The Best Air Fryers, According to Our Test Kitchen

Best Overall

Ninja DZ071 Foodi FlexBasket Air Fryer

$150 at Amazon $180 at Wayfair $149 at Walmart

What we like: A removable divider allows you to choose between two independently controlled fry baskets or one large one.

What to know: We noticed some temperature variability when using separate baskets.

When choosing whether or not to add another appliance to your kitchen, versatility is key. That’s why we loved the Ninja Foodi FlexBasket; this handy device allows you to cook two different foods simultaneously in the two 3.5-quart baskets. However, if you’re making a whole chicken or a big batch of French fries, you can remove the basket divider and give yourself 7 quarts of cooking space.

The auto-broil setting lets you give your foods a quick blast of 450-degree heat to crisp up your vegetables or add a quick sear to your proteins. The Ninja also has handy reheat and dehydrate presets, along with air-fry, bake and roast functions. 

During testing, we were impressed both by this air fryer’s capacity and the efficiency with which it cooked our food. Our frozen fries cooked up crisp and golden in the allotted time, and we could cook almost a dozen chicken wings at a time without overcrowding.

The machine is very intuitive to use, and with its adjustable capacity and range of presets, we think this could easily replace your oven or microwave as your main mode of cooking. While we noted some temperature variations when the baskets were divided into two different “zones,” this did not prevent us from cooking some excellent snacks.   

Wattage: 1,690 watts | Temperature: Up to 450°F | Dimensions: 11.81”W x 18.19”D x 11.26”H | Capacity: 7 quarts

Also Great

GoWISE USA GW22956 7-Quart Air Fryer

$80 at Amazon $85 at Walmart

What we like: Stackable baskets and precise temperature control made this air fryer an affordable favorite.

What to know: The touch controls are very sensitive, so it’s easy to change your settings accidentally.

This air fryer combines a hefty 7-quart capacity with eight clever presets, including air fry, roast, broil, dehydrate, grill, bake, reheat and even a “keep warm” function. This machine’s ability to go as low as 90 degrees Fahrenheit also allows it to function as a dehydrator, and the GoWISE comes with three stackable racks so you can load it up with meat, fruits or vegetables while still allowing hot air to circulate fully. The crisper tray and basket are also non-stick for easy cleanup.

The GoWise has many features we see on higher-end models at a wallet-friendly price. You can adjust the temperature in increments of 5 degrees, and the generous 7-quart capacity makes it a great choice if you regularly feed a crowd. The touch screen is straightforward to use, with pictures representing its various functions, and the air fryer runs very quietly.

During testing, our frozen French fries cooked up with a lovely crisp outside and fluffy interior, and our wings achieved an ideal golden-brown crispness. Had the GoWISE had two baskets, it might have been our top choice; as it is, for features and value, it’s a close second.

Wattage: 1,700 watts | Temperature: 90°F to 400°F | Dimensions: 13”W x 16.5”D x 14”H | Capacity: 7 quarts

Best Air Fryer Toaster Oven

Instant Omni Plus Air Fryer Toaster Oven

$250 at Amazon $250 at Walmart $250 at Macy's

What we like: It's large enough to cook multiple foods simultaneously, including toasting bread, crisping up fries and melting cheese—and it does so very well.

What to know: Due to its large size, it may not fit in a cabinet or work if you have limited counter space.

This large-capacity Instant Pot Omni Plus air fryer toaster oven is quite the over-achiever: It can air fry, broil, bake, roast, dehydrate, reheat, rotisserie, toast, warm and convection cook. The manual is very clear and the dials and controls are easy to read. Plus, this mini oven comes with a cooking pan, rotisserie lift, rotisserie spit and—of course—an air fryer basket.

When we tested air fryer toaster ovens, we noticed the Instant Pot Omni Plus took just under 7 minutes to reach the highest temperature setting, which is 450°F, and the air fryer toaster was exceptional at cooking and baking all the foods we tested against. It took about 6 minutes to toast bread to golden-brown perfection, and you can fit six slices of toast in this oven. We also successfully melted cheese on toast and baked a batch of nine cookies. All the while, the Omni Plus is very quiet while operating, and the internal light is nice and bright so you can keep your eye on your dinner's doneness.

Last but not least, you'll find that this air fryer toaster and its components are easy to clean and all the accessories are dishwasher-safe.

Wattage: 1,800 watts | Temperature: Up to 450°F | Dimensions: 16.5"W x 13''D x 14''H | Capacity: 18 liters

Best Large Option

Beautiful by Drew Barrymore 9 Quart TriZone Air Fryer

$250 at Amazon $139 at Walmart

What we like: This air fryer combines an impressive 9-quart capacity with a sleek, contemporary design.

What to know: While this air fryer technically has dual basket capacity, you have to pull the whole basket out to reach the separate compartments, which could impact cooking times.

It’s not often you can use words like “elegant” to describe an appliance like an air fryer, but Drew Barrymore’s line of products hits all the right notes (the Beautiful by Drew Barrymore Dutch oven is our favorite budget pick). This air fryer’s 9-quart basket comes with a removable divider to allow you to cook two foods at different temperatures; the “sync” setting even lets you program those foods to finish simultaneously. In addition to air-frying, you can roast, broil, dehydrate, bake and reheat your food in this machine, and the crisping tray, basket and divider are all dishwasher safe.

This air fryer operated fairly quietly; we were surprised that it did not beep when it came to temperature, though it does beep when your timer ends or shuts down. You can divide the basket into two 4.5-quart compartments, and we like that these can be controlled separately by “left” and “right” buttons on the touchscreen display. In fact, the touchscreen display is intuitive and easy to use.

While we would have liked it to produce crispier wings during our tests, the meat was fully cooked and tender, and our fries came out beautifully (with a quick toss halfway through cooking). We also found the removable parts and interior easy to clean (which is a constant challenge with air fryers).

We've continued to test this air fryer over a multi-month period and it continues to perform beautifully (pun intended!) and consistently. In a home setting, it operates a little on the louder side. We've successfully prepared cinnamon buns, sweet potatoes and salmon in this air fryer. And it's been a go-to for reheating leftover chicken thighs and pizza slices.

Wattage: 1,700 watts | Temperature: 90°F to 450°F | Dimensions: 11.81”W x 19.7”D x 14.4”H | Capacity: 9 quarts

Best Dual Basket

Ninja DZ550 Foodi 6-in-1 Smart 10 Quart 2-Basket Air Fryer

$235 at Amazon $250 at Ninjakitchen.com View on Beachcamera.com

What we like: The Ninja Foodi 10-Quart Air Fryer features a “smart finish” option, so even if you’re using the baskets to cook two different items, it holds the temperature so they finish at the same time.

What to know: This is the most expensive option on our list, and we noticed the Foodi sometimes struggled to maintain higher temperatures.

As we mentioned before, if you’re going to invest in another appliance, you want to be sure it has enough versatility to deserve coveted counter space. The Ninja Foodi’s 10-quart, dual-basket model features make it possible to do most of your cooking with this one device. The dual baskets allow you to cook a main and a side concurrently, and the Foodi’s Smart Finish feature lets you program them to finish cooking at the same time. In addition to standard air-fry settings, this model also lets you broil, roast, bake, reheat and dehydrate your food. 

During our tests, we filled both baskets with fries and applied the “match cook” setting to see if we could indeed produce even results. We found the temperatures held steady, with a variance of no more than 10 degrees throughout the cooking cycle. The resulting fries were evenly golden-brown and crisp, though when testing our wings, we found the Foodi sometimes struggled to maintain temperatures above 400 degrees (perhaps due to its size). Still, the settings were easy to use and understand, and the components were a breeze to disassemble and clean.

We've also put this air fryer through multiple months of testing (aka at-home cooking) and found that it stands the test of time. In fact, we've had great success preparing a whole chicken in one basket of this air fryer and a batch of vegetables in the other basket for a complete family meal. It's also just the right size if you want to air-fry a side dish, such as Brussels sprouts, for a bigger group or dinner party.

Wattage: 1,690 watts | Temperature: 105°F to 450°F | Dimensions: 13.9”W x 17.1”D x 12.8”H | Capacity: 10 quarts

Best Small Option for Two (or One!)

Ninja 4-Quart Air Fryer

$90 at Amazon $90 at Target $100 at Walmart

What we like: Great easy-to-clean option for beginners or small households.

What to know: No-frills—it's missing a built-in preheat cycle and smart capabilities.

This Ninja air fryer was one of our test kitchen's favorites as it received perfect scores for performance and ease of cleaning in both rounds of testing. Its sleek digital display is straightforward and lights up, and the machine is quiet (it alerts you with a quick beep when it's done), making it ideal for air-frying a midnight snack.

The 4-quart interior makes it perfect for small households or tight spaces, but it may not be the best option when you're trying to meal prep, as you'll have to work in smaller batches. If you do find yourself needing a roomier option, we also loved the Ninja Max XL Air Fryer (AF161, view at Amazon), which boasts a 5.5-quart interior. This larger Ninja air fryer cooks food evenly and well, but our testers wish it had a temperature range that was easier to control.

While this compact Ninja 4-Quart Air Fryer doesn't come with a preheat cycle or smart capabilities, we appreciated how easy it was to use and clean. Both the crisper plate and tray are nonstick and dishwasher-safe.

Wattage: 1,550 watts | Temperature: 105°F to 400°F | Dimensions: 8.5"D x 12.1"W x 11"H | Capacity: 4 quarts

Best Mini Option

Chefman TurboFry 2 Quart Air Fryer

$53 at Amazon $47 at Walmart $40 at Kohls.com

What we like: The square basket helps maximize this air fryer’s limited capacity.

What to know: There are no presets; you can control the time and temperature, but that’s it.

Just because you have a small kitchen doesn’t mean you should miss out on the crispiest snacks and quick-cooking capabilities of an air fryer. This petite option lets you control time and temperature using two dials. The basket and tray are easy to slide out and clean; the manufacturer recommends hand-washing, but we accomplished this with a few swipes of a soapy cloth. We also liked the square shape of the basket, which maximizes the 2-quart capacity more than a rounded shape would (so there's more room for wings!).

While the Chefman lacks the frills of some of our other picks, we liked the ability to fine-tune the temperature and time ourselves instead of leaving it up to an arbitrary preset. The handle is coated with rubber to add insulation and provide a good grip. During testing, this air fryer crisped up our wings and fries evenly (you just have to be sure not to over-crowd the basket). We think this would be a great alternative for apartment dwellers, college students and others with limited storage space.

Wattage: 1,000 watts | Temperature: 200°F to 400°F | Dimensions: 7.87”W x 9.45”D x 11”H | Capacity: 2 quarts