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The air fryer has taken off as a very popular kitchen appliance. But as its popularity has grown, there have also been an overwhelming amount of models to choose from.
So we did the research, tested a variety of air fryers, and aggregated tens of thousands of online reviews. After extensive testing, we were able to find the best air fryer models. Here are our top picks.
Our Top Pick
Philips TurboStar
With over 230 glowing online reviews, the Philips TurboStar is our pick for best air fryer. With quick cook times, great texture, and unanimous love from consumers – it’s a perfect choice. Our staff loved the bacon and grilled cheese we made with it – as well as (of course) – the french fries.
Other Great Picks
FrenchMay Touch Control
With over 115 stellar online reviews, this air fryer from FrenchMay cooks anything you can imagine. Our staff loved the touch controls, and we even tried a baked apples recipe – which tasted exactly like apple pie. Highly recommended.
Ninja Air Fryer
With over 1,300 positive online reviews, the Ninja Air Fryer is a definite winner. It comes in at a great price point, works flawlessly, and is very durable. We loved the quick cooking option, which allowed us to have crispy chicken very fast. Highly recommended.
COSORI Air Fryer
This top-selling model of air fryer from Cosori has over 1,600 positive online reviews, and offers great taste – along with a great price point. Try cooking shrimp with it – we were pleasantly surprised at the great results.
GoWISE Air Fryer
With over 2,000 glowing online reviews, this great air fryer from GoWise has a very budget-friendly price point – but doesn’t sacrifice when it comes to taste. We had perfect french fries and chicken come out of this machine, and our staff also loved some crispy corn dogs made with this air fryer. Highly recommended.
Dash Compact
With an absolutely amazing price point, this Dash air fryer is smaller than most air fryers, so you will only be able to cook in smaller batches. However – what a great value. With over 1,100 glowing online reviews, consumers love the value of this machine – and we loved the crispy chicken wings we made with it, too.
Nuwave Brio
This air fryer has a great reputation, and excellent performance. With over 280 glowing online reviews – it is in many ways – a perfect machine. We made incredible onion rings with it, and though it’s not a budget pick – it’s worth every penny. If money is no object – we recommend this air fryer for all your crispy food needs.
Secura Electric Hot
This affordable air fryer from Secura has over 500 glowing customer reviews, and it cooked everything we tried – perfectly. Crispy Brussels sprouts, french fries, wings – anything you can dream of. Highly recommended.
OMORC XL
This bigger air fryer from Omorc has over 830 glowing online reviews, and can cook large batches of food perfectly. Despite it’s size – this air fryer still has an affordable price point. We made fried chicken legs – and were not disappointed with the taste and texture. Two thumbs up.
ENKLOV XL
With over 400 positive online reviews, this XL air fryer from Enklov is a great choice. We cooked a whole chicken, and loved the results. We even tried warming up a pizza – and again, experienced great results. Our favorite test? Ribs. They came out great, and were some of the best we’ve ever tasted. Recommended.
What Is An Air Fryer?
An air fryer is a convenient, affordable, countertop appliance that enables cooks of every level to make their favorite foods. With an air fryer, you can reach the same delightful level of crispiness (comparable to fried food) – but without all the oil and fat. Foods cooked in an air fryer will have the same appealing, familiar taste – as well as the same texture.
Why You Need An Air Fryer
Air fryers have become a big hit in modern kitchens across the globe. What is it about these futuristic gadgets that are quickly transforming them into a household staple? We will cover all the details, so you know everything about the best air fryers out there.
Let’s be honest – fried food is delicious. The the salty crunch in every bite, the pleasing sound that fills the room, and the decadent flavor.
Frying food is not only a popular technique for making almost anything delicious – it’s also a quick, uncomplicated way of cooking. But traditional fried foods also certainly have their cons.
The high trans-fat content and high caloric intake derived from submerging food in oil, can be a quick road to developing health issues like heart disease, high cholesterol, and obesity. The reason why so many people love air fryers, is that you can still fry your favorite foods – but simultaneously avoid all the health pitfalls.
How Does An Air Fryer Work?
Air fryers use a convection fan to surround food with hot air, cooking food all the way through in a matter of minutes. It is similar to a convection oven – but much faster and smaller.
The top part of an air fryer contains a heating mechanism and fan, while the body of the unit holds a basket – similar to those seen in commercial fryers. Unlike food fried in oil, you do not need to constantly keep any oil at the right temperature, to reach the optimum cooking temperature. The air fryer does this for you, consistently.
Air fryers are a very small appliance, which helps give it a fast speed. However, this also means that cooking large quantities must be done in batches.
One of our other favorite features of the air fryer – you do not need to thaw frozen food before air frying it. Other perks include not needing to have a tub of oil on-hand, and not ever needing to adjust the cooking temperature.
Air fryers are also aesthetically pleasing, unfussy, easy-to-clean, and can reduce calorie intake by up to 80%.
What Can You Cook In An Air Fryer?
Although the cooking method itself is much different than frying in oil, the result is not. There are many things you can successfully air fry, and your favorite foods are probably on the list.
You can start with the most familiar foods, which usually benefit from frying or high-temperature baking. This includes mozzarella sticks, chicken wings, potato chips, and pizza.
Frozen foods also are a category of treats that will air fry quickly and effortlessly. Frozen tater tots? Frozen meatballs? Salmon filets? Egg rolls? You name it. Throw them in an air fryer, and quickly achieve peak crispiness.
Air fryers also allow you to think outside of the box. You can successfully make hard-boiled eggs, roast seeds and nuts, and even bake cookies, or fresh loaves of bread.
If you’re running low on recipe ideas, the internet is full of unique, creative air frying recipes. Some of our favorites include: air fryer beef empanadas, air fryer coconut shrimp, and air fryer molten lava cake. The possibilities are truly endless.
What Kinds Of Food Should You Leave For Other Cooking Methods?
As previously mentioned, if you’re planning to cook a large meal for many people, air frying may not be the most efficient cooking method. Air fryers are on the smaller side, and require multiple batches to cook for a group.
Additionally, foods that require a liquid batter don’t always hold up tightly in an air fryer. The batter will merely drip off of the food you’re trying to cook – not a situation you want to deal with.
That being said, if you make a battered meal and freeze it – it should cook evenly in an air fryer. Try using egg, flour, and breadcrumbs as a batter substitute, in these situations.
Rice, pasta or grains that require a lot of liquid to cook, will also benefit from boiling in water – rather than being placed in an air fryer. An air fryer will not reach a high enough temperature to cook rice all the way through – so you’re better off using traditional methods.
The Do’s And Don’ts Of Air Frying
Do’s
- Keep your air fryer on a level, heat resistant countertop or surface.
- Preheat your air fryer 10-15 minutes before cooking. Most models will suggest this.
- Give your air fryer the space it deserves. On your counter, allow for five inches around each side of the air fryer for the best airflow.
- Get crafty and cook beyond typical frozen food. You can make beautiful, healthy vegetable-based dishes like stuffed peppers, or baked desserts. You do not need to buy an air fryer to only cook up a batch of french fries. Get creative!
- When cooking already-fatty foods, add some water to the air frying drawer. This helps prevent the grease from things like bacon and meats, from burning and smoking up your kitchen.
- Similar to how you would cook something on a pan or in the oven, flip your foods halfway through. Or simply shake up the basket, depending on the type of food that you are frying. Feel free to open up the air fryer, and check on your food as often as you like. This will not interrupt the cooking process.
- If the food you are air frying needs to stay together (like a well-constructed sandwich) – use toothpicks to keep it in place.
- Invest in some air frying accessories! Check out accessories like parchment liners, grill and baking pans, skewers, and cooking racks.
Don’ts
- Similar to how you would spread food evenly on a baking pan, don’t overcrowd the frying basket. If too crowded, each morsel of food will cook at a different speed and temperature.
- Don’t spray aerosol cooking spray directly into the fryer.
- Don’t dump oil directly into the fryer. Some foods require a small bit of oil (usually a tablespoon or a very light coating) prior to cooking. But a mass amount of fat is exactly what air fryers work to avoid.
- Don’t throw raw vegetables into the air fryer and expect anything but soggy veggies. Here’s a better solution: freeze them beforehand, then put them in your air fryer.
- Don’t forget to wash your air fryer. This is very important. If you see smoke coming from the fryer, that’s a surefire sign that you need to clean the pan. But do not wash your air fryer in the dishwasher. First, let the air fryer cool after cooking, and then wipe it clean. If you’ve had yourself a long, grand frying session, also wash the basket with soap and water.
Differences Between Air Fryer Models
With the rise of popularity in air fryers – also comes the rise of manufacturers. There are plenty of brands and types of air fryers to choose from.
Fortunately, they are all pretty similar to each other – with the exception of price. If your wallet allows for it, feel free to indulge and invest in a pricey air fryer – but breaking the bank is not absolutely necessary.
When searching for the right air fryer, here are a few features that will differ, from brand to brand.
- Capacity & Size: While some air fryers can hold up to 16 quarts, many are between the 2.5 and 6.5 range. If you’re looking for an air fryer that can hold the maximum amount, it’s destined to be larger in size than the smaller options. Make sure you have enough room on your kitchen counter, for the air fryer of your choice.
- Preheating: You’ll find most air fryers require preheating the machine before use. However, there are a select few that do not. Unless you’re constantly in a rush, preheating usually isn’t a deciding factor in your purchase, as pre-heating time is usually only a few minutes in length.
- Extra Functions: Many of the newer models come with a touch screen, containing extra functions. Usually, this is out of convenience for choosing what you’re cooking. For instance, a “shrimp function”, “broil” mode, or even “pressure cook.”
What Do I Use An Air Fryer For?
You can successfully use an air fryer to replace standard frying in oil, baking, and microwaving. An air fryer is a terrific, modern way to achieve the same delicious texture and taste you’d accomplish frying with oil – but in a much healthier way.
There are a few cons to air frying and many pros, especially if you are health-conscious. Get creative with your recipes, clean your air fryer, don’t fill the basket too much – and you’ll be destined for tasty success!
The Best Air Fryer
There you have it – our picks for the best air fryer. There are a ton of great kitchen appliances besides air fryers, so be sure to take a look at our other reviews in the home category.