How to Choose the Best Air Fryer – A Complete Guide to Choosing the Right Model for You

The best air fryers are some of the most convenient appliances you can add to a kitchen. Crisping and roasting food far more quickly than a conventional oven (and often with less oil), they make meal times both time- and energy-efficient.

At their simplest, air fryers circulate hot air around a compact cooking cavity, rapidly heating food while helping to preserve its flavor and texture. With so many designs to choose from, however – from traditional basket air fryers to toaster oven-style models and multi-function combos – it can be difficult to know where to start. The best air fryer for you will depend on your kitchen size, cooking habits, and lifestyle.

As a kitchen appliances editor, I have spent hours researching the best non-toxic air fryers to piece together this guide to choosing the best air fryer for your kitchen, taking size, capacity, and coatings into account. I've also included some of our top air fryer recommendations to help you find the right fit.

The Best Air Fryers

When looking for the best air fryer, you cannot go wrong with one of these three picks:

There are plenty of other options that might fit your needs, especially if you are not as concerned about the use of PFAS-based non-stick coatings:

Ninja Air Fryer Pro: Effective and no-fuss, we gave this air fryer five stars. The Ninja Pro is perfect for most people. It makes crispy, air-fried food in its 5-quart basket without breaking the bank.

Instant Vortex Plus: The Instant still makes excellent French fries, though. We love the viewing window and odor neutralizer with its 6-quart basket. We gave it five-stars.

Ninja Double Stack: We gave these stacked dual-basket 4.5 stars. With two five-quart baskets, you can stack four different foods in their narrow baskets. It's very fast, and the narrow baskets are dishwasher-safe for a quick cleanup.

Philips 3000 Series Dual Basket Air Fryer: With 6.3 quarts and 3.2 quarts baskets, this unique dual-drawer design gives you both small and large compartments, which are practical for everyday cooking. The sleek touchscreen is a breeze to use. We gave it five-stars.

Ninja Combi Multicooker: With a capacity of around 13 quarts, this air fryer could replace every appliance in your kitchen. It can toast, bake, roast, steam, proof, cook rice or pasta, slow cook, sous vide, and more. It's pretty big, however, which is why it got 4.5 stars.

Bella Fits-Anywhere Air Fryer: This compact air fryer gained four stars in our review. It is affordable, compact, and stylish with a range of colorful options. It has a small 4-quart capacity, but it is perfect for small kitchens and traveling.

Air Fryer Types Explained

One of the first things to consider when choosing the best air fryer is which type is right for you. While all air fryers use the same basic principle – circulating hot air around your food – their basket designs, controls, and overall formats can vary considerably.

Understanding the main types will help you find a model that suits your kitchen, cooking habits, and available space:

Choosing The Right Size Air Fryer

The next consideration is how many people you cook for to determine the size of the air fryer you need. Baskets and cooking cavities are usually measured in quarts or liters, with smaller air fryers perfect for individuals such as students, and larger air fryers perfect for multi-person households and regular hosts.

There is a logical trend in this: The smaller the air fryer, the less food it can fit, and vice versa.

Bigger is not always better, however. Consider the size of your kitchen. Small kitchens might struggle to comfortably house an extra-large air fryer toaster oven, for example, making it more difficult to keep kitchen counters clear from day to day. If you plan to keep your air fryer in a cabinet when not in use, consider the limitations of your kitchen storage, including shelf weight restrictions, too.

The Air Fryer Features to Consider

As with any kitchen appliance, different air fryer models come with different features, and the right ones will depend on how you plan to use yours.

If you're primarily looking for the best air fryer for crisping fries, nuggets, and other quick snacks, a simple model with a few core functions may be all you need. If you're hoping to use your air fryer as a true alternative to your conventional oven, however, a model with more versatile cooking settings could be a much better investment.

When choosing the best air fryer for your kitchen, these are the key features to consider first:

• Basket Size / Opening: There is not just capacity to consider here, but the shape and accessibility of the chamber, too. Pull-out baskets are the most common and are easy to shake and check. Wide, shallow baskets can be more useful than deep, narrow ones for cooking food evenly in a single layer. Other models use a French-door or single hinged door (like a conventional oven), making it easier to access the full cooking area to remove trays. Then there are models such as the Ninja CRISPi, which has a removable glass container beneath a detachable heating unit, making it great for serving and storage.
• Smart Controls: Digital controls make it easier to set precise temperatures and cooking times; however, some smart models offer app connectivity for further control. These apps can offer recipe guidance, remote monitoring, and notifications. They are convenient, but not essential for good air frying, so consider if you will need them before paying a premium.
• Temperature Ranges: A wide range of temperature settings makes air frying more versatile. Lower temperatures are useful for reheating, dehydrating, and proofing, while higher temperatures are better for crisping and browning. Check the heating increments you can set for full control over your cooking, rather than the overall temperature range.
• Wattage: The higher the wattage, the quicker food will cook, but it also uses more electricity. Smaller air fryers typically use 800-1,200 watts, mid-sized 1,400-1,800 watts, and large and dual-basket machines using 1,800-2,200+ watts. Anything around 1,500 watts is ideal for most air frying tasks and general cooking.
• Dual-Basket Sync / Match Settings: In air fryers with separate baskets, check for sync or match settings. Sync is designed to make both baskets finish cooking at the same time even if they have different times and/or temperatures. Match can copy the same settings across both baskets to make batch cooking simpler.
• Preheating Functions: Some air fryers will preheat automatically, while others allow you to skip preheating altogether. Preheating can help achieve more consistent browning and crisping; however, smaller air fryers often heat up quickly enough that it is not necessary.
• Viewing Windows / Clear Baskets: A viewing window allows you to check food without opening the drawer and losing heat. It is a convenience, rather than a necessity.
• Dishwasher Safe Parts: Cleaning a kitchen after dinner is a pain, and cleaning an air fryer can be notoriously difficult. Usually, baskets are not dishwasher safe, especially if they are coated with ceramic or PFAS-based non-stick. If you are looking for convenience, you may want to consider stainless steel or glass air fryers that are compatible with your dishwasher.
• Non-Toxic Baskets / Accessories: If avoiding PFAS or other coatings is a priority, pay close attention to the basket and cooking tray materials rather than assuming an air fryer is automatically non-toxic. Look for clearly specified materials and manufacturer claims about PFAS.

Air Fryer Materials and Coatings

As with the best non-toxic cookware, it is useful to be aware of the materials used in your air fryer. Understanding cookware labels and myths can help you choose an air fryer that is not only efficient but safer for regular, long-term use.

When creating a non-toxic kitchen, for example, you might wish to avoid air fryers that use PFAS-based non-stick. This affordable material is generally safe during normal at-home use; however, studies have suggested that fumes emitted when heated, or particles released when the coating is chipped or scratched, can have long-term health effects.

When choosing an air fryer, there are four main materials to consider:

• PFAS Non-Stick: The most common basket coating, this non-stick surface requires little to no oil, is easy to clean, and is very affordable. They are delicate, however, and can degrade or chip if scratched by metal utensils or scrubbers. Studies also suggest that fumes or chips from PFAS can be detrimental to long-term health.
• Stainless Steel: 100% non-toxic and inert, there is no risk of coatings flaking into food. Stainless steel is also incredibly durable and is built to last for years. Food can stick more easily, however, needing more oil than non-stick alternatives.
• Ceramic: A non-toxic alternative free from PTFE and PFOAs. They offer non-stick performance, but are just as delicate as PFAS-free non-stick, requiring careful care for longevity.
• Glass: Completely inert and non-toxic. Glass baskets allow you to see your food as it is cooking without opening the basket and losing heat. They are much heavier than metal baskets, however, and can shatter if dropped.

FAQs

How Much Should You Spend on an Air Fryer?

How much you spend on an air fryer will depend on its size and the features it offers. Small, basic models can cost up to $100, while larger multi-basket air fryers and air-fryer toaster ovens can range from $130 to more than $200.

If you plan to use your air fryer only occasionally, a model around $100 should be more than sufficient. But if you’re using it to replace your oven for everyday cooking, it’s worth spending a little more on a larger, more versatile model.

Are Air Fryers More Efficient Than Ovens?

Generally speaking, air fryers are more efficient than traditional electric ovens. Their smaller cooking cavities require little to no preheating and can cook food up to 30% faster by circulating hot air efficiently around the food. They’re most efficient when cooking a single batch for a few people, while multiple batches can reduce those energy and time savings.

Are Air Fryers Safe?

When used correctly, air fryers are generally safe. They can reduce the amount of oil and fat needed compared with deep-fat fryers, while eliminating the risks associated with cooking with hot oil. However, air fryers still pose a burn risk, as the baskets and other surfaces can become extremely hot during use.

Always use an air fryer in a well-ventilated area, leaving at least two inches of clearance on all sides to prevent overheating. For safety, plug it directly into a mains outlet rather than using an extension cord.

Can An Air Fryer Replace a Traditional Oven?

An air fryer can replace a traditional oven for one person or small-batch everyday cooking, performing much like a convection oven on a smaller scale. However, a standard basket-style air fryer can’t fully replace a conventional oven when cooking larger meals, such as whole roasts, multi-dish dinners, or big batches of baked goods.

Now that you have selected your air fryer, shop our top-recommended air fryer accessories to get the most out of your new appliance.

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