures to warm foods through without burning or cooking them further.
- Warm: With this setting, you can keep cooked food at a steady temperature until you’re ready to eat it.
- Dehydrate: This setting uses extremely low temperatures to dry out foods over a long period. It’s perfect for making jerky, dried spices or dried fruit.
- Slow cook: With this setting, you can cook foods at low temperatures over a prolonged period so they become extremely tender.
- Proof: This setting creates a low-temperature environment that helps activate the yeast in various dough recipes.
- Bagels: This setting is designed to perfectly toast thick bagel halves.
- Pizza: This setting is a baking function with a preset cooking temperature and time to crisp the crust and perfectly melt the cheese on pizzas.
- Cookies: This setting is another baking function that provides an ideal cooking temperature and time for delicious cookies.
Controls
When it comes to cooking functions, you can expect to find simple knob controls on basic models and sleek touchscreens with preset functions on high-end options. Some models also pair knob controls with a digital or LCD display for more control over your chosen settings. Presets make it possible to cook various types of food with the precise time and temperature required at the touch of a button.
The benefit of choosing an air fryer with touchscreen controls or a combination of knobs and an LCD display is that you can set a more precise cooking time and temperature. Knob controls have marks in increments, such as 5 minutes for time settings or 25 degrees for temperature settings. If you want to choose a time or temperature in the middle of those increments, you often wind up guessing at the proper placement of the knob. With a touchscreen or LCD display and knobs, you can usually set the time in 1-minute intervals and the temperature in 5-degree increments, so you can lock in much more precise settings.
Some knob controls can be difficult to turn. Someone who lacks hand strength or has mobility issues might have trouble rotating the knobs to the correct settings. There are also some durability concerns about the knobs, particularly if they require some force to turn.
However, some users find touchscreen controls intimidating, especially if they’re not comfortable with newer technology. Knob controls are highly intuitive, so it’s easy to figure out how to set the air fryer for cooking.
Frying basket
The frying basket is the part of an air fryer in which the food is placed for cooking. It has a handle that stays cool to the touch, so it’s safe to remove it from the unit for checking or serving the food. Many of these baskets can be cleaned in the dishwasher.
Quality air fryers have baskets made of stainless steel with a nonstick coating. Other air fryers have ceramic baskets, which provide a naturally nonstick surface. Air-frying baskets vary in size depending on the model, but some air fryers have two baskets, allowing you to cook two foods at the same time without them mixing. You can even find models with a removable divider, so you can have separate drawers when necessary or one large cooking area when you need extra space for food.
Crisping plate
Crafted of metal with holes that enable the hot air to circulate, this removable component fits in the bottom of the frying basket and helps produce a uniform crispy finish. Also sometimes referred to as a crisping tray, most have a nonstick finish and can be cleaned in the dishwasher.
Pros and cons of air fryers
There is no doubt that air fryers have a multitude of uses in the kitchen, from creating an oil-free version of fried foods to steaming vegetables to baking cupcakes and brownies. But an air fryer does have some limitations and drawbacks.
Pros of cooking with an air fryer:
- An air fryer produces crisp, moist food without the need for a deep fryer or large amounts of oil. If avoiding saturated fats and heavily fried foods is on your list of dietary priorities, then using an air fryer that requires far less oil than a deep fryer is clearly the way to go.
- Air fryers are versatile and can be used to prepare a large variety of foods. While you may think of french fries, chicken nuggets and pizza when you think of an air fryer, this small kitchen appliance is also great for cooking foods like burgers, fish, chicken wings, baked potatoes, veggies, desserts and much more. An air fryer can also be used to reheat leftovers.
- Air fryers are much easier to clean and maintain than traditional deep fryers. There is no large container of hot cooking oil to filter and store. The air fryer's cooking basket can be washed by hand or in a dishwasher between uses.
- In addition to standard air fryers, the rapid hot-air technology is available in combo appliances. For example, you can find an air fryer multicooker that also works as a pressure cooker and an air fryer toaster oven that fries, roasts and bakes. What’s more, some countertop convection ovens that rotisserie, bake, roast and dehydrate also have an air fryer function.
Cons of cooking with an air fryer:
- The constant flow of dry, superheated air around many foods can eventually strip them of moisture, especially on the surface. While some people accept a bit of dryness as the price paid for healthier eating, others might be disappointed by the dryness or lack of flavor in air-fried foods.
- Cooking times can be considerably longer in an air fryer than in a traditional deep fryer.
- For those who are new to cooking with an air fryer, it can take some trial and error to achieve great results.
Air fryer prices
Air fryer prices vary based on the size and type, but most models cost between $50 and $500.
Small basket-style air fryers that hold between 1 and 4 quarts, such as the Instant Vortex 4-in-1 Mini Air Fryer, typically range from $50 to $100, but larger basket air fryers that can fit between 5 and 8 quarts, such as the Ninja Foodi FlexBasket Air Fryer, go for $100 to $200.
If you prefer the extra-large capacity or versatility of an air fryer oven or multicooker, you’ll pay more. Air fryer ovens like the Cosori Smart Air Fryer Oven and Breville Joule Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro typically cost between $150 and $500. A multicooker air fryer like the Ninja Speedi Rapid Cooker and Air Fryer usually ranges from $100 to $300 because their capacity is more limited than an air fryer oven.
The case against deep-frying
As air fryers grow in popularity, it’s important to understand why traditional deep-frying has become an issue with many health-conscious cooks.
First, the amount of saturated fat contained in lard and other animal fats is high. Diets rich in saturated fats can lead to arterial clogging, which in turn can lead to strokes and heart disease, according to the American Heart Association.
Here are some other reasons why people are replacing deep-frying with other cooking methods:
- Cooking oils break down over time. Animal-based shortenings have a very limited shelf life because they react with the outside air and become rancid. Vegetable oils can also separate into water and fat after several deep-frying sessions. Replacing these cooking oils, especially in the quantities required for larger deep fryers, can be expensive and time-consuming.
- Deep-frying creates hazardous byproducts. Small bits of batter or dry coating tend to fall into the oil as foods cook. Because of the high temperatures involved, this process can cause acrylamide to form. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, studies have found that acrylamide in very high doses causes cancer in lab animals, so there may be carcinogenic chemicals in deep-fried food.
- Deep fryers require diligent maintenance. A deep fryer remains too hot to handle for several hours after use. That means it’s a challenge to perform important tasks like filtering the oil. Working with large amounts of animal-based fat is also a messy and thankless job for many cooks. There is also the problem of having a large container of scalding hot oil within reach of small children.
- Ideal cooking temperatures are hard to maintain. The secret to successful deep-frying is maintaining a proper oil temperature. When cooking oil falls below a certain temperature, the food's internal moisture does not repel the oil as well, resulting in greasy, undercooked food. Simply putting frozen food into a hot deep fryer will affect the oil temperature, and the heating elements of many deep fryers take a long time to recover from the shock. This is not a concern with superheated cooking methods like convection or air-frying.
How we tested
To help evaluate the air fryers we tested, we cooked five commonly air-fried foods (french fries, chicken wings, hot dogs, Brussels sprouts and bacon) using the same basic recipe for each food. We also prepared the same foods in a standard oven to compare the crispiness and cooking times between the two methods.
We cooked frozen french fries in all the air fryers we tested. If the package had air-frying instructions, we followed those recommendations. Otherwise, we used a recipe that called for air-frying them at 400 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes, tossing them halfway through the cooking time for even cooking. However, we checked on the fries periodically to try to avoid overcooking them.
We tossed the chicken wings with olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt and pepper and air-fried them at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. We flipped the wings for even cooking and cooked them for another 8 to 12 minutes.
We prepared hot dogs by making several slits down the length before adding them to the air fryers. We cooked them at 400 degrees for 6 minutes before transferring them to buns. We returned the hot dogs in the buns to the air fryers for another 2 minutes to finish cooking and toast the buns.
We coated the Brussels sprouts with olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper before adding them to the air fryers. We air-fried them at 375 degrees for 5 minutes and tossed them to ensure even cooking. We then cooked them for another 5 to 8 minutes.
We placed the bacon in a single layer in the air fryers and cooked it at 350 degrees for 7 to 12 minutes, depending on its thickness.
If the air fryers had presets for specific foods, such as french fries or chicken wings, we used those preprogrammed cooking times and temperatures rather than the online recipes’ instructions.
FAQ
Q. What if I need to add seasoning or ingredients to a dish? Can I remove the cooking basket?
A. It depends on the model, so consult the owner's manual to be certain. Many air fryers allow you to pull out the basket during the cooking cycle to stir the product or add seasoning. The unit should shut off automatically if it has this feature.
Q. Can I cook more than one type of food item at the same time in a standard air fryer?
A. Many models have dividers that keep different food items separate during a cooking cycle. We recommend only combining foods with similar prep times or temperatures to avoid overcooking or undercooking.
Q. Can I cook frozen meats or vegetables in an air fryer?
A. In most cases, you can prepare meats and vegetables from a frozen state in an air fryer. The superheated air and convection action draw excess moisture to an exhaust port, so frozen foods won't get mushy from unwanted steaming. It’s important to remember that cooking times could be extended considerably when starting with frozen foods.
Q. Can I use aluminum foil or other baking paper in an air fryer?
A. Since air fryers do not use microwave technology, you can safely use aluminum foil or metal containers. Parchment paper will also work in an air fryer. The important thing to remember is that the superheated air requires free circulation to work. Food wrappers should not block the natural flow of hot air around the cooking chamber.
Q. Is air-fried food more healthful?
A. Air-fried food is certainly more healthful compared to deep-fried and pan-fried food. Air-frying requires little to no oil, while deep-frying typically requires 4 to 6 cups of oil to submerge the food. Even pan-frying usually calls for a few tablespoons of oil or butter.
But the overall healthfulness of air-frying depends on what you’re cooking. You won’t be eating the healthiest, most nutritious meals if you mainly air-fry foods like french fries, onion rings and mozzarella sticks. However, your air fryer can make plenty of healthy vegetable, chicken and fish recipes.
