Worth the Kitchen Counter Space: The Best Air Fryers

For a long time, people kept little more than a coffee maker and a toaster on their kitchen counters. But with the rise in popularity of other countertop appliances like electric kettles, blenders, espresso machines, and even composters, surface space is getting crowded. One small appliance that’s making a powerful case for some of that limited space is the air fryer, with more and more people discovering the versatility of this easy-to-use machine and its ability to produce delicious food.

Here, we’re breaking down everything you need to know about air fryers, including advice from expert air fryer cooks on how to choose the right model for you, and product suggestions based on years of use. Read on to become an air fryer expert yourself, and discover our picks for the best air fryers, whatever you’re looking to cook

Our top picks

How we made our selections

While there are plenty of air fryers on the market to choose from, we found that there are not a ton of differences between models when you’re looking at the best of the best (as represented here). While some have more bells and whistles than others, cooking with an air fryer always requires a little bit of trial and error, based on the foods you most want to make and how you like them. That’s why we turned to air fryer cooks and cookbook authors who have used almost every model out there, as well as use an air fryer to cook for their families on a daily basis. We wanted to know which air fryers they found the most reliable, easy to use, and effective in producing the crispiest food, and those opinions are reflected here.

The most common air fryer types

When choosing the right style of air fryer for you, there are a few different types to choose from.

Combination air fryers

This combo appliance is a toaster oven and oven-style air fryer in one. Although a great option if you’re short on counter space and plan to utilize the capabilities of both appliances, these tend to be slightly smaller than oven-style air fryers, and might not crisp up food as impressively as a basket-style air fryer.

Basket air fryers

When you’re using a basket-style air fryer, you place your food in the basket and then push it into the machine. You typically can’t see your food while it’s cooking in one of these and the capacities tend to be on the smaller side. There are also dual-basket air fryers, which allow you to cook two things at the same time at different temperatures.

“I for sure prefer using a basket-style air fryer. They are just so much easier to handle. It also cooks faster compared to the oven-style air fryers,” says Cathy Yoder, an air fryer expert at Fabulessly Frugal and author of Easy Air Fryer Recipe Book. “Plus it's easier to clean and manage. The oven-style air fryers will always require taking the time to grab hot pads and rotating the shelves, whereas a basket-style air fryer is a quick, one-handed operation where you pull the basket out, shake or rotate the food and pop it back in. And it's nice to take the air fryer basket and soak it in hot soapy water when you’re done.”

Oven air fryers

An oven-style air fryer is just as it sounds: Typically a large rectangle, it has a glass door that you pull open and then slide your food onto a shelf. These air fryers tend to be larger, which is where their biggest benefit comes from.

“Oven-style air fryers are great for larger foods that don’t fit in the basket air fryers or if you’re trying to cook large quantities,” says Samantha Lynn, an air fryer expert at Everyday Family Cooking. “One large batch that takes more time to cook still cooks faster than needing to cook in two batches in a small air fryer.” If it’s big enough, you could even cook an entire meal, such as burgers and fries, on one tray, notes Laurie Fleming, air fryer expert at Fork to Spoon and author of The Essential Air Fryer Cookbook for Beginners. “The oven is also amazing to bake in, making it easier to make cookies and pancakes,” she adds.

What to consider before you buy an air fryer

Before you simply take our word for it, consider these factors when choosing the air fryer that is best for you.

Capacity and capabilities

Like any kitchen appliance, you’ll want to consider what sorts of things you’re interested in cooking in the air fryer. If it’s just frozen foods and side dishes, a 4- or 5-quart basket-style air fryer may be best. If you’re looking to cook entire meals, go for a 9-quart dual-basket or air fryer oven. And if you’re on the fence, Lynn suggests going bigger. “I see a lot of people upgrading within a year to a larger air fryer,” she says.

Features

Many of the air fryers on our list come with extra features like preset cooking modes, attached meat thermometers, and more. Think about which, if any of these, are important to you before you buy. “I'd want to make sure it has an auto off feature, which means when the air fryer is running, and you open the basket, the unit will stop. Then when you close it again, the unit should pick up where it left off,” Yoder says, of the critical feature she looks for.

Brand

Especially with your first air fryer, both Fleming and Lynn suggest going with a well-known brand that has a good reputation. “They typically have better customer service and warranty coverage,” adds Lynn.

Are air fryers healthy?

“Air frying is generally considered to be a healthier cooking method than traditional frying because it uses much less oil or fat to cook food, which can reduce the overall calorie and fat content of dishes,” explains Crystal Scott, MS, RD, LD, a registered dietitian with Top Nutrition Coaching. “By circulating hot air around the food, air fryers can produce crispy and delicious results without the need for excess oil.”

In this sense, if you’re choosing to air fry something as opposed to deep frying it, your finished dish is likely going to be healthy. But that doesn’t mean everything your air fryer produces should be eaten at will. “The healthiness of air frying can also depend on the types of foods being cooked. Foods that are naturally high in fat, such as chicken wings or fried snacks, will still be high in calories even when cooked in an air fryer,” Scott cautions. “However, air frying can be a good option for making healthier versions of these types of dishes.”

Are air fryers worth it?

“People buy an air fryer with the idea of cooking small frozen foods and just a few fries, and that is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to air frying,” promises Lynn. Indeed, with the exception of the few foods below, there are hardly any that can’t be prepared in an air fryer, making it an incredibly valuable tool if you want to mix up your meals and limit clean up. “I can’t tell you how many people will buy the small 2-3-quart air fryers because they’re cheaper, and then they realize how versatile the appliance is,” Lynn adds. “A small air fryer like that is not going to cook a piece of steak, two chicken breasts, or reheat a slice of pizza.”

What cannot be prepared in an air fryer?

“Foods with a liquid batter aren’t best cooked in the air fryer as the batter drips down and causes a mess,” says Lynn. “I also don’t recommend cooking soups in there.” You might want to be cautious with foods that are super light as well, as they might fly around in the appliance. In these cases, Yoder suggests placing a small rack on top of your food.

How do I convert a regular recipe to an air fryer recipe?

“Generally speaking, I take about 25˚F off the cooking temperature and cut the cook time down by 50%, then add time as needed,” says Yoder, who adds that it’s also smart to use a meat thermometer to ensure your food is cooked all the way through. If math isn’t your strong suit, Lynn has a recipe conversion calculator on her website that you can try.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Do air fryers use a lot of electricity?

Like most medium-sized countertop appliances, air fryers don’t use much electricity. While it’s true that they do use a little more than microwaves, they use significantly less than an electric oven. So if you are able to cook a few meals per week in your air fryer instead of your oven, it’s likely to save you some money.

What size air fryer is needed for a family of 4?

It depends on what you’re planning to cook in the air fryer. If you want to make a side dish for a family of four, a 5- or 6-quart air fryer should be sufficient. But if you want to make an entire meal, you’ll need to go even bigger.

Can you put raw meat in the air fryer?

Absolutely. Like almost all foods you cook in the air fryer, meat is going to come out best if the pieces are relatively thin and uniform. It’s also smart to pick up an instant-read meat thermometer to ensure that your food is cooked safely and all the way through.

Can I fry an egg in an air fryer?

Yes! If you have a basket air fryer, you’ll need a pan that fits in your machine, or little ramekins you can place in the basket. For an oven air fryer, you can just use the tray, or Fleming prefers to use a mini cast iron pan. To fry your egg, simply crack the egg into the pan and cook it at 370°F for 3 to 5 minutes, depending on the wattage of your machine and how set you want your egg to be.