My years of testing air fryers, having put close to two dozen models through rigorous evaluation, have led to a profound understanding of what distinguishes a good appliance from a truly exceptional one. While many air fryers can achieve a satisfactory level of crispness for everyday foods like French fries and chicken wings, the top-tier models consistently deliver unparalleled results. These culinary workhorses can transform delicate fillets of salmon into flaky masterpieces and even roast a whole chicken to golden perfection, all with the simple touch of a button. It’s crucial to demystify the term "air fryer." At its core, it is a compact convection oven. These innovative appliances employ powerful fans to circulate superheated air around the food, ensuring even cooking and remarkable efficiency. Air fryers come in various designs, from the familiar basket-style units, which are likely what first come to mind, to more versatile countertop convection ovens that expand functionality beyond mere air frying. These oven-style models often incorporate additional cooking modes such as baking, broiling, toasting, and even slow cooking. Some advanced models even offer dehydration and steaming capabilities, further blurring the lines between different kitchen appliances.
Understanding Air Fryer Designs: Basket vs. Oven
The choice between a basket-style air fryer and an oven-style model hinges on two primary considerations: available counter space and intended use. Basket-style air fryers are generally more compact and often more budget-friendly. They excel at quickly crisping smaller, individual portions of food, such as frozen appetizers or pre-portioned proteins, that benefit from being shaken or tossed mid-cook. Conversely, oven-style air fryers, while typically larger, offer greater versatility. They can accommodate larger meals, bake cookies, roast a small chicken, or toast bagels, effectively serving as a multi-functional appliance that can supplement or even replace a traditional oven for many tasks. Our extensive testing, encompassing over 20 different models, has aimed to identify the premier air fryers across both categories, catering to diverse kitchen needs and preferences.
Recent Innovations and Updates in Air Fryer Technology
In a recent update to our testing regimen, we incorporated and evaluated several new models, including the Instant Pot 4-Quart Mini Air Fryer and the Typhur Sync. The Instant Pot model proved to be a commendable performer, offering a compact yet functional size that appeals to many users. While it didn’t entirely surpass our top-tier recommendations, it stands as a strong contender for those prioritizing a smaller footprint. The Typhur Sync, however, did not elicit the same level of enthusiasm, failing to justify its price point in our assessment. This ongoing evaluation process ensures that our recommendations reflect the latest advancements and market offerings in the air fryer category.
Top Air Fryer Picks: Delivering Superior Crispness and Versatility
Best Air Fryer Overall: Cosori Turboblaze 6.0-Quart Smart Air Fryer
For those seeking an all-around exceptional air fryer, the 6.0-Quart Cosori Turboblaze Smart Air Fryer emerges as the clear leader. In extensive testing, this model consistently delivered outstanding results across a wide range of foods. Frozen sweet potato fries emerged perfectly crisp and evenly browned, chicken breasts were exceptionally juicy, and Brussels sprouts achieved a delightful tenderness. Its user-friendly digital interface simplifies setting time and temperature, and the inclusion of an impressive array of preset programs—including Air Fry, Roast, Broil, Frozen, Preheat, Reheat, Dehydrate, Proof, Bake, and Keep Warm—adds significant value and convenience.
What truly sets the Cosori Turboblaze apart from its competitors, including our previous long-standing favorite, the Instant Vortex Slim, is its superior crisping capability and speed. The design features a greater distance between the crisper plate and the bottom of the basket, which enhances air circulation and contributes to faster, more consistent browning. The Turboblaze also distinguishes itself with its variable fan speeds, which automatically adjust based on the selected cooking function. Unlike many air fryers that operate this technology discreetly, the Turboblaze displays the fan speed on its screen. For instance, the "Air Fry" setting utilizes the highest fan speed (level 5) for maximum crisping, while "Bake" employs a gentler speed 3 to prevent disturbing delicate ingredients. Lower temperature settings like "Dehydrate" and "Proof" operate at the lowest speed (level 1).
The Cosori Turboblaze represents an exceptional value proposition. It stands out as the top performer in its price bracket ($100-$150) by a considerable margin. Its combination of power, versatility, quiet operation, manageable weight, and ease of cleaning makes it a highly attractive option. Both the nonstick basket and the cooking tray are dishwasher-safe, although hand-washing is recommended for maintaining the longevity of the nonstick coating.
The specific model tested includes smart features, allowing for remote control and voice commands via the VeSync app. For users who prefer a simpler approach, Cosori also offers a non-smart version of the Turboblaze for a slightly lower cost.
- Capacity: 6 qt.
- Wattage: 1725
- Cooking Functions: 10 (Air Fry, Roast, Broil, Frozen, Preheat, Reheat, Dehydrate, Proof, Bake, Keep Warm)
- Color: White
- Weight: 11.5 lb.
- Dimensions: 11.8" x 14.4" x 11.9"
- Warranty: 2 years
Minor Quibbles: While the Cosori Turboblaze is an outstanding appliance, a few minor points could be improved. The release button required to detach the basket can be slightly inconvenient. Additionally, while the enhanced airflow is a significant advantage for crisping, the greater space between the crisper tray and basket bottom means smaller food items are more prone to falling through during cooking.
Best Small Air Fryer: Cosori Lite 2.1-Quart Mini
For individuals or couples, or for those with extremely limited counter space, the Cosori Lite 2.1-Quart Mini offers an excellent solution. This compact air fryer delivers impressive performance for its size and price point.
- Capacity: 2.1-qt.
- Wattage: 900
- Cooking Functions: 4 (Air-fry, bake, roast, reheat)
- Colors: Gray, red, white, green
- Weight: 4.9 lb.
- Dimensions: 10.1" x 8.3" x 10.5"
- Warranty: 2 years
What We Love: This diminutive air fryer excels at crisping and browning small servings of frozen fries, tater tots, sliced zucchini, and even up to two veggie burger patties at a time. Priced between $50-$60, it represents a fantastic value for a lightweight, quiet, and digital air fryer with four straightforward presets. Its compact dimensions make it easy to store and clean, and the nonstick basket, while recommended for hand-washing, is a convenient feature.
What We’d Leave: Its primary limitation is its size; it’s designed for one to two servings. It also lacks a food-shaking reminder, requiring users to manually monitor the timer. However, the clear digital display makes this task manageable.
Best Air Fryer-Toaster Oven: Breville Smart Oven Pro
For those prioritizing maximum versatility and who have ample counter space, the Breville Smart Oven Pro is an unparalleled choice. This appliance effectively bridges the gap between a traditional toaster oven and a high-performance air fryer.
- Capacity: 1 cubic foot
- Wattage: 1800
- Cooking Functions: 13 (Toast, bagel, broil, bake, roast, warm, pizza, proof, air-fry, reheat, cookies, slow-cook, and dehydrate)
- Color: Stainless steel
- Weight: 38.9 lb.
- Dimensions: 21.25" x 17" x 12.75"
- Warranty: 2 years
What We Love: This model has been a consistent top performer for years, lauded for its exceptional versatility, robust build quality, intuitive design, and reliable performance. It functions as a high-powered convection oven, capable of air frying, baking, broiling, roasting, slow-cooking, and dehydrating. The air fryer function is one of 13 presets, each optimized with specific heating element configurations for perfect results, from toast and bagels to cookies and pizza. A more advanced, pricier model by Breville offers app integration for enhanced presets, including a rotisserie-style chicken function.
In testing, the Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro consistently delivered excellent results, particularly for foods that benefit from being arranged in a single layer on the crisper tray, such as veggie burgers or salmon fillets. It also performed admirably with frozen fries and tater tots. Its interior is spacious enough to accommodate a quarter sheet pan or a 13×9-inch casserole dish, effectively doubling oven capacity or even replacing the need to use a full-size oven for many tasks. This model is a favorite among Bon Appétit staff and test kitchen editors, and its performance is highly regarded by culinary professionals.
What We’d Leave: As with most oven-style air fryers, the inability to easily toss or shake smaller foods mid-cook is a minor drawback compared to basket-style models. Additionally, optimal results often required slightly higher temperatures and longer cooking times than those recommended for basket-style air fryers.
Best Small Oven-Style Air Fryer: Breville Smart Oven Compact
For those who desire the functionality of an oven-style air fryer but have limited counter space or a tighter budget, the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Compact offers a compelling solution.
- Capacity: 0.5 cubic feet
- Wattage: 1800
- Cooking Functions: 5 (Toast, bagel, broil, pizza, bake/roast)
- Air-Frying Functions: 5 (Air-fry, fries, wings, bacon, crispy reheat)
- Color: Stainless steel
- Weight: 15.8 lb.
- Dimensions: 15.7" x 16.9" x 10"
- Warranty: 2 years
What We Love: This compact model retains the thoughtful design and solid build quality characteristic of Breville products. While it offers fewer specialized modes than the Pro version (lacking Dehydrate and Proof), it includes four dedicated air-frying presets alongside a standard Air Fry setting. The intuitive interface, aided by a helpful guide on the oven door, makes operation straightforward. A convenient "bit more" button allows for adding extra cooking time. In testing, the Compact performed comparably to the Pro model, producing juicy chicken, evenly browned tofu, and crispy vegetables. It’s an excellent option for smaller kitchens.
What We’d Leave: The Compact struggled slightly with frozen sweet potato fries, likely due to overcrowding, highlighting the importance of single-layer cooking in oven-style air fryers. The placement of the oven insert guide on the interior door was easily missed, and its full instructions were not in the manual. This led to an incident of cooking chicken without a drip tray, causing a mess. Furthermore, its capacity was comparable to our top basket-style pick, diminishing one of the primary advantages of oven-style models.
If You Want to Check Your Progress: Instant Pot Vortex Plus 6-Quart ClearCook
For users who prefer a basket-style air fryer but desire the ability to monitor their food’s progress without interrupting the cooking cycle, the Instant Pot Vortex Plus ClearCook is a noteworthy option.
- Capacity: 6 qt.
- Wattage: 1700
- Cooking Functions: 6 (Air-fry, bake, reheat, roast, broil, dehydrate)
- Color: Black
- Weight: 11.35 lb.
- Dimensions: 14.9" x 11.8" x 13.0"
- Warranty: 1 year
What We Love: This model shares many similarities with its predecessor, the Vortex Slim, offering a comparable cooking experience. The key innovation is the "ClearCook" window at the front of the basket, paired with an interior light, allowing users to visually track cooking progress. This feature is invaluable for achieving optimal browning and crispness. The ClearCook also adds a dehydrate function and can maintain lower temperatures (down to 95°F) than the Vortex Slim. Notably, it is also more affordable than the Slim.
What We’d Leave: The square basket shape offers slightly less cooking surface area than more elongated baskets, fitting one fewer veggie burger patty. It is also somewhat bulky.
A High-Performing, PFAS-Free Option: Cosori Iconic Stainless Steel 6.5-Quart
For health-conscious consumers seeking an air fryer with a PFAS-free nonstick basket, the Cosori Iconic Stainless Steel 6.5-Quart is a compelling choice that doesn’t compromise on performance.
- Capacity: 6.5 qt.
- Wattage: 1725
- Cooking Functions: 6 (Air Fry, Roast, Bake, Dehydrate, Proof, Reheat)
- Color: Stainless steel
- Weight: 14.1 lb.
- Dimensions: 11.8" x 11.8" x 11.6"
- Warranty: 5-year limited
What We Love: Cosori’s reputation for producing high-performing air fryers is upheld by the Iconic model. It delivers results comparable to the top-ranked Cosori Turboblaze, producing crispy salmon and beautifully browned Brussels sprouts. Like the Turboblaze, the Iconic features adjustable fan speeds, allowing for precise control over crisping delicate ingredients like kale chips or robust items like bone-in chicken breasts. The primary advantage of the Iconic, beyond its slightly larger capacity, is its PFAS-free ceramic nonstick-coated basket and crisper plate.
What We’d Leave: While the stainless steel finish is aesthetically pleasing, the overall design can appear somewhat "spaceship-like." The most significant drawback is its price point, which is nearly double that of the Turboblaze.
How We Tested Air Fryers
Our rigorous testing process has spanned several years, involving thorough research, hands-on evaluation, and repeated testing of numerous air fryer models from leading brands such as Breville, Cuisinart, Ninja, Philips, and Cosori. Each appliance underwent a standardized battery of tests designed to assess its performance, ease of use, and overall value.
What Makes a Good Air Fryer?
In our evaluation, several key factors were prioritized to determine what constitutes a "good" air fryer:
- Crispness and Browning: The ability to achieve consistently golden-brown and crispy results across a variety of foods was paramount.
- Even Cooking: Food should cook evenly throughout, without hot spots or undercooked areas.
- Ease of Use: Intuitive controls, clear displays, and straightforward operation are essential.
- Capacity and Size: The appliance should offer adequate capacity for its intended user base and fit comfortably on most kitchen counters.
- Versatility: The range of cooking functions and presets contributes significantly to an air fryer’s overall utility.
- Ease of Cleaning: Nonstick surfaces and dishwasher-safe components simplify maintenance.
- Durability and Build Quality: A well-constructed appliance is expected to last.
- Noise Level: Quieter operation is generally preferred.
Other Air Fryers We Tested and Liked
Instant Pot 4-Quart Mini Air Fryer
This model is a strong contender for those seeking a mid-sized air fryer, offering more capacity than the smallest units but less than the larger 6-quart models. Its intuitive controls, viewing window, built-in light, and ceramic nonstick interior are appealing. While its crisping performance was good, it didn’t quite match the top-tier Cosori Turboblaze. Ongoing testing is being conducted to assess its long-term viability.
Instant Vortex Slim 6-Quart Air Fryer
Previously a top pick, the Vortex Slim remains an excellent air fryer. Its basket design maximizes cooking surface area, allowing for larger batches without compromising airflow. This is particularly beneficial for cooking multiple servings or larger items.
Typhur Dome 2
The Typhur Dome 2 boasts a substantial cooking capacity, capable of fitting a 12-inch pizza or a large number of chicken wings and thighs. It features a digital panel with numerous presets and app compatibility. However, its performance at full capacity was slower than expected, requiring longer cooking times to achieve desired crispness compared to other basket-style air fryers. While it eventually produces crisp results, the extended cooking duration is a notable drawback.
Philips Premium Digital Air Fryer XXL
This large-capacity air fryer offers user-friendly controls and performs well with minimal intervention, achieving good crispness without frequent shaking. However, its heavier basket and the interlocking parts that make it harder to clean, combined with a higher price point, place it below other competitive options.
Philips 3000 Series Single Basket Air Fryer
This newer Philips model features a sleek touchscreen and a viewing window, offering 16 settings. While it performed well in testing, the interface was less intuitive than other models, and the price was higher than the comparable Instant ClearCook.
Dreo ChefMaker Combi Fryer
This versatile appliance includes probe cooking capabilities and app integration, making it adept at cooking proteins precisely. However, for air frying alone, its performance, while good, did not surpass that of the winning Cosori Turboblaze, which offers superior crispness at a significantly lower cost.
Our Place Wonder Oven Pro
Developed in collaboration with J. Kenji López-Alt, this oven-style air fryer offers a spacious interior and impressive power, capable of quickly crisping foods and achieving tender results. However, its touchscreen responsiveness and lengthy preheating cycles proved to be minor annoyances.
Cuisinart Air Fryer Oven 6-Qt
This oven-style air fryer is user-friendly, relatively quiet, and includes a useful preheat feature and viewing window. However, its deeper, square basket has less surface area than some competitors, limiting its overall capacity.
Ninja DoubleStack XL 2-Basket Air Fryer
This innovative dual-basket air fryer utilizes vertical space to maximize capacity while maintaining a compact footprint. It allows for independent basket programming and features a "Smart Finish" option to coordinate meal completion times. The interface, however, can be somewhat confusing.
Air Fryers We Don’t Recommend
Several models, despite their features or brand recognition, did not meet our performance standards and are therefore not recommended. These include:
- Instant Pot 4-Quart Vortex 6-in-1 Mini Air Fryer: While a good option for smaller capacities, its performance didn’t match the winning Cosori Turboblaze.
- Ninja AF101 Air Fryer: This basic model is lightweight and easy to use, but its round basket limits its versatility for cooking foods in a single layer.
- Cosori Air Fryer (Smaller Model): While it performed adequately, it lacked advanced settings that would enhance the cooking experience beyond basic air frying.
- Dash DCAF150GBAQ02 2-Quart Round Compact Air Fryer: Its performance was subpar, producing soggy fries and unevenly cooked tofu, with a round basket that limited capacity.
- Panasonic HomeChef 7-in-1 Compact Oven: Despite good performance, the interface was unclear, and the limited temperature range and mandatory preheating cycles were frustrating.
- Our Place Wonder Oven (Original): While aesthetically pleasing, its performance was inconsistent, producing unevenly browned food and lacking precise temperature control.
- Ninja Crispi: This unique appliance struggled with even cooking and precise temperature control, offering limited preset modes.
- Typhur Sync: Despite its advanced features, its performance did not justify its premium price point, with inconsistent crisping results.
FAQs
What is an air fryer? Is it just a convection oven?
An air fryer is essentially a compact countertop convection oven that utilizes a powerful fan to circulate hot air around food, resulting in a crispier texture than traditional ovens can achieve. The key component is the convection fan, which ensures even cooking and a desirable crisp exterior without the need for excessive oil. While air fryers are technically small convection ovens, many popular models feature a basket design, differing from the typical oven shape. Whether one considers the term "air fryer" a marketing term for a convection oven or a distinct appliance category is a matter of perspective. For this review, we have included both oven-style appliances with air frying capabilities and classic basket-style air fryers.
What accessories should I buy for my air fryer?
The necessity of accessories depends on the type of air fryer and the foods you plan to cook. For basket-style air fryers, parchment paper liners or silicone baskets can simplify cleanup. For oven-style air fryers, additional baking pans, racks, or a pizza stone can enhance versatility.
Get to Know Your Reviewer
Alaina Chou: As a dedicated tester of air fryers and small kitchen appliances for Bon Appétit and Epicurious since 2023, I have conducted extensive research and testing. My work involves meticulously evaluating numerous models to identify those that truly deliver on the promise of crispiness and convenience, often pushing the limits of kitchen equipment in the process.
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