Why Trust The Spruce Eats
This roundup was written by Sharon Lehman, a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist who happily makes space for any gadget that makes cooking faster and easier. She has tested and reviewed several air fryers for The Spruce Eats, including the Chefman TurboFry Air Fryer and Emeril Lagasse Power Air Fryer 360.
The Spruce Eats Editor Siobhan Wallace compiled testing data from our official Lab as well as insights from our home tester’s full product reviews to update this roundup.
This roundup was updated by Katya Weiss-Andersson, a writer and editor who has nearly a decade of experience as a professional chef. Katya started out as an air fryer skeptic, but it is now the most beloved appliance in her kitchen.
What To Know About Nonstick Pans
If you follow a few specific rules, your pan just might last a lifetime!
- Never use nonstick cooking spray. These sprays are not compatible with non-stick pans and create a buildup on the surface of the pan that, over time, is impossible to remove. If you need to use fat, use a minimal amount of butter or oil.
- Skip the dishwasher. Even if a brand says its pan is dishwasher-safe, stick to hand-washing. The harsh soaps and high temperature and pressure of dishwashers can dull and damage the coating of the pan that is essential to maintaining its nonstick magic.
- Dont use over high heat on the stove. There are a few pans that you can use over high heat, but, in general, low to medium low heat is recommended for nonstick pans. This is not only to keep them functioning properly, but also to keep them from releasing any harmful odors or chemicals.
- Never heat an empty pan. This can release that awful odor that can be dangerous, and the high heat may be damaging to the pan.
Instant Vortex Plus 10 Quart Air Fryer
Instant Pot also makes a 10 quart version of its Vortex Plus air fryer, and its currently $50 off. This nifty appliance has over 56,000 reviews, and its a great option if youre looking to do more than just crisp leftovers. It has seven cooking functions and six presetstheres even a rotisserie spit for roasting chicken.
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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 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.
Recommended Reading: Instant Pot Plus Air Fryer
Ninja Air Fryer Af100uk: The Best Mid
Price: £100 | Buy now from Currys
Promising healthy chip frying with up to 75% less fat , this Ninja air fryer is arguably so much more. As well as whipping up to 900g of fries, its removable crisper plate and two fan speeds turn it into a far more versatile machine. You can not only roast and fry food, but dehydrate it to produce beef jerky, chewy apple rings, banana chips, veggie crisps and other healthy snacks.
One of its other great functions is a reheat setting, which is perfect for bringing leftovers back to life without having to turn on the oven, and for crisping up single slices of pizza. It goes without saying that the Ninja is brilliant for frozen food but, thanks to easy controls and a digital display, it’s also simple to customise programs to suit whatever you’re cooking. If the 3.8l model isn’t quite big enough for the whole family, there’s also a 5.2l MAX version for £150.
Read our full Ninja Air Fryer review for more details
Key specs Power: 1,550W Capacity: 3.8l Display: Digital, Accessories: Removable crisper plate
Price: £42 |
This low-cost air fryer is unassuming but sturdy and easy to use. It also produces great quality fried foods: its equipped to crisp up everything from chicken goujons to chips .
Plus, while the Tower might still rely on a manual 30-minute timer with an auto switch-off, what gives it an extra edge is that it can also be used in conjunction with the Tower Recipe Alexa skill so you wont be limited to making tasty crunchy chips.
What Are Some Of The Best Foods To Cook In An Air Fryer
Weinstein and Scarborough say that any frozen food thats meant to cook in the oven will be considerably better when cooked in an air fryer because the rapid flow of air helps crisp it up, similar to a convection oven. For best results, drop the frozen food in the fryer without letting it defrost. Air fryers are also particularly good for bringing soggy leftovers back to life. The rapid air movement helps revitalize leftover food with a crispy, crunchy coating while also warming it from the inside. Weinstein and Scarborough also note that any food whose flavor benefits from caramelization will do well in an air fryer. Chicken wings and parsnip fries are a favorite, they said. The machine brings out the sweet, caramelized best in both.
Alternatively, chef Daye says to avoid cooking foods that have a really wet batter. When placed in an air fryer, batter wont set and solidify immediately like it does when it is deep fried, and therefore will make a mess in your air fryer, he said.
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How Did I Choose The Best Air Fryer
When testing, Homes & Gardens took into account the following factors:
Noise: The noise of an air fryer can impact your ability to use it. Perhaps you like to cook while listening to the TV, or you live in a smaller home and the noise of an air fryer running would distract you as you work. If an air fryer is noisy, I make a note of it.
Speed: Air fryers promise to speed up cooking times, so when testing them I used standardized recipes to see how long they will take to cook classic recipes. While potato fries would typically take around 25 minutes in the air fryer, the speediest air fryers we tested have taken as little as 12 minutes to make crisp, evenly-cooked fries.
Looks: It’s going on your kitchen counters, so it has to look the part. You might not mind a less attractive air fryer as much as some other users, but any bulky features or unattractive elements such as smudging or busy display panels were noted during testing.
Cleaning: Cleaning an air fryer should be easy. Most have baskets that can go in the dishwasher, and it’s rare to find one without a non-stick interior. If I ran into any difficulties cleaning, I marked it down.
Some of the air fryers in our guide have been reviewed on other Future Homes websites, but they have all been reviewed by me, so I can still bring you all my inside knowledge even if you can’t click through to read the full review on Homes & Gardens.
For more insight, our review guidelines explain more about our product review process.
How We Test Air Fryers
We’ve tested more than 40 air fryers in the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances Lab, including traditional basket-style air fryers, air fryer ovens, air fryer toaster ovens and even several microwaves and multicookers with air fry capabilities. We also cook with them quite regularly and have developed countless recipes for them.
When we test air fryers, we evaluate their performance and ease of use by air frying frozen and fresh french fries as well as chicken wings. We don’t test baked goods like cake because cake and most other desserts benefit from an even distribution of gentle heat, and most air fryers don’t have heating elements on the bottom in addition to the top . We score the food on its crispiness, juiciness and evenness, and we consider details like how quickly it cooks, how helpful the user guide is and whether the machine is loud. We also evaluate features like the control panel, temperature range and whether the accessories are dishwasher-safe.
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What To Consider When Choosing Best Convection Oven With Air Fryer
- Choose the best convection oven with air fryer that best fits your requirements.
Anyone purchasing best convection oven with air fryer confused because of the market the best convection oven with air fryer a lot. When releasing a product to the market, the maker must clearly convey information about the product on the package. Aside from recommendations from friends and family, the Internet, personal experience, or certification from a reputable and independent organization, one of the most important sources of information for consumers to better understand the product they intend to purchase is the parameters provided by the manufacturer and customer reviews of best convection oven with air fryer.
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.
Also Check: Instant Pot Air Fryer Vs Ninja Air Fryer
Consider Toasting The Rice
Full disclosure: This step isnt necessary. But if you have the time, it enhances the natural flavor of the rice. Simply heat a teaspoon of butter or olive oil over medium heat in the pot youre going to cook the rice in. Add the rice and stir it frequently until it starts smelling nutty a bit like popcorn. If youre toasting white rice, youll see it turn pale tan.
Detailed Features And Comparison Of Experts Recommended Best Air Fryers Reviews
We understand how much of a hassle it can be to go through thousands of reviews when you have too many options. So, leave all your worries behind, check out this ultimate guide, and make a hassle-free purchase decision.
The internet is full of different companies offering a variety of products. It can be hard to know which ones are the best and which ones to avoid. Thats where the research team comes in. They use their experience to offer the most accurate and unbiased reviews of Air Fryers on the internet.
They conduct a thorough evaluation of each product, taking into account quality, features, price, and more. Based on their findings, they note which product excel and which fail. This helps you make an informed decision about which product to trust and which to avoid.
To offer the most accurate, unbiased reviews on the internet, we had used given below parameters,
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How Much Does An Air Fryer Cost
You can typically expect to pay between $80 and $150 for an air fryer, but a few of our top picks come in at under $80, and some of the smarter options go up to $200. As a general rule, as you go up in budget you’ll find that the options become smarter and larger. The best value air fryers I’ve tested come with one large-capacity basket and a drawer-style design that is easy to use and clean.
When To Replace Your Air Fryer
An air fryer will last for as long as you take care of it, although there are ways to make an air fryer last longer. There are reports of some breaking within a few months because there are things you should never put in an air fryer, while others last up to eight years. Most brands will offer around three years of warranty. The best way to extend the life of your air fryer is to keep it clean and wash it thoroughly between each use see our guide on how to clean an air fryer for more details. If you hand wash the basket and avoid using metal tools, the non-stick finish wonât take damage â this is one of the most common problems with air fryers.
Another common complaint is the handle breaking away from the basket. The answer to this, once again, is washing by hand, as being exposed to the high temperatures within a dishwasher wonât help the plastic. Try not to pull on the handle with too much force during everyday use as well. If your air fryer malfunctions, and itâs not under warranty, itâs best to replace it. If you request a repair quote, and find itâs more than half the price of a new air fryer, we recommend replacing the model.
If you’re looking at cast iron skillets, we have a guide on the best cast iron skillets to choose from.
Check out more of our appliance coverage:
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Ramlly 8 Inch Air Fryer Rack For Instant Vortex Fryerphilipscosori Fryersquare Three Stackable Racksstainless Steel Multi
- Easy to Use:Stackable design offers exceptional convenience to save your air fryer space, you can reduce the layers of the racks according to the amount of the food, easy individually removable and access.the air fryer rack also can improve air circulation around the food,make the food crispy and saving your cooking time.
- Three Stackable Layers Rack :There are 3 removable racks can increase air fryer cooking space,it can provide plenty of room to frying foods,cooking meats and baking snacks. the dehydrator rack helps you use the air fryer full space to layering multiple food items for cooking at same time.
- Compatible With Square Air Fryers:The size of square three stackable Layers rack is 8 *7.87 * 3.66 inches.Compatible for 5.8QT COSORI Air Fryer,Phillips XXL air fryers HD9650 and HD9630,6QT Instant Vortex air fryers and more square air fryers.
- Convenient:Every stackable rack features a mesh basket design,foods in rack are as easy to take out as they were to put in,no need to worry about food falling out when taking out the rack.You can also make various foods with your air fryer at the same time.
- Food Grade Material:Our air fryer racks are made with 304 food grade stainless steel,air fryer racks is dishwasher safe, the racks can used for dehydrate fruits,meats,and vegetables ,or fried foods and bake snacks.You can serve your family more healthy foods every day.
