My family loves this stainless steel, non-toxic air fryer – my only regret is missing out on the early Amazon Prime discount

When it comes to air fryers, I was an early adopter. I began air frying with a bulky, dome-shaped Philips Air Fryer way back in 2015 and never looked back. Though it dominated my crowded Brooklyn countertop, I was smitten with its singular ability to quickly crisp up all kinds of foods with significantly less fat.

Now, a full decade later, I’ve been won over by a new type of appliance, which counts air frying as just one of its 10 different features. The Midea Flexify French Door Air Fryer is affordable, lightweight, extremely roomy, and perfect for feeding my hungry teenagers. With its stainless steel rack and air fryer basket, it is a serious contender for the best non-toxic air fryer 2025.

After a week of putting the Midea Flexify French Door Air Fryer through its paces, I was hooked. The only snags? A few soggy slices of toast (it won't be replacing my toaster) and the fact it is now discounted to $149.42 on Amazon, which I totally missed out on.

Specifications

Design

Out of the box, the Midea Flexify French Door Air Fryer Oven looks like a stretched-out toaster oven. And though I was initially worried it would be too tall to fit below the standard cabinets on my counter, I had room to spare. At just under 25 pounds, it was also simple to pick up and move, though heavier than most single-function air fryers.

Crafted from shiny, stainless steel, I loved the French doors with glass windows, which open at the same time, no matter which one you pull. And even though I tucked the oven in a corner, the doors were still able to swing out to just over 90 degrees. French door air fryers are all the rage in 2025, since you won’t burn yourself on the door when trying to pull your food out.

The baking rack is made from stainless steel, too, and it notches directly into the provided slots. The noticeably smaller, steel air fryer basket does not, so you’ll have to set it on top of one of the other trays and pull both out at once, which does make it slightly easier to grapple with.

When I reached out to the Midea brand to ask them about the materials, they said: 'We're pleased to confirm that all materials used in this product have undergone stringent testing to ensure full compliance with industry standards in the global market. The air fryer is free from harmful PFAS-related forever chemicals, which underscores our dedication to health-conscious and sustainable product design. This model has been developed and manufactured with a strong emphasis on safety, meeting the highest standards.'

What is it like to use?

The seven preset cooking buttons, dial and LCD display all sit above the doors rather than to the side, which helps account for the large capacity. And I was able to quickly figure out how to use them by browsing the brief owner’s manual, though there are a few hoops to jump through. For instance, you use one button to choose the cooking function, hit 'confirm', then press another button before you can adjust the temperature and the time with the dial. Only then can you hit 'start'. Not too confusing, but still more convoluted than a single command.

Cooking performance

Test 1: Frozen French Fries

For anyone tired of soggy, oven-baked fries, air frying is a revelation. Frozen French fries are always my first test. For this oven, I went for the thicker, crinkle-cut type and laid them out in a single layer inside the air fryer basket.

There are six different air-frying functions to choose from, labeled by number. I set it at AO1 (Fries) for the suggested 19 minutes at 400 degrees, but thank goodness I didn’t just walk away and trust the process. In about 10 minutes, my fries were already crispy golden brown, and I didn’t even take the basket out and shake them as I usually would.

With not a splash of extra oil, I turned out restaurant-quality fries, which were gobbled up by a gaggle of teenagers in minutes flat. For good measure, I did the same with frozen onion rings and got the same impressive results, though this time I hoarded some for myself.

Test 2: Vegetables

Next up, veggies. I uniformly sliced zucchini, onions, eggplant and jalapeños, spritzed them lightly with avocado oil spray from La Tourangelle, added some salt and pepper, and threw them in the air fryer basket. The manual suggested AO6, so I put it up to 400 degrees and cooked for 10 minutes. This time, I made sure to shake them a few times for more even cooking, and was rewarded with beautifully charred, mildly crispy veg.

The jalapeños were especially delicious, and I plan on doing this often for more complex recipes.

Test 3: Chicken

Chicken makes up approximately 70 per cent of weeknight family dinners in my household, so this was one test that would make or break the oven. First, I used boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sprayed them with avocado oil, seasoned them with salt, pepper and paprika and set the timer for 20 minutes at AO2. After about 10 minutes, I flipped them over and ended up taking them out after 14 minutes. Thankfully, the Flexify French Door Air Fryer Oven did not disappoint, and I was rewarded with juicy, flavorful chicken breasts with a beautifully bronzed exterior.

Next, I tried breaded chicken fingers and set the timer for 15 minutes. I started at 400 degrees, but I turned it down to 350 after about 8 minutes when it looked like the chicken was getting too dark too fast. I like the way you can easily adjust the temperature by five degrees at a time for a faster, more concise experience. In the end, they came out super crispy and golden on the outside and still stayed moist inside.

Lastly, I rubbed an entire chicken with salt and olive oil and placed it breast side down in the air fryer basket. I cooked it for 30 minutes, then flipped it and cooked it another 20 minutes. This rewarded me with a flavorful, crisp-skinned bird my family raved about.

Test 4: Extra features

For the most part, I was impressed with the air frying feature of the oven. From canned artichokes I sprinkled with lemon juice and salt to frozen mozzarella sticks, I was able to consistently turn out well-cooked, crispy food very quickly.

However, when I added something as simple as two slices of white bread, I had to go through two cycles on toast to get them evenly browned. You might want to stick to air frying and roasting on this air fryer, and rely on your toaster for the bread functions.

Cleaning & storage

The manual suggests washing all accessories with warm, soapy water and a non-abrasive sponge, but they’re also dishwasher safe if things look especially grody or you’re short on time. And because I hate food or grease dripping straight onto the crumb tray, I always wrap it in aluminum foil, which I toss after a few uses.

What do the customer reviews say?

The Midea Flexify French Door Air Fryer Oven garners an average of 4.5 stars on Amazon, with 77 per cent of users giving it five stars. They find the instructions to be simple and clear, and like me, most are enthusiastically pleased with the air frying and find it cooks evenly with intuitive controls.

One user noted that no matter what she put in the oven, it never burned or overcooked, adding, 'I don't know where to begin. I don't write many reviews because my time is valuable, and I would need to be compensated. But every now and then, a product is either so good (or so bad) I just have to write about it. I love this oven.'

Though most users appreciated how quickly it heats up, there is some mixed feedback on the heating function, with some people reporting issues of uneven baking. I did notice that, like a grill or a traditional oven, sometimes I did need to move food around from the front to the back to obtain a completely uniform color and cook. Usually, just a quick shake of the basket did the trick.

How does it compare?

The Midea Flexify French Door Air Fryer Oven shines for its sleek design, large capacity, and quick cooking. And, after finally making the switch from a single-function air fryer to one with 10 preset functions, it’s allowed me to save both time and space. This feels priceless, though at under $200 it won’t break the bank.

However, if you aren’t interested in leaving an appliance on your counter full-time, our best glass air fryer, the Ninja Crispi, is a good pick for just $180. A standard air fryer with four cooking modes, it swaps the basket for two stackable glass containers, which are fitted with what amounts to a portable air fryer hood. I appreciated the safe materials, how simple it was to use, and what a cinch it was to store it all in the pantry. It even includes lids so you can put leftovers directly in the fridge.

Should you buy it?

The Midea Flexify French Door Air Fryer Oven is a perfect appliance for anyone with limited counter space and lots of people to feed. Since I set this up, my regular oven has been gathering dust. Though I’ve been suffering through a particularly chilly New York spring, it’s an excellent option for those in warmer climates looking to turn down the heat in the kitchen.

I’ve used the Midea to heat up pre-cooked sausages and to roast bacon on the baking rack, letting the fat drip onto the foil on the crumb tray. I’ve cooked frozen pizzas to a tee and crisped up cubes of tofu. And for just $170, it’s allowed me to quickly, simply and creatively feed my family of four.