Which Air Fryer You Should Buy [Updated 2024]

There are so many different models of air fryers on the market today. It’s difficult to decide which one to buy, right? Weeding through all the reviews takes a lot of time and I don’t know about you but it’s not really how I want to spend my free time.

We’ve been using all kinds of different air fryer since long before starting this website, so we have an incredible amount of experience with some of the top air fryers on the market. So we’ve put together a list of the top air fryer brands and models, so you can quickly choose which air fryer you should buy in 2024.

» You might be interested in What You Shouldn’t Put in an Air Fryer.

The Air Fryer is an incredible tool in the kitchen for making dishes that you would usually have to cook in the oven. Gone are the days of having to pre-heating the oven to cook a meal for one. You can leave those extra pans and dishes stacked up in the oven now, because you won’t be using it anymore.

I find that I have very little need for an oven anymore. The air fryer does it all – from roasting a whole chicken to making corn on the cob, and of course crisping up any frozen foods you’re craving – french fries, onion rings, tater tots? It’s absolutely brilliant.

» The Air Fryer is great for cooking all types of chicken. Try one of these tasty Air Fryer Chicken Recipes.

Air Fryers We Recommend

No one has time to weed through all the air fryer options available today, so we’ve put together a quick list of our top recommended air fryers. We’ve tried each of these air fryers ourselves and stand behind them.

There are small and large air fryers, basket style and toaster style air fryers on this list, so you can choose the one that fits you best.

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» Check out these 8 Super Useful Air Fryer Accessories.

Top Rated Air Fryers 2023

The best air fryer for you is heavily determined by your individual needs and preferences. But here we have selected 7 of the best air fryers, based on our own extensive personal experience and customer reviews. We have used each one of these air fryers personally, so we know how they compare.

Ninja Air Fryer (Max XL)

Ninja’s air fryers are some of the best air fryers out there. They are compact for their size and nice looking with a lot of great functionality.

After having used other air fryers and now using the Max XL, I can easily say that it’s better in almost every way than others I’ve used (with exception of the Cosori, which is a very close contender).

The best part of this air fryer for me is how well the basket holds up. I use it every single day, sometimes multiple times, and the non-stick coating on the basket and the tray insert are still just as good as they were the first day. No flaking or rusting.

They are also very easy to clean. There is a basket with an insert, and both pieces are dishwasher safe, but also very easy to hand clean.

It also crisps food to perfection without the need to preheat. Roasted potatoes turn out golden with just the right amount of crispiness. Reheating pizza is a dream.

The Ninja line includes three different models: Ninja AF101, the Ninja AF161 Max XL, and the Ninja DZ which is the dual basket model that comes in a 6-quart or 10-quart size. The AF101 is about $90 while the AF161 is around $130.

The DZ is around $180, but well worth it if you have a large family or want to cook multiple things at once, because it has two baskets with separate cooking temps. See more about this one down below.

The Max XL is the model that I have an the one that I recommend for almost anyone. It has a 5.5-quart capacity and it heats to 450 degrees, so it cooks foods up to 30% faster than the Ninja AF100. For this reason it’s very important to pay attention to foods as they cook because they will cook faster than most recipes call for in the Max XL.

Read our review of the Ninja Max XL air fryer.

• 5.5 quarts (fits 3 pounds of fries)
• Temperature range: 105 to 450 degrees F
• Ceramic-coated non-stick basket
• Can be used as a dehydrator
• Dishwasher safe parts
• One-touch control panel
• 7 programable cooking functions
• 1750 watts

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COSORI Pro LE 5.0 Quart Air Fryer

The Cosori Pro LE Air Fryer has a 5-quart basket, which makes it the perfect appliance for moderate household use or families of four. It also features nine cooking functions, a tempered glass display, and the basket is dishwasher safe.

The Cosori Pro LE’s nine cooking functions offer preset temperatures for chicken, veggies, fries, seafood, steak, bacon, and frozen foods. It also has preheat and keep warm settings which are quite useful. 

If you’re switching from traditional cooking to air frying, you’re going to love the preset cooking functions. They automatically choose the correct temperature and time to ensure the best results, not that I want to discourage you from visiting our site for more recipes! 

This model even comes with a shake reminder, which alerts you when it’s time to give your fries, veggies, or seafood a toss. By far, one of my favorite features!

Changing the temperature and function on the Cosori Pro LE Air Fryer is easy, thanks to the tempered glass digital display. The one-touch selection and ergonomic design make this air fryer a pleasure to use.

I actually love that the display is on the top so you don’t have to hunch over or crane your neck to see the buttons.

• 5.8 quarts (can fit a whole 5 lb chicken)
• 13 one-touch cooking functions
• Non-stick, dishwasher safe, PFOA-free and BPA-free
• Square basket fits most foods
• Digital display and one-touch panel
• Has a unique preheat and “shake” reminder
• 1700 watts

There are a few other models of the Cosori to consider. There’s a 5.8-quart upgraded Pro Gen 2 that has 13 cooking functions and a built-in NTC sensor that automatically adjusts the cooking temperature to keep fluctuations within 3°F, so your food is always evenly cooked.

There’s the Pro III Air Fryer Dual Blaze that’s a 6.8-quart with dual cooking zones for more precise temp control, that has a free VeSync app that lets you control your air fryer remotely, monitor the cooking progress, and activate voice control with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

Read our full review of the Cosori Pro LE air fryer.

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Ninja® 12-in-1 Smart Double Oven

Can you tell yet that I really love Ninja’s air fryers? I have three of them at home and I use them on a daily basis. This double oven air fryer is no exception.

While I really like the basket style air fryers, there are a lot of alternate uses for the oven-style that can’t be matched with the basket. It allows you to cook food in a slightly different way and it’s got more space so it feels more like an actual oven. If this is more your style, you cannot go wrong with this Ninja version.

The first thing you should notice is that it has two sections, each with their own door. So you can just use the top part for air frying things like French fries or toasting a tuna melt. Or you can use both zones at the same time and not have to disturb the bottom while fixing things in the top. That comes in hand for when you’re making chicken in the bottom and veggies in the top.

Another great feature is that you can sync both sections to cook a full meal that finishes at the same time with Smart Finish™ technology. If the bottom takes twice as long to cook, set them and the top will start cooking when it’s time, so they finish at the same time.

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Typhur Dome Air Fryer

The Typhur Dome Air Fryer is a new air fryer on the market that has a range of features and capabilities that set it apart. I wasn’t sure I would like it when I got it because it’s rather large and heavy, but it’s now one of my favorite air fryers.

• The Typhur Dome Air Fryer offers a large capacity that’s great for large families.
• Food cooks evenly because it’s spread out in one layer.
• It cooks at least 30% faster than other air fryers (I’ve proven it with many different foods!).
• There’s an app for your phone that allows you to watch the progress, which isn’t available on many other air fryer models.
• It’s fairly heavy at 20.5 pounds (9.3kg) and has a large countertop footprint.
• One of the most unique features of this air fryer is the self-clean function that makes cleaning up a breeze. Simply add some water and dish soap to the fryer and turn on the self-cleaning mode. The fryer will clean itself, saving you time and effort.
• It’s more expensive than other air fryers.

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Instant Vortex Plus 10-Quart Air Fryer

Instant Brands is another toaster style air fryer that does a very good job and the footprint is smaller than some, so it might fit your kitchen space better. If you have an Instant Pot, you likely already trust this brand. They make good appliances.

This is a 10-quart air fryer that can air fry, broil, bake, roast, dehydrate, reheat, and rotisserie. Yes, it’s also a rotisserie. My parents have this model and love it because they can cook a whole chicken or prime rib in it with the rotisserie feature and it comes out perfect.

The temperature ranges from 95 to 400°F and it doesn’t require any preheating time. It’s “instant”, pun intended.

The pack includes a non-stick drip pan and 2 perforated cooking trays, as well as stainless-steel rotisserie basket, rotisserie spit and forks, and lift tool so you can get the tray out easily.

One of the things I don’t love about a toaster-style oven is that the door gets greasy easily because you have to slide the food across it to take it out. This one’s door removes easily and cleans easily with a damp cloth and dish soap.

• 10 quart (also available in 6-quart)
• Temperature range: 95F to 400F
• Includes a rotisserie and dehydrate function
• Digital display
• There’s an app included that has recipes and it works with Alexa and your phone
• 1500 watts

Cons: There is an initial chemical burn off that needs to take place before the smell dissipates. I recommend running the machine for 30 minutes with no food and the air vents going or the door open. It will go away after several uses.

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Paris-Rhone Air Fryer

A new brand that I just discovered is Paris-Rhone. They have both a basket-style and a toaster-style air fryer that are working out really well for me right now. The toaster style comes in 3 different sizes, each with their own set of features, though they all range in temp from 100F to 450 F.

There’s a smaller 14.8-quart air fryer oven that’s good for beginners to air fryer. It has easy-turning knobs to set the temperature, timer and cooking functions and it can air fry, toast, bake, roast, and warm. It fits quite a bit of food, it’s lightweight, and has 1400 watts.

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Why Use an Air Fryer

An air fryer is an incredibly easy way to cook just about anything. You place the food in a fryer-style basket and hot air rapidly circulates all around the food, making the food crisp – much like deep-frying, but without the oil. You can cook anything you’d make in the oven.

Important Air Fryer Specifications

Buying an air fryer is a big decision. No one wants to buy an expensive appliance only to find that it doesn’t work very well. You want to find the best one from the start.

Below are the criteria that we consider when purchasing an air fryer. You can really narrow down your needs and find the best fit for you just by considering a few things.

Size & Capacity

One of the most important factors for which air fryer you buy is the size and capacity. As you can imagine, they come in all different sizes. There are small air fryers that don’t take up much space in the kitchen, but they can only hold a small amount of food. And there are large ones that fit a lot of food (even a whole turkey!) but take up much more space on the counter.

Most air fryers can cook between 1.5 and 2.5 pounds of food at a time. If you’re cooking for just one or two people, a smaller fryer (usually 3.7 qt) will probably suit you just fine. If you’re cooking for 4 or more, you’d want a larger size (usually referred to as XL), with a capacity of at least 5.5 quarts.

If you’re cooking large amounts of food often, or have a large family, then you’ll want to buy the biggest models on the market, which are usually around 7 to 10 quarts. There are even larger toaster-oven style air fryers that can go up to 30 quarts.

Special Features

Special features include temperature gauges, baskets and trays, timers, pre-set buttons, dishwasher safe parts, etc. These extra features can turn the cooking process into a breeze, while machines lacking in features can make it a chore.

For instance, a removable basket will make it much easier for you to clean the air fryer after it’s been used. Don’t skimp on the features you might want. They can add slightly to the overall price, but those features may well be worth it.

The features that I must have in an air fryer are:

• Cooking temperature up to 450 degrees F
• Easy to clean parts

Features I don’t really care about:

• Dishwasher safe parts
• Multiple pre-programmed buttons

Wattage

You really don’t want to skimp on wattage with your air fryer. A higher wattage means it is a more powerful fryer. It’s easy to become frustrated with low-wattage fryers that don’t seem to do their job well.

Typically, fryers range in wattage from 800-2100. It’s wise to make sure your power outlets can support a higher wattage before you purchase it, particularly if you’re in an old house.

The air fryer that I currently use (the Ninja MaxXL) uses 1750 watts and I can definitely tell the difference between it an my old one that had 1400 watts. It cooks a lot faster and crisps better.

Price

Air fryers range in price from around $50 to $200. Is it worth it to splurge on a more expensive air fryer/ Sometimes! Likely you’ll be getting more features in the higher-end product, but you do need to read the included features to be sure. It’s not always the case. Sometimes you’re just paying for brand recognition.

A brand name, like Ninja or Philips, will cost more than a no-name brand, but that doesn’t mean a no-name brand isn’t a good one. Read the reviews to know what you’re getting.

Conclusion

If you know what to look for in an air fryer, you can find one that perfectly fits your needs, whether it be a smaller or larger size, one that has all the programs, or one that just makes things as easy as possible.

Our list includes all the top models, so we’re sure you can find one that’s right for you on the list. If you buy one, we’d love to hear what you think and if it met your expectations. Leave us a comment!

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