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Best Air Fryer in 2023: Reviews and Recommendations

Andrea Monica
  Jun 4, 2023 4:27 PM

Best air fryer. How can you choose the Best Air Fryer when there are numerous varieties of products with varied characteristics from different brands?


Overview

More than a decade after their introduction, air fryers have established themselves as indispensable kitchen appliances for many. They're a fan favorite since its cooking mechanism allows you to get the same crispy results as deep frying without using as much oil. Air fryers are basically countertop convection ovens that cook food from all sides using a heating element and strong fan, making them superior to traditional toaster ovens, which only have one heating element in the middle of the oven. Some air fryers are just glorified convection ovens, while others provide additional functions like dehydrating food and baking proofing.

Over the years, we've put more than two dozen air fryers through their paces to find which ones consistently perform the best. Find out which kind of air fryer will work best in your kitchen and begin cooking immediately with our helpful guide.

Out Top Picks:


Review

1. Ninja AF161 Max XL Air Fryer

Our top air fryer was the 5.5-quart basket-style Ninja Air Fryer Max XL. Its straightforward buttons and simple owner's instructions made it the easiest to operate. The air fryer basket was easy to insert and remove throughout our testing. We like the basket's detachable tray and nonstick ceramic inside. When you remove the food from the basket, the tray fits tightly and firmly on the bottom. The basket and tray are dishwasher safe and simple to clean by hand.

Ninja Air Fryer Max XL performed well and was simple to use. It prepared succulent chicken wings and crispy frozen and handmade fries. Our model has a broiling rack for faster and juicier results and melty cheese. It has numerous cook modes with varied maximum and lowest temperatures, including Max Crisp and Air Broil (450°F) and dehydrate (105°F), so you may get diverse outcomes. The second-by-second timer is unique. The Ninja Foodi 6-in-1 2-Basket Air Fryer is bigger. It functions like the Air Fryer Max XL but with additional adaptability. It's our go-to for one-person dinners since each basket is smaller and takes up less dishwashing space.

Feature

  • 14 inches by 11 inches by 14.75 inches
  • Weight of Item: 11 pounds
  • Manufacturer SharkNinja
  • ASIN B07S6529ZZ

Pros

  • Best performance among basket-style air fryers
  • Simple to use

Cons

  • Some may find the diameter of the container to be too narrow.

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2. Instant Vortex Plus Dual Basket

The Instant Vortex Plus fared well in our first evaluations. The model's 40-centimeter-wide footprint on the countertop was not as bulky as others we've tried, and the model's touchscreen control panel gave it a clean, minimalist appearance when switched off.

The combined volume of the two drawers, at 7.6 liters, is sufficient for preparing an entrée and a side dish for six people. We like the versatility of the Sync features, which enabled us to prepare two completely different items using two distinct programs but yet have them both finish at the same time for plating (thanks to SyncCook) or simultaneously (thanks to SyncFinish).

The roasted chicken legs were tender and juicy on the inside, but the chips in the next drawer needed some shaking midway through cooking to get a nice, crisp outside. Select either degrees Celsius or degrees Fahrenheit, as appropriate for the recipe at hand.

Feature

  • 8.05 Kilograms; Product Dimensions: 38.4 x 31.7 x 40.3 cm
  • 7.6 litres of capacity
  • Power / Wattage‎1700 volts
  • Voltage ‎2 Kilovolts
  • Material ‎Plastic
  • ASIN B09CLL96VR

Pros

  • Two interior luminaires
  • The progress gauge displays the preheating and cooking times
  • Clear instructions to jiggle food products

Cons

  • Awkwardly-sized compartments for accommodating a distinct pastry dish

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3. COSORI Air Fryer

The Cosori Pro LE Air Fryer L501 is an affordable option if you're looking for a high-quality air fryer that won't break the bank. Unlike other air fryers we've tried, this one has a sleek design thanks to its control panel's placement on the shiny top. 

We tested the air fryer and found that it successfully fried chicken wings and french fries to a crisp outside and a fluffy inside. However, it had trouble uniformly browning food, so we had to adjust cooking times, and it also wasn't very good at cooking frozen food.

There are seven different preprogrammed settings for foods including bacon, shellfish, and cake. It also has a shake reminder that can be programmed to go off halfway through cooking to remind you to flip the food for an even crisp. 

Feature

  • Dimensions of the product are 10.7 x 10.8 x 11.9 inches
  • Weight of Item: 12 pounds
  • Manufacturer COSORI
  • ASIN B0936FGLQS

Pros

  • Creates crunchy fries and poultry wings
  • Sleek, minimalist design
  • Seven configurations, including bacon and seafood, are available.

Cons

  • Having problems with refrigerated goods
  • Experimentation is required to obtain evenly browned results.

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4. DASH Compact Air Fryer 

Now you can enjoy fried meals without sacrificing your health thanks to the Dash Compact Air Fryer. The AirCrisp® technology uses air circulation to cook food fully without the oil and mess of a conventional fryer. This results in a 75% reduction in the amount of added fat while maintaining the meal's taste. Plug the fryer in, choose the amount of time and temperature you want it to cook at, and you're good to go! The Dash Compact Air Fryer is ideal for preparing meals for a single person, and it can fry sweet potato fries, spicy chicken wings, veggies, and a variety of other foods in a shorter amount of time than it takes to preheat an oven.

Feature

  • The dimensions of the product are 10.2 by 8.1 by 11.4 inches.
  • Weight of Item: 5.7 pounds
  • Manufacturer StoreBound
  • ASIN B075BCVSJZ

Pros

  • Includes an assortment of hues.
  • Not as demanding on counter space as full-size models
  • Amazon's selection

Cons

  • The fries were not cooked evenly.

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5. Cuisinart TOA-26 Compact Airfryer

 

Our small oven or oven toaster from Cuisinart sets the standard higher than the other options on our list, which are all basket fryers. The Cuisinart TOA-60 Air Fryer Mini Oven may cost more than comparable models, but it is well worth the investment since it does every conceivable culinary task. 

You may also roast, bake, and reheat with it. It's capable of conventional baking, broiling, toasting, and baking with convection. We also discovered that it is a robust air fryer with seven useful features. Keep in mind that, in our experience, cooking times and temperatures need some trial and error.

Last but not least, although the air frying feature doesn't make the most of its large capacity, the roomy interior does provide extra room to spread out your food when cooking. It's a space-saver since it replaces many equipment in the kitchen rather of just one.

Feature

  • Dimensions: 13 by 18 by 15 inches
  • Weight of Item: 1 pound
  • Manufacturer Cuisinart
  • ASIN B09GL56L4T

Pros

  • Seven culinary capabilities
  • Quiet and discreet
  • Plenty of space

Cons

  • The door can obscure
  • Utilizes a great deal of counter space
  • Expensive

View on Amazon


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Last update on 2023-06-04 / Affiliate links / Images, Product Titles, and Product Highlights from Amazon Product Advertising API


What to look for

Size

When you cook, how many people do you usually have to feed? Smaller sizes are suitable for one or two persons, while larger ones are more comfortable for three or more.

Style

Air fryers with a basket are convenient for frying tiny amounts of food and meals that can be easily rearranged, such as fries and vegetables. Larger air fryer ovens provide greater shelf space for frying, but they also demand more attention and more frequent food rotations. In addition to air frying, multifunctional air fryer toaster ovens can also bake, roast, and broil.

Price

Stainless steel and digital air fryers are often more expensive than their plastic and mechanical counterparts.

Multifunctionality

Toaster ovens, microwaves, pressure cookers, steamer cookers, and even full-sized ovens have begun including an air fry option into their designs, so purchasing a multipurpose appliance may be a good deal (and save space!).


FAQs

Q. Why or why not use an air fryer?

If you value efficiency and convenience in the kitchen, then an air fryer is a worthwhile investment. Some may be cumbersome and take up unnecessary space on your counter, but once customers start using them, they quickly see the value in them. They are ideal for reheating french fries, dumplings, and other leftovers that might otherwise go soggy or rubbery in the microwave. We use ours often at the Kitchen Appliances Lab to whip up easy meals. Chicken, pork chops, and salmon, among others, cook rapidly to a golden brown and juicy, while vegetables blister or caramelize wonderfully. Mini potatoes, butternut squash, and beets are some of our favorite root veggies to air fry.

Q. How do air fryers work?

A typical air fryer has a powerful fan on the bottom and a heat source on the top. This structure, together with others like perforated trays and a tiny capacity, provide a high-heat environment that speeds up the cooking process. Our testing, personal experience, and recipe creation have all led us to the conclusion that most foods are best cooked at high temperatures (like 400 degrees Fahrenheit) for short periods of time. To get the most uniform cooking, tossing or flipping is optional for smaller food items but necessary for bigger ones.

Q. When using an air fryer, how can I adapt a traditional recipe?

Converting conventional recipes to the air fryer is more involved than just lowering the temperature by 25 degrees Fahrenheit and checking on the food more often. Instead, bear in mind that 400 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal for air frying most items, and that if they are thicker (like chicken breasts, which take longer to cook and should be air fried at a lower temperature, like 370 degrees Fahrenheit or 375 degrees Fahrenheit), you will need to modify the time rather than the temperature.

Keep your user handbook close at hand and refer to the cooking charts and recipes often since air fryers cook rapidly. It's also a good idea to start monitoring your food within a quarter of the time you would typically check your food in the oven until you're familiar with the recipe.

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