Air frying should be three things: easy, quick, and delicious. But with the surge in popularity of air fryers, there's also been a flood of misinformation and questionable claims about their capabilities. That's why we insist on first-hand, in-depth testing of every air fryer we feature to separate fact from fiction.
As a trained cook and Kitchen Appliance Editor at Homes & Gardens, I lead a team of expert testers to find the best air fryers for real home cooks. We're looking for exceptional cooking performance, ease of use, capacity, versatility, reliability and value for money (I give extra points to the best non-toxic air fryers, too).
The tests are standardised across our team and each product to keep our reviews fair and unbiased. Here’s everything you need to know about how we test air fryers – so you can trust our results.
How We Choose Air Fryers to Review
Assessing the simple, basket design of the Ninja Air Fryer Pro 4-in-1
The first step in the process is identifying the air fryers we want to test. We focus on the latest and greatest air fryers, keeping an eye out for new products and checking for updates to old favorites.
We are always keen to test new product launches from trusted brands, like the best Ninja air fryers, but we're open-minded; if there's an air fryer from a small company that looks like it can go to-to-toe with the big brands then we love to give it a shot.
We want to cover a range of price points and different features. We test basic, compact air fryers for those on a budget or working with limited kitchen space, as well as big, expensive air fryers for large families or those wanting a countertop cooker that can do it all.
Most importantly, we're editorially independent. We never take money to test or promote a particular air fryer, and we never fudge the results. The review you see is the truth of the test – only genuinely good air fryers make our best air fryer buying guide.
How We Test Air Fryers
The testing process can span up to a month of daily use. Beyond the test kitchen, we also analyze customer reviews to identify the only machines worth your investment.
Design & First Impressions
The lit-up window design of the original Our Place Wonder Oven
While we know looks aren’t everything, we think countertop staples like air fryers should look good. In the test kitchen, we take notes on our first impressions – from unboxing and setting up the controls – covering everything from the materials and how it feels to use.
We pay close attention to what it’s made of. We give extra points to the best non-toxic air fryers that use stainless steel, glass, or PFAS-free ceramic for the cooking surface. Air fryers with lit window also gets extra points, as this helps check the cooking process and avoid burning.
Countertop space is another key factor: is it compact enough to sit neatly on the counter, or does it dominate your kitchen? We also consider weight and portability – whether it’s lightweight and easy to move around, or a heavier model that feels super sturdy but might need a permanent spot.
Cooking Performance
I lead a team of trained cooks, home economists, product testers, and appliance experts across America. Each of us has a brief to test the air fryer in question on the following ingredients.
During our taste tests, we seek food that’s perfectly crispy on the outside and tender within. Having tested the market leaders, we’re familiar with the industry benchmarks.
Test 1: French Fries
The Philips 300 Series cooks some of the best fries we've ever tried in record time
Out of all the easy air fryer recipes you can make, French fries are a classic. They cook faster than in a traditional oven, come out crispier, and – bonus – use less energy.
We test fries in a couple of ways. Frozen fries are a staple for 'I-need-food-now' dinners or late-night snacks, but they’re also a great way to test how well an air fryer handles food straight from the freezer. Homemade fries, on the other hand, allow us to check if the air fryer can achieve that perfect balance: crisp, golden skin with soft, fluffy interiors.
Taste is, of course, key – but so is evenness. We want every fry to be consistently golden, with no patches that are under- or over-cooked. And because speed matters, we also time how quickly the fries reach perfection. We also note how many times it's needed to toss the basket or rotate the air fryer tray.
Test 2: Roasted Vegetables
I roasted some perfect aparagus in the Dreo Chef Maker
A good air fryer should cook vegetables in half the time of roasting them in the oven, keeping them crispy without burning.
We test air fryers with seasonal vegetables, from sliced zucchini to artichokes and eggplants. My personal favorite test is asparagus in the Spring. We're looking for vegetables with a delicious char on the outside but moist, juicy interiors.
This is a good test for speed, but it also shows if the air fryer is overpowered. If the fan in the air fryer is too powerful, it will blow the sliced vegetables all over the basket and won't cook them evenly. If the air fryer can't maintain a slightly lower temperature, it will incinerate the vegetables and dry them out.
Test 3: Meat & Fish
Testing salmon in the Ninja Foodi 14-in-1
Next, we evaluate how the air fryer handles thicker cuts of meat and fish. Compact, budget-friendly models may perform well with small portions of vegetables or frozen meals, but they often struggle with thicker joints of protein.
We're looking for juicy, tender, evenly-cooked results – some air fryers even have steam functions, which elevate the results, too. The best models should make delicious home-cooked proteins, fit for a dinner party.
Capacity
The Ninja Crispi Portable Glass Air Fryer is best suited to small families or petite kitchens
While we're cooking, we cross-check the capacity. We start by checking the manufacturer’s specs, then, then we weigh out batches of fries or wings and see if they match up to the quarts advertised. We also check if the basket or trays are a fit for the best air fryer liners.
This also helps us think about who the air fryer would suit. 2-4 quarts will suit most individuals or couples, who want to make fries or snacks without taking up much counter space. Whereas 5-7-quart air fryers are better for families, allowing you to cook bigger portions for around 4-5 people.
Special Features
You can cook steak from your phone with the Dreo Chef Maker, using an app that connects to a meat thermometer
Some air fryers have bonus features to set them aside from the rest of the market. Where there's a special feature, we put it through the wringer to make sure that it isn't just a marketing gimmick.
Extra features include Wi-Fi connectivity, a dual drawer system, a pastry function, or a rotisserie chicken feature (yes, really) – if it's an extra, we make sure to test it.
Cleaning, Maintenance & Storage
Rinsing the Bella FitsAnywhere air fryer basket in the sink
We clean every air fryer by hand to see how easy the cleanup is. This is a great opportunity to see if they're truly non-stick or if any food sticks to the crisping plate. We can also report on whether there are any fiddly pieces to clean and dry, as this can often be the most frustrating part of using an air fryer. If an air fryer is dishwasher-safe, we test this, too.
Reliability & Overall Customer Satisfaction
After testing, we scour the web for the best and worst customer reviews to assess the air fryer's reliability and overall customer satisfaction. Ultimately, our goal is to ensure you choose an air fryer that's reliable, efficient, and a joy to use in the long term.
Value for Money
The Smeg Combi Oven with Air Fry is fantastic, but we knocked points off for the sky-high price tag (over $1,000)
Finally, all of the above tests are judged against the cost and warranty of the air fryer. We want the best performance for the lowest price.
In some cases, we mark down air fryers that cost too much, or that have short guarantees that don't help you if there's a malfunction.
Cheap air fryers with poor or middling performance are also marked down here, because if there's a better air fryer for a slightly higher price, it's a better value in the long run.
Meet Our Team of Experts
All our reviews are carried out by our dedicated in-house writers and experienced freelancers. We've tested dozens of products over the years, and we insist on first-hand experience of the products we feature.
Lydia is the Kitchen Appliances Editor for Homes & Gardens. She trained in cookery at Leiths School of Food & Wine and previously served as the Recipe Editor for Mindful Chef. She has tested everything from coffee makers to stand mixers, but her specialty is air fryers.
Tobey Grumet Segal is a service journalist with over 15 years of experience. Most recently, she was the Reviews Editor at CNN, testing small appliances like air fryers and coffee makers. After spending eight years as the first female Technology Editor at Popular Mechanics magazine, she has contributed to respected titles like InStyle, Conde Nast Traveler, Men's Journal, and New York Magazine. She lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband and two sons.
Camryn Rabideau is a freelance writer and product reviewer specializing in home, kitchen, and pet products. Camryn's tested hundreds of items over the years, including plenty of air fryers. She does her product testing from her homestead in beautiful Rhode Island.
Laura is our eCommerce editor. Before Homes & Gardens, she studied English at Oxford University. Alongside her studies, she qualified as a barista, which makes her our certified expert for all things coffee, but she has also tested air fryers, blenders, and mixers. Laura has worked for luxury retail brands, reinforcing the importance of quality and style over quantity and fads. She looks for products which have been designed with thoughtful finishes.
Helen is trained in Home Economics, and has focused on food and cooking throughout her 20-year career. A freelance writer specializing in home appliance reviews, Helen is most at home when trying out the latest kitchen gadgets, including air fryers.
If air fryers are still a mystery to you, read our beginner's guide to getting the most out of your air fryer.
I've also written some easy air fryer recipes I swear by to get you started. They are quick, simple and healthy, inspired by a nutritionist's air fryer tips.
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