The 9 Best Air Fryers
Updated by · How we research
Most people now buy drawer models, so they lead these nine air fryers, compared on size, heat range, tests and warranty. First is the Cosori TurboBlaze. When users buy our independently chosen editorial choices, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
An air fryer is a small convection oven: a heater and a strong fan blow hot air over food in a basket, so it browns and crisps with little or no oil. Families, students and busy cooks use them for fries, wings and vegetables. Oven-style versions can also make toast, and owners of a Cosori CS158-AF should check the 2023 recall and stop using it.
Editor's Notes
October 16, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Admin:
Two drawer models top the new list: the Cosori TurboBlaze leads, with the Instant Vortex Plus close behind, and both did well at America's Test Kitchen. Almost nothing on the 2020 page held up. The Cuisinart TOB-260N1 and Instant Pot Omni Plus are unavailable, we couldn't find the NuWave Brio models or the Yedi Houseware GV021 among current listings, and the Ninja AF101 and Ninja SP101 have newer replacements. The Cosori CS158-AF had to go for a sadder reason: it's one of the models in Cosori's 2023 recall over a wire connection that can overheat. If you own one, check the recall and stop using it.
The old list leaned on toaster-oven-style fryers. The new one starts with drawer models, since that's what most people buy now. The Ninja Foodi DZ550 is the pick for families who want two foods at once. Oven-style fans still have the Ninja Flip SP151 and the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro.
We left out the Ninja Crispi. Its glass containers are a nice idea, but independent testers found uneven crisping, a small cooking area and very hot glass.
The buyer's guide now explains how an air fryer works, since plenty of readers arrive wanting exactly that. It also covers sizes and types, plus coatings and recalls.
November 16, 2020:
It was a busy round of updates that saw a 50% of our previous picks turned over, in order to make room for some exciting new additions. While the Dash Compact was eliminated due to availability issues, the Philips Twin Turbostar XXL was replaced by the Philips TurboStar XXL HD9650/96 — a similar unit that sports a simple digital interface, in lieu of the former’s analog controls. We also switched out the Cuisinart AFR-25 for the Cuisinart TOB-260N1 — a considerably larger model that still sports a stainless steel aesthetic and toaster-oven-style design.
We got rid of the Faberware 42138, instead favoring the fancier Cosori CS158-AF, which boasts Wi-Fi connectivity and app control. And did away with the 12.7-quart GoWise Deluxe – which we’d previously included as a good rotisserie option – in order to make room for roomier alternatives, like the 14-quart NuWave Brio and 27-quart Instant Pot Omni Plus.
Lastly, we made the tough call to remove the Ninja Foodi OP401. As it stands, Ninja currently offers a full line of indoor grills and electric pressure cookers – like the Foodi OP401 – that all include air-fryer functionality. These appliances all look great, and were all considered for inclusion during this round of updates, but ultimately lost out to some of the convection-oven-style choices we chose to rank instead. Our list already included the Ninja SP101 and Ninja AF101, so we felt that the company was already receiving adequate representation, but for the right user (one who’s also interested in either a pressure cooker or an indoor grill) these machines might make a great addition to one’s kitchen, so don't be afraid to check them out.
November 07, 2019:
Most air fryers don't use any oil whatsoever during the cooking process, so don't expect exactly the same results as a deep fat fryer. What they can do, however, is act as highly capable convection ovens that fit relatively easily on your countertop and provide reasonably crispy snack foods like onion rings and french fries. Some, such as the GoWise Deluxe, are large enough to accommodate actual chickens, although depending on the unit you may have to spatchcock (i.e., flatten the backbone) of the bird to fit it inside properly. From one of the more popular modern kitchen appliance manufacturers, the Ninja Food SP101 and Ninja Foodi OP401 are both extremely versatile; the first is a highly capable toaster over and the second is a multipurpose steamer and pressure cooker, so you'll almost certainly get your money's worth out of either. As far as dedicated air fryers go, the Ninja AF101 also happens to be one of the best.
The Cuisinart Toaster Oven is another versatile model, and it comes in a couple different models to accommodate households of varying sizes. Similarly, the Maxi-Matic Elite Platinum offers a range of useful cooking functions. But if you already have the other appliances you need, you may prefer the NuWave Brio 37001 or Philips Twin TurboStar XXL, both of which receive plenty of praise for their crispy results. The Farberware 42138 is also quite effective, and it's both simple and relatively affordable. And if you don't have much room and don't need a very large capacity, the Dash Compact is both one of the smallest and least expensive.
Of course, if you're okay with a high-fat and high-calorie dish every now and then, you can always opt for an actual deep fryer, and if you need to outfit a commercial kitchen, you'll likely have to spring for a high-powered commercial fryer. And for those who want crispy birds that just won't fit in a traditional fryer, there's a host of models designed specifically for whole turkeys.
Special Honors
Quik N' Crispy Quik N' Crispy makes commercial greaseless fryers for food service kitchens such as school and workplace cafeterias. Its Rapid Air Fryer combines forced hot air with radiant heat to fry, grill and bake oven-ready foods without oil, and the company says it needs no vent hood. It's a commercial machine you buy by contacting the company, not a home appliance. quikncrispy.com
Typhur Typhur sells premium basket air fryers from its own site. The Typhur Dome 2 has a wide cooking surface, a PFAS-free ceramic basket, 15 cooking functions and a self-cleaning mode, and Prudent Reviews recommends it as one of the quietest fryers it has measured. It costs several times as much as most basket models, so it's for keen cooks who air fry daily. typhur.com
How An Air Fryer Works, And What Size To Get
Wet batters drip through the basket, and crowded loads steam instead of crisping, so cook in a single layer and shake halfway.
An air fryer is a compact convection oven. A heating element sits above the food and a fan drives hot air, usually up to 400 or 450 degrees, around a perforated basket or tray. Food browns and crisps with a light spray of oil or none, so results land closer to a fast oven than to a deep fryer. Wet batters drip through the basket, and crowded loads steam instead of crisping, so cook in a single layer and shake halfway.
Quarts on the box are a rough guide. America's Test Kitchen found that 6-quart drawers fit three or four chicken cutlets, and Prudent Reviews measured floor space ranging from 64 to 88 square inches across models of similar size. Floor area decides how much fits in one layer. As a starting point, 2 to 4 quarts suits one or two people, a dorm or an office; 5 to 6.5 quarts suits three or four; and 8 quarts or a dual-basket model suits bigger families.
Check height and depth too. Many 6-quart models are about 12 inches tall and 14 to 15 inches deep, and the hot exhaust vents out the back, so leave several inches of clearance and don't park one under a low cabinet.
Basket, Dual-Basket Or Oven-Style
Single-drawer basket fryers are the most common type. They heat a small space, so they preheat in minutes; America's Test Kitchen clocked its winner at about two. Look for a wide temperature range (a low setting around 100 degrees lets you dry fruit), a reminder to shake, and a timer that pauses when you pull the drawer; America's Test Kitchen marked down one older Ninja for not pausing.
Dual-basket models put two smaller drawers side by side with separate controls. Their main trick is finishing a main and a side at the same time. RTINGS found differences even between two closely related Ninja dual models, so the newer design isn't automatically the same. Expect a unit about 17 inches wide.
Oven-style air fryers are convection toaster ovens with a strong fan. They toast, bake a 12-inch pizza and roast a chicken, and they let you see the food through a glass door. The trade-offs are size, price and heat that spreads through the kitchen. Taste of Home timed one large model at about five minutes to reach 400 degrees, well under a full-size oven, while RTINGS found a low flip-up model quick to preheat but short on headroom.
Coatings, Safety And Care
Almost every basket is nonstick. A stainless-steel air fryer usually means a steel exterior over a coated basket. Several makers now say their coatings are PFAS-free ceramic; treat that as the maker's claim. Coatings last longer if you skip metal tools and scouring pads, and if you follow the manual on dishwashers. Replace a basket whose coating flakes. Overheated PTFE coatings give off fumes that are dangerous to pet birds, so keep birds well away from any nonstick appliance.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says acrylamide can form in some foods, starchy ones especially, during high-temperature cooking such as frying, roasting and baking, and an air fryer uses the same high, dry heat. Cooking fries and toast to golden rather than dark brown keeps browning, and acrylamide, down.
Air fryers draw up to about 1,800 watts, so plug one straight into the wall rather than an extension cord and avoid running it on the same circuit as a microwave or kettle. Recalls do happen: Cosori recalled about 2 million air fryers in 2023 over an overheating wire connection, and other brands, such as Power XL and Insignia, have had air fryer recalls too. Check the CPSC database before buying a used or unfamiliar model.
How we researched this
We screened about 40 air fryers and air fryer ovens and compared 19 current models in detail. We read published tests from America's Test Kitchen and Taste of Home in full, used summaries of RTINGS, Tom's Guide and Prudent Reviews measurements, checked makers' published specs and warranties, looked for patterns in owner feedback, and searched the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's recall database for every brand.
Sources (13)
- America's Test Kitchen: The Best Air Fryers
- Taste of Home: The Best Air Fryers, Tested
- Prudent Reviews: Ninja Crispi Pro review
- RTINGS: Cosori TurboBlaze review
- RTINGS: Ninja Foodi DZ401 vs DZ550
- RTINGS: Ninja Flip SP151 review
- RTINGS: Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro review
- Tom's Guide: Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer review
- Taste of Home: Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro review
- FDA: Acrylamide
- CPSC recalls
- Typhur
- Quik N' Crispy
Frequently asked questions
What is an air fryer?
A small countertop convection oven. A heater and a fan blow hot air around food in a basket or on a tray, so it browns and crisps with little or no oil. It doesn't fry in oil, so wet batters don't work.
What size air fryer do I need?
About 2 to 4 quarts for one or two people, 5 to 6.5 quarts for three or four, and 8 quarts or a dual-basket model for larger families. The basket's floor area matters more than quarts, since food crisps best in one layer.
Is an air fryer healthier than a deep fryer?
It uses far less oil, and makers say that cuts fat sharply compared with deep frying. Starchy foods can still form acrylamide at high heat, the FDA says, so cooking fries to golden rather than dark brown is a sensible habit.
Can I put foil or parchment in an air fryer?
Some makers allow it and some don't, so check your manual. If it's allowed, keep paper weighed down by food and never run it empty, because loose paper can blow into the heater.
Is there an air fryer with a stainless-steel basket?
Hardly any. Air fryers sold as stainless steel almost always have a steel exterior and a nonstick basket. Glass-container models avoid a coated container, but their crisper plates are coated.
Can kids use an air fryer?
Older kids can, with an adult nearby. The basket, food and exhaust get hot, so a small, simple model with an auto shutoff when the basket comes out is a sensible first choice.
