Fry Another Day: Presenting the Top 5 Best Air Fryers For Your Crispy Delight
The air fryer might be one of the greatest inventions of the 21st century. For those of you late to the party, air fryers are essentially countertop convection ovens capable of deep frying food without the conventional method of utilizing oil. Sounds revolutionary I know.
Air fryers have become increasingly popular in recent years and for good reason. According to a recent survey, estimates showcased the market value of air fryers in China amounted to 5.7 billion yuan in 2022. Air fryers come in different shapes and sizes equipped with various features. This, however, makes it a little tricky for new buyers looking to get their money’s worth.
And that is exactly why we’ve put together this list. We have put dozens of air fryers to the test and thinned out the herd so you don’t have to peer through an onslaught of reviews to find the best air fryer.
Our Best Picks
- Best Overall: Instant Vortex Plus 10-Quart Air Fryer
- Best Value: Cosori Air Fryer Pro LE 5-Qt
- Best Easiest to Use: Instant Vortex Plus 6-Quart Air Fryer
- Best to Clean: Ninja Air Fryer AF101
- Best Dual Zone Fryer: Ninja Air Fryer Dual Zone DZ201
Instant Vortex Plus 10-Quart Air Fryer
After months of testing, we’ve come to the conclusion that the 10-quart Instant Vortex Plus is the best air fryer in the market right now ready to be taken home. It may look bulky in appearance but trust me, never judge a book by its cover. It is a versatile kitchen appliance capable of cooking a variety of food from french fries to whole chickens in crispy tenderness.
The 10-quart capacity is big enough to prepare food in large quantities for the whole family. You can easily choose to broil, air fry, roast, reheat, rotisserie, dehydrate, and bake from its various functionalities. The digital display is easy-to-use and the built-in app always keeps you aware of new air fryer recipes.
What We Love To See
- Spacious basket
- Built-in app with many air fryer recipes
- Seven presets in function
- Utilizes EvenCrisp Technology
- Dishwater safe components
What We Don’t Love To See
- Can get too loud and noisy
- May create a powerful plastic smell
Cosori Air Fryer Pro LE 5-Qt
At such a reasonable price, the Cosori Air Fryer is going to be the best part of your kitchen. The charcoal grey gives it a nice, clean, and sleek aesthetic, beautifully complimenting your countertop. The Cosori Air Fryer has an intuitive user-friendly interface located on top of the fryer, giving it a more dynamic look.
It has a built-in heating element of 1500-watt capable of reaching temperatures up to 450 degrees. This enables the food to be cooked swiftly and evenly so you don’t have to do much waiting around. At eight and a half inches in length and width, the 5-quart basket has enough space to cook food for more than four to five people. The Cosori Air Fryer is truly ‘love at first’ and one of the best air fryers out there.
What We Love To See
- Large capacity
- Highly versatile
- Affordable price tag
- Relatively quiet in usage
What We Don’t Love To See
- Initial smell of burnt plastic
- Randomly powers down
Instant Vortex Plus 6-Quart Air Fryer
Needlessly overcomplicating the settings can be a bit of an overkill. The Instant Vortex Plus Air Fryer, however, is as easy as it gets. The temperature and time are easily adjustable by using the knob on top of the fryer. The Instant Vortex has six presets each with its own preprogrammed functions ready for use.
Just pop some chicken wings and french fries in and let all your worries drift in the wind. It also possesses a clear-view window with a light placed inside. This allows you to see your cooking without having to physically remove your basket. The progress bar on the interface helps you by keeping track and prevents you from overcooking your food.
What We Love To See
- Easy to operate
- Slim and stylish design
- Preheating function
- Can be cleaned with dishwater
What We Don’t Love To See
- Can produce a rancid chemical smell
- Permanent breakdown due to internal malfunctioning
Ninja Air Fryer AF101
If you’re running low on space or have a small kitchen then the Ninja Air Fryer AF101 is calling your name. It is highly energy efficient and not to mention easy to clean. The basket and crisper plate are dishwater safe so you don’t have to worry about any stubborn residue. At 4-quart capacity, the Ninja Air Fryer can hold up to two pounds of french fries or three pounds of chicken.
It also features four presets that include air fry, roast, dehydrating, and reheating. Weighing in at ten pounds, you can easily carry the fryer around at your convenience. Oh and did I mention it also comes with an air fryer recipe book? Go wild.
What We Love To See
- Components are dishwater safe
- Quick and efficient
- Perfect control over the temperature
What We Don’t Love To See
- Small capacity
- Doesn’t include the broil function
Ninja Air Fryer Dual Zone DZ201
Everything is better in two’s so why not an air fryer? The Ninja Air Fryer Dual Zone DZ201 comes with two independent and spacious baskets that allow you to individually cook a variety of food at the same time. You can cook some salmon on one side while cheesecake bites on the other. It comes with a simple and easy-to-use display equipped with various cooking presets so you don’t have to worry about any complicated controls. The 8-quart capacity allows you to cook entire meals for your family.
What We Love To See
- Dual zones allow for multiple meals to be cooked
- Extensive space
- Equipped with numerous accessories
What We Don’t Love To See
- Can get too noisy
- Not suitable for small kitchens
What You Should Consider When Choosing an Air Fryer
During our numerous stages of testing, we managed to point out various factors that would compel the average customer to go hunting for an air fryer. The following should give you a clear picture of what you should look for in an air fryer:
Look and Size
Your air fryer is going to be a permanent resident on your countertop so might as well invest in something worthwhile. Find something that compliments your kitchen and doesn’t require much room to cover. If you have a small household with a few family members, a compact and easily moveable air fryer at say 4 to 6-quarts is more than enough to suit your needs. However, if you have enough space to spare while sporting an even bigger family then go for an 8 or a 10-quarts air fryer.
Easy to Use
Too many cooks spoil the broth while too many buttons spoil an air fryer. Make sure your air fryer has an easily readable display with a basic, to-the-point control system. This will further make it accessible to someone inexperienced in the kitchen. For these reasons, the air fryers we’ve recommended will cause you no trouble and you’ll be easily preparing succulent meals for yourself and your loved ones.
Easy to Clean
It is imperative to have a thoroughly clean air fryer. If not taken care of, the leftover residue will fester and create a breeding ground for bacteria. This can lead to some serious health risks putting yourself and your loved ones in danger. Always make sure the basket has a nonstick exterior that can easily be wiped. If an air fryer has removable parts, it can further make cleaning a lot easier.
Price
According to our survey results, the best air fryers range from 80 to 150 dollars. Four of our five picks have landed somewhere in between that have a decent holding capacity, do not require much to clean, and are fairly easy to use. If you dislike complicated controls and want to get right into the frying part, a cheaper model of less than 100 dollars would perfectly suit your needs. You need something that gets the job done not a decorative piece for your countertop.
Let’s Fry
The air fryer has made life so much easier and for the better. It offers numerous health benefits and an easier and quicker way to cook food, making it a welcoming addition to your kitchen. Even if you don’t know your way around the kitchen, air fryers are user-friendly and don’t take much time to learn.
Follow some basic steps and before you know it, you’ll be enjoying an exquisitely fine and delicious meal. So quit staring at your screen and go out there and buy that life-changing appliance you’ve been so desperately missing your entire life.
