Air fryers are a great way to enjoy the delicious crunch you love in a healthy way. Superheated air is the key to perfect cooking. It wraps around your food and allows it to cook evenly. It is important to find an air fryer that can cook enough food for you and has intuitive controls that make it easy to use. You’ll also want an air fryer that is easy to clean and can cook multiple foods simultaneously. Many manufacturers have refined their air fryers to allow you to create many culinary delights.
Best Air Fryers
1. COSORI Air Fryer Pro
- CUSTOMIZABLE COOKING FUNCTIONS: You can customize and save the time and temperature of any preset, so it’s ready to go the next time you need it
- EVEN HEATING TECHNOLOGY: Rapid 360° air circulation provides crispy textures and even results, helping you make meals everyone will love, which is an ideal fathers day gifts
- UP TO 85% LESS OIL: Traditional frying requires a lot of oil, but air frying provides crispy results without sacrificing your health
- 12 ONE-TOUCH COOKING FUNCTIONS: Steak, Chicken, Seafood, Shrimp, Bacon, Frozen Foods, French Fries, Vegetables, Toast, Bake, Preheat, Keep Warm
- PERSONALIZED SHAKE REMINDER: Add or cancel the built-in Shake Reminder to suit your preference
- COSORI COOKBOOK INCLUDED: Be inspired by delicious, chef-created recipes and browse 100 options in the recipe book
- SERVES 3–5 PEOPLE: The square 5.8-quart baskets can fit a whole 5 lb chicken, perfect for family dinners
- DISHWASHER-SAFE: The PFOA-free and BPA-free baskets are detachable, nonstick, and dishwasher-safe
- EASILY PURCHASE ACCESSORIES: Search CAF-P582B 5.8-Quart Air Fryer Inner Basket for an extra basket, C158-6AC to find the original COSORI accessories set or CLR-R581-WUS to find the air fryer liners
- SATISFACTION GUARANTEED: Experiencing issues? Our California-based Customer Support Team is here to help. If your product is defective, don’t worry about shipping it back. We’ll send you a replacement right away
- Multiple cooking presets, shake reminder, and digital controls
- Easy to set temperature and cook time
- Food comes out crispy
- Removable and nonstick baskets
- Easy to clean and dishwasher safe
- Need to preheat multiple times to eliminate the plastic smell.
2. GoWISE USA 8-in-1 Digital Air Fryer
- Enjoy your favorite food without the extra calories. This air fryer allows you to fry, bake, grill, and roast with little to no oil. Make crispy fried chicken, steak, French fries, pizza and much more in one countertop appliance
- Sleek and modern look with advanced touch screen menu. Take the guesswork out of cooking with the built-in touch screen menu featuring 8 cooking presets: Fries/Chips, Pork, Chicken, Steak, Shrimp, Cake, Fish, and Pizza. Equipped with a wide temperature range from 180Fahrenheit to 400Fahrenheit in 10 degree increments and a cooking timer up to 30 minutes
- Featuring a new Start/Stop button to change time and temperature in the middle of a cook cycle. Don’t forget to shake with the new built-in alarm function that reminds you to shake your ingredients in 5, 10, 15 minute increments
- Comes with non-stick pan and detachable basket equipped with a cool touch handle and button guard to prevent accidental detachment. Shake and flip contents in the middle of your cooking program with the detachable frying basket
- Includes recipe book, This recipe book is filled with 50 recipes specifically made for GoWISE USA Air Fryers. Choose from a variety of meals to make for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or dessert
- All GoWISE USA products come with a 30-day money back Guarantee, 1-year warranty and forever support from gowise customer care. Registered products receive an additional 60 days of Warranty coverage
- Searching for a Gift-This air fryer is the perfect gift under the tree for everyone. Get this multifunctional air fryer for the Moms on the go, dads who love to cook, grandparents or anyone who wants to be healthier. This air fryer allows you to cook your favorite fried foods with little to no oil and without the mess that comes with deep frying
- Rapid Air Technology - food cooks from all sides at once just like frying in oil, so you'll get that crispy texture you crave
- 5.8-quart capacity with 8 cooking presets
- Wide temperature settings
- Start/ Stop button to change time and temperature in the cycle
- Nonstick pan and detachable basket
- Come with a recipe book
- Occasional rust basket issues.
3. Ninja AF101 Air Fryer
- Now enjoy guilt free food; Air fry with up to 75 percent less fat than traditional frying methods; Tested against hand cut, deep fried French fries
- Wide temperature range: 105 degree Fahrenheit to 400 degrees Fahrenheit allows you to gently remove moisture from foods or quickly cook and crisp foods with convection heat
- 4 quart ceramic coated nonstick basket and crisper plate fit 2 pounds of french fries. Cord length (feet) - 2.6
- The unit will need time to preheat before coming up to temperature. We recommend that you preheat the unit for 3 minutes before adding your ingredients to achieve the best results
- Dehydrate: Create flat, chip like dehydrated foods for fun, homemade snacks pounds; The combination of low fan speed and low temperature enables thorough dehydration
- Dishwasher safe parts: Easy to clean basket, crisper plate, and multi-layer rack
- 4-quart capacity for single or small household
- Wide temperature range from 105°F to 400°F
- Easy to change time and temperature by Start/Stop button
- Nonstick pan and detachable basket
- Come with a recipe book
- 3 minutes of preheating is needed before adding food
- Only 4 preset functions. Luckily, they are very useful.
4. Ninja DZ201 Foodi 2-Basket Air Fryer
- 2 INDEPENDENT BASKETS: The original Air Fryer with 2 independent baskets, the XL air fryer lets you cook 2 foods, 2 ways, at the same time, eliminating back-to-back cooking like a traditional single-basket air fryer.
- SMART FINISH & MATCH COOK: DualZone Technology allows you to choose between the Smart Finish feature, which unlocks cooking 2 foods 2 ways that finish at the same time, and the and a Match Cook button to easily copy settings across zones for full 8-qt capacity.
- 6-IN-1 FUNCTIONALITY: Includes 6 versatile cooking programs: Air Fry, Air Broil, Roast, Bake, Reheat, and Dehydrate.
- XL CAPACITY: The 8-quart air fryer capacity lets you fit mains and sides at the same time for making quick family meals, or up to 4 lbs. of French fries or chicken wings.
- SEPARATE HEATING ZONES: 2 independent 4-quart zones have their own cooking baskets, cyclonic fans, and rapid heaters.
- EASY CLEANING: Easy-to-clean baskets and dishwasher-safe crisper plates.
- LESS FAT: Up to 75% less fat than traditional air frying methods. Tested against hand-cut, deep-fried French fries.
- WIDE TEMPERATURE RANGE: 105°F to 450°F allows you to gently remove moisture from foods or quickly cook and crisp foods with convection heat.
- WHAT'S INCLUDED: DualZone Air Fryer, (2) 4 Quart Baskets, (2) Nonstick Crisper Plates, 15 Recipes, Additional Meal Options & Cooking Charts.
- Convenient cooking with 2 independent baskets in 2 ways at the same time
- Extra-large capacity
- 6 versatile cooking programs
- Easy to clean baskets
- Dishwasher-safe plates
- Multiple accessories included
- Some new plastic odor reports.
- Integration of Taste and Health: Dreo Air fryer features a systematic design with an oven-grade smart temperature control system to make the ingredients crispy outside and tender inside. Enjoy healthier food with a better taste thanks to the 360°hot air circulation heating your food evenly.
- Cut Off 30% Cooking Time: 450°F industry-leading temperature plus the 360°hot air circulation wrap your food in high heat to get it ready quicker with less fuss. A 6.8QT basket serves 3 to 5 people at one go. People with a tight schedule can get their breakfast, lunch and dinner ready in a split second.
- All-in-One: No need to buy another cooking machine for different purposes. Dreo is an all-rounder with a temperature from 100℉ to 450℉, 5 cooking modes, and 6 presets. Making yogurt, dries fruit, and roasting steak, poultry as your preferences for a more customizable cooking experience.
- Transparent Viewing Window: Dreo’s one-of-a-kind viewing window with an ergonomic design lets you check your food status anytime without drawing out the basket. Minimize the cooking time and maximize the fun by watching how the ingredients change by the cooking process.
- Free Recipes with 100 Dishes: A free cookbook covering entrées, appetizers, desserts, snacks, and side dishes is included in the package. Open the book and get a quick idea to satiate your multicuisine food cravings. We will keep updating the e-recipes to bring more flavors to your table.
- ETL-listed Design & Easy Cleaning: Double-layer insulated basket protects your hands against the heat, while the built-in sensor automatically pauses and resumes heating to avoid overheating. The BPA-free coating makes it non-stick for easier cleaning. Dishwasher-safe design for added convenience.
- Included components: 100 Free Recipes, Insulated Basket and a Non-stick Plate
- Fast cooking more food with multiple functions
- Easy to monitor food state through the visible window
- Come with a nonstick plate, an insulated basket, and a cookbook
- Changeable temperature from Fahrenheit to Celsius
- Built-in shake reminder
- Dishwasher safe
- Rare handle quality concerns.
What Are The Benefits of Air Fryers?
1. Healthier and eco-friendly
If you are a crisp food lover, an air fryer will be your best option to get rid of deep frying and saturated fats. Because the food is cooked by its internal moisture and oil, there is no need to add extra oil to the air fryer.
It uses less energy than an oven. This means that it’s a more eco-friendly cooking option and one that’ll save you money in the long run.
2. Fast and safe cooking
Air fryers cook faster than stovetops or ovens. It can heat up in minutes because most of the heat remains inside. The heat from the cooking process is not expelled into the air. It’s actually intensified by constant circulation. This allows you to cook foods in record-breaking time.
Most air fryers come with overheat protection for safe cooking. Cooking with an air fryer can protect you from oil splashes and hot steam burning.
3. Easy to use
Cooking with an air fryer is very easy. Prepare raw food mixed with seasoning, put them into the air fryer, click the button on the control panel. You can complete cooking with an air fryer with just one click on the button.
4. Versatile for various food
Air fryers are a versatile tool that can be used in a variety of kitchen tasks, including steaming vegetables and making oil-free fried food, such as chicken, sweet potatoes, and potato chips.
5. Easy to clean
Air fryers are easier to clean than traditional deep fryers. Air fryers don’t require large containers of hot oil to filter and store. Between uses, the cooking basket of an air fryer can be washed either by hand or in a dishwasher.
How Do Air Fryers Work?
Air fryers combine several cooking methods into one appliance.
Radiant heating is provided by an electric coil suspended above food. It works in the same way as a stovetop burner or broiler element. This dry heat penetrates and warms the food.
A fan placed above the coil creates superheated air which flows around the food. Convection heating is a common cooking method used in commercial ovens.
Convection converts the oil you use to a fine mist, which coats food as it circulates. This mimics traditional deep-frying’s effect on foods that are submerged in hot oil.
The steam created by the heat from the air is a result of the food’s moisture.
What To Consider When Buying An Air Fryer?
Capacity
An important consideration before purchasing an air fryer is its capacity. A fryer can cook 1.5 to 3 pounds of food per hour. This would be sufficient for most households. However, a large family may require more, such as 2-basket models for 4-5 pounds of food.
Size and settings
Air fryers can be easily fitted on kitchen counters because they are compact. Despite their simple design, most air fryers may have more or less appealing settings, including fry, roast, grill, and bake. The majority of machines have timers that can reach temperatures as high as 400°F.
They usually come with several presets for easy cooking, and a safe setting with overheat protection. Some multipurpose models are capable of cooking multiple types of food in the meanwhile.
Wattage
Air fryers require 800 to 2,100 watts of power to work. Make sure that your kitchen outlet can handle this amount of power before you purchase an air fryer.
Budget
The product price varies in size, capacity, functions, and accessories. Larger models with more accessories and functions generally are more expensive.
Besides the product price, the cost of running an air fryer should be also considered before buying. Its electricity bill is calculated based on the capacity and running time. If you have a large family, you will need a larger model that can hold over 4 pounds of air-fried food at a time. In this situation, the running cost of a larger air fryer is less than using a smaller one twice or three times cooking.
What Food Can Be Cooked In An Air Fryer?
The main four functions of most air fryers are fry, roast, grill, and bake. The multi-purpose cookers are great for cooking a variety of foodstuff, including raw meat, vegetables, frozen foods, reheating leftovers, and so on.
Raw meat
The most common raw meat for cooking in the air fryers are chicken, pork, steaks, shrimps, meat patties, burgers, and salmon fillets.
Some air fryers come with accessories like a baking cage, rotisserie fork, and rack to cook double-layer meals.
An air fryer with rotisserie is a great way to roast whole chickens. It can create a taste of grill cooking, a very delicious, crispy, moist meat with very low fat.
For raw meat with various thicknesses, the cooking time of air fryers ranges from 10 to 30 minutes at different temperatures.
You can also try chicken pieces wrapped in thin layers of batter. But this battered food must be pre-fried or frozen, because the fast-moving hot air will push the batter from wet-battered food, causing it to be splattered all around the cooking pan.
Adding a teaspoon of oil to the wet flour or breadcrumbs will make it stick better to the chicken. As long as the batter isn’t too dry or too wet, this way can create a more crunchy and richer color without splattering.
Vegetables
Air fryers can roast vegetables exactly the same way as you do in the skillet.
This is possible thanks to the ceramic bowl and the stir paddle included with the unit. This hot-air kitchen appliance roasts fresh mushrooms like enoki, portobello, broccoli, corn, sweet potatoes, etc.
Nuts
The air fryer is a great way to roast peanuts, chestnuts, almonds, walnuts, or other nuts. Peanuts, almonds, and walnuts take approximately 10 minutes while walnuts take only 5-8 minutes. It’s super simple. The nuts don’t get burnt because there is a stirring paddle that can shake the pan without having to stop the air fryer.
They are much more deliciously roasted in the oven than I do in the air fryer. The stirring paddle can shake the pan
Pancakes, donuts, biscuits, and muffins
There are various accessories designed for most standard air fryers, such as nonstick baking dishes, pizza pans. You can make different recipes with these accessories.
The nonstick baking dish is great for baking small desserts such as muffins, egg tarts, donuts, custards, bread, lasagna, quiche, biscuits, casseroles, or curries. You can cook any dish that has a watery sauce.
Frozen foodstuff
French fries are traditionally deep-fried in high-heat oil. Now you can cook frozen French fries and frozen fish in the air fryer with little oil. Frozen fries can be made in one layer. It takes about 12 minutes to achieve that crispy exterior and moist interior texture. In just 15 minutes, you can prepare dinner with air-fried fish and chips. You can cook more evenly by shaking the food halfway through the cooking process to get a more even browning.
Leftovers and other
You can also use an air fryer to reheat the leftovers.
Air fryer cooking requires a lot of creativity and tests. If you are patient and open to tests, you will be successful in multi-cooking with an air fryer.
Can I Use Aluminum Foil Or Baking Paper To Cook Food In An Air Fryer?
Yes. You can use aluminum foil and baking paper in most air fryer models. However, it really depends on your specific models, and what type of food it is cooking. Before doing that, make sure you read the instructions.
Do I Need To Preheat The Air Fryer Before Placing Food In?
It really depends on the air fryer models. Some manufacturers may recommend you preheat the empty air fryer for several minutes. For most models, preheating 5-10 minutes before placing food in creates evenly and beautifully brown air-fried food. So follow the instruction in user-manual.
Should I Season Food Before Cooking In The Air Fryer?
Yes. Add a little oil and some simple seasonings, such as salt, pepper, and breadcrumbs. Rub on each side of meat or stir the vegetables evenly with a silicone spoon. Pre-seasoned food will be more delicious after air-fried. Wet-batter-coated meat should be frozen or pre-fried before cooking in the air fryer.
Can I Remove The Basket To Add Seasoning Or Stir Food During The Process Of Air Frying?
Follow the instructions on the user manual. Most air fryers often allow you to remove the basket from the cooking cycle to stir the product and add seasoning. If this feature is available, the air fryer should automatically shut off.
Does Air-fried Food Taste Dry? How To Prevent Moisture Loss?
Because the air fryer works by continuously circulating hot air around the food, some people may think that air-fried food will be very dry. In fact, foods that contain oil and moisture don’t taste dry at all. It tastes just like oven-baked food—crispy and moist. For food without oil and moisture, you can add a teaspoon of oil or wrap them with a layer of aluminum foil to prevent moisture loss.
How To Prevent The Grease From Getting Smoking When Cooking Fatty Food?
Pour 2 tablespoons of water into the bottom of the air fryer basket.
Can I Cook Different Foodstuff In One Cooking Cycle?
Most models have dividers that allow you to keep different foods separated during cooking. To avoid overcooking and undercooking, we recommend that you only combine foods with similar preparation times or temperatures.