The Best Air Fryers To Buy in 2021 for Guilt-Free Fries at Last!

Believe it or not, air fryers produce the same “fried” food you love but use little to no oil. This, of course, makes these dishes much healthier than their greasy, deep-fried counterparts. Even though it may sound too good to be true, the news only gets better. In fact, the best air fryers have plenty of other advantages over their oil-using compatriots. They typically have faster cooking times than baking in an oven, are less messy than traditional fryers, and deliver crispy food that often goes soft in a microwave.

How Do Air Fryers Work?

Air fryers use a mechanical fan to circulate hot air at high speeds and at temperatures up to 400-degrees Fahrenheit. This air moves over your food from every angle, and the intense heat cooks the food more evenly and quickly than in a conventional oven. This, in turn, produces a delicious crispy layer on the outside of your french fries, mozzarella sticks, chicken wings, or vegetables. The devices produce a very similar outcome as deep frying without as many negative health implications. The intensely hot air acts as a healthy substitute for the hot oil you’d usually find in an oil fryer.

What To Consider Before Buying An Air Fryer

Whether you’re doing Keto, are gluten-free, eat a Vegan diet, or simply consume all four food groups in moderation, an air fryer will fit your lifestyle. When picking the best air fryer for you, size matters.

• If you typically eat alone or simply want an air fryer to cook sides for two people, a smaller air fryer will work. For those who like to entertain and cook for multiple people at once, opt for a larger model. Crowding food in any style of air fryer leads to uneven cooking.

• Do you want an air fryer that is just an air fryer or one that pulls double or triple duty? We’ve included models that offer both.

• How important is time? Like ovens, many air fryers need time to preheat, but there are some more expensive models that don’t require any preheating time.

How We Chose the Best Air Fryer

Air fryers have become a hugely popular kitchen essential in recent years and for good reason. They let us enjoy the foods we love but in a healthier fashion. Easy to use, air fryers let you warm up leftovers, prepare delicious sides, and in some cases can even replace your oven when it’s time to cook a full-sized turkey or chicken. We included several models that we’ve tested ourselves, as well as tried and true fan favorites. Our list includes a wide range of prices, sizes, and features all from reputable brands. The world of air fryers is much greater than delicious French fries (though it definitely includes those as well).

1. Dash Deluxe 6-Quart Electric Air Fryer

When you hear the word “air fryer,” this is the model most people think of. This popular air fryer comes in four attractive colors, so there’s definitely a Dash Deluxe Electric Air Fryer to match your kitchen interiors. The fast-cooking device delivers food that has up to 70% to 80% less fat than competing oil fryers and also includes a free recipe book to get your creative juices flowing. You’ll also find a 30-minute timer, an auto shut-off and non-slip feet to make your cooking experience easy and safe. Finally, this particular Dash air fryer comes with a 6-quart basket, which is enough to cook meals or side dishes for an entire family.

Cooking your food is as simple as setting your temperature and then setting the timer. With its sleek, countertop-ready design and easy to use controls, the Dash Deluxe will quickly become your new favorite kitchen gadget.

Pros: The range of attractive colors ensures there’s an air fryer to match your kitchen. This uber-popular air fryer is easy to use and boasts a dishwasher-safe fry basket. Extra-large cooking basket.

Cons: Some users may find the plastic-y appearance tacky and prefer a more metallic finish. Lacks an LED touchscreen like you’ll find on some of the best air fryers.

Buy: Dash Deluxe 6-Quart Air Fryer $79.99 (orig. $99.99) 20% OFF

2. COSORI XL 5.8-Quart Air Fryer

This is the deluxe air fryer used by serious home chefs. The COSORI boasts the ability to fry your food using 85% less fat than other deep frying options and offers a full menu of cooking choices for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The COSORI’s easy touch options allow users to choose between Steak, Poultry, Seafood, Shrimp, Bacon, Frozen Foods, fries, Vegetables, Root Vegetables, Bread, Desserts, and a Preheat setting. Cleanup is easy with the COSORI thanks to the removable nonstick baskets that are dishwasher safe. Plus, the sleek device is available in red, black and white, allowing you to choose the color that’s right for your kitchen.

Pros: The COSORI comes with a free recipe book. Premium air fryer for serious chefs. Removable basket is dishwasher safe. Extra-large 5.8-quart basket.

Cons: The COSORI offers the same model but with WiFi capabilities, which this model does not include.

Buy: COSORI 5.8-Quart Air Fryer $119.99

3. Ninja Foodi 8-Quart 9-in-1 Air Fryer

This Ninja Air Fryer can pressure cook, air fry, sear/sauté, bake, steam, slow cook, broil and even dehydrate fruits and make yogurt. Yup, it can do all of that in one compact machine with just a few buttons on it. It’s got an XL 8 quart basket for crisping up your vegetables, fries, mozzarella sticks and more. It’s got tender-crisp technology which will enable you to get the perfect crush you want every time, and has a deluxe reversible rack for steaming and broiling at the same time. Some tasks take as little as 20 minutes with this machine so you won’t be waiting around for deliciousness for too long. It comes in multiple sizes to suit different groups’ needs and has a stainless finish that will look great on your countertop.

Pros: This Ninja air fryer has nine different functions built into one easy-to-use machine, a reversible rack for performing multiple jobs at once and a stainless finish to boot.

Cons: It’s more expensive than other, simpler options. May be too complex if you only want an air fryer.

Buy: Ninja Foodi 8-Quart Air Fryer $269.99

4. Innsky 10.6-Quart Air Fryer Oven

With its large, family-sized capacity, the Innsky Air Fryer Oven is an ideal choice for any large households that love fried food. It sports an impressive 10-liter capacity which can offer double-layered cooking when required. Alternatively, this large space can accommodate a full-size chicken. The 1500-watt device is capable of cooking food fast as it blows hot air of up to 400-degrees Fahrenheit from every angle. Plus, this advanced air fryer also boasts nine cooking presets, including pizza, steak and fries, a preheat function and a large LCD touchscreen which makes it especially easy to control the kitchen cooker. Finally, the window on the front lets you monitor the cooking progress so you can pull out your food when it’s perfectly golden brown.

Pros: The large 10-liter capacity and easy-to-use LCD screen make this fryer ideal for larger households. Cook more than dish item at a time.

Cons: The larger capacity means the device does take up more kitchen counter space.

Buy: Innsky Air Fryer Oven $129.99 (orig. $149.99) 13% OFF

5. Dash Deluxe 3-Quart Electric Air Fryer

Dash Deluxe products helped popularize the air fryer phenomenon, and they’re popular for a reason. These electric air fryers are easy to use and look incredibly cool on your kitchen counter. You can enjoy delicious french fries and other dishes without plunging them in oil, and the device evenly heats your food so that it’s crispy all-over. A great set-it-and-forget-it appliance, this kitchen gadget also has an auto-shutoff function to avoid overheating.

Pros: Removable, dishwasher-safe cooking basket. Four attractive colors and sleek design. Evenly cooks your food.

Cons: Doesn’t offer multiple cooking modes. Not ideal if you need to cook sides or meals for more than two people.

Buy: Dash Deluxe 3-Quart Air Fryer $80.40 (orig. $89.99) 11% OFF

6. Philips Avance XXL Air Fryer

For a splurge-worthy air fryer that can handle big meals and cooks food evenly and fast, it doesn’t get much better than the Philips Avance XXL Air Fryer. We’ve been using our Philips Avance XXL Air Fryer for the past year and love that it doesn’t require any preheating time – simply set the temperature and time, add your food and relax. There are several presets included to take the guesswork out of cooking and Twin TurboStar technology removes fats from food and catches runoff in the bottom of the fryer, which is easy to clean. The XXL size means users can cook a whole chicken or large sides, and there’s a warming function that keeps food at the perfect temperature. Unlike most air fryers, the Avance’s oversized basket gently slides out and can sit open without coming all the way out of the air fryer, making it easy to dish out food. The basket can also easily be lifted and the entire unit comes apart for quick and easy cleaning.

Pros: Large size means you will never have to upgrade, no preheating is required and the digital touchscreen provides a user-friendly experience.

Cons: High price point.

Buy: Philips Avance XXL Air Fryer $399.95

7. GoWISE USA 7-Quart Electric Air Fryer

If you’re looking for a large air fryer but want something more affordable, we like the GoWISE USA 7-Quart Electric Air Fryer. Available in several sizes and colors, the 7-quart style provides ample cooking space, enough for a small chicken or up to five burgers. The GoWISE boasts eight cooking functions, including roasting, baking, reheating, grilling, and dehydrating. A large touchscreen on the front of the unit makes it simple for users to select their preferred cooking method, with the timer able to be preset up to 60 minutes and range in temperature from 180°F to 400°F. For those interested in using the GoWISE as a dehydrator, a timer can be set from 2 to 24 hours with a temperature option of 90°F to 170°F. There are also three racks included to provide more cooking room.

Pros: Large capacity is ideal for big meals, easy to use touchscreen interface, comes with multiple cooking styles.

Cons: The trays included for the dehydrator function can be difficult to remove from the unit and the non-stick coating will wear off.

Buy: GoWISE USA 7-Quart Electric Air Fryer $74.99 (orig. $119.99) 38% OFF

8. Breville Smart Oven? Air Fryer Pro

For an air fryer that is all that and more, try the Breville Smart Oven? Air Fryer Pro. Ideal for users who need an extra oven or want a gadget that can become their one-stop kitchen appliance, the Breville Smart Oven? Air Fryer Pro is an air fryer, a large capacity countertop oven that can roast a 14-pound turkey, a toaster oven that can handle nine pieces of bread at once, a slow cooker and a dehydrator. Using the convection setting, the Breville can reduce cooking time by 30%. Built with six independent quartz heating elements, the Breville automatically adjusts for every cooking situation.

Pros: Large-capacity air fryer with the bonus of acting as a second oven and boasting several features, including replacing a toaster and dehydrator.

Cons: Expensive and takes up a lot of space on countertops.

Buy: Breville Smart Oven? Air Fryer Pro $399.95

9. Instant Pot Air Fry Lid

If you’re an Instant Pot user who is thinking of adding an air fryer to the lineup, check out the Instant Pot Air Fry Lid. The attachment turns a 6-quart Instant Pot into an air fryer without customers having to buy a second gadget. The lid has a control panel that features six present programs, including air fry, broil, bake, roast, reheat or dehydrate. Time and temperature can be adjusted and a warming function can keep food at the ideal temperature for up to one hour. We also like that the lid has a saved preset function that allows users to easily remember their preferred settings for certain dishes.

Pros: Doesn’t require users to buy a full-sized air fryer, has multiple cooking functions, easy to use, and is easy to clean.

Cons: The lid is only compatible with the Instant Pot 6-quart model.

Buy: Instant Pot Air Fry Lid $89.95

10. Ninja Foodi 4qt 5-in-1 Indoor Grill and Air Fryer

We’ve talked a lot about air fryers that act as multiple kitchen gadgets, but one type of cooking that often isn’t included in these multi-use models is grilling. Ninja has filled that hole with their Ninja Foodi 4qt 5-in-1 Indoor Grill and Air Fryer. The Ninja can cook at 500°F as both an air fryer and a grill, while also boasting the ability to bake, roast, and dehydrate food. Frozen food can be grilled in under 25 minutes and the Ninja has a built-in smoke control system that makes this unit safe to use indoors. As an air fryer, the Ninja helps to reduce fat by up to 75% and can be wiped clean or taken apart and placed in the dishwasher for added convenience.

Pros: Works as an air fryer and grill, dishwasher safe parts, has a high-temperature range.

Cons: The unit is not smoke-free, which means there will still be a smoke smell when using the grill feature.

Buy: Ninja Foodi 4qt 5-in-1 Indoor Grill and Air Fryer $229.99

11. Ninja DZ201 Foodi 6-in-1 8 Quart 2-Basket Air Fryer with DualZone Technology

What happens when you need to air fry two things at the same time and they cook at different temperatures? With the Ninja DZ201 Foodi 6-in-1 8 Quart 2-Basket Air Fryer with DualZone Technology, exactly that. Available in an 8 and 10-quart size, the air fryer is designed with two independent baskets that allow users to cook at two different temperatures at the same time. Not only that, the food can be programmed to finish at the same time or using the Match Cook button, the two sections can be mirrored to act as one large basket. The Ninja has a 105°F to 450°F temperature range, dishwasher safe parts, and can air broil, roast, bake, reheat and dehydrate food.

Pros: Can cook two types of food at different temperatures, dishwasher-friendly parts, and several cooking styles.

Cons: The Ninja has a large footprint.

Buy: Ninja DZ201 Foodi 6-in-1 8 Quart 2-Basket Air Fryer with DualZone Technology $159.99 (orig. $179.99) 11% OFF

12. Magic Bullet? Air Fryer

We are big fans of the very small but powerful Magic Bullet Air Fryer (check out our full review here). The 2.5-quart capacity is ideal for single or dual-person kitchens and the compact unit takes up roughly the same amount of space as a toaster. A dial on the front of the Magic Bullet allows users to set temperatures between 180°F to 400°F and the powerful air fryer gets food crispy and delicious in minutes. Quiet and easy to clean, the Magic Bullet Air Fryer comes with a crisping tray for added convenience.

Pros: Compact, space-saving design, quiet operation, user-friendly design.

Cons: Requires ventilation space at the back and on top.

Buy: Magic Bullet? Air Fryer $79.99

13. Proscenic T21 Air Fryer, XL 5.8 QT for Home

Air fryers are designed to help people cook smarter with less oil and fat, but the Proscenic T21 Air Fryer, XL 5.8 QT for Home goes one step further and helps people cook smarter-smarter. The Prosenic can be connected to its user’s phone using WiFi or Alexa, allowing cooks to set temperature, time, schedule the air fryer to turn on, and more. The app features dozens of preset cooking features, allowing users to save recipes and keep their food warm. As for the actual unit, the Proscenic has a detachable non-stick basket that has been finished with Teflon and is dishwasher safe. For those who don’t want to use the smart features, the Proscenic is still very user-friendly thanks to its one-touch LED panel that includes several preset options.

Pros: Can be controlled using Alexa or the Proscenic app, includes several preset features, and comes with a non-stick basket.

Cons: Users will have to wait for the air fryer to preheat, but they can get a jump start on warming up their air fryer by using the app.

Buy: Proscenic T21 Air Fryer, XL 5.8 QT for Home $129.00

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1. Dash Deluxe 6-Quart Electric Air Fryer

When you hear the word “air fryer,” this is the model most people think of. This popular air fryer comes in four attractive colors, so there’s definitely a Dash Deluxe Electric Air Fryer to match your kitchen interiors. The fast-cooking device delivers food that has up to 70% to 80% less fat than competing oil fryers and also includes a free recipe book to get your creative juices flowing. You’ll also find a 30-minute timer, an auto shut-off, and non-slip feet to make your cooking experience easy and safe. Finally, this particular Dash air fryer comes with a 6-quart basket, which is enough to cook meals or side dishes for an entire family.

Pros: The range of attractive colors ensures there’s an air fryer to match your kitchen. This uber-popular air fryer is easy to use and boasts a dishwasher-safe fry basket. Extra-large cooking basket.

Cons: Some users may find the plastic-y appearance tacky and prefer a more metallic finish. Lacks an LED touchscreen like you’ll find on some of the best air fryers.

Buy: Dash Deluxe 6-Quart Electric Air Fryer

2. COSORI XL 5.8-Quart Air Fryer

This is the deluxe air fryer used by serious home chefs. The COSORI boasts the ability to fry your food using 85% less fat than other deep frying options and offers a full menu of cooking choices for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The COSORI’s easy touch options allow users to choose between Steak, Poultry, Seafood, Shrimp, Bacon, Frozen Foods, fries, Vegetables, Root Vegetables, Bread, Desserts, and a Preheat setting. Cleanup is easy with the COSORI thanks to the removable nonstick baskets that are dishwasher safe. Plus, the sleek device is available in red, black and white, allowing you to choose the color that’s right for your kitchen.

Pros: The COSORI comes with a free recipe book. Premium air fryer for serious chefs. Removable basket is dishwasher safe. Extra-large 5.8-quart basket.

Cons: The COSORI offers the same model but with WiFi capabilities, which this model does not include.

Buy: COSORI XL 5.8-Quart Air Fryer

3. Dash Deluxe 3-Quart Electric Air Fryer

Dash Deluxe products helped popularize the air fryer phenomenon, and they’re popular for a reason. These electric air fryers are easy to use and look incredibly cool on your kitchen counter. You can enjoy delicious french fries and other dishes without plunging them in oil, and the device evenly heats your food so that it’s crispy all over. A great set-it-and-forget-it appliance, this kitchen gadget also has an auto-shutoff function to avoid overheating.

Pros: Removable, dishwasher-safe cooking basket. Four attractive colors and sleek design. Evenly cooks your food.

Cons: Doesn’t offer multiple cooking modes. Not ideal if you need to cook sides or meals for more than two people.

Buy: Dash Deluxe 3-Quart Electric Air Fryer

4. Innsky 10.6-Quart Air Fryer Oven

With its large, family-sized capacity, the Innsky Air Fryer Oven is an ideal choice for any large household that loves fried food. It sports an impressive 10-liter capacity which can offer double-layered cooking when required. Alternatively, this large space can accommodate a full-size chicken. The 1500-watt device is capable of cooking food fast as it blows hot air of up to 400-degrees Fahrenheit from every angle. Plus, this advanced air fryer also boasts nine cooking presets, including pizza, steak and fries, a preheat function and a large LCD touchscreen which makes it especially easy to control the kitchen cooker. Finally, the window on the front lets you monitor the cooking progress so you can pull out your food when it’s perfectly golden brown.

Pros: The large 10-liter capacity and easy-to-use LCD screen make this fryer ideal for larger households. Cook more than one dish item at a time.

Cons: The larger capacity means the device does take up more kitchen counter space.

Buy: Innsky 10.6-Quart Air Fryer Oven

5. Ninja Foodi 8-Quart 9-in-1 Air Fryer

This Ninja Air Fryer can pressure cook, air fry, sear/sauté, bake, steam, slow cook, broil and even dehydrate fruits and make yogurt. Yup, it can do all of that in one compact machine with just a few buttons on it. It’s got an XL 8 quart basket for crisping up your vegetables, fries, mozzarella sticks and more. It’s got tender-crisp technology that will enable you to get the perfect crush you want every time and has a deluxe reversible rack for steaming and broiling at the same time. Some tasks take as little as 20 minutes with this machine so you won’t be waiting around for deliciousness for too long. It comes in multiple sizes to suit different groups’ needs and has a stainless finish that will look great on your countertop.

Pros: This Ninja air fryer has nine different functions built into one easy-to-use machine, a reversible rack for performing multiple jobs at once, and a stainless finish to boot.

Cons: It’s more expensive than other, simpler options. May be too complex if you only want an air fryer.

Buy: Ninja Foodi 8-Quart 9-in-1 Air Fryer

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