Air Fryers That Will Satisfy You

 Aside from the Instant Pot, the most popular kitchen trend of the past few years might just be the air fryer. It's not hard to see why—the versatile appliance makes crispy, finger-licking foods like fried chicken, fish and chips, and chicken tenders with minimal use of oil. Yes, making fried food without a large ladle of oil sounds too good to be true, but air fryers work their magic by circulating hot air throughout its inner chamber, giving your food crunchier and crispier skin than if you'd tossed it into the oven. 

Apart from fried foods, air fryers are also capable of roasting vegetables, baking pizza, and even making bread or cakes. But choosing a great air fryer is no simple matter. There are plenty of factors to think about (size, value, and versatility are just some of the most important considerations). The good news, however, is that unlike their greasier cousin, the deep fryer, nearly all air fryers are easy to clean. Air fryers usually contain a pull-out food drawer from the bottom that's easy to wipe. And with so little oil, there's almost no risk of splatters getting everywhere.

So, to find the best air fryer you can get according to your needs, we've rounded up seven top choices with thousands of positive customer reviews between them. You'll find options from brands such as Philips, GoWise, Dash, and Instant Brands, as well as Ninja, the brand nearly synonymous with the words "air fryer."

Read on to find out more on each air fryer, and get ready to enjoy some not-so-guilty pleasures with your favorite fried foods.

Related Items

GoWISE USA 3.7 qt. Digital Air Fryer with 8 Presets
nullCredit: Courtesy of Bed Bath & Beyond

Best Budget Buy: GoWise 3.7-quart Digital Air Fryer

Don't let its low cost fool you—GoWise's digital air fryer comes with tons of presets and functions that make it one of the best value air fryers available. There are eight settings with programmable temperature and cooking times, and frying is as simple as tossing food in. Its automatic shut-off function saves energy too, so no wonder it has scored a 4.6-star rating from over 12,000 reviewers at Amazon.  

To buy: $60; amazon.com

Instant Pot Plus 11-in-1 Toaster Oven
nullCredit: Courtesy of Amazon

Best Splurge: Philips Premium Digital Airfryer with Fat Removal Technology

Philips' Premium Digital Air Fryer is a worthwhile splurge. You'll find that it's super easy to make crispy chicken wings, fries, and more by following its accompanying recipe book. Simply plug in the air fryer, turn its incredibly sleek knob to the correct temperature and time, and press to begin frying. The machine is so silent, you might forget it's there, and its large basket fits everything from a whole bag of frozen fries to a small chicken for four. You can even grab Philips' baking kit to make a cake and the grill kit for barbecue salmon, steak, and vegetables. One reviewer used their air fryer to make "the crispiest, tastiest nuggets… The same was true with my experiment with grilled cheese sandwiches. Wow, perfect toasting and no greasiness. Roasted vegetables, also a hit. I am using this fryer more than I initially imagined." 

To buy: $250; amazon.com

Instant Pot Plus 11-in-1 Toaster Oven
nullCredit: Courtesy of Amazon

Most Versatile: Ninja Foodi 8-Quart 9-in-1 Deluxe XL Pressure Cooker

A pressure cooker and air fryer rolled into one, Ninja's Foodi multi-cooker comes with pressure cooking, slow cooking, steaming, searing, sautéing, air frying, broiling, baking, dehydrating, and even yogurt-making functions. To switch between pressure cooker and air fryer, simply change out the designated lids. It uses the brand's signature TenderCrisp technology to pressure cook while air frying, so you'll get soft, juicy meats with crispy skin. Plus, Ninja's air fryer comes with a reversible rack that lets you roast vegetables, fries, and more above your meats, so dinners with multiple dishes are simple to make. More than 31,000 reviewers have given this air fryer a five-star rating, with one calling it a "truly all-in-one machine." 

To buy: $220 (originally $250); amazon.com

Air Fryer Oven Cooker
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Best for Single Portions: Dash Compact Air Fryer

With Dash's small air fryer, those who live alone or want to fry up single-person portions can make just the right amount of food—after all, nobody likes leftover chicken tenders. Cleaning this air fryer is a total breeze since the basket and the frying pan are both dishwasher-safe. What's more, at just under 12 inches tall, Dash's air fryer will barely take up any space in the kitchen. Shoppers have given it 4.5 stars from more than 11,000 ratings, and some have called it "convenient," "super easy to use," and "great for one person."  

To buy: $45 (originally $50); amazon.com

Air Fryer Oven Cooker
nullCredit: Courtesy of Amazon

Best Large Fryer: Instant Vortex Pro 10-quart 9-in-1 Air Fryer

The Instant Vortex Pro isn't just big in size, but in features, too. With nine pre-programmed settings such as proofing, broiling, and dehydrating, there's almost nothing you can't cook with this massive fryer. Its huge rotating basket can fit a whole chicken, and the fryer even comes with a rotisserie kit, so you'll have everything you need for big family dinners. Plus, the Instant Vortex Pro includes two baking trays that you can fit in the air fryer simultaneously, so it's incredibly simple to fry up your main course and side dishes all at once. You can even create custom programs based on your go-to temperatures and preferred time settings and return to them for reheating dinner from the previous night. One reviewer called it a "game-changer," adding, "This air fryer has changed how I eat most foods." 

To buy: $130 (originally $280); Amazon.com

Instant Pot Plus 11-in-1 Toaster Oven
nullCredit: Courtesy of Amazon

Best Dual-Basket Fryer: Ninja Foodi 6-in-1 2-Basket Air Fryer with DualZone Technology

Currently Amazon's top-selling fryer, Ninja's Foodi 6-in-1 two-basket appliance has reviewers hooked. Its two 4-quart baskets are held in separate compartments, which is perfect for making two dishes simultaneously or for households with multiple dietary needs. Their temperatures and cook time settings can be adjusted separately, but the Ninja Foodi's Smart Finish feature can also take temperature modifications into its own hands to ensure that the two baskets finish cooking at the same time. One reviewer, who has made several meals with the 6-in-1 air fryer, said everything turns out "wonderful," adding, "The two basket system makes it easy to cook different meals at the same time. Definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to eat healthier and delicious meals."

To buy: $160 (originally $180); amazon.com

Instant Pot Plus 11-in-1 Toaster Oven
nullCredit: Courtesy of Amazon

Best Toaster Oven Air Fryer: Instant Pot Plus 11-in-1 Toaster Oven

A beast of a machine with 11 smart programs (air fry, dehydrate, toast, roast, bake, broil, slow cook, proof, reheat, convection, and rotisserie), the Instant Pot Plus is the go-to appliance for making everything from morning bagels and apple crisps for snacking to proofing buns and air frying potatoes. It comes with an oven rack, a cooking pan, a rotisserie spit and forks, and an air fryer basket, and its large capacity fits 12-inch pizzas and whole chickens. The toaster oven air fryer achieves the same crispy texture as a deep fryer with 95% less oil than the latter usually requires. One Amazon reviewer crowned it a "game-changer in the best way." "It's a little large, but it can accommodate two racks that can cook at the same time," said the shopper. "I barely use my oven anymore."

To buy: $200; amazon.com

Best Air Fryer Lid: Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid

It's technically not an air fryer, but the Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid deserves a spot on this list purely for its ingenuity. For those who already own an Instant Pot, it could be difficult to commit to another big appliance, but this lid solves that problem by turning your Instant Pot into an air fryer. It fits most Instant Pot models to fry, roast, bake, broil, reheat, and dehydrate, and it comes with a multi-level air fryer basket as well as a broiling tray. Thousands of reviewers snapped it up when it was quietly released in late 2019, and it now has thousands of corresponding five-star ratings.

To buy: $80; amazon.com

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