How We Tested Air Fryers
What is the first thing you think of when you consider air fryers? Chips, of course, so our homemade fries test was crucial.
The key to crisp fries was to peel and soak the potatoes in cold water for half an hour to remove starch, before drying thoroughly. We used Maris Piper potatoes for all.
We looked at the manuals for each model and followed their directions for cooking temperature, time and the quantity of oil needed. If the type of oil wasn’t specified them we used vegetable.
Anything from the size of the cut to the variety of potato can make a difference here, so itâs always good to gauge things halfway through the time. But for the purpose of the test, we shook ingredients only when prompted too and scored the appliance based on its performance.
We tested the air fryers using set criteria and scored each one on the following core areas out of five. The average of all determined the overall star rating they achieved:
Quality of foodTo ensure fairness, we initially cooked chips in every fryer we tested. We looked at how evenly they âfriedâ and whether they were brown and crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.
Ease of useNo-one wants to resort to a YouTube video to work out how to use a new gadget. We looked for fryers with clear, simple instructions, so we could get them out of the box and cooking our dinner as quickly as possible. Fryers also scored highly if the icons or control buttons were easy to use and intuitive.
Best Air Fryer For 2 People In 2023 Reviews
After spending hours researching and reviewing, our research/review team comes with 5 top-rated & the best air fryers for two persons in 2023. Pick up one to make healthy recipes.
Here are the in-depth reviews of the top-rated & best air fryer for 2 people available in 2023.
Our favorite air fryer for two persons:
- Easy Cleanup
- One-touch control panel
Ninjas kitchen products are famous for durability, performance, and ease of use. Like other Ninja products, it offers impressive performance plus a beautiful design perfect for up to 2 persons.
It has a beautiful round shape design with a touch control panel over it. This one-touch control panel will let you pick any pre-programmed settings, adjust the temperature, and time manually. Ninja made its basket handle with great quality material.
When you open the door, there is a ceramic-coated basket having a capacity of 4-quarts. You can fit 2 lbs of French fries in the basket easily. There is a ceramic-coated crisper plate also, which lets hot air get under food from every side for crisping the food. You will also get a multi-layer rack to expand its dehydrating capacity.
It has four pre-programmed cooking functions which are:
It has a broad heat range from 105 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. It will let you cook food faster, remove moisture, and get a crisp meal by convection heat. To cook food quickly, we recommend to pre-heat it for 3 minutes.
Extra Features:
- Adjustable Time & Temperature
- High End 360° Hot Air Circulation
Are Air Deep Fryers The Same
Absolutely not. The food quality is not the same as some air fryers will cook more evenly fried food than others. In some cases, they also offer a larger serving capacity and at a steeper price. Defrosting your ingredients, preheating the fryer, and shaking periodically will give better cooking results.
Recommended Reading: Toaster Oven Vs Air Fryer
Best Overall: Philips Premium Air Fryer Xxl
Also available at Williams Sonoma and Philips.
Pros: The Philips Premium Airfryer XXL is easy to use straight out of the packaging, and cleanup is easy because many parts can go right into the dishwasher.
Cons: At 19 pounds, this may be a bit heavy for a household that can’t leave it out on the countertop and needs to move it frequently additionally, it was significantly louder than the other models we tested.
After a day of testing, this model was the clear winner. This basket-style air fryer can do it all with zero learning curve once it’s plugged in. The Philips Premium Airfyer XXL cooked our chicken fingers, fries, and rotisserie chicken to a crispy texture and provided a picture-perfect browned look.
What really stood out to us during our PEOPLE Testing process is that it was easy to set up and get cooking right after you plugged it in. We didn’t need to read a complicated manual to get dinner on the table. The countdown timer let us know when the air fryer was preheated as well as when our food was about to be ready, a feature many other models didn’t have. Our French fries came out crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside and we didn’t have to flip the fries over in cooking because the air fryer provides an even cook.
Many air fryers can be challenging to clean and stay greasy the Philips stood out because many of its parts could go in the dishwasher, making it easier to get the pieces truly clean than in a convection-style oven.
Best Air Fryer Under $50 Buying Guide
If you are interested in buying an air fryer to enjoy delicious as well as healthy fried food. Before buying an air fryer, you should know about the features of a good air fryer. If you have never used an air fryer before, it is a complex task for you to properly purchase a good air fryer at an affordable price. So, of course, before buying you should know about the different features of an air fryer.
If you have an idea about this and all its features, you can easily buy and use it. Now I will talk about some of the features of air fryers that will help you when you use them for cooking food. Lets take a look at some features you should consider before buying a cheap and affordable air fryer below $50.
Control System
Most modern air fryers have a digital control system or knob control system. Air fryers that have a digital control system are easier to operate than others. However, only expensive air fryers have a digital control system. Moreover, the air fryer of the digital control system has an LED touchscreen. Which makes them look very interesting. However, affordable air fryers usually have a knob control system.
Cooking Capacity
The Wattage
The purpose of cooking for yourself or your small family If you are interested in buying an air fryer, do not buy a high wattage air fryer. Because it will consume much more electricity than it needs. As a result, your electricity bill will be higher. A low wattage air fryer is enough for you.
Cooking Speed
Cleaning
Safety
Also Check: Breville Air Fryer Oven Bov900bss
Xiaomi Mi Smart Air Fryer Personal Smart Air Fryer
Pros
- Smart features limited
- Small capacity
This Xiaomi air fryer has a really attractive, minimalist design that would look good in most kitchens. Still, it doesnt have the most robust build . And, as its on the small side , its really only suitable for a household of 1-2 people.
The sole control beyond an On/Off switch is an innovative dial which houses a digital screen. Theres a top level menu of food options, including the expected fries, chicken wings and fish, but also steak and cake. There are eight pre set programmes in all. You can also set the time and temperature yourself, using the dial or perform any of these actions via the app.
Because clearly, one of the key reasons to buy this model is its app control. Download the Xiaomi Home app and you can create custom recipes, monitor your cooking and pause or end the cooking programme remotely. Itll also alert you when your food is done or needs to be turned over. Theres also a database of recipes you can try, with automatic cooking programmes and step-by-step instructions.
Gowise Usa Electric Mini Air Fryer
With this gowise air fryer, you can now enjoy all types of foods without any oil, and you can get fully fried crispy food for a couple of two-person. This fryer is also a multi-functional cooker that helps you save a lot of cooking time and your budget besides frying, you can toast, air fry, roast all your all-time favorite food.
It has innovative rapid heating technology, which is designed to cook all your favorite food evenly. Hassle-free cooking with so much easy to clean.
SPECIFICATION
- Non-stick coating peeling
VERDICT:
This air fryer has a non-stick pan with a heat-resistant handle and dishwasher basket. It is specially designed to cook all your favorite food evenly and with more crispiness. It comes with the auto turn of temperature, and it also doesnt use oil, which will give you healthy life.
Don’t Miss: Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets Frozen
What Is People Tested
We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs.
But we don’t stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square.
In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust every day, every purchase.
Want more product recommendations? Check out all of our People Tested content.
Which Is The Best Small Air Fryer For Two People
Are you considering buying an air fryer? There are several things you need to consider when getting one of these popular kitchen appliances. This guide will help you determine which one is right for you and your family.
One question often gets asked about such kitchen equipment, what is the best air fryer for two people?
In this article, we look at five popular air fryer choices that we feel are the best available. We also provide you with essential information about what you should consider before buying this type of kitchen equipment.
Also Check: Good Meals For Air Fryer
Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer
If you arent worried about money or space and you find that youre regularly preparing meals for a bunch of people, the Breville Smart Oven Air is a great convection oven-style air fryer. I have a Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer that I absolutely love, Pitre said. It has 11 cooking functions, like toasting, broiling, baking, and of course air frying. Like most of our recommendations, it has a screen for the timer and temperature. The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer has a 4.7-star average rating from around 160 reviews at Best Buy and comes with a one-year warranty. Its important to note here that the Breville doesnt have any dishwasher-safe parts.
What Size Do I Need
You will also need larger than you think you will need if you want to cook your entire dinner in an air fryer. You will need larger, usually larger than you think.
These are my recommendation and a little bit about them
I have two. I never recommend something that I do not own. This one is easy to use and really easy to clean. I usually pull this out if I want to make cookies, as you need to wipe down the baking sheet in between batches.
This is a really easy air fryer to use, and its great for making any small food like chicken wings or French Fries. The menu prompts you for what to do. Easy Peasy.
Read Also: Cuisinart Toaster And Air Fryer
First Question: Basket Or Oven Style
The first question that you need to ask yourself is, what do you want to make?
That will lead you to think about what you are going to cook. I usually recommend an air fryer oven for any mom, basically because you can make pancakes and cookies for the kids.
Other than that, there is not a lot of difference. They both will cook the same stuff. Basket air fryers easily make small items, such as chicken tenders and French Fries, since you can shake the basket.
The Best Air Fryers You Can Buy Today
The Cosori Smart Wifi Air Fryer is the best air fryer for most people, and because of that it won the Tom’s Guide 2022 Award for Best air fryer. It consistently browned and crisped everything from frozen crinkle cut fries to brussels sprouts. It also quickly and superbly roasted a chicken and broiled hamburgers with a lot less of the fuss and mess you get from a traditional oven.
The Cosori has electronic controls with preset programs for commonly cooked foods. During cooking it stays cool enough to touch without risking a burn. The baskets are not only nonstick, they can be popped in the dishwasher. If you like technology, youâll appreciate the ability to control this appliance and search for recipes from your mobile device or give it orders with a digital assistant.
Donât let the low price of the GoWISE USA 3.7 Quart 8-in-1 Air Fryer fool you. Itâs no slouch at air frying and comes with the digital controls and preprogrammed settings youâd expect from a much more expensive machine. Although the basket is smaller than in many models and could only hold 3 burgers in one layer at once, it was able to roast a 4-pound chicken.
Thanks to its petite, cylindrical shape and glossy finish, the Dash Compact Air Fryer is adorable. In addition to black and white, it also comes in red and aqua. The basket is safe for dishwasher cleaning and because itâs small, it wonât hog too much of your precious rack space.
Recommended Reading: What Is The Best Power Air Fryer
What Types Of Air Fryers Are There
There are two basic styles of air fryers, which can be distinguished by their capacity, how much physical space they take up and how difficult they are to clean.
First, there is the smaller pod-shaped air fryer, which is the one most people are familiar with. A pod-shaped air fryer is about the size of a coffee maker and starts at around a 2-quart capacity and typically maxes out at around 7 quarts. It takes up less space on your countertop and is easier to clean than its convection oven counterpart. This is a good choice if youre making food for a smaller group.
Then theres the larger convection oven air fryer, which looks like a toaster oven with a door that usually opens down but has air-frying capabilities. A convection oven air fryer usually holds more than its pod-shaped counterpart, with many models boasting room for 10 quarts of food or more. However, they typically take up more space on your countertop and theyre more difficult to clean.
I use my every single day, but I rarely use it to air fry, Urvashi Pitre, author of Every Day Easy Air Fryer, said. It makes such a huge mess.
Budget Pick: Cosori Pro Air Fryer
*At the time of publishing, the price was $85.
The Cosori Pro Air Fryer was the best pod-shaped model we tested for under $100. Although the Cosoris 3.7-quart capacity is slightly larger than that of the Philips Premium Airfryer HD9741/96, it doesnt cook as evenly, but considering its relatively low price, we think its results were good enough. The Cosoris many preprogrammed settings werent as accurate as those of the Philips, eitherwe preferred using the manual controls for selecting the time and temperature instead. Like the Philips, the Cosori has a square-shaped basket that fits more food than the round baskets in other models. The Cosori also comes with a recipe booklet, which is helpful if youre new to cooking with convection technology.
Like the Philips, the Cosori has a removable basket to hold your food while it cooks. We prefer this design to the removable trays of a lot of newer models, because trays tend to fall out when you flip the bucket upside down to transfer food to a platethis was the case with the Ninja AF101 Air Fryer we testedand when the tray comes flying out, it could potentially cause burns. We also like that the Cosori has a plastic guard that covers the baskets release button , which prevents you from inadvertently pressing it while shaking your food. Without the guard, its easier to accidentally press the button, which would release the bucket and send it crashing onto the floor.
Also Check: Tyson Crispy Chicken Strips In Air Fryer
Different Types Of Air Fryers
There are a few different types of air fryer to choose from, but all of them work in a similar way. You can choose between two main types:
Drawer air fryers have inserts with handles that can be easily lifted out of the cooking unit and shaken up to evenly cook your fries or chicken without having to turn using a spatula.
They are a very popular design because they often have an insert that elevates your food to allow air to circulate inside the air fryer basket as it cooks. You can sometimes even lift this filter out of the main basket, which contains oil and juices as they drip away from your food, to make sure none of it ends up on your plate.
Mini oven air fryers are the second and less common type. We feature many of them in our guide to toaster ovens, because they come with layered designs that can be used to bake and roast as well as air fry.
Some even come with rotisserie functions that can be used to cook kebabs or whole chickens, but because they don’t have a drawer that can be easily pulled out, they can be more fiddly to operate.
