The Best Air Fryers
Seven air fryers that earn their counter space, chosen from review coverage and spec comparisons.
Updated Aug 11 · 7 picks · PriceQuest may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. This never affects the price you pay and often helps us find you a lower one.
Researched and written by the PriceQuest AI Agent, the same AI that hunts deals for PriceQuest shoppers. Every price shown comes from PriceQuest price tracking, never from the model.
Reviewed by PriceQuest Editorial Team, Group review, on Aug 11.
An air fryer is really just a small, very aggressive convection oven, and that simplicity is why the category has stayed popular. The good ones preheat in a couple of minutes, crisp frozen food better than a full-size oven, and clean up with a single nonstick basket. The bad ones cook unevenly, rattle, and take up half a counter to hold four chicken wings.
We focused on models that are widely sold, currently in production, and backed by enough long-term owner feedback to spot patterns. Capacity claims vary wildly between brands, so we leaned on how much food reviewers actually report fitting rather than the number printed on the box. Below are seven picks covering single baskets, dual zones, and countertop oven styles.
The picks at a glance
- Best overall:COSORI TurboBlaze 6-Quart Air Fryer
- Best simple basket model:Ninja AF101 Air Fryer
- Best for families:Ninja Foodi DZ401 6-in-1 10-Quart DualZone XL Air Fryer
- Best dual basket for small counters:Ninja DoubleStack XL SL401 2-Basket Air Fryer
- Best window design:Instant Vortex Plus 6-Quart Air Fryer with ClearCook and OdorErase
- Best toaster oven hybrid:Cuisinart TOA-70 AirFryer Toaster Oven
- Best premium build:Philips Premium Airfryer XXL
COSORI TurboBlaze 6-Quart Air Fryer
COSORI's TurboBlaze is the model most often recommended as a first air fryer, and the reasoning holds up. The square basket fits more usable surface area than round designs, the control panel is legible without the manual, and adjustable temperature and fan settings give it more range than a simple on-off basket unit. Review coverage consistently notes quieter operation than older COSORI models and even browning on fries and wings. The basket and crisper plate are dishwasher safe.
Why we like it
- + Square basket makes better use of its stated capacity
- + Adjustable fan speeds add flexibility for delicate foods
- + Quieter than most basket fryers according to owner reports
Worth knowing
- - Taller than average, so check cabinet clearance
- - Preset buttons are more useful as starting points than exact recipes
Ninja AF101 Air Fryer
The AF101 has been on the market for years and remains one of the most reviewed air fryers anywhere, which makes its reliability record unusually easy to verify. It does four things: air fry, roast, reheat, and dehydrate. There are no presets to ignore and no app to pair. The ceramic-coated basket and crisper plate come apart for washing, and the compact footprint suits apartments and dorm counters. Capacity is best for one or two people.
Why we like it
- + Enormous review history with a strong reliability record
- + Straightforward dial and button controls
- + Small footprint that fits tight counters
Worth knowing
- - Capacity is tight for families
- - No window, so you have to pull the basket to check food
Ninja Foodi DZ401 6-in-1 10-Quart DualZone XL Air Fryer
Two independent baskets solve the biggest annoyance of air frying, which is cooking a main and a side in sequence. The DZ401 runs each zone at its own temperature and time, and Smart Finish syncs both to end together. Owners commonly report fitting a whole chicken or a large batch of wings in one zone. It is large and heavy, so treat it as a permanent counter appliance rather than something you store between uses.
Why we like it
- + Two zones cook different foods at different settings at once
- + Large total capacity handles family-size batches
- + Match Cook and Smart Finish reduce timing guesswork
Worth knowing
- - Takes up substantial counter space
- - Each individual basket is shallower than a single large basket
Ninja DoubleStack XL SL401 2-Basket Air Fryer
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Ninja's answer to the width problem is to stack the two zones vertically instead of side by side. You get independent dual-zone cooking in roughly the footprint of a single basket unit, plus removable stacked racks that add a second cooking level inside each drawer. Review coverage praises the space savings and the flexibility, while noting the tall profile means it will not slide under most upper cabinets while in use.
Why we like it
- + Dual-zone cooking in a narrow footprint
- + Stackable racks increase usable capacity per drawer
- + Independent temperature and time control per zone
Worth knowing
- - Tall design conflicts with low upper cabinets
- - More parts to wash than a single-basket fryer
Instant Vortex Plus 6-Quart Air Fryer with ClearCook and OdorErase
Most basket air fryers make you pull the drawer to see how browning is going, which drops the temperature. The Vortex Plus adds a window and interior light so you can check without interrupting the cook. Instant's OdorErase filter targets the lingering fried-food smell that basket fryers tend to leave behind. Controls are touch-based with the usual presets, and the basket and tray are dishwasher safe. A solid single-basket pick for two to three people.
Why we like it
- + Window and internal light let you monitor browning
- + Odor filter helps with fish and heavily spiced foods
- + Dishwasher-safe basket and crisper tray
Worth knowing
- - Touch panel is less tactile than physical dials
- - Window needs regular wiping to stay useful
Cuisinart TOA-70 AirFryer Toaster Oven
If counter space only allows one appliance, an air fryer toaster oven does more jobs than a basket unit. The TOA-70 air fries, bakes, broils, toasts, and warms, with a wide interior that fits flat items a basket cannot, such as pizza slices and sheet-pan vegetables. Knob controls are refreshingly direct. Review coverage notes it browns toast evenly and runs hot on the exterior, so leave clearance around it.
Why we like it
- + Replaces both a toaster oven and an air fryer
- + Wide rack fits flat foods that baskets cannot hold
- + Simple knob controls with no menu diving
Worth knowing
- - Exterior gets hot, so it needs surrounding clearance
- - Air frying capacity is shallower than a deep basket
Philips Premium Airfryer XXL
Philips essentially created the consumer air fryer category, and the XXL is the flagship that keeps showing up in long-term owner reports years after purchase. Its fat-removal design collects rendered grease away from the food, which reviewers say helps with fattier cuts and burgers. Build quality, fan noise, and evenness of browning are the areas where it separates itself from lighter plastic competitors. It is bulky, and the interface is plainer than Ninja's.
Why we like it
- + Strong long-term durability reports from owners
- + Fat-removal design suits burgers and fattier meats
- + Even browning with relatively quiet operation
Worth knowing
- - Large and heavy on the counter
- - Fewer presets and features than newer competitors
How we pick and how we price
- We compared specs, manuals, and capacity claims across the most widely sold current-generation models, then cross-checked those claims against what long-term owners report cooking in them.
- Review coverage from major outlets and aggregated owner feedback guided our shortlist, with particular attention to complaints that repeat across hundreds of reviews: uneven browning, loud fans, flaking nonstick, and confusing controls.
- We favored models with dishwasher-safe baskets, available replacement parts, and control layouts that do not require memorizing a chart, since those factors determine whether an air fryer stays on the counter or goes in a cupboard.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a dual-basket air fryer?
Only if you regularly cook a protein and a side at the same time. Dual zones save real time on weeknight dinners for three or more people, but each basket is shallower than one large basket, and there are more parts to clean. If you mostly reheat leftovers or cook for one or two, a single basket is simpler and easier to store.
How much capacity do I actually need?
Stated quarts are measured differently by every brand, so treat them as rough guidance. As a general rule, models around four quarts suit one or two people, five to six quarts handle two to four, and anything above eight quarts is aimed at families or batch cooking. Basket shape matters as much as volume, since square baskets give more usable flat area than round ones.
When is the right time to buy an air fryer?
Air fryer pricing moves a lot through the year, especially around major shopping events, and popular models cycle up and down more than most kitchen appliances. Rather than guessing, pick the model that actually fits your kitchen and let PriceQuest watch it for you. We track the price history on every pick here and can email you the moment it drops to the target you set.
Prices reflect recent observations from PriceQuest price tracking, not live quotes. Always confirm the final price at checkout.