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The 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)

One of the best air fryers, an Instant Vortex Plus with Odorease and Clear Cook making salmon.
(Image credit: Instant Home)

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.

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 and cons further down the page.

Best air fryers 2024

You can trust Homes & Gardens. Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing the latest products, helping you choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

Best air fryer overall

1. Instant Vortex Plus 6-in-1 Air Fryer with ClearCook and OdorErase

The best air fryer around

Specifications

Dimensions: 17.1 x 15 x 13.9 inches
Capacity: 6-quart
Settings: Air fry, roast, broil, bake, reheat, and dehydrate
Cleaning: Nonstick tray and basket, dishwasher-safe insert
Temperature range: 95-400°F

Reasons to buy

+
Quieter than average
+
Consistent cooking results
+
The OdorErase technology impressed us in testing
+
Made very crispy fries
+
ClearCook drawer for monitoring cooking
+
Pre-heat time included
+
Practical cooking drawer shape

Reasons to avoid

-
Will not go above 400°F
-
Not dishwasher-safe

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

Simple, sleek and ideal for beginners

Specifications

Dimensions: 15.1 x 15.1 x 14.2 inches
Capacity: 6.5 quart
Settings: Frozen snacks, french fries, meat, fish, chicken, cake, veggies
Cleaning: Cleaning: Nonstick trays and basket, dishwasher-safe
Temperature range: Up to 400° F (200°C)

Reasons to buy

+
Quieter than average
+
Consistent cooking results
+
The OdorErase technology impressed us in testing
+
Made very crispy fries
+
ClearCook drawer for monitoring cooking
+
Pre-heat time included
+
Practical cooking drawer shape

Reasons to avoid

-
Will not go above 400°F
-
Not dishwasher-safe

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

Super fast, slender, and family-friendly

Specifications

Dimensions: 11.25 D x 19.22 W x 15.14 H inches
Capacity: 10 Quarts
Settings: Air fry, max crisp, bake, roast, reheat, dehydrate
Cleaning: Plastic & Ceramic Non-Stick, dishwasher safe

Reasons to buy

+
Restaurant-quality French fries
+
Big capacity for family meals
+
Quick cooking times
+
'Sync' function so everything can be ready at once
+
Baking function for small breads and brownies
+
Dishwasher-safe & easy to clean

Reasons to avoid

-
Unevenly browned ingredients on the top rack
-
You need silicone tongs to handle hot racks
-
On the expensive side

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 detail.

Best air fryer for foodies

4. Dreo Chef Maker

Say hello to perfect steaks, seafood and crispy chips

Specifications

Dimensions: 11.25 D x 19.22 W x 15.14 H inches
Capacity: 6 quarts
Settings: Air fry, reheat, bake, roast, defrost, toast, broil, dehydrate
Cleaning: Dishwasher-safe removable basket and tryas
Temperature range: Up to 400°F

Reasons to buy

+
Super easy to use
+
Controllable via the app
+
Sleek and premium
+
Makes delicious steak and seafood
+
Excellent customer service
+
Exciting chef modes
+
Connects to Wifi and Siri

Reasons to avoid

-
Fairly expensive
-
Probe was a bit fiddly to attach
-
Gets dusty and laden with fingerprints

If you love cooking meat or seafood, the Dreo Chef Maker is like a personal chef in your kitchen. It’s the smartest air fryer I’ve ever tested. The user-friendly design and clever algorithm are perfect for anyone looking to elevate their home cooking – without any effort at all.

Using the Chef Mode, you can select your chosen ingredient, add it to the basket, then sit back and relax. Dreo automatically divides the cooking process into four perfectly timed stages. It begins by setting the optimum temperature for your ingredient, then introducing a fine mist for the juiciest textures. After a quick pre-sear, it releases a final burst of rapid heat for that golden brown finish.

My fries were crispy, the asparagus was golden and tender, and the steak was seared to perfection. I also loved the viewing window on the basket and the interior light (which can be switched on and off to save energy). This cleverly allowed me to peek at the cooking progress and watch things sizzle.

If you love eating delicious, perfectly-cooked meat and seafood, but you're not super confident in the kitchen, the Dreo Chef Maker's smart tech is worth every penny. I quite often see it discounted in seasonal air fryer sales. I keep track of the prices here, in our guide to the best air fryer deals and you can view the best deals of the day below.

However, if you're specifically looking for a basic air fryer or a toaster/air fryer combination, I'd skip this one. The toast isn't as delicious as the lobster tail. Also, the glossy exterior needs wiping daily to get rid of greasy fingerprints and dust.

Read our full Dreo ChefMaker Combi Fryer review for more details.

Best multifunctional air fryer