Discover the top air fryers for preparing quick meals in tiny areas.
Top 5 Best Air Fryer Of 2024 A top-notch air fryer has the potential to drastically alter how you prepare food. Because air fryers are smaller than conventional ovens, they heat up and cook food more quickly and efficiently. You may also enjoy healthier cuisine because they require a lot less oil than traditional frying. As a result, not only will you have dinner much sooner, but your energy costs will also be reduced.
Food isn’t fried in the traditional sense when it comes to air fryers. With hot air and strong fans that are proportionally huge to the cooking space, these small ovens simulate the effects of frying and are designed to fit on your countertop. When paired with airflow-maximizing designs, they provide delicious results fast, using less oil.
A vast array of air fryers, from low-cost versions with few features to high-end smart models and dual-basket fryers that let you cook a whole meal at once, have been reviewed by our knowledgeable reviewers. Standardized tests are administered to evaluate their proficiency in basic cooking, as well as their ease of use and cleanliness, and their overall worth. These evaluations have led us to compile our list of the top air fryers for a variety of applications and price points.
Table of Contents
Best Air Fryer Of 2024
NO.1 : Instant Vortex Plus 6-in-1
The best air fryer overall
Pros
- Crisps and browns brilliantly
- Handy window for checking food
- Filter reduces cooking smells
Cons
- Crisper plate can fall out
- Display is a fingerprint magnet
The company that created the renowned Instant Pot also produces air fryers, and of all the air fryers we tested, its top-of-the-line model regularly produced the crispiest fries and chicken wings. During our testing, the chicken was moist, its skin crispy and full of flavor, and the potatoes had crunchy outsides and soft, fluffy insides.
With a plastic window in the basket and an interior light to allow you to monitor your food while it cooks, the Instant Vortex Plus 6-in-1 Air Fryer with ClearCook & OdorErase is an improvement over its predecessor. It also features a built-in filter to minimize odors.
But since it doesn’t include any cooking instructions, you’ll have to experiment a bit to figure out the ideal cooking time and temperature—especially for frozen food. Additionally, we discovered that fingerprints quickly accumulate on the display and that the crisper plate has a tendency to slide out if the basket is tilted up too far during food removal. These, however, are small complaints about what we believe to be the greatest air fryer available for the majority of consumers at this time.
NO.2 : Cosori Pro LE Air Fryer L501
The best budget air fryer
Pros
- Delivers crisp chicken wings and fries
- Sleek, minimal design
- 7 presets for bacon, seafood and more
Cons
- Not great with frozen food
- Struggles to brown evenly
The Cosori Pro LE Air Fryer L501 is a good option if you’re looking for an affordable air fryer that looks good and functions well. With its glossy top-mounted LED touch control screen, it’s simple to operate. It has seven presets for different items, such as bacon, chicken, and veggies, and you can customize the cooking time and temperature to your preference.
During testing, we discovered that the air fryer produced juicy, delectable chicken wings and crisp, crunchy fries with soft, fluffy interiors. But it had trouble properly browning food, so we had to adjust the cooking periods. Moreover, it didn’t work well for cooking frozen meals.
The Cosori Pro LE Air Fryer L501 boasts a few helpful safety features: the air fryer basket has a button that you must push in order to remove it from the air fryer, and the controls must be fully inserted before using the air fryer. Additionally, it features a shaking reminder that you can switch on when adjusting the cooking time. It will notify you halfway through cooking so you can flip the food to get an even crisp.
NO.3 : Dreo Chefmaker
The best air fryer if money is no object
Pros
- Precise cooking
- Transparent glass basket
- Easy-to-use interface
- Dishwasher-safe components
Cons
- Doesn’t have the usual presets
The Dreo ChefMaker, if you’re ready to spend a little more on the greatest air fryer, will wow you with its precise frying and capacity to produce outcomes that are crispy on the surface and moist on the inside.
It lacks many of the standard presets, but it does have an app-supported Chef Mode that lets you customize the cooking process. The ChefMaker offers two cooking modes: Classic Cook, which allows you to set it and forget it, and Probe Cook, which uses a handy food thermometer probe that comes with the package to cook your food until the internal temperature is precisely where you want it.
In our experiments, we discovered that it cooked every meal we tried to the ideal doneness, producing anything from perfectly cooked steak and perfectly crisped potato wedges to chicken wings and hog belly. It does, however, emit a lot of heat, and our reviewer discovered that despite its good ventilation, it was still able to set off the smoke and carbon monoxide detector in her hallway.
Another useful element is the clear glass basket, which allows you to see monitor your food without having to take it out. The dishwasher-safe nature of the parts is another feature we value. Furthermore, even though Dreo uses terms like “super convection” and “water atomization” in this passage, they are not. This air fryer is strong, albeit expensive.
NO.4 : Ninja Double Stack XL Air Fryer
The best air fryer for small kitchens
Pros
- Big capacity for its small footprint
- Additional trays for extra cooking space
- Performance is excellent
Cons
- Cheaper dual-basket fryers available
- Larger foods won’t fit
You would typically have to give up more counter space for air fryers with larger cooking capacities. By skillfully stacking its baskets one on top of the other rather than side by side, this Ninja model avoids that problem. Each drawer has a capacity of 5 quarts (4.75 liters), and by inserting one of the included trays, you may increase the amount of cooking space. However, keep in mind that you won’t be able to squeeze in anything like an uncut pizza due to the tall rather than wide approach. (If a huge capacity is not what you require, check out our guide to the top tiny air fryers.)
The Double Stack has the same superior performance as the other Ninja air fryers we’ve evaluated, and our tester saw no performance compromise with this unique design method. This model’s many cooking modes make it incredibly versatile, and its Sync and Match features simplify the process of cooking meals with varying timing requirements. Simply choose your cooking mode, finish time, and, if you’re synchronizing two baskets, the cooking times for each will be automatically calculated. Additionally, there is essentially no heat leaking between the two trays, which is advantageous if you only want to use one basket or are working with specific foods.
The Double Stack’s primary drawback is its higher price compared to other dual-basket air fryers; however, if counter space is not a need, you may be able to acquire something just as good for less money. But the additional cost can be well worth it if your kitchen is little. There is only the “XL” version available right now, but a smaller version should be coming soon.
NO.5 : Ultenic K10 Smart Air Fryer
The best simple air fryer for first-time users
Pros
- Automatic preheat
- Reminds you to shake food
- 11 cooking presets
Cons
- Slightly cluttered controls
- App needs 2.4GHz Wi-Fi
If you’ve never used an air fryer before but are hesitant to try new equipment or are worried about spending a lot of money, the Ultenic K10 is a fantastic alternative for beginners.
It was difficult to uncover any issues with the outcomes during our review. With features like automatic reheating, shake reminder, and stay warm, its fully functional control panel offers excellent value, particularly considering its affordable pricing. Apart from air frying, it lacks any other cooking function; however, its 11 settings and software (which is limited to 2.4GHz Wi-Fi) will make it a very user-friendly and attractive addition to the kitchen countertop.
In our testing, we discovered that it produced crispy chicken wings with juicy, soft meat within and golden, crunchy fries with fluffy interiors. One feature that we particularly liked is that, if you’re new to using an air fryer, it’s quite easy to forget to shake the food, but this one has a little beep halfway through some cooking modes to remind you to do so. However, you won’t be able to cook two different kinds of food at once, and as the controls are on top, it might not be the greatest idea to put it on a high counter.
How to choose the best air fryer for you
What will you be cooking?
Certain dishes are best cooked in different types of air fryers. Although basket air fryers are generally healthier because they divert oil and fluids from the food, you can’t check on it without opening the lid and allowing cold air to enter, which can cause the food to cook more slowly. The glass lids of bowl air fryers allow you to see what’s cooking, but the food stays in contact with the cooking liquids, which makes the food taste better but isn’t as healthful.
How much will you be cooking?
Larger air fryers with a capacity of around 6.5 quarts or 6 liters are ideal for serving a crowd of four or more people, while models with a capacity of about 2.5 quarts or 2.5 liters will work well for couples. You can cook many dishes at once with some of the best air fryers because they feature multiple compartments. See our how-to guide on air fryers for additional pointers and advice on making the most of your device.
How much space do you have?
In order to reduce the amount of gadgets that take up space on your kitchen countertop, search for air fryers that give a variety of cooking options. An air fryer isn’t always the best appliance. You may, for instance, think about getting an Instant Pot or one of the other multi-cookers—some of which have models that simulate the functionality of an independent air fryer.
Do you want to control it remotely?
Think about whether you would like an air fryer that can be turned on or off using a smartphone app.
What is your budget?
The cost of air fryers varies greatly; entry-level models start at less than $100, while high-end, large-capacity units easily exceed $300.
Top 5 Best Air Fryer Of 2024 : FAQS
Q. Is air-fried food healthier?
Compared to deep frying, air fryers require a lot less oil. Certain dishes, like chicken wings, which are mostly frozen or naturally fattening, can be air-fried without any oil at all. The amount of oil required for fries, roast potatoes, and other classic crisp dishes varies depending on the type of air fryer.
In our testing, manufacturers’ recommendations ranged from 1 tsp to 1 tbsp of oil every 1.1 lb / 500g of fries. Therefore, if you want to use the least amount of oil possible, we advise you to find out how much oil is needed before you buy a certain model. It’s also important to keep in mind that the first thing you put in your air fryer determines how healthy the food turns out to be. Read How Healthy Are Air Fryer? to learn more.
Q. What can you cook in an air fryer?
It goes without saying that you can cook a variety of foods in an air fryer, including fries, roast potatoes, chicken wings, and other beloved deep-fried foods. As long as there is enough room, you may prepare anything that can be cooked in a regular fan oven because they function similarly.
Thus, you can cook everything in an air fryer, including ravioli and gnocchi, as well as frozen items and little pizzas. Even fudgy brownies can be prepared in an air fryer in less time than they would in an oven.
With the exception of soup, we’ve tried cooking almost everything in an air fryer. When it comes to fried chicken, we discovered that an air fryer can compete with KFC. It was also the solution for making crispy, crunchy crackling for pork belly.
It turned out to be the greatest method for making Krispy Kreme-style donuts and cinnamon rolls as well.
Air fryers can be used to make meals that are typically cooked on the stove easier without requiring constant attention to detail and turning of the food before it burns. They can also be used in place of ovens. Specifically, we found that grilled cheese and french toast are great uses for the kitchen appliance.
If you love fries but don’t know how to cook them in an air fryer, read our tips, which even include a genius air fryer tip that will transform the way you prepare fries.
We also love using air fryers to reheat takeout—they work especially well for fried chicken and pizza.
Q. What can’t be cooked in an air fryer?
Although air fryers are incredibly useful, there are several things you should never do. For instance, here are five items you should never put in an air fryer. Foods coated in batter are among them, since the liquid will just slide off the food and create a mess in the frying basket. A single piece of bread or a handful of leafy greens, for example, are likely to be blown around the cooking cavity. This implies that it could burn or cook unevenly.
Large portions of meat can be challenging to cook in many air fryers because the hot air cannot flow adequately if the joint is too big for the drawer. This implies that the joint will not crisp and brown uniformly. Furthermore, we do not advise attempting to cook red meat medium-rare or medium-well because the outside may cook too rapidly and leave the center raw.
Q. How does an air fryer work?
An air fryer does not, as the name suggests, actually fry food. It effectively harnesses airflow to cook in a way and at a speed that conventional ovens, even fan ones, cannot by using a very smartly built fan oven.
In other words, the air circulated in some of the greatest air fryers does more than just air fry. They are also multi-cookers. Not only can a single countertop appliance bake delicious bagels and reheat leftover takeout from the previous evening, but it can also be used as a pizza oven, toaster, dehydrator, and slow cooker.
