Top Rated Best Air Fryers of 2024: Expert Reviews
Air fryers have caused a revolution in how people cook giving a healthier option to regular deep-frying ways. These kitchen tools use hot air movement to cook food creating crispy outsides and soft insides with little oil. As air fryers get more and more popular, buyers face too many choices, each saying it can make tasty, guilt-free meals.
Air fryers have caused a revolution in how people cook giving a healthier option to regular deep-frying ways. These kitchen tools use hot air movement to cook food creating crispy outsides and soft insides with little oil. As air fryers get more and more popular, buyers face too many choices, each saying it can make tasty, guilt-free meals.
We'll look at the best air fryers of 2024 pointing out their main features and how well they work. From small models that fit well in tiny kitchens to bigger units great for family-sized meals, our picks will match different needs and price ranges. We'll also dig into key things to think about when picking an air fryer, like how much it can hold how you can control the heat, and what else it can do.
Best Overall Air Fryer: Instant Vortex Plus 6-Quart
The Instant Vortex Plus 6-quart air fryer ranks among the best air fryers available. It combines great performance with ease of use. This multi-purpose device has become a favorite air fryer because it works well and has features that make it simple to use.
Key Features
The Instant Vortex Plus has 6-in-1 functionality. You can air fry, broil, roast, dehydrate, bake, and reheat food fast. Its Even Crisp technology makes sure you get golden finishes and crispy, tender results each time. This appliance has a ClearCook window and an inside light. These let you check how your food is cooking without opening the basket. The OdorErase built-in air filters also help to cut down cooking smells keeping your kitchen smelling fresh.
Performance Results
The Instant Vortex Plus showed great performance in cooking tests across different dishes. It turned frozen french fries golden brown in 8 minutes beating other air fryers' usual 12.5-minute cooking time. Fresh-cut fries came out cooked after 14 minutes, with the right balance of crunch and texture. This appliance also did a great job with broccoli producing soft florets with brown edges in just 8 minutes.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
Fast and uniform cooking
Easy-to-use touchscreen controls
Roomy 6-quart capacity
Parts you can clean in the dishwasher
Several cooking options
Cons:
Takes up more space than some other models
Not many recipes in the handbook
Who It's Best For?
The Instant Vortex Plus suits families and cooking fans who want versatility and efficiency in their kitchen tools. Its roomy 6-quart size fits up to two pounds of fries or a 4-pound whole chicken enough to cook for 4-6 people. The device's easy-to-use controls and many cooking options make it a great pick for both new and skilled home cooks who want to simplify their meal prep.
Price and Value
The Instant Vortex Plus costs about $160 making it a great buy for its performance and features. Though some might see it as a high-end air fryer, its many uses, efficiency, and long-lasting build make it worth the money for people looking to get one of the top stainless steel air fryers.
Best Budget Air Fryer: Cosori TurboBlaze
Standout Features
The Cosori TurboBlaze 6.0-Quart Air Fryer ranks among the top-rated air fryers in the budget range. Its large size works well for families with 3-5 members. This device offers nine cooking options: air fry, roast, bake, broil, dehydrate, freeze, proof, reheat, and keep warm. The DC motor technology stands out as its key feature allowing for five different fan speeds. Thanks to this tech, the TurboBlaze can cook food up to 46% quicker than air fryers with AC motors.
Cooking Performance
The TurboBlaze cooks various dishes well. Its faster fans help reach exact temperatures making food crispy and cooked . The crisper plate lets more air flow, which improves cooking. People say they get great results, like crispy chicken thighs and golden sweet potatoes. The air fryer also does a good job with frozen foods. Many users like how it cooks frozen food crispy without needing to flip or shake.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Pros:
Cooks
Can cook many different things
Easy-to-use touchscreen
Parts you can clean in the dishwasher
Runs
Cons:
Bigger than some other models
Not many recipes in the manual
No extra accessories included
Who It's For
The Cosori TurboBlaze suits people who want to save money without giving up quality and usefulness. It works well for small to medium-sized families, food lovers who like having options, and people with little kitchen room. The air fryer's many cooking features are great for both new and skilled home cooks wanting to try new dishes.
Value for Money
The Cosori TurboBlaze comes at a competitive price and gives you great bang for your buck. It can take the place of several kitchen gadgets, and it cooks to save energy making it a smart buy for many homes. This air fryer is built to last and easy to clean, which adds to its long-term worth. These features put it among the top-rated air fryers in its price bracket.
Best Air Fryer for Large Families: Ninja Foodi DualZone
Unique Dual-Basket Design
The Ninja Foodi DualZone air fryer ranks among the top-rated air fryers for big families due to its groundbreaking two-basket design. This 10-quart air fryer boasts two separate 5-quart zones, each equipped with its own cooking basket whirling fan, and quick heater. This one-of-a-kind setup enables users to cook two dishes at once doing away with the need to cook multiple batches often seen with regular single-basket air fryers.
Cooking Capabilities
The Ninja Foodi DualZone comes with six cooking options: air fry, air broil, roast, bake, reheat, and dehydrate. This gives users a lot of choices. Its DualZone Technology lets you pick between two handy features: Smart Finish and Match Cook. Smart Finish lets you cook two foods with different settings but finish at the same time. Match Cook copies settings across zones to cook full 10-quart meals.
The air fryer has an IQ Boost feature that spreads power across each basket. This helps cook big chickens and side dishes faster when you're not using Smart Finish or Match Cook. This makes it a top pick for families who want to cook big meals .
Pros and Cons
Pros:
10-quart size fits family needs
Two separate cooking zones add flexibility and ease
Offers many ways to cook
Simple controls make it a breeze to use
Cons:
Takes up more space than air fryers with one basket
Costs more than some other brands
Ideal For
The Ninja Foodi DualZone works great for big families busy homes, and people who often have guests over. Its big size lets you cook main courses and side dishes at the same time, which is perfect to whip up quick big family meals or to cook up to 8 pounds of chicken wings. If you want to make your cooking easier without losing quality or flavor, an air fryer is one of the best choices you have today. It's handy, gets the job done, and is simple to use.
Price Point
While the Ninja Foodi DualZone air fryer sits in the pricier range for air fryers, its features and capabilities make it worth the money for many people. You can often find this appliance on sale, which makes it easier to buy for those who want one of the best stainless steel air fryers out there.
Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer
Features
The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer stands out as a top air fryer choice, given its wide array of features. This multi-purpose device offers 11 smart cooking options: air fry, toast, bagel, broil, bake, roast, warm, pizza, reheat, cookies, and slow cook.
Its Element IQ system applies smart algorithms to direct power where it's needed creating the perfect cooking setup for different techniques. The specific air fry option lets users make healthier French fries, chicken wings, and other family favorites that turn out crispy and tasty.
Pros and Cons
Pros: Many uses with 11 cooking options
The Element IQ system allows for exact temperature control
Its big size can fit up to 9 bread slices or a 14-lb turkey[4]
Super convection tech cooks food quicker
LCD that's simple to use
Cons:
Takes up more space than standalone air fryers
Costs more than basic models
Takes time to learn how to use all functions well
Cooking Capabilities
The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer stands out in how it cooks. Its super convection tech can cut cooking time by up to 30% making it one of the best air fryers for getting things done fast. The device's PID temperature control keeps temps steady and exact, getting rid of cold spots to cook everything . You can get toasted bread, crispy air-fried foods, and baked goods. The oven can fit bigger dishes and has many rack spots, so it's great to make meals for families or when you have people over.
Price
The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer stands out as a top-notch stainless steel air fryer, but it comes with a hefty price tag. You'll need to shell out about $350 for the basic model. If you want to go all out, the Pro version with extra bells and whistles can set you back up to $400.
Air Fryer Buying Guide
Types of Air Fryers
When you're on the hunt for the best air fryers, you've got a few choices. The most common ones include basket-style air fryers, which come with a cooking basket you can take out, and oven-style air fryers that look like toaster ovens but can do more. Basket-style air fryers tend to be smaller and simpler to use, while oven-style models give you more options and can cook more food at once.
Essential Features to Look For
When you're looking at the highest-rated air fryers, think about features like temperature settings preset cooking options, and how easy they are to clean. Getting the temperature right is key to cooking food well, and most air fryers let you set it between 100°C and 200°C. Try to find ones with digital controls and clear displays so you can set the exact temperature you want. The best air fryers also come with pre-set programs for common dishes, which makes cooking even simpler.
Size and Capacity Considerations
The air fryer's size plays a crucial role when you're thinking about what your household needs. Smaller air fryers that hold 1-2 liters work well for one or two people. If you're cooking for three or four, you might want to look at medium-sized models that can hold 3-4 liters. Big families or those who often have guests over should check out air fryers that can hold 5 liters or more. Remember to look at both how much it can cook inside and how big it is on the outside so you know it'll fit in your kitchen.
Brand Reliability
When picking the best stainless steel air fryer or any other type, you need to trust the brand. Air fryer brands that people rely on include Instant, Ninja, Chefman, Philips, and Breville. These companies make top-notch air fryers that work well and last long. To judge how much you can trust a brand and how good their products are, check out what customers and experts say about them.
Price Range Expectations
Air fryers are available at a range of price points to fit different budgets. You can find basic models for as little as $40, while more sophisticated and bigger air fryers can set you back hundreds of dollars. In general most good-quality air fryers cost between $100 and $200 striking a nice balance between features and cost-effectiveness. When you're looking at the price, make sure to think about how long the appliance will last how much it can hold, and what extra functions it has to figure out the best bang for your buck.
Making the Right Choice for Your Kitchen
The arrival of air fryers has caused a revolution in home cooking giving people a healthier option to enjoy crunchy foods without using too much oil. You can find an air fryer that fits your needs and budget, whether you want a small one for a tiny kitchen or a big one for cooking family meals. The best air fryers of 2024 come with cool features like different cooking options exact temperature settings, and easy-to-use controls, which make them great tools to have in any kitchen.