Best Air Fryers | Air Fryer Review & Buying Guide

What are the best types of air fryers?

There are at least 4 types of air fryers on the market. Their features characterize these.

1. Basket-type Air Fryer: A basket air fryer includes baskets for ingredients. The baskets have tiny holes for heat to enter which prevents food from sitting in oil.
2. Convection Oven Air Fryer: A convection oven air fryer has racks and a baking tray for a variety of cooking functions. Convection oven air fryers use convection heating which can be longer to preheat than other air fryers.
3. Cylindrical Basket Air Fryer: A cylindrical basket air fryer comes with drawers and removable baskets. Cylindrical basket air fryers pre-heat faster than other air fryer types.
4. Paddle-type Air Fryer: A paddle-type air fryer flips foods automatically. Paddle-type air fryers are better for people who want to “set it then forget it”

It is worth noting that air fryers are not confined to one type. They can have a number of these features.

What are the best cylindrical basket air fryers?

The best cylindrical basket air fryers include the Philips Twin TurboStar Technology XXL Airfryer and the GoWISE USA 1700-Watt 5.8-QT 8-in-1 Digital Air Fryer. They both use advanced heating technology to circulate air effectively throughout the cylindrical baskets.

What are the convection oven air fryers?

The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer is one of the best convection oven air fryers on the market. It has a dual-speed convection mode that cooks food up to 30% faster and features that include air frying, slow cooking, and super convection.

What are the best basket-type air fryers?

The Dash Tasti-Crisp™ Electric Air Fryer + Oven Cooker and the Instant Vortex Plus 6 Quart 6-in 1 Air Fryer are some of the best basket-type air fryers available on the market. The Instant Vortex air fryer is much larger than the Dash Tasti-Crisp, but both have baskets that are designed to maximize the efficiency of air circulation throughout the air fryer.

What are the best paddle-type air fryers?

The T-fal FZ700251 Actifry Oil Less Air Fryer is a one of the best paddle-type air fryers. It is equipped with an automatically rotating paddle that makes cooking with this air fryer easy.

What functionality should you expect from an air fryer?

The functionality that you should expect from an air fryer include efficient heating, quick preheating, dishwashable baskets and trays, and an intuitive display or control panel. Good convection heating will increase the likelihood of achieving crispy chicken, roast potatoes, or vegetables in your air fryer. The cooking settings in an air fryer will allow you to select the cooking mode you are looking to use. Some settings will be better than others for cooking meats and vegetables, reheating foods, and slow cooking. Air fryers may come with additional equipment such as a cooking rack. The additional equipment the user implements will vary based on the food being made in the air fryer and the cooking style being used.

What should you know before buying an air fryer?

There are several things to consider when buying an air fryer. The most important thing to look at is the size of the air fryer being purchased. This is important because different air fryers are better suited for different consumers. A smaller air fryer with a capacity of less than 3 quarts will be better for cooking small to medium quantities of food, and is usually better for students or people living alone. A larger air fryer with a capacity of 5.8 quarts or more is better for making large quantities of food, typically for families with 3 or more people.

The overall price is another factor to consider. No matter the price point, finding a good balance between cost and features assures you value for money. This does not necessarily mean going for the priciest or cheapest option available.

Functionality is a major factor when using an air fryer. If you’re looking to purchase an air fryer as a replacement for a toaster oven or wall oven, then it is important to consider all the cooking modes achievable in a particular air fryer. Some air fryers have cooking modes that include air fry, dehydrate, roast, reheat, toast, etc. The more cooking modes an air fryer has, the more versatile it will be as a product and thus the more likely it can replace a toaster oven as the primary countertop oven in your kitchen. An air fryer may also be equipped with features for precise temperature control that include fermentation modes and slow cooking modes.

It is also important to select an air fryer that is adequate for your use cases. Some usage and style cases to be mindful of are whether you can monitor the air fryer’s cooking status through a digital display or have to rely on an analog timer. Do you need all the different features of an air fryer?

Convenience features such as automatic shut-off and dishwasher-safe racks also come in handy. The idea of the air fryer running for too long and generating burning smells is undesirable.

What is the average price range for the best air fryers?

The best air fryers come at a price range of $50-$350. Air fryers with many cooking modes, more than one basket, and digital touch displays tend to be more expensive than air fryers with few cooking modes and analog controls. Low capacity air fryers are also considerably less expensive than larger air fryers that can accommodate six or more quarts of food. The materials used in the air fryer are also factored in the price. Air fryers that are made with stainless steel housing and are designed to resemble traditional toaster ovens are more expensive than rounded air fryers that are often made with plastic housing.

What is the main difference between an air fryer and a wall oven?

The main difference between an air fryer and a wall oven are the build and use cases of the two types of item. Air fryers are small and are typically placed on top of kitchen counters. They are used to cook meats, vegetables, and heat frozen foods quickly and with less oil than alternatives such as deep frying. Wall ovens are installed into cabinet cutouts in kitchens, and are used to cook larger dishes. The cooking time for dishes placed in an air fryer is shorter than those placed inside of wall ovens. Wall ovens, because of their greater size, are more expensive than air fryers.

What air fryer is considered superior?

Convection oven air fryers are considered to be superior due to their versatility. Their design allows for all the features found in a traditional toaster oven, as well as an air frying option for more efficient heat circulation. Since they are larger than most countertop air fryers, you can cook larger quantities of food in convection air fryers. However, they are more expensive than cylindrical baskets and basket-type air fryers.

What are the common mistakes of using an air fryer?

The common mistakes you can make when using an air fryer include not choosing the right cooking mode. Many air fryers have preset modes for cooking different types of foods and it is best to use those presets to ensure optimal results when cooking chicken, vegetables, cakes, etc. in that particular air fryer. However, because all air fryers have a distinctive heating power, it is important to not simply let the air fryer run on a timer and only check on food after that timer has expired. When first using any air fryer, it is important to check on the food at appropriate intervals to ensure even cooking and stop cooking if the food runs the risk of burning. Some air fryers also recommend that you shake the food inside the air frying basket during the cooking process to ensure you end up with evenly cooked, crispy food. Some air fryers will have timers that make audible beep sounds to alert you when to shake the food you placed inside the air fryer. Also, if the air fryer is not preheated to the right temperature, then expected cooking times may not be accurate and the resulting dish may not come out as desired. There are exceptions to this, as some air fryers don’t need to be preheated due to super fast and efficient convection technology. Failing to clean the air fryer can cause grime to accumulate in the basket or plate. Often, the basket and/or trays inside of an air fryer are dishwasher safe, but it is always important to check before placing any air fryer component inside of your dishwasher. Using air fryers properly gets easier as you learn how to use air fryers.

What criteria define the best air fryer?

The criteria for the best air fryer include the maximum temperature, the number of cooking modes, and ease of use. There are several things to consider when selecting the air fryer. The most important question to answer is, “How well will this make crispy foods?” This may be difficult to determine without trying the range of devices available. Functionality and reliability can be established by leaning on the experiences of other users.

You can do this by reading customer reviews. This will also help you gauge the lifespan of an air fryer. These are some of the things we considered when choosing air fryers.

What type of reviews do the best air fryers have?

Air fryers will have a varied range of reviews from excited and disgruntled customers alike. Complaints and praise are often tied to the core features of each type of air fryer.

The most common praise that basket-type air fryers will receive is how easy they are to use. The most common complaint is that the baskets may collect grease too quickly and thus may be difficult to clean.

The most common praise that convection oven air fryers receive is how versatile they are. With this type of air fryer, you will often be able to not only air fry foods, but also roast, toast, reheat, and sometimes even broil foods. The most common complaints include that these units are expensive and take up too much counter space.

The most common praise for cylindrical basket air fryers is how compact they are. They allow users to air fry foods quickly and effectively, use less oil, and do all of this in a compact vessel that easily fits on top of your kitchen counter. Common criticism for cylindrical basket air fryers comes from users who do not like that these air fryers are often made of plastic.

The most common praise for paddle-type air fryers is that they make the air frying experience hassle-free. There aren’t usually complaints about this category of air fryer oven itself but users may complain if their specific paddle-type air fryer does not work properly.

What are the best kitchen tool brands?

Below are some of the best kitchen tool brands that also make air fryers.

1. Philips: Philips is known for their high quality air fryers that were some of the first air fryers to come to market. Other kitchen tools that they produce include coffee makers, hand blenders, and pasta makers.
2. Instant Pot: They are known for their best-in-class pressure cooker products. In addition to producing air fryers, they produce coffee makers and publish a vast collection of recipes suited to their products on their smartphone app.
3. Breville: They have an excellent range of high-end, versatile ovens and air fryers. They have many kitchen appliances that include kettles, coffee machines, food processors, espresso machines, sous vides, bread makers, and microwaves.
4. Cuisinart: They have a wide variety of air fryer toaster ovens. Their brand is well known and praised for being best-in-class. In addition to air fryers, they also sell kitchen tools like bread makers, can openers, deep fryers, grills, hand mixers, and juicers.

How long do the top air fryers last?

The lifespan of the top air fryers will vary depending on what they are made of and how they are used. A moderately used air fryer made of sturdy materials will have a lifespan of at least three years. This can be stretched to five years or longer with some care.

Air fryers that are heavily reliant on less robust materials have an average lifespan of up to two years. They tend to suffer from general wear and tear. This period can be lengthened or significantly reduced depending on build quality, use, and maintenance.

Where to buy air fryers?

Nowadays, air fryers are widely available both online and in stores. These are some of the best places to buy them:

Walmart: Average Prices range between $67.99 and $169.00. Delivers in 1-3 days.

Amazon: Average Prices range between $64.99 and $179.99. Delivers in 1-2 days.

Target: Average Price ranges around $39.99 and $139.99. Delivers in 3-5 days.

Bed Bath & Beyond: Average Price ranges between $79.99 to $229.99. Delivers in 2-5 days.

You can also buy them directly from most manufacturers.

What are the other best kitchen tools?

We have covered plenty of air fryers in this post. There are other kitchen tools that you can use together with your air fryers. These include:

• Cake pans
• Tongs

Brands such as Cuisinart sell both air fryers and the listed additional kitchen tools.