10 of the Very Best Air Fryers

Function: Air fry, roast, bake, reheat, broil, dehydrate | Capacity: 6 quarts

When I tested the Instant Vortex, the first thing I noticed and appreciated was the smooth, integrated interface. The touchpad is fully flush with the surface of the machine and lights up when you plug it in; it’s actually quite sleek-looking for a big appliance. The functions are intuitive, so much so that I never once had to reference the instructions the first time I used it. You choose from roast, bake, broil, reheat, dehydrate, or air fry, then click time and temperature, adjusting each by turning a small stainless-steel knob. The machine preheats in only two minutes, automatically pauses when you pull the basket out midway to shake food around, and — perhaps my favorite feature of all — has that light inside and a clear window at the front so you can actually see what’s going on. It also cleans up perfectly with a light scrub.

But don’t just take it from me: The machine also comes recommended by three experts. Bruce Weinstein, co-author of multiple air frying cookbooks, explains that while some models are very tall, which accounts for their overall capacity and ability to fit, say, a big pile of French fries, that setup won’t allow air to flow around as easily and result in the crispy texture you’re after. The Vortex, however, has a large square footage on the bottom, meaning you can lay everything in a single layer and avoid overcrowding. “It just has the perfect ratio of height to width,” he says. Cookbook author Julia Turshen (who has the same model but without the see-through window) also appreciates the space. It’s basket-style (as opposed to a few models on this list that look like toaster ovens), which means she can “fit way more than a skillet” and “just shake things up” instead of tediously flipping them over on a sheet tray.

Jenny Tschiesche, founder of Lunchbox Doctor and author of an air-frying cookbook, has tried a few different air fryers — but the Instant Vortex is the one that has stood the test of time in her kitchen with daily use for several years. “With some of the others, after a few months, the lining starts to come away, or you see scratches. But this one has lasted without damage,” she says. “And that’s something considering how much it gets used by all family members — including two teenagers.” For Tschiesche, the fact that many of her Le Creuset dishes fit in there is also a huge plus.

Function: Air fry, toast, bake, steak, chicken, seafood, shrimp, bacon, frozen foods, french fries, vegetables, preheat, shake, keep warm  | Capacity: 5.8 quarts

The Cosori air fryer has more particular presets than any of the other basket-style models on this list. While many of the others have additional functions like “bake” or “roast,” this one’s selections are more particular, allowing you to choose from food options like fries, vegetables, and bacon. They’re nice shortcuts — and ones that Jennifer West and Rebecca Abbott, the writers and recipe developers behind Air Frying Foodie, say work well. “Also, the directions are very clear and easy,” says West, who uses the machine to cook for four to six people regularly. “Some air fryers stress me out. You’re trying to set time and temperatures and there are too many buttons — and I’m someone who air-fries every day.” Hale appreciates that it’s affordable — “especially for the quality,” she says.

Function: Air fry | Capacity: 7 quarts

The Philips has a couple standout features that prompted me to give it the title of most durable. First, the food tray is stainless-steel mesh, “almost like chicken wire,” Weinstein says. It’s a material that is bound to last much longer than the usual slatted nonstick trays you’ll find at the bottom of other basket-style air fryers. (Weinstein notes that you can put it in the dishwasher, but if you don’t have one, just soak it right after use so no hard bits stick, and then wash when you’re ready.) The second reason is an additional built-in layer underneath that mesh tray: a catcher where released fat drips down and collects. “It keeps splatter and smoke down,” he says, “especially with fatty foods like steak and hamburgers.” The less grease buildup over time, the better your air fryer will function, and the longer it will last. Recipe developer and food blogger Nicole Modic also calls the air fryer high-quality as well as heavy-duty. Though she has a couple of models on hand, she uses this one when making fattier foods, too, like chicken wings. As for getting the accumulated grease out of the bottom, she says that cleanup is super easy because the drip tray comes out fully.

Function: Air fry, pressure cook, saute, slow cook, steam, sous vide, roast, bake, broil, dehydrate, keep warm | Capacity: 8 quarts

In fact, the Instant Pot Duo has 11 preset functions — but it’s the only one on this list that pressure cooks in addition to air frying. “For a long time, I was one of the most outspoken and vehement critics of air fryers,” says Courtney Kassel, recipe developer at Allrecipes. “But after moving in with an air fryer-owning friend, I’m well on my way to converted. In our apartment, as is the case with many, using the oven takes more effort than a simple switch, and can often be unreliable both in preheating time and temperature. Our trusty air fryer, however, preheats in minutes and I’d argue outperforms the oven for various tasks; evenly roasted vegetables, cooking proteins quickly, or just generally existing on TikTok in 2022. Additionally, ours happens to be a combination air-fryer-Instant Pot, meaning I can further justify the space it eats up in our limited kitchen storage and it’s a lifesaver on nights when the ‘What’s for dinner?’ conversation doesn’t even kick off until 7 p.m.”

Function: Air fry, roast, boil, bake, reheat, dehydrate, rotate) | Capacity: 10 quarts

This Instant air fryer is the largest on the list and as such, accommodates several insertable accessories for cooking that wouldn’t fit in any other model. The first is a metal spit specifically designed for making rotisserie-style chicken that Hale says “has the crispiest skin on all sides.” You secure the bird on the spit, insert it into the air fryer, set your temperature and time, select the “rotate” button, and let it go. (While Instant says you can fit a bird up to four pounds, Hale prefers hers to be around three to prevent it from  rubbing against the sides.) The machine also comes with a perforated cylindrical basket suspended in the center of the main chamber that rotates so the food inside tumbles around and receives maximum air flow. Hale says this makes the outside of french fries, tater tots, and chunks of vegetables even more uniformly crisp than other air fryers. It also accommodates two trays at a time that you can air fry on, as well as use with the machine’s toast and bake settings. While Hale admits the appliance isn’t quite as easy to clean as her Cosori XL based on sheer size, she says the inside still wipes down nicely and the front door comes completely off so it can be washed more thoroughly by hand.