The 7 Best Air Fryers of 2024

Whether efficiency, style, or capacity is your top priority, our focused guide cuts through the hype to deliver clear, comparative insights on today’s standout air fryers. Expect no fluff, just the essential information to help you choose the air fryer that fits seamlessly into your lifestyle.

Top Air Fryers for Every Culinary Enthusiast

The beauty of air fryers lies in their ability to cater to a wide range of cooking needs. Whether you’re looking for a budget-friendly option, a space-saver, or a multifunctional marvel, there’s an air fryer designed just for you. Here are the top contenders to consider:

• Best for Budget: Cosori Pro LE 5-Quart Air Fryer
• Best for Countertop Appeal: Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer
• Best for Large Groups: Instant Vortex 10-Quart Air Fryer
• Best Multifunctional: Instant Omni Plus 18L Air Fryer Toaster Oven
• Best Cooking Performance: Philips Premium Airfryer HD9741

For those on a budget, the Cosori Pro LE 5-Quart Air Fryer offers a perfect balance of cost-effectiveness and performance. If countertop appeal is your priority, the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer’s sleek design is sure to impress. Need to cook for larger groups? The Instant Vortex 10-Quart Air Fryer has you covered with its ample capacity and versatile features. The Instant Omni Plus 18L Air Fryer Toaster Oven stands out among multifunctional air fryers with its high wattage and variety of extra features. If cooking performance is what you’re after, the Philips Premium Airfryer HD9741 produces exceptionally crispy french fries and evenly cooked chicken wings and nuggets, outperforming other pod-shaped air fryers. For those seeking the best of both worlds, the best air fryer toaster ovens provide a versatile and efficient solution for all your cooking needs, making them some of the best air fryers on the market.

We selected each of these air fryers for their unique strengths and features, based on expert testing and recommendations. Next, we will explore each model in detail to help you discover the best air fryer for your needs.

Best Multifunctional Air Fryer - Instant Pot Duo Crisp

Price: Walmart - $198.98

Specifications:

• Multifunction: Air frying, roasting, baking, dehydrating
• Capacity: 8-quart
• Noise level: Relatively quiet

Pros:

• A space-saving appliance that replaces multiple kitchen devices.
• Excels in air frying with a mesh basket that eliminates the need to flip food.
• Runs relatively quietly.

Cons:

• The machine’s bulkiness requires more storage.
• The preheat function adds time to air frying.
• Cleaning the air frying rack and the lid can be challenging due to fat splatters.

The Instant Pot Duo Crisp is more than just an air fryer—it’s a versatile kitchen companion that offers an array of cooking functions, including:

• Air frying
• Roasting
• Baking
• Dehydrating

Its 8-quart capacity can fit large items such as an 8-inch cake pan or three medium chicken breasts, making it larger than many similar units.

A notable advantage of this appliance is its user-friendly interface. Not only does it run quietly, but it also features removable, dishwasher-safe parts for easy cleanup. However, it’s worth noting that its size might require a bit more storage space in your kitchen, and the preheat function can add some time to your air frying process. Also, cleaning the air frying rack and the lid can be a bit of a challenge due to fat splatters.

Rating: Price: 3.5/5 Design: 4/5 Features: 5/5 Performance: 4.5/5

Best Countertop Convection Oven - KitchenAid Digital Countertop Oven

Specifications: This appliance offers a variety of cooking modes, including dehydrating slow cook, proof, bagel, toast, air frying, baking, broiling, and keeping warm. Each mode allows for different cooking techniques and versatility in meal preparation.

• Design: Compact design for countertop use

Pros:

• Provides 50% more space than a leading competitor.
• Features an innovative 360° Air Fry System for even cooking.
• Has a sleek black matte finish with a stainless steel handle and a bright LED display.

Cons:

• The finishing chime may be too quiet for a noisy kitchen environment.

The KitchenAid Digital Countertop Oven features:

• Sleek black matte finish
• Stainless steel handle
• Bright LED display
• Innovative 360° Air Fry System
• Double Convection Bake feature

This air fryer marries modern design and functionality, integrating aesthetics and practicality. It not only looks good but also performs exceptionally well.

What sets this air fryer apart is its generous cooking space—it provides 50% more space than a leading competitor and can fit a 9” x 13” sheet cake, a 12-inch pizza, or two 3.4 lbs chickens. This makes it one of the largest air fryers on the market. However, one minor drawback is the quietness of the finishing chime, which could be overlooked in a noisy kitchen environment.

Nevertheless, the KitchenAid Digital Countertop Oven continues to be a favored choice for those who value performance and design in an air fryer.

Rating: Price: 4/5 Design: 4.5/5 Features: 4.5/5 Performance: 4/5

Best Slimline Air Fryer - Ninja Foodi Flexbasket

Specifications:

• Design: Space-saving with a 7-qt MegaZone with a basket divider
• Feature: Dual Zone Technology

Pros:

• Space-saving design with a 7-qt MegaZone with a basket divider.
• Leverages Dual Zone Technology for robust cooking capabilities.
• Nonstick baskets and crisper plates are dishwasher-safe.

Cons:

• Absence of a basket catch.
• The weight of the large basket can make handling difficult.

If you’re short on kitchen space but don’t want to compromise on cooking capacity, the Ninja Foodi Flexbasket is the dual-basket air fryer for you. This slimline air fryer features a space-saving design with a 7-qt MegaZone and a basket divider, allowing you to cook two different items simultaneously or larger batches of frozen foods when necessary.

A significant feature of this model is its Dual Zone Technology, providing the ability to cook foods in two distinct ways, but ensuring they finish simultaneously. It also comes with a high-temp air broil function for added versatility. However, it’s worth noting that there is no basket catch, and the weight of the large basket could make handling a bit difficult.

Despite these minor setbacks, the Ninja Foodi Flexbasket is an excellent choice for those seeking a balance between space-saving design and versatile cooking options.

Rating: Price: 4/5 Design: 4.5/5 Features: 4/5 Performance: 4/5

Best Aesthetic Design - Beautiful by Drew Barrymore

Specifications:

• Design: Touch-activated display, matte finish in chic colors, gold accents on handles and levers

Pros:

• Chic design with a touch-activated display and matte finish.
• Available in stylish colors with gold accents on handles and levers.
• Fits seamlessly as a countertop decor piece.

Cons:

• None noted.

The Beautiful by Drew Barrymore 6-Quart Air Fryer is more than a mere appliance—it’s a centerpiece. This air fryer boasts a touch-activated display, a matte finish in chic colors such as Oyster Grey, and gold accents on handles and levers, contributing to its sophisticated design.

As part of a stylish collection of kitchen appliances and accessories launched exclusively at Walmart, this air fryer is as functional as it is fashionable. Users have applauded it for its attractive appearance and practical design, which resists fingerprints and fits seamlessly as a countertop decor piece. With no notable cons, the Beautiful by Drew Barrymore 6-Quart Air Fryer is a clear winner for those looking to add a touch of style to their kitchen.

Rating: Price: 4/5 Design: 5/5 Features: 4/5 Performance: 4/5

Best Entry-Level Air Fryer - Philips 3000 Series Airfryer L HD9200/91

Specifications:

• Nonstick, easy-to-clean basket
• Access to the NutriU app for a variety of recipes

Pros:

• Great value at an affordable price.
• Nonstick, easy-to-clean basket.
• Access to the NutriU app for a variety of recipes.

Cons:

• Dials may be stiff and lack a dedicated ‘off’ switch.

If you’re new to the world of air frying, the Philips 3000 Series Airfryer L HD9200/91 is a great entry-level option. Priced at around $120, this air fryer provides excellent value for those starting out, with a nonstick, easy-to-clean basket and access to the NutriU app for a variety of recipes.

Though an entry-level air fryer, the Philips 3000 Series maintains quality. It has the following features:

• Can prepare up to four portions of fries in its 1.8-pound capacity basket
• Ideal for small families or individual cooking needs
• Some might find the dials stiff and the absence of a dedicated ‘off’ switch slightly inconvenient

Nevertheless, for its price and capabilities, this air fryer is an excellent choice for beginners.

Rating: Price: 4.5/5 Design: 4/5 Features: 4/5 Performance: 4/5

Best Compact Air Fryer - Philips Premium Airfryer HD9741

Specifications:

• Compact design with a 1.8-pound capacity in the basket
• QuickClean basket with Fat Removal Technology

Pros:

• Compact design with a 1.8-pound capacity in the basket.
• QuickClean basket with Fat Removal Technology.
• Digital display with four preset cooking programs.

Cons:

• The basket is heavier compared to other models.
• Wire mesh design may trap oil and food, making it challenging to clean.

The Philips Premium Airfryer HD9741, striking a balance between cooking volume and countertop footprint, stands out as the best compact air fryer for small spaces. With a 1.8-pound capacity in the basket, this air fryer can prepare up to four portions of fries, demonstrating a balance between cooking volume and countertop footprint.

When it comes to features, the Philips Premium Airfryer HD9741 doesn’t disappoint. It offers a QuickClean basket with Fat Removal Technology, a digital display with four preset cooking programs, and an Instant On feature for no pre-heating. However, the weight of the basket is heavier compared to other models, which could make handling difficult, and the wire mesh design may trap oil and food, making it more challenging to clean.

Rating: Price: 4/5 Design: 4.5/5 Features: 4.5/5 Performance: 4/5

Best for Tech-Savvy Users - Instant Vortex Plus Dual

Specifications:

• Intuitive control panel with a clear digital display and an LED touchscreen
• Dual-basket technology with Sync Finish feature

Pros:

• Intuitive control panel with a clear digital display and an LED touchscreen
• Dual-basket technology allows simultaneous cooking of different foods
• Nonstick basket and crisper plates are dishwasher-safe

Cons:

• A glossy black finish may require frequent wiping due to the propensity for collecting fingerprints.

If you’re tech-savvy and appreciate smart features in your kitchen appliances, the Instant Vortex Plus Dual is the perfect air fryer for you. This air fryer comes with an intuitive control panel, a clear digital display, and an LED touchscreen with mini food icons for easy operation.

One of the standout features of this model is its dual-basket technology. This allows you to cook different foods simultaneously at varying temperatures and durations, facilitated through the Sync Finish feature, ensuring they’re done at the same time.

However, its glossy black finish may require frequent wiping with a damp cloth due to its propensity for collecting fingerprints. Minor inconvenience aside, the Instant Vortex Plus Dual continues to be a favored choice among tech-savvy cooks.

Rating: Price: 4/5 Design: 4.5/5 Features: 5/5 Performance: 4.5/5

Best for Small Kitchens - Paris Rhône 5.3 Quart

Specifications:

• Compact design
• 5.3-quart capacity
• Energy-efficient

Pros:

• Compact design suitable for small kitchens.
• Can accommodate roasting a small 2.2-pound chicken.
• Energy-efficient with no need for preheating.

Cons:

• None noted.

The Paris Rhône 5.3 Quart air fryer is a dream come true for those with small kitchens. With a design as compact as a coffee maker, this air fryer takes up minimal counter space while providing ample cooking volume.

What’s great about this air fryer is:

• Its energy efficiency
• It requires no preheating
• It cooks food quickly thanks to its 360 degrees hot air circulation
• It has a capacity of 5.3 quarts, offering ample space for small-batch cooking
• It remains affordable, priced under $80.

No notable cons were found for this model, making the Paris Rhône 5.3 Quart air fryer a top choice for small kitchens.

Rating: Price: 4.5/5 Design: 4.5/5 Features: 4/5 Performance: 4.5/5

Choosing Your Ideal Air Fryer

The task of selecting the perfect air fryer may seem challenging given the plethora of options. However, by taking into account several key factors, you can make a well-informed choice that aligns with your cooking needs and lifestyle.

The size of the air fryer is an important factor to consider. A medium-sized air fryer under 5 quarts is recommended for the best results, as a smaller compartment allows hot air to hit the food more rapidly. For two-person households, a capacity between two and four quarts is ideal.

When it comes to features, advanced functionalities like broiling, roasting, and dehydrating may be present in air fryers. However, these features do not necessarily improve the fundamental cooking performance and may be better performed by specialized equipment. Also, digital air fryers tend to cost more than mechanical ones without significantly affecting performance, but they do provide the convenience of presets and a digital readout of temperature and time.

In terms of performance, most non-stick basket-style air fryers are particularly easy to clean, often taking no more than a minute or two, and dishwasher-safe parts add to the convenience. As air fryer cooks know, this makes the cooking process even more enjoyable, especially when trying out various air fryer recipes.

Finally, when looking at power efficiency, a typical wattage range for most air fryers is 1,200 to 1,800 watts, with around 1,500 watts recommended for a midrange 4-quart air fryer and about 100 more watts per quart for larger models.

Summary

Air fryers have revolutionized the way we cook, offering a healthier alternative to traditional deep frying. In this guide, we explored a variety of air fryers, each with their unique strengths, to help you find the best one that suits your needs. Whether you’re a tech-savvy cook, a culinary novice, or someone with a small kitchen, there’s an air fryer out there designed just for you.

Remember, the best air fryer is not necessarily the most expensive one, but the one that fits your cooking needs, lifestyle, and budget. Consider factors like size, features, performance, and price when choosing your ideal air fryer.

So, are you ready to embark on a healthier cooking journey? Remember, the perfect air fryer is just a click away. Happy cooking!

Frequently Asked Questions