With traditional frying methods, results could be greasy and time-consuming. But with air fryers, you don’t have to sacrifice quality for convenience -by using hot air combined with an oil coating, your food can delightfully crisp up in a fraction of the time an oven would take! I’ve tested seven machines so far, creating everything from broccoli roasted perfection to French fries that’d make any snack enthusiast envious, proving how just how invaluable these devices are.
Eating healthy seems like a chore, but with air fryers, it’s easier than ever! Our nutrition and cooking experts are here to help you ace your culinary game. Samantha Cassetty, MS, RD, has all the super convenient tricks, and Meredith Laurence from Blue Jean Chef can teach you how to get the most out of your appliance – so go ahead and check our FAQs for all the mouthwatering details!
The best air fryers in 2022
Best air fryer overall: Philips Premium Digital Airfryer.
If you’re looking for the fastest, crispiest fried food without all the unhealthy oil and mess, look no further than Philips Premium Digital Airfryer! This “magical” kitchen appliance heats up in seconds to get your delicious meal on the table faster. Plus – it gives ovens a run for their money by cooking evenly with greater efficiency. Fry away – guilt-free!
Best large-capacity air fryer: Ninja Foodi Two-Basket Air Fryer
Make meal time a breeze with the Ninja Foodi Two-Basket Air Fryer! Throw two dishes in one pot and let this powerhouse air fryer do all the work. Dinner will be ready when you say, “Ninja!”
Every culinary creation from breakfast to dinner is in the bag with Breville Smart Oven Air! This oven has mastered multitasking, handling your favorite morning toast as efficiently as roasting a chicken – and its air-frying abilities make everything extra crispy.
Best multitasking air fryer: Instant Pot Duo Crisp + Air Fryer
Get the most out of your kitchen space with the Instant Pot Duo Crisp + Air Fryer. It’s like having a personal assistant in the form of an appliance, effortlessly pressure-cooking or slow-cooking meals while also air-frying snacks and treats to perfection!
Best air fryer overall
The Philips Premium Digital Air fryer (model number HD9741) blew my expectations out of the park — it heated up instantaneously! It smashed through frozen fries like an Olympic sprinter and almost took first place when frying fresh-cut potatoes – but barely lost out on victory to Breville Smart Oven Air.
The Digital Air fryer is a master of multitasking, with an intuitive user interface and Philips’ fat removal technology that uses cyclonic hot air to blow oil off food. Although it had some trouble drying out the broccoli florets in my batch, hopefully, a couple recipe tweaks could make them come up crispier than they already are! And if your goal is to cut back on fatty foods – no problemo; this appliance’s got you covered like gravy over mashed potatoes. Efficiency is the key to success with air fryers, so I was sure to factor in preheat times for each model during testing. Here the official Phillips Website.
The one downside to the Premium Digital Airfryer is how many pieces are to wash. With the Premium Digital Airfryer, you may feel like a jigsaw puzzle master getting to grips with its five dishwasher-safe parts. But don’t worry — think of it as extra crispy frying!
Philips Airfryer
- The Philips Airfryer uses little to no oil, making it a healthier option.
- It has fat removal technology that reduces and captures excess fat.
- The capacity is 2 pounds/3Qt, enough for four people.
- Rapid Air Technology cooks food faster than a conventional oven.
- The air fryer can also bake, grill, roast, reheat, dehydrate and toast food.
Pros
- Pros: With a nifty “fat removal technology” – no more oil overload – and lightning-fast heating time, this kitchen superstar serves perfectly moist meals every time.
Cons
- Cons: Many parts to clean, only adjustable at 15-degree increments, may dry out more delicate foods
Best large-capacity air fryer
Whip up two mouthwatering dishes with this innovative appliance and have them cooked to perfection simultaneously. No more running between counters or worrying about mismatched cook times – it’s all handled for you in one fell swoop.
The Ninja Foodi Two-Basket Air Fryer (DZ201) provides an inventive solution; two independent frying baskets that can each be programmed for different temperatures and times, so you no longer need to rely on batch cooking!
With the Smart Finish and Match Cook features, you can save time when cooking with two baskets – how smart is that? Just set the start times of each basket to stagger for a simultaneous finish every single time! No more waiting around for one dish after another.
Ninja DZ201 Foodi Basket Air Fryer
- The Air Fryer lets you cook two foods simultaneously with two independent baskets, eliminating the need for back-to-back cooking.
- DualZone Technology allows you to choose between the Smart Finish feature and a Match Cook button.
- The 6-in-1 functionality includes Air Fry, Air Broil, Roast, Bake, Reheating, and dehydrating.
- The 8-quart capacity lets you fit mains and sides simultaneously or up to 4 lbs of French fries or chicken wings.
- Two heating zones have their cooking baskets, cyclonic fans, and instantaneous heaters.
- It is easy to clean with dishwasher-safe crisper plates and has a wide temperature range from 105°F to 450°F.
Pros
- Pros: When you need to feed a crowd, our tested air fryer is the ideal choice with its impressive capacity, and synced settings make it easy for your dishes to finish cooking simultaneously.
Cons
- Cons: Cook times vary based on whether you’re using one or both zones, and recipes take longer than most air fryers we tested
Best air fryer toaster oven
The Breville Smart Oven Air fryer is the all-in-one kitchen trendsetter. Let it take care of your morning toast, a roast chicken, and air fryer delights – this little gem can do it all!
Say goodbye to oily messes and stuffy kitchens with the Breville Smart Oven Air! This impressive appliance is a convection oven on steroids – it does everything you’d expect from an elite air fryer. So invite your friends over for fried pickles without worrying about how many paper towels you’ll need afterward!
It’s like having your culinary wizard in the kitchen! This magical device can work magic with broccoli, sweet potatoes, and more. And if you want something even tastier? Just switch to pizza or cookie mode for perfect results every time – deliciously crispy on the outside yet soft and succulent within.
Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro
- The Breville Smart Oven Air with Element IQ System is a versatile countertop oven that can roast, air fry, and dehydrate.
- It has 13 cooking functions and comes with an LCD.
- The oven has a capacity of 9 slices of bread or a 14-pound turkey.
- Accessories include: 13 inch Pizza Pan, two Oven Racks, nine x13 inch Broil Racks and Enamel Roasting Pan, and Mesh basket rack for dehydrating and air frying
Pros
- Pros: This magical device is like having a personal chef, with two convection settings and accessories to make oven-quality meals in no time – plus, it can take on many other roles as well. Roasting? Air frying? Dehydrating? Toasting even!? Yup, this baby’s got you covered!
Cons
- Cons: Large countertop footprint
Best cheap air fryer
The Dash Compact Air Fryer is an excellent addition to any kitchen: it’s super simple to use, and with its petite size, you’ll have plenty of room left over on your counters.
The Dash Compact Air Fryer offers new users a friendly introduction to the world of air fryers. Its plug-and-play design minimizes user engagement, allowing novices to start frying without hassle – though seasoned enthusiasts might miss having preset options available for their go-to foods.
DASH Compact Air Fryer Oven Cooker
- The Dash Compact Air Fryer uses AirCrisp technology to help reduce added fat by 70-8% without sacrificing the flavor of your fried food.
- The fryer has a two qt capacity and can be used for appetizers, main courses, or desserts.
- The auto-shut-off function prevents overcooking, and the excellent touch housing and handle make it easy to use.
- The perfect appliance for picky eaters, large families, or those who have busy schedules.
- The Dash Air Fryer is half the weight of a standard fryer, and its sleek design will accent any kitchen space.
Pros
- Pros: Cooks evenly, has a compact footprint, user-friendly interface
Cons
- Cons: Only holds one serving, only temperature, and time controls, no extra cooking presets or modes
Best multitasking air fryer
I was blown away by the Instant Pot Duo Crisp! Not only does it have all three of my favorite cooking functions (pressure, slow, and air fryer), but its budget-friendly price makes it a must for any kitchen. This essential small appliance will quickly become your go-to gadget when you need to whip up something delicious fast.
The Instant Pot Duo Crisp is a revolutionary kitchen appliance, boasting all the capabilities of your favorite multicooker and adding air fryer convenience too! With two separate lids – one for traditional cooking methods like pressure-cooking or slow-simmering and another with an electric heating coil & fan perfect for air frying, broiling, and dehydrating – this series from Instant Pot reigns supreme. In our tests, we found it to be the best multitasking electric pressure cooker available, and the best multitasking sous vide machine on offer. An innovative powerhouse in any chef’s collection!
Instant Pot Duo Crisp Air Fryer
- The Instant Pot that Air Fryer is a pressure cooker and air fryer combo with two convenient removable lids.
- EvenCrisp Technology: The included air fryer lid delivers all the crunch and tenderness of deep-frying with 95% less oil.
- Quick One-Touch Cooking: 11 customizable Smart Programs for air frying, pressure cooking ribs, soups, beans, rice, poultry, yogurt maker sterilizer, and food warmer.
- Versatile Inner Cooking Pot: Food-grade stainless-steel cooking pot with a tri-ply bottom offers even cooking and an anti-spin design that secures the pot for optimal sautéing.
Pros
- Pros: With multiple functions and the ability to tenderly handle delicate foods without drying them out, you can be sure that your finished dish will look as delicious as it tastes!
Cons
- Cons: Food on the lower level of the fryer basket cooks more slowly. Many pieces to store, and it is difficult to agitate food mid-cook. Removing the lid exposes the heating coil.
Other air fryers we tested
What else we recommend and why:
Cosori Max XL Air Fryer: The Cosori Max XL Air Fryer is a reliable kitchen tool that provides consistent results. It’s great for preparing almost any vegetable, including the perfect batch of broccoli during our testing! However, it struggles to get fresh-cut fries and takes five minutes to preheat. Still, with plenty of presets ready at the touch of a button, you’ll be able to whip up steak or bacon in no time – making this air fryer an ideal purchase if ease of use is your priority.
What we don’t recommend and why:
Instant Vortex: The Instant Vortex may be an affordable air fryer, but you probably won’t feel the same way if your food is consistently overcooked no matter how closely to follow instructions. In my experience and even with a few modifications, this model just didn’t cut it – so I’d recommend saving up for something from a more reliable brand.
Our air fryer testing methodology
In my search for the best air fryer, I put each machine to the test. Not stopping there, I tested ease of use – noting how user-friendly they were and the number of parts that needed cleaning after cooking was done! Topping off my criteria list with dishwasher-safe accessories landed some machines big bonus points for me! From tenderly cooked vegetables in 13 minutes and crisp broccoli in only 6 – time varied wildly between models.
Air fryer FAQs
Is an air fryer worth it?
Air fryers are the way to go if you’re looking for a quick and efficient appliance. Its versatile capabilities make it perfect for those midday snacks or bigger roasts that need baking- whatever you fancy! With its advanced heating technology located directly above the food, you save energy and time preheating too – which is especially useful during hot summer days when cranking up an oven doesn’t sound so appealing. All-in-all, air fryers won’t trick anyone into believing that their meal has been deeply fried. However, they deliver incredible results with ease every single time!
What are the advantages of air fryers?
The air fryer is the next best thing since sliced bread! Not only does it save you time in prepping meals, but it also gives your food a delicious crisp. All those usually oven-cooked dishes – from fish to chicken and vegetables – can be easily made using an air fryer. And don’t limit yourself to nuggets either; this appliance unlocks myriad possibilities for creative cooking snacks and main courses!
What can you make in an air fryer?
Air fryers are a kitchen-savvy chef’s dream, allowing you to recreate almost any recipe you desire! These innovative appliances can do everything from crunchy air-fried dishes and crispy convection baked goods to juicy roasts, zesty toasties, or even dried fruits with their dehydration setting.
Do you need to preheat an air fryer?
Preheating your air fryer is an easy and essential step in cooking with it. To ensure you get the best results, read your user manual and our article on preheat times – they’ll give you all the information needed for successful meals!
What’s the best way to clean an air fryer?
Keeping your air fryer in tip-top shape has never been easier! Most models are simple to maintain: wipe down the basket and grease the catcher with hot, soapy water after each use. For even quicker cleanup, grab some aluminum foil or parchment paper for quick sheet pan dinners that require minimal washing up afterward.
How does an air fryer work?
A hot air party in your kitchen! Air fryers bring the delicious fried texture of deep-fried food without a pool of greasy oil. Circulating heated air like a convection oven, this appliance can make all kinds of treats, from crispy french fries to crunchy chicken wings – perfect for feeding hungry crowds.
Best deals on air fryers from this guide
Air fryers have developed a cult following and are some of the most popular products sold on Amazon. They’re convenient, easy to use, and can make traditionally deep-fried foods like French fries, chicken wings, and more. Air fryers are regularly discounted throughout the year.
Air fryers are the “it” products of 2021, and it’s not hard to see why! They make cooking a breeze with minimal clean-up; you only need your favorite ingredients and an air fryer. With an array of tasty recipes available online – from crunchy French fries to scrumptious chicken wings – this must-have gadget is sure to revolutionize meal times in any home kitchen. Plus, they’re regularly discounted throughout the year, so don’t miss out on unbeatable bargains!
If you’re looking to score significant savings on an air fryer, your best bet is typically Black Friday and Cyber Monday. But there are still great deals if the holidays have passed; we’ve seen discounts of up to $50 off popular models like Instant Pot Duo Crisp, which hit a record-low price last year at only $130! Keep checking in, though—you never know when another unbeatable bargain will come around again.
Here are the best deals we found on our air fryer picks.
Instant Pot Duo Crisp 11-in-1 Air Fryer
- The Instant Pot that Air Fryer is a pressure cooker and air fryer combo with two convenient removable lids.
- EvenCrisp Technology: The included air fryer lid delivers all the crunch and tenderness of deep-frying with 95% less oil.
- Quick One-Touch Cooking: 11 customizable Smart Programs for air frying, pressure cooking ribs, soups, beans, rice, poultry, yogurt maker sterilizer, and food warmer.
- Versatile Inner Cooking Pot: Food-grade stainless-steel cooking pot with a tri-ply bottom offers even cooking and an anti-spin design that secures the pot for optimal sautéing.
Check out our other great kitchen guides
