- The best air fryers can fry, grill, roast, and bake an array of foods in a short time. They are also durable, have an intuitive user interface, and a large capacity.
- The Yedi Houseware Deluxe Digital Air Fryer is our top pick thanks to its large capacity and built-in smart programs that make perfect cooking incredibly easy.
According to Kitchen Weapon, Philips was the first to introduce the air fryer in 2010. Since then, dozens of brands have entered the market with their own version of this innovative appliance.
Air fryers work using the Maillard reaction. In case you aren’t well-versed in early 20th-century chemistry, the Maillard reaction is a chemical reaction between reducing sugars and amino acids that gives a distinctive flavor to browned foods. With traditional fryers, this is achieved by submerging the food in hot oil. Air fryers, on the other hand, achieve the same reaction by using a mechanical fan to circulate hot air at high speeds around the food. The result is fried foods that use up to 80% less oil. In fact, most recipes just call for a few squirts of spray oil.
When shopping for an air fryer, there are a few features that differentiate them. Digital display air fryers are generally more expensive, but they are a must for precise cooking. Many models come with dishwasher-safe components that make cleanup simple. Also, pay special attention to the warranty information on the appliance you are considering, because many brands have had issues with the cooking drawer busting.
Our guide to the top air fryers is based on thorough research into the ratings and experiences of countless experts and users. Based on our analysis, the following models meet the highest standards of reliability, functionality, and value.
Here are the best air fryers:
- Best overall: Yedi Houseware Deluxe Digital Air Fryer
- Best on a budget: Dash Compact Air Fryer
- Best for large meals: Secura Air Fryer
- Best easy-to-use: Bella Air Convection Fryer
Prices and links are current as of 6/23/2020. We are currently testing several new air fryers for a larger update to this guide.
The best overall
The Yedi Houseware Deluxe Digital Air Fryer features multiple built-in smart programs that remove all the guesswork from the cooking process.
Using most air fryers is easy. In fact, along with health benefits and food taste, ease of use is one of the major selling points of these popular appliances. But most air fryers still require a little guesswork, some careful clock watching, or both. Not so with the Yedi Houseware Deluxe Digital Air Fryer.
This exceptional cooker comes loaded with multiple smart programs that require no more than the tap of a few buttons to begin a perfect cooking session with the temperature and timing settings managed for you. You can use a built-in smart program to air fry shrimp, fries, chicken, steak, and more. And its 5.6-quart capacity means plenty of perfectly cooked eats for the whole gang.
Using the many accessories that come with the Yedi Houseware Deluxe Digital Air Fryer, you can prepare everything from an eight-inch pizza to a fish fillet to a cake to veggie skewers. So, if you thought air fryers were relegated to making French fries and chicken fingers, this one is ready to change your mind.
Be prepared to spend a little time learning how to use it, as the multi-button control panel and the aforementioned programs are not as intuitive as some of the easier controls of other units on our list, but one read-through of the instruction manual should have you covered. Plus, just look at those accessories. - Steven John
Pros: Large capacity, pre-programmed cooking options, well-made
Cons: Learning curve, relatively pricey
The best on a budget
The Dash Compact Air Fryer is charming, reliable, and affordable.
You don't buy an air fryer for its looks - you buy it for its cooks, so to speak. But there's no reason your air fryer can't look great, and with its retro styling and five different color options, the Dash Compact Air Fryer certainly does. But guess what? That's still not why you buy this one. It's the affordable price that makes it a great buy.
With that small price tag comes a small cooking chamber. The Dash has a mere 1.2-liter (that's 1.27 quarts, for reference) cooking capacity, meaning it's not suitable for family meals. But for the couple or the individual, this low-cost air fryer is a fine choice indeed, especially if space is at a premium in your kitchen.
As for operation, the Dash Compact Air Fryer is one of the easiest to use on our list. It has a temperature dial, a timer, and ... that's it. As long as you make sure not to overload the rather small basket, you can count on evenly cooked fries, wings, onion rings, veggies, tofu, and much more.
Do make sure to take the frying basket out and move the foods around midway through the cooking to ensure even "frying," and be aware that a few people have reported the handle coming loose, so be as gentle as you can. - Steven John
Pros: Great price, comes in several colors, easy to use
Cons: Small capacity, some reports of handle coming loose
The best for large meals
The Secura Air Fryer is cost-effective, has a large frying capacity, and does an excellent job of cooking evenly.
Aside from the 4-liter/4.2-quart cooking capacity, the Secura Air Fryer is a fairly basic device. There are two dials for setting the temperature (up to 390 degrees) and time (up to 60 minutes). There are also heating and power indicator lights. The unit comes with a nonstick fryer basket, toaster rack, and skewer.
As with most gadgets, when there is a lack of features, such as digital settings, there are fewer parts that could potentially break down. Secura stands by the quality of this device with a two-year limited warranty.
One potential downside is the dial, which can make it hard to precisely set the timer.
Pros: Two-year warranty, durable, easy to use, relatively affordable
Cons: Dial makes it hard to set the timer precisely, no LCD display
The best easy-to-use
The Bella Air Convection Fryer is operated by two switches and features just two indicator lights to show when it's ready to cook.
Here's a comprehensive guide on how to use a Bella Air Convection Fryer. First, you plug the thing in. Then you set the temperature dial to the desired heat and turn the timer dial to just about anything. Both an orange and a blue light will illuminate. Once the blue light turns off, set the timer dial to the exact time called for in your recipe, dump your food in the fry basket, and ... that's it.
Having tested the Bella air fryer long-term, I can tell you that it really is that easy to use. And the foods that it cooks really do taste fried without any extra oil added. We have used ours to air-fry tofu, chicken, fries, glazed cauliflower, and just about every other food that I would normally cook in a pan filled with oil.
The Bella Air Convection Fryer heats up fast thanks to a 1500-watt heating element and cooks foods evenly thanks to its powerful convection fan. It's rather noisy while it operates, but the foods produced are well worth the din. - Steven John
Pros: Very easy to use, decent capacity, good price point
Cons: Loud during operation
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