Air fryers are comparable to miniature ovens in that they crisp up wings, fries, vegetables, and other air-fried foods with no (or no!) oil. They are available in a variety of styles, including what we call basket-style, which is ideal for large batches of foods that benefit from shaking, oven-style, which is ideal for cooking food on multiple shelves and frequently includes rotisserie accessories, and toaster oven-style, which can toast, bake, broil, and more in addition to air frying.
They all utilize a concentrated heat source, often positioned on the top, and a huge fan to rapidly circulate hot air. The strong combination cooks food quickly with a "fried" finish that ordinary oven ranges cannot match. Additionally, they are ideal for reheating leftovers, such as fries and pizza, which are prone to get soggy in the microwave.
Over the years, we have tested more than 40 air fryers in the Good Housekeeping Kitchen Appliances and Culinary Innovation Lab, cooking at least one pound of chicken wings, one half pound of frozen fries, and one half pound of fresh, handcrafted fries in each. Our top-performing air fryers produced food with a crisp exterior and a moist interior, and were simple to operate with large, easy-to-read controls. These are the greatest air fryers of 2022 currently available for purchase.
1. Best Overall Air Fryer: Ninja Air Fryer Max XL
This Ninja Air Fryer Max XL with a capacity of 5.5 quarts performed the best in our traditional basket-style air fryer test. It received the best grades across the board for its user-friendliness, owing to its intuitive, easy-to-read buttons and comprehensive owner's handbook. During our tests, the basket of the air fryer slipped in and out effortlessly, making it simple to operate. We like the removable tray and ceramic interior, which makes the basket nonstick. When transferring food to a plate, the tray fits tightly and securely on the bottom of the basket, so you don't have to worry about anything slipping out. Even if you opt to hand wash, both are dishwasher-safe and easy to clean.
In addition to its user-friendliness, the Ninja Air Fryer Max XL achieved the highest performance rating. It produced prepackaged fries that were evenly cooked and crisp, as well as homemade fries and juicy chicken wings. The model we tested includes a broiling rack for even speedier and juicier results; it's also a quick way to make cheese melt. In addition, it has multiple cook modes, including Max Crisp, Air Broil, and dehydrate (which reaches 105°F). The various settings are designed with distinct maximum and minimum temperatures, allowing you to select them to achieve various cooking outcomes. The timer, which counts down to the second, is a further distinctive element. Consider the Ninja Foodi 6-in-1 2-Basket Air Fryer for a greater capacity. In addition to the Air Fryer Max XL's performance, it offers greater versatility. The smaller baskets are easier to clean and take up less space in the dishwasher, thus it's the one I use the most since I often air fry tiny portions of food.
Buy: Best Overall Air Fryer: Ninja Air Fryer Max XL
2. Best Value Air Fryer: Cosori Air Fryer Oven
Even though it's not the cheapest air fryer on our list, the Cosori Air Fryer is a terrific value: it's straightforward, simple to operate, can feed an entire family, and doesn't cost a fortune. It boasts a 3,7-quart square basket, which provides significantly more cooking space than its circular counterparts.
The basket is detachable and lightweight, with several ventilation holes for excellent airflow. The control panel is pre-set with appropriate cooking temperatures and times, as well as a preheat function.
The Cosori Air Fryer can also be used manually if none of the pre-programmed settings are ideal.
The Cosori scored highly for usability in our tests, and more than 5,200 Amazon reviewers agree.
It also served excellent fresh fries and wings. Almost 10 minutes less time was required to cook frozen fries than the manufacturer specified, so keep an eye on the food as it cooks. During cooking, the air fryer released steam, which caused condensation to form on the drawer (it did not seem to affect results).
Buy: Best Value Air Fryer: Cosori Air Fryer Oven
3. Best Digital Air Fryer: Instant Vortex Plus ClearCook
Instant air fryers, manufactured by the same company as the Instant Pot, have been on our list of the best air fryers since we began testing them. This one, along with the others we evaluated, is easy to program and performs well. This 6-quart ClearCook model produced crispy, golden, and juicy chicken wings in just 20 minutes, yet they were cooked from frozen. The fries were fried uniformly and evenly without being shaken in the middle. This air fryer features a preheating mechanism that takes around 3 and a half minutes to reach 400 degrees Fahrenheit and chirps when it is ready to cook. It does not require you to hit Start again after the oven has preheated if you wish to put your meal in immediately and then leave. It also warns you halfway through cooking in case you need to flip or stir the food, and the interior light turns on just before the timer expires so you can easily see inside before (and after) cooking is complete. (The majority of basket air fryers lack lights and see-through baskets!)
The digital control panel is incredibly sensitive, and the knob allows for quick programming of the temperature and time. Air Fry, Bake, Roast, Reheat, Broil, and Dehydrate are among the six pre-programmed options with recommended (but customizable) cooking temperatures and times. The square basket increases cooking area, is simple to slide out and manipulate, and fits snugly in the dishwasher. It features a removable tray as opposed to a separate basket that goes inside a drawer, which we prefer for easy cleanup - there are fewer bulky parts to clean!
Buy: Best Digital Air Fryer: Instant Vortex Plus ClearCook
4. Best Air Fryer Toaster Oven: Cuisinart Convection Toaster Oven Air Fryer
Cuisinart was one of the first manufacturers to develop a toaster oven air fryer that can toast, bake, convection bake, and air fry. In our toaster oven test, the depicted digital model not only produced the crispiest air-fried food in the quickest amount of time, but also the most evenly-colored toast. The 15.5 by 16-inch rectangular air fry rack provides a big frying area and rests on a drip/crumb tray for simple cleanup. Since introducing the toaster oven air fryer, Cuisinart has also introduced a smaller, non-digital model with the same features and great performance, as well as a model of the same size with a grill pan that we are interested to evaluate.
Buy: Best Air Fryer Toaster Oven: Cuisinart Convection Toaster Oven Air Fryer
5. Best Large-Capacity Air Fryer: GoWise USA 7-Quart Electric Air Fryer
Due to its size, the GoWISE USA 7-Quart Air Fryer is the one we use most often for cooking in large quantities. In our tests, it produced crispy fries and succulent wings that we couldn't stop eating. Its air fryer basket is elongated, allowing for more cooking in a single layer than circular baskets, which is a significant advantage when it comes to dehydration. This GoWise air fryer is distinguished from others on the market by its three additional stackable racks. The stackable racks permit you to air fry and dehydrate up to four levels simultaneously.
Buy: Best Large-Capacity Air Fryer: GoWise USA 7-Quart Electric Air Fryer
6. Best Compact Air Fryer: Philips Compact Airfryer
Our favorite characteristic of the Philips Premium Air Fryer is its compact size, which allows it to prepare enough food for two servings. It is the smallest of the Philips air fryers, which are also available in XL and XXL capacities. It is also the only air fryer with a splatter lid that we tested. In our tests, the lid made frozen fries that were crisp on the outside, moist on the inside, and evenly browned. Additionally, it enabled the preparation of fatty items, such as sausages, which are normally not suggested for use in an air fryer since they can induce smoking. In addition to the lid, the Philips has a user-friendly control panel and four preset settings, making it incredibly simple to operate. The basket's handle is detachable for simple cleaning.
Buy: Best Compact Air Fryer: Philips Compact Airfryer
7. Best Air Fryer for One Person: Dash Compact Air Fryer
The Dash Compact is a fantastic air fryer for those who cook for themselves or for those who wish to experiment with air frying. With a capacity of 1.7 liters, it can swiftly prepare one portion of meals. A smaller footprint means less counter space is required, and a smaller basket is easier to clean. The Dash's mechanical timer makes minute-by-minute programming somewhat challenging. The temperature dial also lacks alternatives, however we use the maximum 400°F temperature to air fry the majority of dishes. We appreciate that, unlike most air fryers on the market, it comes in a variety of vibrant colors. The shown aqua is a favorite.
Buy: Best Air Fryer for One Person: Dash Compact Air Fryer
What to look for when purchasing the ideal air fryer
How many people are you preparing food for at once? A smaller size is suitable for one to two individuals, whilst a larger one is preferable for three or more.
Basket-style air fryers are ideal for little quantities and items that are easy to shake, such as fries and vegetables. Air fryer ovens are a bit larger and can air fry food on numerous shelves, but they require more supervision and food often needs to be rotated during cooking.
Digital air fryers are typically more expensive than mechanical air fryers, as is stainless steel as opposed to plastic.
Multifunctionality: If you're in the market for another appliance, toaster ovens, microwaves, pressure cookers, and even full-sized ovens have begun including an air fry option into their designs, so investing in a multipurpose appliance may be more cost-effective (and saves space!).
