Air Fryer Pumpkin Seeds
You can have crispy, salty pumpkin seeds ready in just 30 minutes thanks to the air fryer. They are delicious plain, but also great with your favorite seasonings. Toss the seeds with a generous coating of ranch seasoning, chili powder or sumac, for instance, just before air frying them.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Pumpkin Seeds
Best Air Fryer Consumer Reviews: Instant Vortex 4
Founded in 2009, Instant Pot is a Canadian Appliance company specializing in the production of a wide range of kitchen machines. With their headquarters in Ottawa, their Instant Vortex 4-in-1 Air Fryer is truly the best value for the money.
Features
The air fryer is a perfect combination of durable construction, large cooking capacity, and easy-to-use control features.
It has a six-quart air frying basket that can cook food for about two to eight people with ease. Since the basket has a square-shape, you can make the most out of the space and even fit a whole chicken or two-pounds of fries inside.
Besides this, the Instant 4-in-1 Air Fryer is suitable for four different functions like air frying, baking, reheating, and roasting your meal. All these features are accessible on the LED one-touch control panel.
As such, you simply have to press on the desired setting once to start cooking in no time. Moreover, you can set your temperature and cooking time for different recipes too. You simply have to turn the control knob to change the settings until the digital display shows your desired temperature.
Apart from all this, the vortex fryer circulates extremely hot air inside the chamber to give you the same crunchy result by using 95% less oil than usual. When it comes to efficiency, the Instant Vortex Air Fryer is a sure winner.
Furthermore, the air fryer requires minimum time to preheat. Thus, you can get right onto cooking without wasting any of your time.
Pros
Super Star Air Fryer: Cosori Air Fryer Max Xl
Theres a reason you see the Cosori Air Fryer Max XL in so many of our videos : This machine is a star!
The Cosori air fryer consistently delivers good-looking and delicious results. Our Test Kitchen staff loves how batch after batch of Nashville hot chicken came out of the basket brown, crisp and too tempting not to sample before going to the photo studio. In fact, every ingredient our team tossed into the generously sized basketthis included ears of corn, mini quiches, frozen apps and much moreall came out gorgeously golden.
But its not all about the looks when we talk about Cosoris performance. Each recipe we tested with this small appliance turned out exactly as our team envisioned. Breaded recipeslike these air-fried pickles and popcorn shrimp tacoshad a crunchy coating and tender interior. Proteins, including pork tenderloin, fish and beef cooked to the proper temperature all while staying juicy. Simply put: Cosori delivered consistent and tasty results
- Capacity: 5.8 quarts
- Special features: 11 preset options, keep-warm setting, dishwasher-safe nonstick parts
- Price: $120
But besides being able to fit more food in less space, this Chefman air fryer is also incredibly easy to use our Test Kitchen had this model up and running without ever glancing at the manual . When it came to testing some of our favorite air fryer recipes, our team noticed that this appliance did especially well with baking and prepping frozen foodstwo musts for any growing family.
Don’t Miss: Ninja Air Fryer 6.5 Qt
Top 10 Best Air Fryers For 2021 Reviews
by Brian HebertAug 19, 2021
Are you looking for a healthier way to cook your food? Has your doctor told you to cut down on greasy food to control your cholesterol? Do you want to invest in a new appliance that can offer you the same food, cooked healthily?
If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then you have come to the right place. In this article, we will explain how an air fryer will offer you your favorite fried, crunchy food using a minimum amount of oil.
Keep reading our in-depth discussion and reviews on some of the best air fryers Consumer Reports on the market in 2021 to learn more about this unique invention.
Best Dual Basket Air Fryer: Ninja 2
For air fryer fans, there’s little worse than chicken nuggets or wings getting cold while you wait for fries or onion rings to crisp up. But with the introduction of dual basket air fryers, you won’t have to fear chilled nuggets in the future.
Ninja’s two-basket air fryer packs a whopping eight-quart capacity, with two equal-sized baskets. The machine is divided into two temperature-controlled zones, too, so each basket can cook at different degrees if necessary. You can even split cooking styles, as each zone will air fry, air broil, roast, bake, reheat, and dehydrate. Crispy veggie fries in one basket and roasted Brussels sprouts in the other? That’s only possible with this two-basket air fryer.
Buy it: Ninja 2-Basket Air Fryer with DualZone Technology, $210 or Target
Recommended Reading: Air Fryer Lid For Instant Pot 6 Qt
Other Air Fryers We Reviewed
Unlike most of these appliances, the Cuisinart Compact AirFryer isnt oddly shaped like a huge egg or space capsule. Rather its a big stainless-steel cube that looks like a truncated toaster oven. While its boxy shape helps it fit more neatly on a countertop or in a cabinet, the Cuisinart still takes up a bit of countertop real estate .
Youll find the Cuisinart is a relatively uncomplicated appliance in terms of heating elements. It doesnt have cooking preset programs for specific foods or additional cooking functions like keep warm or dehydrate, to make the cooking process easier. You simply turn dials to set the temperature and the cooking time, and theres no need to preheat. Theres also a straightforward manual that includes recipes to get you started.
Since it has a wide air frying basket, food can be spread out to get more even and crispy results with relatively quick cooking times without the food drying out. Most others force you to pile the food on top of each other, which can create uneven results. Using the Cuisinart Compact AirFryer, homemade fries looked and tasted like they had been bobbing in a deep fryer vat of oil.
Pros
Air Fryer Breakfast Tacos
This clever recipe uses silicone ice cube stick molds to quickly create the components for breakfast tacos in an air fryer. One mold holds corn tortillas in a U-shape so they transform into hard taco shells while they cook. Another mold holds beaten eggs, which cook at the same time as the tortillas. Pop the finished scrambled eggs out of the mold, then stuff them into the cheese-filled taco shells. Add some spicy mayo, tomatoes and avocado and the result is an extra-crispy, extra-tasty breakfast treat.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Breakfast Tacos
Also Check: Ninja Air Fryer For Sale
Best High Tech Air Fryer: Tefals Actifry Genius Xl Ah960840
- Tefal ActiFry Genius XL AH960840, for £199.99 from Very buy here
Kitchenware-giant Tefal is probably the best-known makers of air fryers – and for good reason.
This model has a stirring paddle and Dual Motion technology, which basically means it circulates hot air around the bowl, while continuously stirring the food.
It has nine automatic cooking programmes and two 1-meal-in-1-go settings so you can cook all your ingredients at once.
A super-handy addition is Tefals free MyActiFry App, with over 300 recipe suggestions – 150 of which have been created specifically for this Genius model.
How To Get A Good Sear
Air frying with its fan and high-ish temps can replicate the same kind of sear you get on a grill or cast iron pan. The trick is getting the steak as close to the heating element as possible. For these photos, I used air fryer racks to lift the steaks right up to the heating element, and the resulting crust is pretty darn decent.
You May Like: Best Air Fryer Under $200
Emeril Lagasse Power Air Fryer 360
In case you havent heard of Emeril Lagasse, he is only one of the most celebrated chefs to come out of America in the last few decades. 30 years ago, this award-winning chef founded his own appliance brand, and the rest is history. Theres a good reason why this 9-in-1 air fryer is one of the most popular on the market today.
If you already own a convection oven, the chances are that it offers only up to 3 heating features. This air fryer, however, has up to 12 pre-set functions, allowing you to toast, roast, bake and even slow-cook. Most impressive of all, though, is this air fryers ability to also dehydrate foods. So whatever dish it is that your heart desires, you can expect this oven to help you get it.
So how does this 16-quart machine manage to do so much? Thanks to the Emeril Lagasse 360 degree Quick Cook Technology, of course. With five powerful heating capabilities, you can expect your food to cook through evenly and fully retain its flavor. But even though itll taste delicious, itll be healthier than anything you put in your convection oven, reducing up to 70% of calories from fat.
Despite such great features, though, our favorite thing about this machine would have to be its all-over stainless steel construction. Not only does it look wonderful, but its much better for safe and healthy food quality. All in all, were quite tempted to name this the best air fryer with a dehydrator!
Best Budget Buy: Gowise 37
Don’t let its low cost fool youGoWise’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: $62
Recommended Reading: Air Fryer Pros And Cons
Tefal Actifry Genius Xl 2
Best air fryer for versatility
Pros: Versatile multi-dish cooking
Cons: Takes a lot of space up on the countertop
Star rating: 4.5/5
The distinctive dome of the Tefal ActiFry has evolved into this multi-level cooker, which can be programmed to remind you when to add different menu components.
Other fryers have baskets that allow the fat to drain away not this one. Any oil will collect on the doughnut-shaped tray at the bottom, with a central paddle that turns, to ensure food is slowly coated in the oil.
You can get amazingly good results with very little oil, so its still far healthier than deep frying or even baking on a sheet in the oven, where more fat is needed to cover the surface.
Another container for the likes of meat or fragile fish fillets can then be added over the central stalk, to double up cooking space. And you can see it all through a giant window so dont have to lose heat by opening the lid to check on progress.
Although it took a bit of exploration with the manual, the pre-sets and settings are easy to use when you get the hang of the touch controls. Read our full Tefal Genius ActiFry 2-in-1 air fryer review.
Available from:
Best air fryer for making chips
Pros:
- No automatic pause when checking cooking
- Recipe card cooking times can take too long
Star rating: 4/5
This model can also dehydrate herbs and fruit, and even make beef jerky if youre feeling adventurous.
Available from:
How Do You Preheat An Air Fryer
Not all air fryers need to be preheated, while others automatically preheat before starting the cooking timer.
To preheat, select the preset preheat function if your air fryer has one or just set the cooking temperature and let the air fryer heat for 3 to 5 minutes before adding your food.
We’ve tested models that automatically preheat and ones that let you get cooking without any preheating. In our tests, we found foods cooked similarly whether we preheated or not. Some air frying guides recommend preheating for better results when air frying meat you want to get a nice sear on, like steak and chicken breasts.
Read Also: How To Cook Checkers Fries In Air Fryer
Philips Avance Air Fryer Xxl
Best air fryer for families
Pros:
- Large footprint
Star rating: 4.5/5
The Philips family of air fryers have long been favourites in the UK market and if youre after a machine for straightforward frying, this is hard to beat.
It has a huge basket in fact, a small chicken will fit in there and cook beautifully, even with the juices draining away into the bottom of the pan.
Its definitely the pick of the bunch if you want power, speed and enough room to get a family dinner on the table quickly.
The controls are intuitive, with a digital dial adjusting temperature and timings, and a range of pre-sets that make it easy to use.
Since this is a basket drawer-style fryer, its wise to check the contents during the cook and move things around with tongs to ensure it cooks evenly. Quiet, powerful and easy to use, this was one of our top air fryer choices. Read our full review of the Philips Avance air fryer XXL.
Available from:
Nuwave Brio Air Fryer Oven + Grill
Amazon
- Features: Integrated temperature probe, removable front door and presets
- Additional Functions: Air fry, roast, bake, grill, rotisserie and dehydrate
While store bought rotisserie chicken is delicious, why not make it at home with your air fryer? The Brio from NuWave comes with a rotisserie function which allows for up to a seven pound chicken to get crispy on the outside while remaining juicy on the inside. Worried about overcooking? Set the temperature probe and let it do all of the monitoring for you.
And with over 100 presets to choose from, its just as easy to cook any type of meal. The air fryer can be set to temperatures ranging from 100 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, ideal for baking, grilling and roasting. When mealtimes over, place the rotisserie kit, basket, mesh rack, mesh tray and drip tray and grill in the dishwasher for easy cleaning.
Recommended Reading: Best Air Fryers For Families
Extra Features And Accessories
Not all air fryer models will have these extra features, and generally the more that are included, the higher the price point.
Cooking Features
- Stirrer: A self-stirring air fryer uses a paddle to slowly stir food while its cooking, but its only suited to some food types, such as baked vegetables. Choose a model with an extra bowl minus the stirrer for versatility.
- Rotating basket: TMore versatile than a self-stirring model, you can also bake, grill and roast food with accessories. Rotating baskets need less oil than other models, making them even healthier.
- Adjustable thermostat: Most models have end timers, but some also have alerts to remind you to turn or shake your food.
Safety Features
Bellini Sizzles As #1 Brand In Air Fryer Ratings
Maintaining a healthy diet isnt easy when you also enjoy snack foods like chips, which are generally high in saturated fats. For whatever reason, most of our favourite foods also happen to be bad for us, so wouldnt it be great if there was a way of cooking our most-loved foods without having to worry about how unhealthy they are? Step forward, the humble air fryer. Its not a miracle appliance that suddenly makes all those fatty foods good for you, but it will help you eat healthier versions of your favourite guilty pleasures and youll know exactly whats gone into them.
Our latest survey revealed that Australian consumers spend an average of $156 on air fryers, not exactly making it a cheap as chips appliance. So, which brand is serving up something worth eating up? To find out, Canstar Blue asked more than 700 Australian consumers for their feedback on the air fryer theyve recently bought and used, with brands rated on a number of factors including cooking performance, design, ease of use and cleaning, functions and features, value for money and overall satisfaction. Those that received the minimum sample size are compared in our report.
This year, Targets Bellini line fried the competition and was rated best for overall satisfaction also receiving five-star reviews for value for money, functions & features and ease of use & cleaning.
Don’t Miss: Breville The Smart Oven Air Fryer Review
Best Expensive Air Fryer: Tefal Actifry Genius Xl 2in1 Air Fryer
- Tefal Actifry Genius XL 2in1, for £199 from Amazon – buy here
Imagine being able to cook the entire meal at the same time in one appliance.
Cut those calories with little or no oil by searing succulent steaks, chicken or kebabs in the tray while cooking roast potatoes, fried rice or vegetable couscous in the bowl in one pop.
Or you can cook two different recipes or remove the tray for one-pot wonders like stews.
There are nine automatic cooking programs and over 300 recipes on the free My ACTi Fry app.
Planning on hosting a large dinner party? This 1.7kg capacity health fryer cooks 30 per cent faster and can even feed up to eight people in a hurry.
How To Decide On The Best Air Fryer
The best air fryer for you will depend on your budget the the size of your household. While it’s tempting to get a smaller air fryer that won’t take up so much space, opting for one with at least a 5 quart capacity will really pay off if you plan on cooking for four or more people.
We tested every single air fryer in this guide for its ability to make tasty and low-fat air fried potato fries, so we were able to compare the results directly. We also made all sorts of frozen food from chicken nuggets to fish cakes in order to see how well they crisped up breaded foods.
If all you want is the best air fryer to make fries and frozen food, every option in our guide will suit, but choosing something with removable inserts will allow you to also bake, roast, dehydrate, reheat, and even slow cook. This adds real versatility to your kitchen counters, so we would recommend a Ninja or Instant air fryer if you want to make the most of your investment.
Don’t Miss: Air Fryer Recipes For Weight Loss
