The "best" air fryer depends on how you cook and your kitchen space, but the Cosori TurboBlaze 6.0-Quart is widely rated as the best overall for its rapid cooking and temperature control. If you are looking for specific use cases, top performers span several categories:
The highest-rated air fryers vary depending on what you prioritize, but the Cosori TurboBlaze 6.0-Quart is widely crowned as the best overall. It earns top marks for its rapid cooking speeds, even crisping, and user-friendly interface.
The best air fryer brand depends on your cooking style, but Cosori, Ninja, and Instant Pot consistently rank as the top overall choices due to their speed, smart features, and reliability. For multi-tasking oven-style units, Breville is the undisputed market leader.
The best air fryer brand depends on your cooking style. For most households, Ninja is the top choice for its crispy results and dual-basket features. Cosori is excellent for budget-conscious buyers, while Breville is the premium pick for those who want a versatile air fryer-toaster oven combo.
Avoid purchasing an air fryer that is too small for your household, has low wattage (<1500Wis less than 1500 cap W<1500𝑊), or is difficult to clean, as these factors severely limit usability and efficiency. Prioritize models with, or avoid those lacking, durable non-stick baskets, clear digital controls, and adequate counter space, as poor-quality coatings peel and small, crowded baskets prevent crisping.
Avoid these 5 foods in your air fryer to prevent messy cleanups, smoky kitchen hazards, and ruined meals.
Many people are ditching their air fryers because the bulky appliances take up valuable counter space, and they are often difficult to clean. Additionally, many consumers realize that an air fryer is essentially just a mini convection oven, leading them to rely on their traditional ovens instead.
The top-rated air fryers vary based on what you need, but the Ninja Crispi Glass Air Fryer is widely ranked as the No. 1 overall air fryer. It features a unique nontoxic glass bowl that lets you watch your food cook, and it goes straight into the dishwasher without the wear-and-tear of traditional nonstick baskets.
Finding the "best" healthy air fryer generally means prioritizing models with toxin-free, PFAS-free cooking surfaces (like ceramic, glass, or stainless steel). The Typhur Sync Air Fryer, Our Place Wonder Oven, and Ninja Crispi 6-in-1 Pro are top-rated picks tailored for health-conscious and versatile cooking.
The "best" air fryer brand largely depends on your cooking needs, as top brands excel in different categories. Ninja is the best overall for versatility and dual-basket features, Cosori is highly recommended for smart controls and budget-friendly models, and Breville is the premium choice for oven-style appliances.
Things to Consider While Choosing an Air Fryer
Ninja air fryers are unmatched for multitasking, offering dual-zone baskets, faster cooking times, and versatile cooking modes. Philips air fryers excel at even cooking and superior air circulation due to patented "Rapid Air" technology. Ninja is usually the best pick for families, while Philips is the go-to for traditionalists wanting an "oven-like" sear.
Yes, you can absolutely cook raw meat in an air fryer. Because an air fryer is essentially a compact, high-powered convection oven, it is excellent and perfectly safe for cooking steaks, chicken, pork, and even ground beef.
America's Test Kitchen's top-rated standard air fryer is the Instant Vortex Plus 6-Quart. Testers favored it for its highly intuitive digital controls, spacious, wide basket that holds a generous amount of food, and consistent ability to produce crispy results without preheating.
While Ninja isn't the only option on the market, it is consistently ranked among the best. Known for powerful convection fans, fast preheating, and versatile multi-zone cooking, Ninja models produce incredibly crispy food. However, they can be loud and bulky compared to other top brands.
Yes, you can absolutely use aluminum foil in an air fryer to make cleanup easier. However, because an air fryer relies on rapid air circulation to cook and crisp your food, you should use it carefully to avoid blocking airflow.
When shopping for an air fryer, stay away from units with a history of safety recalls, brands with widespread reports of peeling non-stick coatings, and cheap, uncertified knockoffs. To find a dependable model, you can check active safety listings using the Consumer Product Safety Commission recall database.
Highly recommended air fryers vary based on what you need. For most households, the Cosori TurboBlaze 6.0-Quart is the top overall pick, known for its speed, even cooking, and budget-friendly price. If you have a large family or want to cook main and side dishes simultaneously, the Ninja Foodi 6-in-1 DualZone 10-Quart is widely considered the best dual-basket option.
Yes, you can use parchment paper in your air fryer, but it must be done safely. It is excellent for preventing food from sticking and makes cleanup much easier.
While air fryers are incredibly versatile, they operate like a high-powered convection oven. Because of the intense, circulating fan, you should avoid cooking foods that are loose, extremely wet, melt easily, or require boiling to cook through.
For the best family-sized air fryer, the Ninja Foodi DZ401 10-Quart XL 2-Basket is the top choice. It features two independent 5-quart zones with "Smart Finish," letting you cook a main protein and a side dish at different temperatures and times, so both finish perfectly together.
Both brands are excellent, but they excel in different areas. Ninja is generally better if you want faster cooking times and maximum crispiness. Cosori is better for budget-conscious buyers and offers wider, roomier baskets that hold larger batches of food in a single layer.
Doctors and dietitians view air fryers as a healthy "harm reduction" tool rather than a magic health machine. Because they act like mini convection ovens, they allow you to get a crispy texture with 70% to 80% less oil than deep-frying. However, the overall health benefit entirely depends on what you are cooking.
The "20-20 rule" is a popular rule of thumb used to convert traditional oven recipes for an air fryer. It suggests reducing your oven cooking temperature by 20∘20 raised to the composed with power20∘ (Celsius) or 25∘25 raised to the composed with power25∘ (Fahrenheit), and reducing your total cooking time by 20% to account for an air fryer's rapid, compact heating.
An air fryer is useful, but not healthy. Acrylamide is a cancer-causing chemical that can form on high-heat starchy food, even in air-frying. Oil is a moisture buffer that protects the surface. In an air fryer, that buffer isn't there, there's only high heat.