The Best Air Fryers for Healthier Fried Foods
Ready to make your own perfectly crispy, crunchy fried favorites at home — without using a whole bottle of oil? Air fryers are popular small appliances that use circulating hot air to cook foods from multiple angles, resulting in healthier versions — still with great flavors and textures — of the deep-fried indulgences you love. And while an air fryer is great for whipping up classics like fried chicken, jalapeño poppers, French fries and mozzarella sticks, it also pulls double duty as a mini convection oven, helping you cook everything from crispy bacon to — yes — chocolate chip cookies.
You won’t have any problems finding numerous air fryers on the market today, but it’s essential to consider the features that’ll help you most. Like other countertop appliances, the best air fryers feature different capacities, temperature ranges and functions like dehydration and roasting, so there’s a bit to consider. Get started by checking out our list of the best air fryers available, according to real customer reviews.
Best Overall: Ninja AF101 Air Fryer
Good Housekeeping loves it — and so do the more than 2,500 five-star reviewers on Amazon. The Ninja AF101 Air Fryer is easy to use, takes up minimal counter space and features a 4-quart nonstick basket that accommodates up to 2 pounds of French fries at a time.
In Good Housekeeping tests, it outperformed other air fryers to make the most evenly cooked, crispy chicken wings. This air fryer lets you cook at temperatures ranging from 105 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. It also has a dehydrate function that comes in really handy for making homemade snacks and treats.
Best Value: Chefman TurboFry
Not only does the Chefman TurboFry offer a modest price point, but it also delivers consistent results — a feature that is tough to find among budget-friendly appliances. It includes variable temperature settings, from 200 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit; a spacious 3.5-liter, dishwasher-safe basket; and a 60-minute timer. As one reviewer said, “Blown away at how great it is…Do yourself a favor. Buy one!” Another reviewer exclaimed, “It’s really easy to use, and it works quickly. It has so many uses. I think it’s a great piece of equipment to have in your kitchen arsenal.”
Best for Families: Instant Vortex Plus
Looking for an air fryer with large capacity? The Instant Vortex Plus has ample room to fit a 4-pound, butterflied chicken, making it an ideal option for anyone cooking for up to four people. It features six preset programs that allow you to reheat, dehydrate, bake, broil and roast in addition to fry. EvenCrisp technology delivers reliably crispy exteriors and tender interiors, resulting in air fried foods that everyone will enjoy. The fingerprint-resistant stainless steel finish is easy to wipe clean, and all the interior components are dishwasher-safe.
Best Air Fryer/Toaster Combo: Cuisinart Air Fryer Toaster Oven
This one is a bit of a splurge, but the Cuisinart Air Fryer Toaster Oven is well worth the cost and also impressive to look at. It combines everything you love about a toaster oven with the added benefit of air frying capabilities. It features a large, rectangular air frying basket that is spacious enough to cook up to 3 pounds of French fries at a time. The fryer has an 1800-watt motor and a fan that creates high-heat, high-velocity airflow with quiet operation.
And frying is just the beginning — make a pizza, roast, toast, bake, broil and reheat like a kitchen champ. One reviewer gushed, “I did a TON of research on the best air fryers for a month before committing to this. Let me save you a lot of time, this is the MACK DADDY. It’s easy to clean and has a wide range of functions.”
Best Touchscreen: Cosori Air Fryer
An ergonomic design and large one-touch LED panel make the Cosori Air Fryer stand out from other air fryers. The responsive touch screen reveals 11 preset functions for cooking everything from steak and bacon to French fries, desserts and breads. The air fryer also has a shake function to ensure even crisping as well as a warm function that keeps foods ready-to-eat for longer.
What do actual users have to say? One five-star reviewer said, “Whoever designed this air fryer and package deserves a promotion!” Another said, “This is the best Christmas present I have ever bought myself!”
Best for Chicken Wings: Kalorik XL AirFryer Pro
It cooks more than just wings, but if you’re a fan of chicken wings, Good Housekeeping recommends this air fryer as the best choice. The Kalorik XL AirFryer Pro features a spacious 5.25-quart basket, adjustable temperatures of up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and a 60-minute timer. Good Housekeeping reviewers loved the consistently juicy and crispy wings that this air fryer created each and every time. It also helps that the nonstick, removable basket is dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup.
Best for Large Families: GoWise 7-Quart Digital Air Fryer
If you regularly feed a large crew, the GoWise 7-Quart Digital Air Fryer has the capacity you need. It features a powerful heating element and adjustable temperatures between 180 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, giving you versatility and flexibility. Not only does it have a 7-quart capacity, the PFOA-free pan and basket are both equipped with a cool touch handle for maximum comfort.
This air fryer has eight presets, an alarm and a touchscreen display for easy use. One reviewer exclaimed, “Best air fryer ever. I have a family of seven, and we can do most dinners in no time at all. I may never use my oven again.”
Best Pressure Cooker/Air Fryer Combo: Ninja Foodi 7-in-1
Thousands of five-star reviews praise the Ninja Foodi 7-in-1 as an appliance that delivers on its promises. It boasts a relatively small footprint, but it packs a large punch with seven different functions that include air frying, pressure cooking, steaming, baking, roasting, slow cooking, searing and yogurt making — yes, yogurt making. Tender crisp technology speeds up the cooking process while giving ingredients a perfectly crisp, golden finish.
Best for Keeping Food Warm: Philips TurboStar Airfryer
If you’re looking for an air fryer that can keep food warm until you’re ready to serve it, consider the Philips TurboStar Airfryer, one of the very few models to include a “keep warm” function. The circulating heat technology evenly fries foods, even when the basket is full — all without having to turn or toss the food halfway into cooking. It has five preset functions, which include grilling, baking and roasting.
This air fryer earned hundreds of five-star reviews from happy users, with many mentioning its quality and speed. One reviewer said, “I have never fallen in love so fast with a kitchen appliance. It works well.”
Best for Small Kitchens: Dash Compact Electric Air Fryer and Oven Cooker
Short on space? That’s not a problem with the Dash Compact Electric Air Fryer and Oven Cooker, which weighs less than 7 pounds and takes up a minimal amount of room on your counters. This compact, small capacity air fryer cooks up to 2 quarts of food at a time. It features five pre-set functions and manual controls with a digital display that makes it easy to keep track of the cook time and temperature. The fryer is ideal for cooking for one or two and comes in several fun, fashionable colors.
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