Best Air Fryers in 2023

What is an air fryer?

An air fryer is one of the best small appliances for your kitchen. Air fryers allow you to enjoy fried foods you love, guilt-free, as they use much less oil, lowering the overall fat content. Though similar to convection ovens, air fryers have a smaller footprint and are easy to use. All air fryers have some type of heating mechanism along with a fan. The fan pushes the hot air down and around your food; unlike ovens that simply cook from the top and bottom, air fryers surround your food with heat from all directions to cook it faster. One thing to keep in mind as you shop is that there are different types of air fryers.

What are the different types of air fryers?

• Basket air fryers are among the most popular type and are probably the first thing that comes to mind when you think of these appliances. Also called cylindrical basket air fryers, they come with a basket where you put your food. This basket is usually made of metal with a nonstick coating. The holes in the base and around the sides allow more of the heat to reach and penetrate your food. You can choose one with a single basket or one that comes with two or more baskets. The baskets are removable to allow you to get your food out without burning your hands. You can also easily clean the basket when it comes out of the air fryer. Basket air fryers are usually the most affordable.
• An open-air fryer uses a similar design but is often much larger. Some of the top models are roughly the same size as a convection oven. Open-air fryers are great for cooking for larger amounts of people. Basket models are suitable for air frying but will usually not offer other cooking methods. With an open-air fryer, you can bake cookies and other desserts, cook fresh and frozen pizzas, grill, and broil. A few models come with accessories that allow you to use them as a rotisserie as well. Open-air fryers are often larger and more expensive than other types.
• Paddle air fryers have a built-in paddle that fits inside. This allows you to avoid one of the greatest downsides of using an air fryer: the need to flip your food as it cooks. Comparatively, when you use a deep fryer, you simply pop your food in a basket and drop it in the oil, and the food will shift and move as it cooks. With an air fryer, you often need to flip the food over halfway through the cooking process to get the crispness that you want. However, with a paddle air fryer, the paddle will flip the food over to ensure that both sides are equally crispy. Paddle air fryers are typically more difficult to find than some of the other types are.
• You’ll also find microwave air fryers or toaster air fryers. These air fryers look similar to convection ovens and use the same type of technology but are often much smaller. You may see some manufacturers call these air fryer ovens, too. They allow you to toast bread and bagels in the morning and make pizza at night. Oven air fryers are perfect for home bakers because you can make all of the desserts and treats that you love without preheating your oven. You’ll also find that these air fryers cook food faster than traditional ovens do.
• Multi-cooker air fryers are another great air fryer option. Instant Pot gained a legion of fans when the company introduced its first model, which worked as an electric pressure cooker. While you can buy Instant Pots in different sizes today, the company also makes several air fryer models. With a multi-cooker, you can make dried beans in less than an hour and get a pot of hearty soup on the table in around 30 minutes. When you want to air fry ingredients, simply change the lid and use the button for this setting on the front of the appliance. Instant Pot also makes air fryer lids that fit onto some of its top multi-cookers.

What to look for in an air fryer

Size

Some air fryers are small enough to cook a meal for a single person, while others are big enough for a crowd. Most manufacturers list the capacity in quarts. 2-quart capacity is big enough for someone living on their own, as well as couples. Although, some couples prefer those that can hold 3 to 4 quarts of food. Not only does this allow you to make enough in one cycle for two people, but you can also make a little extra for later.

An air fryer with a capacity of up to 7 quarts is suitable for families and groups of up to six people. For parties and big groups, choose one with a 10-quart capacity. Air fryer ovens and other larger fryers often list their capacity in cubic feet, which tells you how much cooking space is inside.

Temperature range options

Home ovens have temperature controls that cook food slowly on low heat or quickly at a higher temperature. However, many air fryers have a temperature range of around 100 degrees Fahrenheit up to 400, or sometimes even 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Not only do you want to check the temperature range to make sure it will work for you, but you should also consider how you will adjust the temperature. Though some air fryers have presets for making fries and other dishes, other air fryers have a knob that requires you manually set the temperature.

More factors to consider

• Price: You should always consider your budget and how much you can afford to spend on an air fryer before you start shopping. The prices range from around $50 for a small basket air fryer to $200-$300 or more for a larger oven air fryer.
• Wattage: Small air fryers usually use around 800 to 1000 watts of power, which works with your kitchen outlets. Some of the larger air fryers use much more wattage and may require that you install a new outlet to use them.
• Brand: Though not everyone cares as much about brand names as others do, you might find that you prefer buying an air fryer from a brand that you used in the past. Philips and Ninja make some of the top air fryers and have a good reputation among buyers.
• Safety: Some air fryers come with built-in safety features, like staying cool as it runs and having overheat protection.
• Color: Depending on the brand, air fryers often come in a range of colors. While some are only available in shades of black and silver, you can find fun shades like red, blue, and aqua.
• Digital screens: Digital air fryers have a screen on the front that shows you the current temperature, the preset options, and how much time your food still needs to cook. Manual models lack these features and require that you adjust the temperature yourself.
• Presets: Presets might include options for cooking frozen fries and wings or making fresh veggies. You’ll only find presets on digital air fryer models. 
• Timer: If you don’t want to stand next to the air fryer as it runs, look for those with a timer. In addition to standard timers that simply count down, some air fryers have timers that automatically shut the machine off when the time runs out.
• Warranty: You should always consider the warranty on the air fryer both in terms of what it covers and how long it lasts. Some companies offer a warranty that lasts for as little as three to six months, while others last for up to a year after purchase.

What can you not cook in an air fryer?

Despite the hype, air fryers are not miracle appliances; they, unfortunately, cannot completely replace things like ovens or stovetops. There are certain things that you cannot or should not cook in an air fryer. For example, foods you batter by hand do not cook well, as some of that batter may slip off and through the basket or tray. You should also avoid certain types of fresh veggies such as spinach. Spinach and other leafy greens will have spots that burn before other spots finish cooking. The same thing can happen when you cook broccoli, especially if you use precut florets or large pieces of vegetables. If you need to cook broccoli and only have an air fryer, try adding a small amount of water to the bottom of a pan and using the pan in the appliance.

Other foods to avoid include large cuts of meat. While air fryers are big enough to cook a beef roast, most are not strong enough to penetrate deep enough to ensure the meat cooks through. Similar problems occur when you try to cook whole chickens and other types of poultry in small air fryers. You can cut the meat into smaller pieces before using it in your air fryer or stick with your standard oven.

While you can make burgers in most air fryers, you may find that you don’t have as much control as you do in a pan or on a grill. The issue is that burgers cook so fast that they may reach a high temperature in mere seconds. There is also a risk that the outside of the burger might burn before you cook the inside when you opt for bigger patties. As burgers naturally have a lot of fat, you may find that it collects in the bottom of your air fryer.

Tips for using an air fryer

Never crowd the basket or tray. When you put too much food on the tray or in the basket, you don’t leave the hot air enough space to cook all of those foods. Not only will this increase your cooking time, but you may also find that some foods cook while others are still raw. If you find yourself frequently crowding your air fryer, you may need a bigger one.

You should also preheat your air fryer and give it time to reach the desired temperature. Air fryers start the cooking process as soon as you add food. If you pop in your food before it reaches the right temperature, it may come out soggy or raw. There’s also a chance that you’ll have some cold spots. 

Don’t forget to flip or rotate your food, especially when cooking frozen food. Flipping the food over ensures that both sides get crispy and become golden brown. Many users also recommend that you add a small amount of fat to the bottom of your basket or tray. You usually only need a teaspoon to give the food an extra-crispy coating, which is much less than what is used for traditional frying. A small amount of oil or butter will also keep food from sticking to the bottom.