Air fryers are an excellent gadget to have in your kitchen because they’re versatile enough to cook a variety of foods like french fries, Brussel sprouts, cakes, cookies, and more. They also can help you cut down on fat since they use fans to push the heat around the food, achieving a crispy texture without all the added oil. The best air fryers are sized and equipped with functions that match your cooking needs.
Air fryers come in a range of sizes and designs with varying cooking capabilities. We researched dozens of air fryers on the market, comparing traditional basket-style air fryers to oven-style air fryers that include other cooking features like baking, roasting, dehydrating, and broiling. We also compared the size, ease of use, price, quality, weight, cooking capabilities, and dimensions to come up with the best air fryers on the market for each category listed here.
Reviewed & Approved
Our top pick is the Cosori Air Fryer Max XL because it’s lightweight, has a small footprint, and is loaded with a variety of pre-set functions. If you’re shopping on a budget, you can’t go wrong with the Chefman Compact TurboFry.
Here are the best air fryers, according to a dietitian.
The COSORI Air Fryer Max XL is our top pick because it has a large basket without being too heavy or taking up too much counter space. It has 11 presets, which are one-touch buttons like “vegetables,” “frozen foods,” or “bread.” It also has a preheat and keep warm function and an NTC sensor that keeps temperature fluctuations under 5 degrees for evenly cooked meals.
Best Overall
Cosori Air Fryer Max XL
One-touch settings for different foods
Dishwasher-safe basket
Lightweight
Large capacity
Only functions as an air fryer
Basket could be sturdier
The 5.8-quart basket is perfect for feeding families, or there is an option for a smaller 3.7-quart basket if you’re feeding three people or fewer. Both baskets can fit a rotisserie chicken. The air fryer baskets are easily detachable for hand washing or can be put in the dishwasher. The COSORI comes in black, red, and white and includes 100 recipes.
The downside to the COSORI Air Fryer Max XL is that it only has air frying capabilities. There is no option to bake or roast, and it does not double as a pressure cooker or toaster oven. If you are looking for an air fryer that focuses solely on air frying, the COSORI is your best pick.
Price at time of publication: $120
Dimensions: 11.8 x 14.3 x 12.7 inches | Weight: 11.9 pounds | Capacity: 5.8 quarts | Material: Metal and plastic, BPA-free, PFOA-free | Dishwasher-safe: Yes, accessories are dishwasher-safe
For a budget-friendly air fryer that gets the job done, look no further. The Chefman Compact TurboFry’s sleek design and 2-quart capacity are perfect for small apartments or whipping up dinner for one. Weighing less than 8 pounds, it’s easy to move from cabinet to counter and back—or leave it on the counter since it doesn’t take up much space.
Best Budget
Chefman 2-Liter TurboFry Air Fryer
Affordable
Compact
Dishwasher-safe basket and tray
Small capacity
Only functions as an air fryer
Strong chemical smell upon opening and first use
The TurboFry is easy to use, with just two knobs—one for temperature and one for time. It has an adjustable 60 minute timer and an auto shut-off function to prevent overcooking food. Although this isn’t the best option for families or fancy features, it’s the perfect pick for cooking for one or two if all you desire is to air fry.
Price at time of publication: $50
Dimensions: 9.75 x 9.75 x 12.5 inches | Weight: 7.43 pounds | Capacity: 2 quarts | Material: Plastic and metal, BPA-free basket | Dishwasher safe: Yes, accessories are dishwasher safe
The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro is basically an oven that sits on your counter and has just about any cooking feature you desire. The only elements it lacks are pressure cooking, rotisserie, and sous vide. Otherwise, it bakes, broils, roasts, slow cooks, toasts, dehydrates, reheats, air frys, and more.
Best Splurge
Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro
13 cooking functions
LCD display and oven light
Extra large capacity
Expensive
Heavy
Not suitable for small spaces
The Smart Oven’s extra large capacity fits a 9 x 13-inch pan, a 5-quart Dutch oven, a 12-cup muffin tray, and a 14-pound turkey. This model comes with a pizza rack, two oven racks, a roasting pan, and a mesh basket for air frying and dehydrating.
This air fryer can fit four mesh basket air frying trays at once, making it a no-brainer for families. No more making multiple batches of vegetables or fries in a tiny air fryer basket. The LCD display allows you to view cooking features, temperature, and time.
At 38.9 pounds, the Breville is quite large, so if you don’t have a lot of counter space, it might not be the best option for you. However, if you have space and want to splurge, you won’t regret buying the Breville, and you may never use your oven again.
Price at time of publication: $500
Dimensions: 17.5 x 21.5 x 12.7 inches | Weight: 38.9 pounds | Capacity: Fits a 5-quart Dutch Oven and 9 x 13-inch pan | Material: Stainless steel | Dishwasher safe: N/A
The WowChef Air Fryer Oven Combo is an 1,800 watt, versatile and affordable air fryer made for big families. There is nothing more frustrating than cooking multiple batches of vegetables in a small air fryer basket just to have the first batch be cold by the time the last batch is done. You won’t run into that issue with the WowChef air fryer.
Best for Big Families
WowChef Air Fryer Oven Combo 20 Quart
Extra Large capacity
10 cooking functions
Dishwasher-safe accessories
May have chemical smell when first opened
With a 20-quart capacity, the WowChef can air fry, bake, toast, and dehydrate. It has 10 features in all, including a rotisserie function. Simply use the touch screen to choose the preset you desire and then adjust the temperature and time.
The WowChef comes with a chicken fork, a rotisserie skewer and cage, three dehydrating baskets, one mesh basket, one drip tray, and one fetch rack. And good news if you hate dishes—all of these accessories are dishwasher safe.
Price at time of publication: $160
Dimensions: 15.1 x 14.7 x 15.3 inches | Weight: 23 pounds | Capacity: 20 quarts | Material: Stainless steel | Dishwasher safe: Yes, accessories are dishwasher safe
The Cuisinart Air Fryer Toaster Oven is a full size toaster oven with built-in air frying capabilities. At 21 pounds, it’s meant to live on the counter so you can easily access its seven different cooking functions. It has a non-stick interior for easy clean up and comes with an oven rack, baking pan, air fryer basket (that can hold up to three pounds of chicken wings!), and an olive oil spray bottle. While the oven doesn’t come with a pizza pan, a 12-inch pizza will fit inside.
Best Air Fryer and Toaster Oven
Cuisinart Air Fryer Toaster Oven
7 cooking functions
Includes interior oven light
Comes with baking pan, oven rack, and air fry basket
No pre-heat or reheat function
Not suitable for small spaces
Accessories not dishwasher-safe
The Cuisinart’s knobs allow you to adjust temperature, cooking function, and time (with an auto shutoff function). While it does not have a preheat or reheat function, it does have a “warm” button. If you’re looking for a kitchen gadget that can toast, bake, broil, and air fry, the Cuisinart Air Fryer Toaster Oven is a great pick.
Dimensions: 15.5 x 16 x 14 inches | Weight: 21 pounds | Capacity: 3 pounds | Material: Stainless steel | Dishwasher safe: No, accessories are not dishwasher safe
The Dash Compact Air Fryer was made for small spaces. At 5.6 pounds, it’s one of the lightest air fryers on the market, and the 2-quart basket is perfect for cooking for one or two people. You can use it to air fry a variety of foods, from meat to vegetables to tofu and beyond.
Best Compact
Dash 2-Quart Compact Air Fryer
Affordable
Lightweight
Great for one person and small apartments
Dishwasher-safe basket
Small capacity
Only functions as an air fryer
The Dash is easy to use—simply pull out the crisper basket, add food, slide it back in, and then adjust the temperature and time knobs. While the Dash can only air fry, it is compact and easy to use and clean, with a non-stick air fryer basket that’s dishwasher safe. It’s sleekly designed and comes in a variety of colors, including aqua, red, black, and white.
Dimensions: 10.2 x 8.1 x 11.4 inches | Weight: 5.6 pounds | Capacity: 2 quarts | Material: Plastic and metal, BPA-free basket | Dishwasher safe: Yes, accessories are dishwasher safe
Make your own rotisserie chicken at home with the Instant Vortex Pro 9-in-1 Air Fryer Oven. In addition to perfectly searing your meat, it functions as an air fryer and has seven other cooking functions—bake, broil, dehydrate, toast, roast, proof, and reheat. Simply press which function you desire, then hit the up and down arrows to adjust temperature and time.
Best with Rotisserie
Instant Pot Vortex Pro 9-in-1 Air Fryer
9 cooking functions
Large capacity
Dishwasher-safe accessories
Strong chemical smell upon first opening
Rotisserie basket has limited capacity
Can be easy to burn your food
The oven comes with two air frying trays, an air fry basket, a rotisserie spit and forks. All accessories are dishwasher safe. The Instant Vortex has a 10-quart capacity that allows you to fit two cooking trays at once, making this a no-brainer purchase for families.
Price at time of publication: $170
Dimensions: 13.75 x 14.37 x 13.23 inches | Weight: 17.53 pounds | Capacity: 10 quarts | Material: Stainless steel | Dishwasher safe: Yes, accessories are dishwasher safe
No other air fryers on the market have the design of the Ninja Foodi 6-in-1 two Basket Air Fryer. Not only does it air fry, broil, roast, bake, reheat, and dehydrate, but it also has two separate four quart cooking baskets so you can prepare two foods at the same time using a different setting for each. Along with the two air fryer baskets, the Ninja includes two nonstick crisper plates, and all accessories are dishwasher-safe.
Best Design
Ninja Foodi 6-in-1 Air Fryer
Can cook two different foods at once
Wide temperature range of 105-450 degrees Fahrenheit
Easy to clean
Dishwasher-safe accessories
Takes up a lot of space to store
No rotisserie function
The Ninja’s “smart finish” button makes sure both baskets finish at the same time, even if they contain different foods cooked differently from one another, while the “match cook” button copies settings across both baskets for cooking the same air fryer recipe in each.
The Ninja includes 15 recipe ideas, and there is also a 10-quart model for larger families. If you’re looking for a device that air fries your chicken while roasting your sweet potatoes and don’t mind it taking up your counter space, this is the pick for you.
Price at time of publication: $200
Dimensions: 18 x 16.2 x 14.5 inches | Weight: 21.8 pounds | Capacity: Two 4-quart baskets | Material: Stainless steel | Dishwasher safe: Yes, accessories are dishwasher safe
The Duo Crisp is an air fryer and an instant pot with nine other cooking functions, including bake, dehydrate, roast, sous vide, and slow cook. When you open it, you will find the removable pot inside and the removable air fryer basket inside the pot. It comes with two separate lids, one for air frying and the other for using the instant pot feature, as well as a handy instruction manual for using the pressure cooker with an easy-release switch for steam release.
Best With Pressure Cooker
Instant Pot Duo Crisp + Air Fryer 11-in-1 (8 Quart)
11 cooking functions
Works as air fryer and instant pot
Includes sous vide function
Dishwasher-safe accessories
Lids are heavy
May be hard to get air fryer basket clean
No rotisserie function
The Duo Crisp’s lid, inner pot, and accessories are dishwasher-safe. The lids and base are large and heavy so it may not be suitable if you lack kitchen storage space. All of its functions are easy to use - simply press the button of the feature you want, choose the temperature and time, press start, and let it work its magic.
Dimensions: 14.76 x 13.58 x 15.28 inches | Weight: 22.2 pounds | Capacity: 8 quarts | Material: Stainless steel | Dishwasher safe: Yes, accessories are dishwasher safe
What to Look for in Air Fryers
Size:
When looking at the size of air fryers, consider the outer dimensions, the size of the air fryer basket, and the weight. Think about how much storage space you have, if you plan to leave it on the counter or in a cabinet, and also consider how many people you are cooking for. “Anything above four quarts will be great for families of four or more. Anything smaller than three quarts will be enough for a single serving,” says registered dietitian Chelsea Macias. Air fryer baskets range in size from 2-quarts up to 20-quarts.
Final Verdict
Functions:
Many air fryers have multiple cook functions, such as roast, bake, broil, dehydrate, rotisserie, and reheat. Some can even be used as pressure cookers and sous vides. “If you have other kitchen gadgets, such as an Instant Pot and a dehydrator and you use them often, it may be worth ditching those and getting an air fryer that also has these capabilities so you only have one gadget that does multiple things,” says chef and registered dietitian Julie Andrews.
Price:
You will most likely get what you pay for when it comes to air fryers. Those with 10 or more cooking functions and fancy features like sous vide cost more, while those that simply air fry are on the more affordable side. Just because an air fryer costs less does not mean the quality of air frying is worse. It usually indicates it does not have as many cooking features and has a smaller capacity.
Why Trust Verywell Fit
Lainey Younkin is a registered dietitian with a virtual private practice. Her mission is to provide evidence-based nutrition recommendations to help people ditch diets, change their habits, and create a healthy lifestyle that lasts. She enjoys writing about a variety of nutrition topics, including weight loss, gut health, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and various diets.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How does an air fryer work?
- Air fryers fry food without all the oil, but they are not actually fryers. Instead, they are countertop convection ovens. “Air fryers work by using a small space to push hot air around a food which makes the outside surface crispy. It works especially well if it’s a breaded item or a fried frozen item (like chicken nuggets). It’s the same thing as the convection function on your oven—just in a smaller surface area,” says Macias.
- Are air fryers healthy?
- Air frying is a healthy way to cook food, as it allows you to use minimal added fat to prepare a variety of vegetables and proteins in appealing and delicious ways.As a registered dietitian and chef, Andrews is a big fan of air frying, “I love air frying as an alternative to deep-frying. Because there is no added fat required during cooking, air frying is a healthier alternative to deep-frying. And the results are very similar to deep-frying, as the food gets crispy on the outside without drying out the inside.”“As far as air-frying compares to roasting or baking,” says Andrews, “They really are the same from a health perspective. Roasting and baking are both considered healthy dry heat cooking methods because they also do not require added fat, like deep-frying, to cook the food.” You can still use some oil when cooking in an air fryer, she says, but choose a heart-healthy oil like olive oil and use just enough to coat the food.
- How do you clean an air fryer?
- Andrew walks us through the typical cleaning process step-by-step. Please note that it’s important to read manufacturer instructions to understand the details of cleaning your specific machine.Basket air fryer cleaning steps:Allow the air fryer basket to cool enough to handle.Empty out any crumbs or bits of food from the basket and wipe out any sauce or other sticky stuff that might be at the bottom of the basket. It’s best to do this step before it completely cools, as sauce and other food bits will start to harden.Use a sponge to wash the basket with warm, soapy dish water.If any pieces of food or sauce are stuck to the air fryer basket, let it soak, then wash again with warm, soapy dish water (read the directions from the manufacturer to be sure your specific basket can be soaked in water).Once it’s completely clean, let it air dry upside down until it’s completely dry. Replace the basket back into the air fryer.Wait until it is completely cooled before putting your air fryer into a cupboard or cabinet.“If the basket is nonstick, do not use abrasive pads or cleaners on it. This will remove the coating and potentially expose your food to the metals used below the nonstick coating. If food does stick on, you can soak in warm water and suds,” says Macias.
- What can you make in an air fryer?
- Anything you can cook in a deep fryer, you can cook in an air fryer—without using as much oil. Air fryers give foods a satisfying crisp, so it is great for chicken tenders and nuggets, French fries and other crispy potatoes, as well as foods like fish, chicken wings, egg rolls, cauliflower, and more.Andrews also notes that anything you would normally roast or bake can also be made in an air fryer (such as meatloaf and meatballs, pork chops, chicken breasts, tenderloin, vegetables and tofu). She adds, “You can even make desserts like cookies and lava cakes as well as ‘fancy’ dishes like beef tenderloin.”If you love roasted vegetables, an air fryer can make crispy broccoli, green beans, or sweet potatoes in about eight to ten minutes. It’s faster than the oven and doesn’t heat up the whole house.
Air fryers fry food without all the oil, but they are not actually fryers. Instead, they are countertop convection ovens. “Air fryers work by using a small space to push hot air around a food which makes the outside surface crispy. It works especially well if it’s a breaded item or a fried frozen item (like chicken nuggets). It’s the same thing as the convection function on your oven—just in a smaller surface area,” says Macias.
Air frying is a healthy way to cook food, as it allows you to use minimal added fat to prepare a variety of vegetables and proteins in appealing and delicious ways.
Andrew walks us through the typical cleaning process step-by-step. Please note that it’s important to read manufacturer instructions to understand the details of cleaning your specific machine.
Anything you can cook in a deep fryer, you can cook in an air fryer—without using as much oil. Air fryers give foods a satisfying crisp, so it is great for chicken tenders and nuggets, French fries and other crispy potatoes, as well as foods like fish, chicken wings, egg rolls, cauliflower, and more.
