Best Multitasking Air Fryer
The Instant Pot Duo Crisp is a pressure cooker, slow cooker, and air fryer all in one, making it one of the most useful and economical small appliances I tested.
- Size: 15″ x 15″ x 13.5″
- Capacity: 8 quarts as Instant Pot, smaller capacity as air fryer
- Dishwasher-safe parts: Yes
- With Instant Pot lid: pressure cook, saute, slow cook, steam, sous videWith air fryer lid: air fry, roast, bake, broil, dehydrate
- Power: 1500 watts
Pros: Multiple functions doesn’t dry out delicate foods can perform multiple steps in a recipe in the same appliance
Cons: Food on lower level of fryer basket cooks more slowly, many pieces to store, difficult to agitate food mid-cook, removing lid exposes heating coil
Air fryers often get a bad rap for being uni-taskers, but Instant Pot has bucked the trend by adding air fryer functionality to its already quite versatile multicookers. The Duo Crisp comes with two separate lids a traditional Instant Pot lid you’ll use for all your pressure and slow cooking and another equipped with an electric heating coil and fan that you’ll use for air frying, broiling, dehydrating, and more.
If you’ve used an Instant Pot, you’re already familiar with the Duo Crisp’s pressure cooking. We rated it the best multitasking electric pressure cooker. Plus, it did so well in our sous vide testing that we named it the best multitasking sous vide machine.
All told, this is the air fryer I reach for most. Its versatility has earned it a space in my kitchen.
Our Air Fryer Testing Methodology
One thing I discovered early in my testing process was that air fryers tend to vary wildly in their cook times. Set at the same temperature, one unit charred broccoli to an undesirable crisp in six minutes, while another took 13 minutes just to reach al dente. So I cooked three different recipes with each machine, evaluated how quickly each one cooked, whether or not it dried out the food, and how evenly each batch came out.
I also assessed each machine for ease of use, noting how intuitive the user interface was. I tracked how many component parts there were to disassemble and clean. A unit with dishwasher-safe accessories got big bonus points.
Performance: Exceeded Our Expectations
As avid Instant Pot users, our expectations for the Instant Vortex Plus were admittedly high. We wanted to see the same level of performance from the brands first air fryer, and luckily, it didnt just live up to our expectationsit exceeded them.
For our first test, we tried out the Air Fryer setting by using the two included trays to cook up an entire package of bacon. When you hit the Air Fryer button, it defaults to a temperature of 400 degrees and a cooking time of 18 minutes. We knocked the time down to 12 minutes and then waited two to three minutes for the appliance to preheat. Once it was ready, the display lit up with an Add Food prompt. Then, once the cooking cycle was finished, the Vortex went into Cool mode to shut off the fan and then less than a minute later it displayed End, so we knew we could safely remove our bacon. The final product was two pans full of perfectly crispy bacon. Since the cooking trays have holes in them, most of the grease fell through to the drip pan, although a little bit from the first tray did collect on the second tray. Overall, it was still far less greasy than cooking bacon in a pan on the stovetop.
We were able to cook a whole chicken in just 45 minutesit was juicy and tender on the inside, and the skin had just the right amount of crispiness.
Also Check: Vortex Air Fryer 6 Quart
Also Great: Philips Premium Airfryer Hd9741/96
*At the time of publishing, the price was $250.
The Philips Premium Airfryer HD9741/96 is the best pod-shaped air fryer weve tested. Its a far less versatile appliance than the Cuisinart convection toaster oven, but its smaller footprint may make it ideal for tiny kitchens with limited counter space. Smaller households that plan to make only one or two portions of food at a time may also prefer this model. Compared with other pod-shaped air fryers we tested, the Philips cooked food the most evenly, aside from the occasional soggy french fry on average, it cooked faster than most other models we tried and with better results. Like all pod-shaped air fryers, this Philips model isnt good for baking or making toastits fan is too powerful and produces overcooked, irregularly shaped cakes and wonky, unevenly browned toast. But if you dont plan to bake in it, we think its a suitable choice for cooking frozen snacks, smaller portions of meat and vegetables, or certain dishes you want extra crispy, like chicken wings or flautas.
Air Fryer Chicken Parm
Italian night at the house has never been easier. Instead of making another pasta, try this chicken parm recipe that cooks the chicken perfectly and adds a nice outer texture. Best of all, you can pull it out of the oven in less than 10 minutesit’s that simple!
Get the recipe for air fryer chicken parmesan from Air Frying Foodie.
Also Check: Cuisinart Digital Air Fryer Toaster Oven Stainless Steel
Best Air Fryer Toaster Oven With Large Space
Have you ever considered cooking Thanksgiving dinner in an air fryer? Well if you have, the Ninja Foodi 10-in-1 XL Pro Air Fry Digital Countertop Convection Toaster Oven is the perfect option. Not only can this fit a 4-pound chicken with a basket of vegetables on top, but it can also fit an entire 12-pound turkey. That’s right, if you are cooking a turkey for just a few people , use this air fryer toaster oven.
It has 10 different settings and is also great for baking. Even if you don’t want to cook something as enormous as a turkey, this is still really nice because you can cook entire meals at once thanks to all of its space.
Keep in mind, though, that with space comes weight, and this is not a lightweight oven. It weighs over 30 pounds, so you won’t be moving it around much and probably won’t want to haul it in and out of storage for a couple of holidays a year. But, if you want it for other reasons, like easy meal prep or baking a multi-tier cake, Ninja has the ultimate air fryer toaster oven.
Sweet And Sour Cauliflower Bites
Cauliflower is a nutritious and versatile vegetable. So, it makes sense you can easily dress it up and stick it in the air fryer for a perfect bite. The Sriracha-soy sauce mix will have you feeling like you’re eating sweet and sour chicken but without the extra frying and fat. So, you don’t need to feel guilty about eating the whole thing!
Also Check: Macy’s Air Fryer On Sale
Is An Air Fryer Worth It
An air fryer is worth it for its versatility and efficiency in roasting and baking if you have the counter space, but it’s not going to trick anyone into believing your food is deep-fried.
Laurence and Cassetty both emphasized the speed of air fryers. Air fryers take very little time to preheat, so you’re saving both time and electricity. The location of the heating element placed directly over the food creates more efficiency, explained Laurence. They also expel much less heat, which is especially handy during hot weather when you’d rather avoid turning on your oven.
Instant Omni Plus Air Fryer
I love the Instant line of cooking equipment and I find myself using my Instant Pot almost as much as I use my air fryer. Instant makes high quality, cutting edge cooking tools and the Instant Omni Air Plus Air Fryer is no exception.
Like the Cosori model, the Instant Omni is a front-loading air fryer with a top-mounted digital display and like the Emeril Lagasse Power 360, the Instant Omni comes equipped with a rotisserie attachment as well.
The Instant Omni Plus does a lot right in the cooking department, with a large internal oven space, an easy to operate digital interface, and a range of cooking functions this oven can compete with any of the other models on this list. On the cost side of the equation this model runs toward the high side of the list, while much less expensive than the Breville Smart Oven Air, it is slightly more expensive than some of the other models with better features/performance.
I would choose this model if I was in the market for an air fryer with a rotisserie but also had to have a top-mounted display. If a rotisserie is a must but your open to a side-mounted display then there are other options better suited to the task. As well, if you are looking for a top-mounted display but the rotisserie function isn’t a must-have then the Cosori is the better option in my opinion.
Read Also: Best Buy Air Fryer Emerald
A Few Thoughts On The Hybrid Ovens That Didn’t Make The Cut
The Cuisinart Digital Air Fryer Toaster Oven: This hybrid convection oven and air fryer wasn’t terrible and it certainly had one of, if not the most powerful, air fry functions. That proved to be a blessing and curse since some of the food I cooked burned on the edges and cooked unevenly — I think due in part to the high-octane super convection fan. This air fryer oven also had my least favorite interface, and I found myself mashing my fingers on the dials and buttons in frustration at times just hoping I’d get to the right setting since it never seemed to do what I wanted with ease. It’s also not cheap and thus not an oven I’d recommend.
Calphalon Precision Air Fry Oven: The Calphalon scored high marks in the toast test with an even browning, but that’s about where the accolades ended. This oven was slow to preheat, had trouble holding a consistent temperature and the air fry function was among the weakest. It also has no internal light, which most of them do. I admittedly do like the look of it and the interface is elegant and simple to use. This oven can also be had for about $150, so it is among the more budget-friendly options.
Ninja Foodi Xl Dualzone Air Fryer $21998 At Qvc
Now, looks arent everything, but we love an aesthetic, clean kitchen just as much as the next person. This Ninja air fryer makes the top of our good-looking list thanks to the matte exterior, silver hardware and seven colorway options . Not to mention it also features two baskets with DualZone Technology which allow you to cook two foods in two different ways, at once.
Also Check: Instant 7 In 1 Air Fryer
Best Unique Air Fryer Toaster Oven
You quite possibly never even thought that there could be such a thing as a unique air fryer toaster oven, but you’d be wrong. It’s okay, though: We didn’t know that there was such a thing until we did a little digging and came across the Ninja Foodi 9-in-1 Digital Air Fry Oven.
This little machine is compact, lightweight, and has one unique feature that we can confidently say the rest of these air fryers do not: its hinge. This air fryer can flip up and down, making it easy to use when you want to cook and less cumbersome when you want to move it. This air fryer will flip up right against your wall, giving you back precious countertop space and making it easier to clean.
If you like to use your air fryer for just about everything, this probably isn’t the air fryer for you, because it does lack cooking space. But if your kitchen is fully equipped and you only want the air fryer to replace a deep fryer, this is the product you’re after.
The Ninja Foodi 9-in-1 Digital Air Fry Oven is available on Amazon for $184.
Clean Your Oven And Accessories Regularly
Because of the smaller size of these ovens, they will build up grease and sediment quicker than a traditional oven will. It’s important to clean them regularly if not after every use to ensure they are clean and safe to use. Built-up grease and sediment can become a fire hazard, especially in these small high powered ovens.
Recommended Reading: How Much Is A Frigidaire Stove With Air Fryer
Best Overall Air Fryer
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What To Expect The First Time
After you open the box, take apart all removable components. This will probably include a removable basket and a grate or perforated tray in the bottom of that basket. Wash and dry them.
Put the air fryer on a heat-resistant surface, at least eight inches away from the wall. Replace the grate and basket.
NOTE: Some manufacturers recommend running the air fryer empty for 10 minutes before you actually cook with it, to let it off-gas. There might be a slightly chemical smell , so have the vents on or windows open. It should be just a one-time thing.
Now you are ready to cook food! How about fries? Really, isnt that the big sell on these things? Potatoes are cheap, and we have a great recipe for you.
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Do Coat Food In A Little Oil Before Cooking
While most people like air fryers for their ability to cook up crispy fried foods with no oil, the color and taste of your dinner will be dramatically improved with just a little. Spray breaded foods with a little nonstick cooking spray, lightly brush meats with a little vegetable oil, and toss vegetables with just enough olive oil to make them shiny. The fat in the oil will promote even browning and help seasonings stick to the food.
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What To Consider Before You Buy An Air Fryer
- Air fryers come in various shapes and sizes. In general, smaller units are designed to cook food for one to two people at a time. XL and XXL sizes can fit enough food to feed up to six people at a time.
- Some air fryers are multi-functional. You can find air fryer-toaster oven combo units and even pressure cookers with an air fry function. Depending on your space and how you plan to use your air fryer, a combo unit could be right for you.
- Prices vary. Air fryers can range in price from around $40 to upwards of $300. We’ve found that many of the best air fryers cost around $100 and are often on sale.
- Make the most of your air fryer with accessories. Like the beloved pressure cooker, air fryer accessories are hitting the market making the appliance even more versatile.
Amanda Neal
Recommended Reading: Frigidaire Stove Gas With Air Fryer
How To Pick An Air Fryer
Air fryers work almost the same way that convection ovens do. Air is rapidly circulated around the oven through a fan system, which helps food achieve the crispy, crunchy texture that fryers are known for. Thats why Weinstein and Scarborough told me that an air fryer is not really a fryer. Its a hot-air dehydrator. It uses very hot air currents to dry out coatings until theyre impossibly crunchy without much added oil .
Most air fryers have a basket or wire rack that allows food to sit above the base, so air can even circulate around the bottom, therefore creating a 360 degree flow of heat. Weinstein and Scarborough shared some advice for shopping for an air fryer over email. Look for a solidly-built machine, they wrote. In general, more metal means more stable, more durable, and more long-lasting. A metal air fryer will hold heat better, last longer, and work more efficiently. A cheap plastic one, not so much. Heres what to consider when shopping for an air fryer.
How Much Money Do You Want To Spend
Many of our experts mentioned you should expect to spend around $80 on a good air fryer, though top-tier models can cost as much as $300. Some smaller models under $80 can work for smaller quantities of food.
Are they worth it? Thats up to you, Weinstein said. His $300 air fryer has lasted him a long time, but he owns air fryers half that price that have worked their way through testing the thousands of recipes in his books, too. For the uninitiated, its probably worth spending less at first to allow room for experimentation and growth.
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Are Air Fryers Healthy
While an air fryer can certainly be a healthier alternative to deep-frying foods, simply using an air fryer to make a recipe does not make it healthier. “A major misconception is that pre-fried items are somehow made healthier when prepared in an air fryer. Air frying is certainly a great way to prepare these frozen foods to crispy perfection, but these types of foods are no healthier than when prepared in a conventional oven,” says Food Network’s health and nutrition consultant Dana White, MS, RD, ATC.
