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Seeking the ideal air fryer? Our culinary specialists tested over 60 different models to pinpoint those that provide crisp, uniformly cooked meals using little oil. Through detailed assessments and countless tests involving fresh veggies and frozen fries, we’ve uncovered the top picks for home chefs everywhere.

The
Instant Vortex Plus Air Fryer Oven
impressed us during testing due to quick preheating, a convenient observation window for checking on your meal without interrupting the cooking process, and reliable cooking outcomes. If you’re looking for a cost-effective option, the
Beautiful Touchscreen Air Fryer
offers outstanding outcomes for $70 cheaper and meets our design criteria with 10 color choices.

We discovered that top-notch air fryers operate at speeds that are 30-40% quicker compared to traditional ovens, boasting easy-to-use elements such as straightforward controls and parts that can be cleaned in the dishwasher.

Learn more about
How BUSINESS LIFEHACK Reviews evaluates and studies kitchen items
.

Our highest-rated air fryers for 2025

Best overall:

Instant Vortex Plus Air Fryer Oven —
See at Amazon

Best large-capacity:

Ninja Foodi DualZone XL Air Fryer —
See at Amazon

Best value:

Stylish Touchscreen Air Fryer —
See at Walmart

Best toaster oven:

Ninja Foodi XL Pro Air Fry Oven —
See at Amazon

Best dual-basket:

Midea Dual-Zone Air Fryer Oven —
See at Amazon

Most versatile:

Instant Pot Duo Crisp with Air Fryer —
See at Amazon

Best small:

Dreo Aircrisp Pro Air Fryer —
See at Amazon

Best overall

The creators of the well-loved Instant Pot have come up with another winner: the Instant Vortex Plus, which stands out as the top-performing air fryer based on my testing. This appliance merges the functionalities of both an air fryer and a toaster oven; it boasts a viewing window similar to a toaster oven yet operates swiftly akin to a basket-style air fryer. During our trials, even when accounting for preheat time, this device was the quickest at cooking across various items—including perfectly done homemade french fries in merely 14 minutes—and produced notably tender and uniformly prepared broccoli.

Using the air fryer oven is straightforward. Choose from one of the six preset options, then utilize the temperature/timer controls to set the duration and heat level for cooking, followed by pressing start. One minor inconvenience was that the timer doesn’t begin counting down until after the device has finished preheating; you cannot simply initiate the countdown when you hit the start button.

The Vortex Plus comes with an air filter designed to stop odors from leaking out. Although I didn’t conduct thorough testing of this aspect, it effectively kept the smells contained. Should odor elimination not be a priority for you, alternatives without this feature might frequently be found at lower prices.
model
Without the air filter but at a reduced price. Each model comes with a light for clear visibility of your food through the window.

Both the basket and crisper plate can go into the dishwasher without issue. Nonetheless, I prefer washing the basket manually as it consumes too much room inside the dishwasher, plus the non-stick coating simplifies cleanup significantly. Despite numerous trials and tests, this remains the top choice among air fryers available today.

Read our full
Review of Instant Vortex Plus Air Fryer Oven
.

Best large-capacity

We’ve chosen the Ninja Foodi DualZone as the top choice for a high-capacity air fryer since it’s equivalent to owning two separate full-sized basket air fryers in one appliance. This model includes dual 5-quart air fryer compartments which allow independent heating settings or synchronized timing and temperatures. Additionally, it offers a “smart finish” feature ensuring both sections complete their cook cycles at once when preparing distinct dishes.

Primarily, the Ninja Foodi DualZone ensures even cooking without dehydrating your food. Although it was among the slower options for preparing frozen fries, it rapidly turned out tasty broccoli and homemade fries.

Given all its features, we expected that this $200 air fryer might be difficult to figure out, yet the controls turned out to be quite user-friendly. We managed to get it working right away without needing to consult the manual. Cleaning was equally effortless as both the baskets and crisper plates can go into the dishwasher safely. One thing we appreciate about these baskets is their size; they’re more compact compared to typical 6-quart versions, making it simpler to fit them inside your dishwasher.

An additional high-storage choice is the
Ninja Foodi FlexBasket Air Fryer featuring MegaZone
It functions much like the DualZone model, with the main difference being a partition within the single 7-quart basket rather than two separate baskets. This allows for cooking bigger items conveniently. Although it’s more budget-friendly, it comes with less volume capacity.

The Ninja DualZone is also considered one of the top air fryers on Reddit, with users praising its adaptability.

Read our full
Review of Ninja Foodi DualZone Air Fryer
.

Best value

We often approach items endorsed by celebrities with some doubt. Nonetheless, we strongly suggest the Beautiful 6 Quart Touchscreen Air Fryer by Drew Barrymore as the leading choice for an affordable option. Despite being among the least expensive models we evaluated, it performed exceptionally well.

The controls are user-friendly. Initially, you hit the power button, causing the presets to light up. After selecting your desired preset, you can tweak the cooking duration and temperature; then, pressing the blinking start button initiates the process. This device has an appealing design and offers ten color options including white icing, cornflower blue, black sesame, among others. Additionally, it’s accessible in
3-quart
and
9-quart
options.

The $59 stunning air fryer managed to cook homemade French fries in just 15 minutes, along with another unit. Both batches came out perfectly cooked and tasty. Additionally, this model stood out for being amongst the quickest when preparing broccoli and frozen fries. However, the frozen fries did turn out somewhat dry, whereas the broccoli was nicely done.

The basket and crisping tray can go into the dishwasher without issue; however, due to the protruding handle of the basket, they will occupy considerable room inside your dishwasher. Alternatively, thanks to the non-stick surface, rinsing them by hand remains a hassle-free option.

Read our full
Beautiful Air Fryer review
.

Best toaster oven

I tested more than 20 units for my
top air fryer toaster ovens
The guide ranked the Ninja Foodi XL Pro Air Fry Oven (DT201) at the top. Its user-friendly controls are integrated into the handle, which maximizes space for an expansive front viewing window. This large window, combined with the internal lighting, makes it simple to keep an eye on your food throughout the cooking process.

During my temperature fluctuation test, the Ninja Foodi surpassed the others. Over the course of two hours, the average temperature stayed just half a degree away from the targeted 350 degrees, oscillating between 349 and 352 degrees—a deviation of merely two degrees from the intended heat level. This air fryer oven also excelled in speed when roasting chicken, achieving perfection within one hour and ten minutes. While the baking time for both pizza and French fries fell into the typical range, the French fries emerged crispy and uniformly done.

The Ninja Foodi XL Pro priced at $300 boasts ample internal space. With an additional wire rack provided, you can easily accommodate two pizzas or various other meals inside. Besides dehydration capabilities, this appliance offers several handy preset functions. However, one drawback noted is its slower preheating time compared to many air fryer toaster ovens; it requires about eight minutes to heat up to 350 degrees and around nine minutes to get to 400 degrees.

The Ninja Foodi XL Pro also comes with an integrated
probe thermometer
I haven’t tried it myself, but if you enjoy cooking meats and don’t own a quality one yet, it might be worthwhile for an additional $30.
meat thermometer
.

Best dual-basket

I’ve tried several two-drawer air fryers that enable independent cooking of two different items, but these usually take longer to cook compared to using two individual units. However, the Midea Two-Zone Air Fryer Oven defied this expectation due to its distinctive design. In this appliance, one drawer functions as a standard basket air fryer, while the other acts like a compact toaster oven. Each section comes equipped with viewing windows and internal lighting so you can easily keep an eye on what’s being cooked.

The cooking speed was typical for a basket air fryer, significantly surpassing the performance of the other two models we tried. What stood out most was how perfectly the dishes turned out. The chicken wings achieved optimal crispiness with uniformity, just like the frozen French fries—crispy without being overly dry and comparable to what you’d find at a restaurant. As for the broccoli, it cooked quite evenly; however, the tips were slightly more cooked compared to the stalks, something common when using an air fryer.

I tested out the dehydration feature and really enjoyed it. The dual drawer setup allowed for easier drying of bigger batches of food without overcrowding. Within just two hours, it transformed cherry tomatoes into tasty sun-dried ones.

Regrettably, using the Midea Two-ZONE Air Fryer Oven proves more challenging compared to typical air fryers. As someone who doesn’t like reading instruction booklets, figuring out how to operate this appliance required quite a bit of experimentation. To get started, you have to pick the specific tray you wish to activate for heating; then, after selecting your preferred cooking mode, pressing the control knob allows you to tweak both timing and temperature settings. For those interested in managing their device via smartphone, it’s also compatible with the SmartHome application.
iOS
and
Android
It was simpler, although you cannot initiate it using the app.

None of the parts can go into the dishwasher. Luckily, the nonstick surface ensures easy cleaning. All things considered, the Midea stands out as the top choice for big households looking to cook various meals at once using an air fryer with dual drawers.

Most versatile

Air fryers frequently receive criticism for their limited uses. However, the Instant Pot has defied this notion by integrating air fryer capabilities into its multifunctional multicookers, thus becoming the top choice for all-in-one appliances. Priced at $170, the Duo Crisp features dual lids—a conventional Instant Pot lid designed for pressure and slow cooking tasks—and another lid fitted with an electric heater and fan, which you can utilize for functions like air frying, broiling, dehydration, among others.

If you have experience using an Instant Pot, then you’re acquainted with the Duo Crisp’s pressure-cooking feature. Our guides delve into this further.
best pressure cookers
and
best sous vide cookers
, we ranked it as the top choice for multitasking capabilities.

During my testing, the air fryer function performed exceptionally well, yielding perfectly tender broccoli and crispy frozen fries. However, the tall cylindrical design presented certain drawbacks. While this shape lets you pile up two levels of ingredients to make up for limited width, the fact that heat originates from above means the lower tier tends to be less crunchy compared to the upper one. Additionally, the absence of a handle on the frying basket complicates the process of tossing and moving the contents around.

Upon removing the lid, the heating coil becomes visible, posing a risk of burns. Although the device comes with a dedicated plate designed for placing the lid securely on your countertop without risks, caution remains essential.

We evaluated the eight-quart Duo Crisp model, yet it comes in various sizes as well.
six-quart size
, which might attract those who cook solely for themselves or their partners and possess smaller kitchens with restricted space.

Check out our
Pressure Cookers vs. Air Fryers
review and our full
Review of Instant Pot Duo Crisp
.

Best small

For our guide to the
best small air fryers
We evaluated 11 compact air fryers. Given space limitations, we conducted different tests than those for full-sized models. We halved the quantities of fries, broccoli, and chicken wings used in our trials.

Regardless of the test, the Dreo Aircrisp Pro Air Fryer stood out as one of the top performers when it came to both quality and efficiency. Although broccoli tends to be tricky for most air fryers, this model excelled in achieving a perfect balance between tender stalks and crisp yet unburned flowerets. Additionally, the French fries and chicken wings emerged uniformly cooked with an ideal crunchiness.

The lights highlight the controls for setting the time and temperature. Nonetheless, the preset options can be perplexing due to their use of unclear icons; for instance, an orange signifies the dehydrating feature. We did find it pleasing that this model includes a dehydration option, which isn’t common among typical air fryers.

You have the option to clean the tray and basket using a dishwasher. Alternatively, cleaning them manually also works well as leftover food particles come off easily. Nonetheless, the rubber supports designed to secure the tray and shield the nonstick coating from scratches tended to detach whenever they were washed either way.

The $90 Dreo Aircrisp Pro excelled in efficient use of space and boasted the highest food capacity relative to its external dimensions among the compact air fryers I evaluated. Being flat, this appliance allows you to place things atop it; however, these will have to be removed when cooking. With a 3.6-quart capacity, it’s well-suited for couples.

Read our full
Review of Dreo Aircrisp Pro Air Fryer
. Explore our guide to the
best small air fryers
.

What else we tested

We put more than 60 air fryers through testing for this guide. Below are some that weren’t selected but are still worth considering.

Cosori Max XL Air Fryer
The Cosori generated excellent results with broccoli in our tests, but it tended to dry out fresh-cut fries. Additionally, it requires a complete five-minute warm-up period. Nonetheless, it comes equipped with numerous preset options for items ranging from root vegetables to steak and even bacon, making it quite user-friendly. If ease of use is your priority when choosing an air fryer, this model remains a worthwhile purchase.

Emeril Lagasse Air Fryer Oven 360
This air fryer toaster oven includes a useful rotisserie function; however, we discovered that conventional roasting pans yield better results with chicken. Although the appliance heats up quickly and performs adequately with items like chicken, pizza, and cookies, its toasting capability is uneven and sluggish. Additionally, during tests, it demonstrated inadequate temperature management.

Cuisinart 6-quart Basket Air Fryer
This was a top competitor for the title of the best air fryer due to its well-thought-out design elements. It boasts a spacious observation window along with an internal lamp, which simplifies keeping track of your food as it cooks. User-friendly settings guarantee smooth use without complications. The device heats up frozen French fries swiftly compared to many others on the market. Thanks to its uniform heating and rapid processing capabilities, this model stands out strongly, although it just fell short of surpassing our top picks in this category.

Chefman Mini Air Fryer
Among the options under $50, the Chefman Small Compact Air Fryer shines. It does an exceptional job with chicken wings, providing crisp and tasty outcomes, although the fries tend to be unevenly cooked. Its straightforward temperature and timer knobs make operation hassle-free. The parts are designed with non-stick coatings, making them easy to clean either manually or in the dishwasher. Despite having a small size that fits well in cramped areas, this fryer’s limited capacity makes it ideal for individuals dining alone.

Breville Joule Air Fryer Pro Smart Oven
This air fryer toaster oven is worth considering as a premium choice. It performs well with uniform temperature maintenance and even cooking. However, it heats up and cooks more slowly compared to many others. Additionally, the $500 cost is quite high for an air fryer.

Is there such a thing as a combined microwave air fryer?

Indeed, microwave air fryer combinations do exist, with
GE Multi-Purpose Cooker: Air Fryer, Microwave, and Oven Combined
It stands out as one of the more favorable choices. Priced just under $200, this device excels as a microwave but has limitations when used as an air fryer.

Although the GE Combo managed to handle thinner items such as pizzas fairly adequately, it faced challenges when dealing with heartier fare like big portions of frozen French fries and an entire chicken. During our tests, the frozen fries took 24 minutes to prepare, significantly longer than the mere eight minutes needed in specialized air fryers.

The design of this unit poses certain difficulties, such as an unwieldy air fryer rack that may become unsteady when taking out hot items. During our testing, we also tried another alternative which was the
Breville Combi Wave
However, at $500, it performed inferiorly compared to the GE model overall.

At present, these combination units fail to meet the standards set by individual specialized devices. To learn more, have a look at our additional information.]
air fryer microwave review
and our guide to the top choices
best microwaves
.

Key features to consider when choosing top-notch air fryers

Size:

Select a 4- to 6-quart model if you’re preparing meals just for one or two people, according to Laurie Fleming, the founder of
Fork to Spoon
For bigger households, opt for air fryers with capacities of 6 quarts or higher. She suggests choosing larger models whenever feasible as they offer greater versatility in cooking options.

Type:

There are primarily two kinds of air fryers: conventional basket models and air fryer toaster combos. The latter can handle multiple functions such as regular baking besides frying, making them quite adaptable. On the other hand, typical basket-style air fryers tend to be compact and heat up quicker for speedier cooking sessions; however, their range of capabilities isn’t as extensive.

Price:

The air fryers listed in my guide vary in price from $59 to $200. Typically, higher costs reflect additional features and bigger capacities. Should you not require advanced functionalities and usually just prepare meals for yourself or another person, opting for a budget-friendly air fryer could help you cut down expenses.

Functions:

Manufacturers constantly add new features. Some typical examples include dehydrating, dual-zone cooking, and Wi-Fi connectivity. An increasing number of devices come with air frying capabilities, such as certain toaster ovens and pressure cookers like the
Instant Pot Duo Crisp
However, additional features often result in a higher cost.

Accessories:

Accessories for an air fryer include things like a wire rack for layering food and rotisserie sets for cooking chickens. In my experience, many of these extras aren’t particularly helpful and drive up the cost unnecessarily. There are plenty of
accessories
They can be found online if you require a particular product.

What methods do we use for testing air fryers?

Cooking:

Initially during my tests, I found that top-tier air fryers showed significant differences in cooking durations. A certain model would turn broccoli into an unpleasantly crispy state within just six minutes, whereas another required as much as 13 minutes to achieve the perfect firmness yet tender texture. Consequently, for each appliance, I prepared three dishes and assessed their speed and consistency of cooking.

Test	Ideal results	Our findings
Fresh vegetables	Prepare freshly cut broccoli florets and, beforehand, manually sliced French fries.	Crisply cooked fries and broccoli florets prepared in 15 minutes and 8 minutes accordingly.	Every air fryer finds difficulty in cooking fresh vegetables, however, our recommended choices do a bit better compared to the typical performance.
Frozen food	Cook frozen French fries in the air fryer at 400 degrees, shaking them midway through.	French fries that are perfectly cooked will be ready in just 8 minutes.	Same flavor profile and consistent performance throughout, however, the processing speeds differed.
Meat	Bake the chicken wings at 400 degrees, turning them over once during cooking.	Crunchy, succulent, and perfectly done wings available in just 16 minutes.	The wings showed significant variation in terms of their uniformity and crispiness.

Installation and user-friendliness:

When I test each component, I imagine being unfamiliar with the procedure. To check if the controls are user-friendly, I avoid consulting the user guide during set-up. The aim is for anyone to choose functions like air frying, toasting, warming, along with setting times and temperatures effortlessly, without needing guidance from instructions. Nonetheless, I advise beginners to go through the user manual so they feel at ease using the device.

Cleaning:

I monitored the number of components involved in disassembling and cleaning. An item featuring dishwasher-safe attachments earned extra credit. My experience revealed that placing the crisping tray in the dishwasher works well as it saves room inside, whereas manually clearing out small openings and channels can be quite tedious. For the basket, I opt for manual washing since grime wipes away effortlessly this way, thus maximizing available dishwasher space.

Check out our comprehensive guide on
How can one clean an air fryer?
. If your aim is to hasten the cleaning process, utilize
aluminum foil
,
parchment paper
, or a
silicone air fryer liner
Refer to the user manual for instructions on using liners safely.

Air fryer cooking tips

What dishes can be prepared using an air fryer?

As they utilize the same technology, air fryers are capable of producing all the dishes that a convection oven can handle, such as baking, convection baking, air frying, roasting, and toasting foods. Certain models even offer additional features like broiling and dehydrating ingredients. One thing we particularly enjoy about them is their versatility for various cooking tasks.
top air fryer egg holders
for speedy and simple morning meals.

What foods aren’t suitable for cooking in an air fryer?

Liquids such as soups and batter mixes should not be prepared using an air fryer. Additionally, fresh vegetables like lettuce along with small loose food items ought to be avoided when using this appliance since they might scatter about and possibly ignite on the heater component. This piece of writing addresses the
top and bottom items to create using an air fryer
.

Best air fryer recipes

• Air fryer bacon
  Add some water or a piece of bread to the tray below and reduce the heat to avoid smoke and prevent your bacon from becoming too crispy.
• Air fryer french fries
  For crisper fries, rinse and submerge the cut potatoes in water to eliminate extra starch.
• Air-fryer baked potato
  For crisper skin, gently grease the potato; piercing it is not necessary.
• Air fryer hot dogs
  : Don’t forget to place the hotdog bun in the basket towards the end of cooking to toast it.

Air fryer FAQs

Is using an air fryer really worthwhile?

Certainly. Following our evaluation of more than 60 models, we have concluded that air fryers justify their expense and kitchen footprint. Initially, we believed they were just a
gimmick
However, our experiences have shown us that air fryers are versatile and efficient little gadgets.

Over the past six years, I have always kept at least one air fryer, and usually several, on my kitchen countertop. Unlike even the
best microwave
Air fryers render food crunchy without dehydrating it, ensuring that your leftover pizza and French fries have the same delicious taste they had when freshly served.

In summertime, I appreciate how air fryers produce minimal heat, allowing me to leave my oven turned off during cooking sessions. They not only speed up the process with quicker preheating and cooking times but also serve as a handy solution when there’s limited room for an oven or when preparing meals solo or for a couple of guests. On top of this, I’ve taken to bringing along an air fryer to gatherings, enabling me to prepare my renowned bacon-wrapped dates right at the event spot without being underfoot of the hosts.

What is the mechanism behind how air fryers operate?

Air fryers function akin to convection ovens, utilizing a fan to move hot air around. This process gives your food a browned appearance and achieves a crunchy texture, much like what you’d expect from deep frying. While the consistency and flavor of air-fried dishes might not exactly match those prepared through traditional deep-frying methods, they come pretty darn close without needing gallons of cooking oil. A plus point when using an air fryer is that you do not need to keep a constant eye on your food or spend ages preparing it. For additional insights, read our detailed piece on this topic.
how air fryers work
.

What’s the most effective method for cleaning an air fryer?

It varies depending on your air fryer model, so refer to the user manual for guidance. Typically, you ought to wash the fryer basket and grease tray using warm, soapy water and a gentle sponge following every usage. To make cleaning easier, consider cooking your food directly in the air fryer without additional utensils.
aluminum foil
or
parchment paper
.

For additional information, refer to our article on
What is the method for cleaning an air fryer?
. Look at the
top-quality silicone air fryer sheets
for easy cleaning and grease-free cooking.

What size of air fryer should you get?

Fleming suggests purchasing the largest air fryer within your budget and available kitchen space as this provides versatility in cooking options. She cautions against choosing models under four quarts, even if you’re only cooking for one person. For larger households, she proposes considering an air fryer toaster oven, since these typically offer greater capacity compared to traditional basket-style air fryers.

What are the drawbacks of using an air fryer?

Like all kitchen appliances, air fryers come with their drawbacks. A common issue is that you need to clean the crisping tray and basket following each usage. Nevertheless, as mentioned earlier, this can be avoided by utilizing air fryer liners, foil, or parchment paper.

A common grievance is that air fryers occupy precious countertop space despite their limited capacity. Should this be a worry for you, opt for an air fryer toaster oven instead; these usually accommodate larger quantities of food without being excessively priced.

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