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The best air fryers for 2024, tested and reviewed
Streamline your kitchen with convenient, versatile picks from Ninja, Cuisinart, Our Place and more.
If it feels like everyone owns an air fryer but you, that's because it's (increasingly) true. An estimated 60% of U.S. households had one in 2023, a number that has only grown since — and for good reason: Air fryers are generally more health-conscious than deep-oil frying, and they offer a speedy and hands-off way to get dinner on the table fast.
Cuisinart 6-Quart Basket Air Fryer Oven
Best air fryer overall
Ninja Foodi 6-in-1 DualZone FlexBasket Air Fryer
Best dual-basket air fryer
Our Place Wonder Oven
Best air fryer toaster
Table of contents
Air fryers are convenient, taking mere minutes to preheat and often requiring nothing more than a shake of the basket to get your food perfectly crispy and table-ready. Many come with preset options for ease of use, and their 360° circulation ensures your food cooks evenly. As summer approaches, the fact that these modern marvels don’t heat the entire kitchen during warmer seasons is a bonus.
Air fryer technology keeps getting better — even if you bought one a few years ago, you could be due for a sleeker, smarter upgrade. Read on to discover the best air fryers of 2024, and keep scrolling for more on the testing process, along with tips for selecting an air fryer for your needs.
A quick note before we dive in: Sizes represent exterior dimensions once assembled, with capacities reflecting interior baskets and tray allocations. We didn’t count air fryer baskets as accessories because they are core to an air fryer’s function. At the time of publication, each of our top picks was available on Amazon with free or two-day shipping.
Best air fryer overall
Size: 12"D x 16.5"W x 12.25"H | Capacity: 6 quarts | Power: 1800 watts | Max temp: 450°F | Style: Single-basket | Functions: Air fry, roast, bake, broil or warm | Care: Dishwasher-safe basket and tray
Topping our list is this partially stainless-steel-brushed air fryer from Cuisinart. This versatile model boasts substantial cooking room, minimal required maintenance and an easy-to-master learning curve, all while looking non-clunky. (Dare we say, sleek?)
The air fryer comes pre-assembled, so there's no setup required — simply ensure the inner tray is secure, plug in the device, and you're ready to go. We found the accompanying instructions to be intuitive, and there's a variety of recipes included for added convenience.
A bright LED interface displays five functions — air fry, roast, bake, broil and warm — for a variety of cooking methods, along with five presets for taking the guesswork out of foods that don't come with air-frying instructions. (The "toss reminder" proved handy when we tested larger batches.)
We assessed the air fry function by making french fries, breaded chicken tenders, chicken wings and crab rangoons, using package instructions and the "frozen" preset where there were none, and everything came out right on time in juicy-on-the-inside, crispy-on-the-outside fashion.
We were particularly impressed that the crab rangoons stayed intact, retaining all (or at least most) of their filling. While air-frying was the main focus of our test, we also tried our hands at several other functions: Our roasted chicken breasts, baked salmon and broiled steaks cooked to perfection.
The air fryer handle remained cool to the touch and the basket is dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning. We also appreciated the clear panel and interior light for monitoring foods, especially helpful when we were cooking meals in low lighting (and, er, late-night snacking).
- LED, touchscreen display
- Window and interior lighting for more visibility
- Five cooking functions, plus presets
- No "pause" button, though you can remove the basket without resetting the time
More top air fryers we recommend
Size: 18.19"D x 11.81"W x 11.26"H | Capacity: 7 quarts | Power: 1690 watts | Max temp: 450°F | Style: Dual/flex-basket | Functions: Air fry, air broil, roast, bake, reheat or dehydrate | Care: Dishwasher-safe basket and trays
With six cooking functions, nearly 1700 watts of power and a max temp of 450°, the sizable, mutable Ninja Foodi FlexBasket is one hot commodity.
Like some other dual-basket air fryers, the Foodi has two — in this case 3.5-quart or up to 4-pound — baskets for air-frying two foods, separately, at once. Unlike other dual-basket air fryers, the Foodi’s divider is flexible and can be removed to create an extra-large, 7-quart surface area (referred to as the "MegaZone") for cooking larger batches and proteins whenever you want.
We tested its air-frying chops using the same frozen mix as with our other test models — breaded chicken tenders, french fries, crab rangoons and chicken wings — in different bins, with different specifications. And the Foodi didn’t skip a beat: Everything came out as or even better than expected, with crispy skins and temp precision.
Because the Foodi allows you to select two functions, we were able to bake our salmon and broil a steak side-by-side, to cook simultaneously and conclude at the same time. With the center insert removed, we successfully roasted an entire chicken, complete with sides, in about an hour, with only a few minutes of preheating and without heating the entire kitchen in the process.
The Foodi’s display was user-friendly (and fun!) to navigate and came with removable adhesives listing suggested times and temps for common foods. The handles stayed cool; the shell was warm, but not too hot (even after cooking a chicken for so long, we were able to pick up and carry the appliance to another spot). Each of the basket, divider and crisper plates are dishwasher-safe for easy cleanups.
- LED display
- Six cooking functions, plus presets
- Can cook two foods separately, using different functions, or condense to create a mega basket
- Basket doesn't have a clear panel so you can’t see progress of food but you can easily pause to check
Size: 10.6"D x 11.5"W x 11.6"H | Capacity: 12 liters | Power: 1400 watts | Max temp: 450°F | Style: Dual/flex-basket | Functions: Air fry, broil, toast, roast, bake or reheat, plus steam option | Care: Trays are hand-wash only
Like so many Our Place products, the Our Place Wonder Oven is multi-functional and beautifully designed to be a kitchen's aesthetic focal point. This toaster oven/air-fryer hybrid hit the sweet spot in our testing for size, price and function.
It has a 12-liter capacity that supports four slices of toast, 1 pound of french fries or a 9-inch pizza, as well as a 4.5-pound chicken with only the bottom tray in place. It also performs six duties: air frying, baking, toasting, broiling, reheating and roasting, with the option to infuse steam, for different texture preferences and appetites.
We tested the air fryer functionality with the usual suspects — french fries, breaded chicken tenders, chicken wings and crab rangoons — and everything came out to (tender, crispy) spec.
Given the shallowness of the air fryer basket, which allows you to remove foods using a spatula with less risk of turnover, we were also able to air-fry more delicate foods like stuffed jalapeno peppers. And because the appliance comes with a crumb/drip tray, we didn't have to worry about cheese oozing onto the bottom of the oven and making a mess.
To evaluate the other functions, we toasted bread, baked pizza, roasted chicken and — you guessed it — broiled up some skirt steak, switching up the nonstick, nontoxic racks and pans accordingly. We watched curiously through the big glass window on the door panel to see if each would rise to the occasion, and lo and behold, they did.
The Wonder Oven's handle remained cool; the coated oven surface got warm but not piping hot like other toasters we’ve tried. We prioritized performance in our evaluations but we’d be remiss if we didn’t point out that this oven comes in four muted hues and two limited edition shades. At $195, it’s not cheap, but it’s often on sale, and its versatility and the accompanying accessories add to its value.
- Window and interior lighting for more visibility
- Six cooking functions, with steam capabilities
- Comes with a range of accessories
- No LED display (control knobs only)
- Trays are hand-wash only
Factors to consider when choosing an air fryer
Size: Compact air fryers require less counter space, therefore ideal for cozy or crowded kitchens. Bigger air fryers require more breathing room but typically house larger pieces and quantities of food for feeding families.
Capacity: Lower capacities, obviously, mean smaller portions. We’d recommend at least 2 to 3 quarts of cooking room for individual servings, 4 quarts for two servings and 6 quarts or more for households of four or more (higher capacities are also helpful for entertaining).
Power: More power typically yields quicker results. Similarly, higher temperatures will allow you to zap certain foods, such as frozen pizzas and slices, at a faster rate for more of a "brick oven" taste. Follow food package and air fryer instructions closely, especially when getting familiar with your air fryer, as a way to learn (and not burn).
Style:
Single-basket air fryers are typically the most straightforward and offer the most depth for containing bulkier, higher batches (think plump chicken tenders, thick french fries and towering nacho piles). That said, they may require you to pause and rotate foods to ensure evenness from time to time.
Dual-basket air fryers aren't usually as deep as single-basket air fryers, but they allow you to cook two (still substantial) heaps of food, with different specifications in separate spaces, in one go. Removable center inserts offer the flexibility to create an extra-large basket for heartier servings and roasts.
Air fryer toasters can typically be stacked with trays for cooking thinner, more delicate foods in shallow rows, such as bread, bagels or hors d'oeuvres (you can use different tray types but the temp will be the same for all). Generally speaking, toaster hybrids take longer to preheat and get hotter than traditional air fryers.
Functions: Most air fryers made today offer additional functions, such as roasting, baking, warming, reheating or dehydrating, for more versatility and convenience. The benefit of using a basket-style air fryer to roast or bake versus the oven is that it will usually do so with less preheating and in less time. In our experience, air fryer exteriors remain warm (but not nearly as hot as conventional ovens) and they don't heat the whole kitchen in warmer months.
Care: Nonstick and dishwasher-safe baskets, bins and trays make for easy cleaning when the meal is done. Be sure to follow care instructions carefully and never put electric appliances in the sink or dishwasher as a general rule of thumb.
How we tested
Our testing group for this guide was made up of Yahoo editors and writers with home, tech and culinary backgrounds. We procured top-rated air fryers and used them to crisp frozen favorites like chicken tenders and french fries, also experimenting with other foods and functions to gauge how well — and how fast! — each model could deliver the (chewy-in-the-middle, crispy-on-the-outside) goods. We also considered and evaluated things like practicality (ease of setup, use and cleaning), durability (materials and design) and safety features to determine which air fryers were worthy of your precious counter space.
Other air fryers we've tested
Dash Compact 2-Quart Air Fryer: While not as roomy or dynamic as other air fryers we tested, this compact pod was easy to use and yielded delicious air-crisped foods. The streamlined controls make it a good choice for beginners — and the colorful, cool-to-the-touch shell, plus automatic shutoff for those who like to cook with their children (as long as there's adult supervision). The small shape and lightweight frame are also ideal for traveling and storing.
Beautiful by Drew Barrymore 3-Quart Air Fryer: This gold-trimmed gizmo is a Yahoo editor favorite for its multitasking abilities (air fry, bake, roast and reheat), modest price and minimalistic design (available in eight shades). Of note: while the brand says the product can serve up to four people, that same editor recommends the 3-quart basket for about two or three servings, tops.
Ninja's 4-Quart Air Fryer: Ninja's 4-Quart comes with four functions: air fry, roast, reheat and dehydrate, each of which performed well in our tests. The basket is deep — enough to fit chunkier chicken — and easy to clean. Ideal for three people, it holds less food than the Cuisinart 6-Quart and there isn't a clear panel so you can’t see your food (though there is a "pause" button for checking in).
Cosori TurboBlaze 6-Quart Air Fryer: The TurboBlaze offers four functions — air fry, roast, broil and bake — along with five settings for added convenience (at a lower cost than many air fryers with the same or less range). Yahoo executive editor Nicole Sforza tested the model and says it couldn’t be easier to use, tapping it “nonstop for quick kid meals” (such as frozen chicken tenders and fish sticks) and countless family dinners since. The display is on top, which can be challenging if programming at or below eye level. As with many of the air fryers we evaluated, there’s also no window display.
Philips 3000 Series 13-in-1 Air Fryer: Philips launched the first air fryer in 2010, setting the standard and introducing many iterations since. The 3000 Series served up perfectly textured snacks in our tests and it grills, roasts and bakes, among other functions. Its seven cooking presets were useful for heating foods that didn’t come with air fryer instructions. Ultimately, we went with the Cuisinart 6-Quart Air Fryer for its greater capacity (Philips is just over 4 quarts) and visibility while cooking.
Instant Vortex Plus XL 8-Quart Air Fryer: At 8 quarts, the capacity of this dual-basket air fryer from Instant is slightly higher than the Ninja Foodi FlexBasket, and all of its functions — from air frying to roasting — worked and worked well. We also appreciated the clear basket panels for watching our food come along. Aside from not having the removable insert the Foodi offered, Yahoo executive editor of tech Rick Broida struggled with the Vortex's "terse instructional manual, which might leave you guessing at how best to cook various items.”
Nuwave Brio 8-Quart Air Fryer: The NuWave Brio's basket can hold up to 8 quarts. The air fryer results were golden, and there’s a temperature probe for ensuring meats are fully cooked and to your liking. But, as Broida noted, there were conflicting details regarding the Brio's full capabilities. “Specifically, the product description indicates 100 pre-programmed recipe functions, but there are only 20 imprinted on the top of the actual unit. And one spot on the Amazon product page mentions just '6 preset cooking functions.'"
Ninja Digital Air Fryer Pro Countertop Oven: This multitasking device from Ninja boasts eight cooking modes — among them the ability to air fry, air roast, bake, broil and toast, and has enough space to fit six pieces of bread or a 2-pound roast, plus a 13-inch pizza! The snag: The toaster exterior gets pretty hot and the width requires ample counter space. Says Broida, “While pizza, chopped veggies and other flat-ish foods fit just fine, the height can't accommodate taller foods like whole chickens, bread loaves and high-piled sandwiches,” which can also pose a problem now and then.
Breville Joule Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro: Breville’s Joule has 13 smart functions and can be connected to an app for guided recipes and food monitoring. Yahoo managing editor Scott Simone tested the device’s air-frying prowess with a frozen (chicken tenders and nuggets) and fresh (chicken, fish and vegetables) variety. "I've also used it to bake, broil, air fry and toast both breads and bagels," he adds. "It's idiot-proof and each function works as you'd want it to." Simone cautions the Joule's exterior gets hot and that "it can take a while (10+ minutes) to reach the desired temp, so you’ll have to allow time to preheat before you eat.” See also: the Breville The Smart Oven Air Fryer for a similar style and features sans app integration.
Cuisinart Large Air Fryer Toaster Oven: This air fryer oven offers substantial interior cooking space for air-frying, baking, broiling, roasting and even dual- and slow-cooking (there are 13 functions total). Its presets were accurate (for our chicken tenders and other snacks) and it can support large portions. The exterior gets hot, though, so you’ll want to make sure it’s out of reach for children. One tester also noted the LED readouts can be difficult to see if you’re not looking at the appliance directly. See also: Cuisinart’s Air Fryer Toaster Oven with Grill for a more budget-friendly, non-LED option.
Ninja Speedi Rapid Cooker and Air Fryer: The Ninja Speedi combines the functions of an air fryer and rapid cooker, plus ten other devices. It does an adequate job as an air fryer, but Broida notes it more closely resembles a pressure cooker (even though that's the one thing it isn't). It’s a little clunky and pricey for a 6-quart air fryer if you don’t plan to use the other functions and, unlike other air fryer hybrids on this list, doesn’t have a handle. “You can't easily give this a shake during cooking — you have to open and stir instead — and you'll definitely need a pair of oven mitts to lift it out when the food is ready,” says Broida. (Read his full review here.)
Typhur Dome Air Fryer Oven: Typhur's Dome Air Fryer is one of the coolest-looking we've seen (Broida likened it to something you might see in outer space). It has a large, shallow basket stretching wide enough to fit a 12-inch pizza, 10 strips of bacon or 32 chicken wings — and spread out so you don't need to pause and rotate anything. There are five cooking options; air fry, roast, broil, toast and dehydrate, plus presets, and you can connect the fryer to the Typhur app to control and monitor it from your phone. There's even a self-cleaning mode. The catch? In his full review, Broida notes the app can be "naggy" with the basket removed and that the presets are limited for a device with such a high price tag.
Air fryer FAQs
How does an air fryer work?
An air fryer doesn’t fry foods in a conventional sense but acts more like a convection oven, using a fan to circulate food with hot air (hence why you don't need to flip foods, so long as they're not overlapping). The difference between an air fryer and a convection oven, however, is that air fryers tend to blow more rapidly and in an area that is usually much more condensed, which is a detailed way to say that, similar to a microwave or rice cooker, everything is supercharged.
How do I cook in an air fryer?
Different types of air fryers have different setups but cooking in an air fryer is usually as simple as selecting your desired temp, time and function and pressing "start" (see instructions for preheat specifications). Then you just pop in your food — allowing some wiggle room to ensure the hot air hits it at all angles — and let the machine do its thing (if it's a hearty batch, you may need to pause here and there for rotating).
While an air fryer doesn’t require a lot of oil like traditional frying, drizzling or spraying a light amount of cooking oil on interior baskets, trays and foods can keep items from sticking and help achieve that golden veil.
What cannot be cooked in an air fryer?
When determining which foods will benefit from an air fryer, it can help to remember the three S’s: Small, Slim and Scattered, which typically requires less cooking time and allow for more airflow (i.e. crunch). Frozen foods or foods that need to be reheated (like pizza and last night's burger and fries) tend to fare better than fresh foods (such as veggies, which take less time to burn) and cheesier items can ooze onto bins (this is where those handy trays come in!)
We generally advise against lining aluminum foil or parchment paper in an air fryer when using the air-frying function as they could serve to block airflow and hinder performance. That said, many air fryers today boast additional capabilities, such as roasting or baking, which implore different methods and can therefore be used in tandem with tin foil or parchment paper unless instructions specify otherwise.
How do you clean an air fryer?
Carefully! As with any appliance, you’ll want to heed caution when touching hot surfaces and keep electrical components away from water. Once you’ve allowed your device to cool, simply hand-wash or dish-wash pans and bins. When it comes to wiping down the air fryer shell and counter surface, a dry or slightly damp towel should do the trick.
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
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