Best air fryer 2024 – expert-tested appliances for the speediest, healthiest meals
Our favorite air fryers from top brands like Ninja, Instant and Philips (plus some surprising newcomers)
Air fryers have become a kitchen essential – and it's easy to see why. These marvellous machines work like mini convection ovens, circulating hot air to crisp up food quickly, with little to no oil. At the end of the busy day, I throw salmon, veggies and diced potatoes straight into my Ninja air fryer – and I have a healthy meal on the table in 15 minutes.
But, how do you choose the best air fryer for you? The market is crowded with options. Smaller, more basic models are great for cooking fries and simple side dishes. The latest, greatest machines can handle complex tasks, from roasting large joints of meat to baking homemade pizza. And the worst will leave you with overcooked chicken and unnecessary clutter.
As a trained cook and H&G’s Kitchen Appliance Expert, I've tested the top models in my own kitchen to find the best options for real home cooks. I've also collated years of testing notes from our trusted H&G product testers, interviewed air fryer chefs, and sifted through over 2,000 customer reviews. You can read about our testing criteria below, but for now, I'll get straight to the point: I've selected the Instant Vortex Plus 6-Quart Air Fryer as the best air fryer overall for 2024.
I've rounded our top picks into a 'Hot List' with my favorites for families, small kitchens, and amazing multifunctional models. You're sure to find the best air fryer for your needs here.
December Air Fryer Deals
Black Friday and Cyber Monday might be over, but some of the best air fryers on my list are still discounted for the holiday season, including our best air fryer 2024.
Instant Vortex Plus 6QT Air Fryer | Was $169.99, now $99.95 at Amazon The best single basket air fryer we've ever tested. It's a great size for families. We love the genius viewing window (so you can keep an eye on the cooking) and built-in odor neutralizer.
Ninja Double Stack 8QT Air Fryer | Was $249.99, now $179 at Amazon This slender air fryer is my personal favorite and it's the one I use at home. I always recommend it to families, since it has four cooking levels and the speediest cooking times.
Instant Vortex Plus 8 QT Dual Air Fryer | Was $189.99, now $109 at Walmart This is the dual-basket version of the Instant Vortex above. It scored full marks in our tests. Great for large portions and so easy to use. At just over $100, it's a no-brainer.
Cosori 6QT Air Fryer | Was $119.99, now $87.99 at Amazon
We tested the 5-quart version of this model. It was quick, compact and really fierce. You'll get ultra-crispy fries with Cosori. We rate it as the best value brand.
Philips 3000 Dual Drawer Air Fryer | Was $199.95, now $129.95 at Amazon This is premium and worth the spend, even without a sale on. It didn't even come with instructions, because the whole appliance is so intuitive and easy to use!
Ninja 4QT Air Fryer | Was $89, now $69 at Walmart
A little air fryer that's perfect for beginners or anyone with a small kitchen. We tested the bigger version and loved its speedy cooking and max crisp mode.
Our full Ninja Max XL Air Fryer review has more info
Dreo Chef Maker | Was $359, now $208.85 on Amazon
The best air fryer for foodies is now 41% off – you could be baking cookies, steaming lobster and air-crisping perfect asparagus in time for Christmas.
The Hot List
If you're looking for the headlines, here's a quick list of the best air fryers on the market. You'll find more details on the pros, cons, and how to choose the right model further down the page.
Best overall
Best air fryer overall
Capacity: 6 quarts
Our Editor's Choice, this model makes excellent French fries. We highly rate the window and odor neutralizer – it's affordable and user-friendly.
Easiest to use
Easiest to use
Capacity: 6.5 quarts
This air fryer has perfect presets. You barely need to lift a finger, aside from pressing the 'start' button. It's sleek, simple and ever-so-slightly overpriced for the lack of versatility.
Best for families
Best air fryer for families
Capacity: Two 5-quart baskets
You can stack up to four different ingredients in this slender machine. It's super fast and the baskets are dishwasher-safe for the speediest clean-up.
Best for foodies
Best air fryer for foodies
Capacity: 6 quarts
The Dreo offers special 'Chef Modes', so you can cook the juiciest steaks and seafood at the touch of a button. If you're only looking to fry chips and nuggets, it might be too pricey.
Best multifunctional
Best multifunctional air fryer
Capacity: 6.5 quarts
Another Instant success, we rated this multi-cooker 5-stars for its exceptional air fryer function. It can sauté, slow cook, sous vide and steam, too.
Best value
Best value air fryer
Capacity: 5 quarts
Right now, Cosori air fryers are among the best-sellers on Amazon. This compact model has tons of functionality, but it's never more than $100. We found it quick and effective, just slightly too powerful.
Best small
Best small air fryer
Capacity: 4 quarts
This is the most basic model on our list, but it made the best roast asparagus we've ever tested. It's cheap and petite. A solid choice for students, individuals or couples.
Best dual basket
Best two-basket air fryer
Capacity: 6.3 quart and 3.2 quart baskets
Last year, we selected the Instant Vortex Dual Zone as our best dual basket mode. This year, we fell in love with the sleeker, more premium Philips model.
Best design
Best design
Capacity: 30.7 quarts
I love air fryers, but most models are quite unattractive. Smeg has changed the game, delivering 1950's Italian charm. The air fry function is just a bit slow; it can't quite rival specialists like Instant or Ninja.
Best air fryers 2024
You can trust Homes & Gardens.
Best air fryer overall
1. Instant Vortex Plus 6-in-1 Air Fryer with ClearCook and OdorErase
Our expert review:
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
This is the best air fryer in the world. I've tested this model in my home kitchen and one of our expert testers, Millie Fender, took it to the test center to compare with its competitors. She said the Instant Pot Vortex Plus 6-Quart 6-in-1 Air Fryer made the best homemade fries of any air fryer she's ever tested: 'They had a fluffy interior and crispy exterior, with evenly browned edges and consistent cooking throughout.'
We both liked the removable air fry insert, which means you can easily use the Instant Pot Vortex Plus 6-Quart 6-in-1 Air Fryer to reheat foods like rice and pasta, which would usually fall through the slots in the air fryer tray.
The 'ClearCook display' is a slightly gimmicky term for a window, but it's a genius idea that makes cooking a lot easier and saves you from pulling out the basket to check on your food.
The six-quart capacity is ideal for families, and it will easily cook for 5 or 6 people. My bacon was rendered perfectly, and the innovative OdorErase technology isn't just marketing – it hugely reduced unwanted smells in my kitchen. On top of all of that, this is also one of the quietest air fryers Millie tested in the professional kitchen. It's a great choice for open plan kitchens or small living spaces.
The only real issue is that you have to clean it by hand, as it's not dishwasher-safe. But we recently found out that a gentle hand wash is the best way to make your air fryer last longer, anyway.
I was torn over whether to give the top prize to the more premium Dreo ChefMaker, which also smashes many of these criteria – but considering the affordable price, the Instant wins hands-down.
Read Millie's Instant Vortex Plus 6-in-1 Air Fryer with ClearCook & OdorErase review for more details.
Easiest air fryer to use
2. Philips Essentials XL
Our expert review:
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
The Philips Essential Air Fryer XL delivers outstanding air frying results. This is a quality machine, well-designed for families, and great for those who want to cook simple side dishes and classic meals without the option of more unusual uses such as dehydrating.
Millie also tested the Philips XL for over a month. In fact, she still has it in her home and has recently used it to make an entire roast chicken. She says it's a sleek and classic design, with a small footprint compared to its capacity.
Customer reviews say it's a great choice for beginners. They particularly love the quiet volume, which is perfect for open-plan kitchens or shared living spaces.
The Philips XL also connects to an app, which can send recipes from your phone straight to the air fryer. The process is seamless and saves you from rifling through instructions booklets or guessing times or temperatures.
The dishwasher-safe basket makes life a lot easier too, but it does take up a lot of dishwasher space. Millie noticed that the basket can get a little stuck sometimes and doesn't feel super premium. However, she says the 'starfish' shape at the bottom of the fryer really does improve air circulation and leads to evenly-cooked results every time – even on tricky ingredients.
Read Millie's full Essential Philips XL review for more details.
Best air fryer for families
3. Ninja’s Double Stack Air Fryer
Our expert review:
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
Ninja’s Double Stack air fryer is remarkably sleek and slender, but it can feed a crowd.
That's because each basket contains two cooking levels, allowing you to cook up to four different ingredients simultaneously. On my first test, I cooked French fries, chicken thighs, courgettes, and green beans all at once. With minimal involvement and no preheating required, dinner was ready in 20 minutes. Truly a game-changer for busy families, tired individuals, and anyone with a limited kitchen.
You can sync the two drawers, so every element of your meal will finish together. Afterwards, you can place both drawers and the crisper plates into the dishwasher, for effortless clean up.
The only downside was some instances of uneven cooking on the top rack. My courgettes at the front of the drawer got a lot crispier than the ones at the back. However, this can be prevented by shuffling your ingredients around the rack and flipping two or three times, until everything is evenly golden.
I also knocked some points off for the high price tag. However, the quick, delicious results and easy cleanup still make this my top choice for families. I can forgive its small flaws - it's the air fryer I use on a daily basis.
My Ninja Double Stack Air Fryer review covers all the details.