9 Best Air Fryers of 2026, Tested and Reviewed by Kitchen Experts

Tested by T.K. Brady, Leah Brickley, Ben Mims, Amanda Neal and Jill Novatt

Air fryers have been on the market for more than a decade, and they've become a must-have for many home cooks for whipping up quick-and-easy dinners. After testing more than two dozen air fryers over multiple years, the Instant Pot Vortex Plus 6-Quart ($120 – $150) is our pick for the best air fryer for most home cooks. It crisped fries evenly, cooked juicy chicken and baked a perfect cake — all with a user-friendly digital interface and a compact footprint.

Air fryers are beloved for mimicking the results of deep frying without all the oil, and it's all thanks to their cooking mechanism. Air fryers are essentially countertop convection ovens that cook your food from all angles using a heating element and powerful fan. Some air fryers are bare-bones convection ovens, while others come with extra bells and whistles that allow you to dehydrate food or proof baked goods.

If you're looking for the best air fryer for your kitchen, this guide can help you determine which style of air fryer is right for you, so you can get cooking.

How We Tested

To find the best air fryers available on the market today, we started by researching top brands and models across online retailers, reading customer reviews and evaluating each for value for money. Since 2019, we have tested over 25 different air fryers. We evaluated each air fryer on cooking performance (frozen fries, bone-in chicken breast, yellow cake), ease of use, noise level and cleaning difficulty.

The best air fryers cook food quickly and evenly and produce a crispy outer crust when using the air fry function. We evaluated the functions of each air fryer by making two batches of frozen store-bought French fries, two bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts, and a six-inch yellow cake from a boxed mix to determine if the machine browned food well on the outside by the time it cooked inside, and if it produced a crispy texture on the outside. The best air fryers cook food quickly and evenly and have powerful heating elements that mimic a traditional oven.

We tested how easy the controls were to use, too, eschewing clunky manual dials and machines that don't pause themselves in favor of digital displays/buttons that were simple to set and air fryers that paused cooking when you opened the baskets to check your food. Additional functions, how much noise the air fryers made and how cumbersome they were to use were also measured as tiebreakers to pick the best machines.

Finally, we checked how easy it was to clean each air fryer by hand and by using a dishwasher on dishwasher-safe parts. Starting with a clean air fryer each time you cook is extremely important to avoid smoking while cooking and to ensure the best airflow possible.

What to Consider When Buying an Air Fryer

The three most important factors when choosing an air fryer are capacity (matched to your household size), style (basket vs. toaster oven vs. dual-basket) and counter space.

Style: Air fryers come in three main styles: basket style, dual-basket style and air fryer toaster ovens. In general, basket units are easy to use and great for the basics. If you want a model that can do it all and then some, consider an air fryer toaster oven instead.

• Basket Style: Basket-style air fryers have been around the longest and have seen many upgrades in aesthetic and cooking ability. At first, many basket-style air fryers were rounded and looked like an egg or a tiny spaceship. However, the round style didn't allow for a very big basket capacity; so many of these air fryers could only fit, say, one chicken breast at a time. Today, you'll find most basket-style air fryers are more angular, which allows for more cooking space. A six-quart model with an angular shape can easily fit a pound of chicken, making it great for families and larger households.
• Dual-Basket Style: Dual-basket models were introduced to the market in 2021 and have quickly gained popularity. Dual-basket air fryers give you the option of air frying two different foods at once (at different times and temperatures), which makes them great for making whole meals or cooking in extra-large batches. Keep in mind, these models take up quite a bit of space on a countertop, so you'll need to have room for it.
• Air Fryer Toaster Ovens: Air fryer toaster ovens have been on the market for years and have come a long way since their humble beginnings. Many of these models act as countertop ovens that can air fry, bake, roast, toast, reheat, dehydrate, broil, make frozen pizza, proof and more. These air fryers tend to have larger capacities that can fit cake pans, quarter-sheet trays, brownie pans and even casserole dishes, making them super versatile and useful for holiday cooking if you need more oven space.
• Air Fryer Lids: Air fryer lids are designed to fit over your pressure cooker to turn the cavity into an air fryer using heated coils and a fan. We've tried multiple models and don't feel they work nearly as well as a standalone air fryer or air fryer toaster oven. Plus, their price tag is comparable to some budget-friendly air fryers, but the performance just isn't there.

Size: One of the main considerations to keep in mind when buying an air fryer is its size and footprint. If you plan on keeping the air fryer on your countertop, take measurements of your space to ensure it will fit. If you want to stow it away when not in use, opt for an air fryer that's on the smaller side and can fit in a cabinet or pantry.

Capacity: If you have a larger household, you'll want to opt for an air fryer with at least a six-quart capacity for feeding a family of four or more. Compact air fryers with a two- to four-quart capacity can work for a household of one or two people. Dual-basket air fryers are ideal for feeding a crowd, especially if they have removable dividers.

Functions: Many air fryers are multi-functional. You can find air fryer toaster oven combo units and even pressure cookers with an air-fry function. Depending on your space and how you plan to use your air fryer, a combo unit could be right for you.

Price: Prices for air fryers vary depending on brand, size and model. Air fryers can range in price from around $60 to upwards of $400. We've found that many of the best air fryers cost around $150. Air fryers are some of the main small appliances that go on sale during events such as Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday. It could be worth waiting for a sale to buy an air fryer at a discounted price.

Accessories: Make the most of your air fryer with accessories. Like the beloved pressure cooker, air fryer accessories can help make air fryers (especially basket-style ones) more versatile. Some accessories include parchment air fryer liners, silicone baking cups and even nonstick egg molds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are air fryers worth it?

For many home cooks, yes, air fryers are worth it. "Air fryers are great for quickly cooking vegetables, chicken, fish, potatoes and frozen foods. They're also excellent for reheating foods you want to get crispy again. They may be less useful for large families that would need to cook in several batches, or for someone who already uses a countertop convection oven with an air-fry setting," says Amanda Neal, Food Network Kitchen's lead recipe developer.

How do air fryers work?

Air fryers are essentially countertop convection ovens. Convection cooking allows you to cook food quickly and evenly in less time than a traditional oven or toaster oven. A heating element and powerful fan are set within the cooking chamber. Together, they circulate hot air around the food set in a basket. The basket allows air to flow all over the food, making it extra crispy — kind of like how oil surrounds your food during deep frying.

What size air fryer do I need?

For one to two people, a two- to four-quart air fryer is usually sufficient. For two to three people, look for a four- to six-quart model. For a family of four, a five- to six-quart air fryer is a good starting point. For five or more people, consider a seven- to eight-quart model or a larger dual-basket air fryer. Basket shape matters, too. A wider basket gives food more room to brown and crisp evenly.

Are air fryers healthy?

While an air fryer can certainly be a healthier alternative to deep-frying foods, simply using an air fryer to make a recipe does not make it healthier. "A major misconception is that pre-fried items (such as bagged frozen chicken nuggets or fish sticks) are somehow made healthier when prepared in an air fryer. Air frying is certainly a great way to prepare these frozen foods to crispy perfection, but these types of foods are no healthier than when prepared in a conventional oven," says Food Network's health and nutrition consultant Dana White, MS, RD, ATC.

How much does a good air fryer cost?

You can get a good air fryer for about $80 to $150. Basic models cost around $50 to $80, while larger dual-basket or premium models can cost $150 to $250 or more. Look for a roomy basket, simple controls and parts that are easy to clean rather than paying extra for lots of presets. If you want the best deal, air fryers are often discounted during sales events such as Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday.

Can I use nonstick spray in an air fryer?

Most air fryer trays are made of nonstick materials and don't require more oil to prevent sticking. If you want to use a nonstick spray or some oil for cooking, we recommend spraying the food itself before adding it to the air fryer.

Can I use aluminum foil or parchment paper in an air fryer?

Unlike microwaves, air fryers function like ovens and can be used with foil and parchment paper. Just note that adding these to the fryer can limit the air flow in the machine, making your food less crispy.

Air fryer vs. convection oven — what's the difference?

Both an air fryer and convection oven use a fan to circulate hot air around food. An air fryer has a much smaller cooking chamber, so the hot air moves quickly and close to the food. This helps food cook and crisp faster. A convection oven can hold more food but generally takes longer to preheat and cook. Think of an air fryer as a small, powerful convection oven designed for quick cooking and crisping.

How do I clean an air fryer?

No matter what you've seen or heard on social media, never submerge your air fryer in water or turn on the air fryer with water and soap inside. If you have a basket-style air fryer, remove the basket and rack from the machine and wash both with warm soapy water, then dry completely before inserting back into the machine. For air fryer toaster ovens, remove the air-frying rack, baking sheets, or other accessories and clean with warm soapy water. For any machine, use a damp cloth to wipe down the inside and outside of the machine. Let it dry completely before using it again. We recommend cleaning your air fryer after each use to keep it functioning optimally.

Other Air Fryers We Tested

Since 2019, our Food Network Shopping Experts have tested over 25 different air fryer models. A popular model among consumers, we previously tested the COSORI Pro Air Fryer and appreciated its sleek appearance and design. In testing, it passed our frozen fries and chicken tests wonderfully, but our cake was slightly dried out after cooking. We still think the COSORI is a good air fryer, but our top picks just barely outperformed it.

We also tested the "As Seen on TV" PowerXL Classic Air Fryer and found its performance to be lackluster during our frozen fries and cake tests. Plus, its large barrel design made it awkward and out of place on our countertop.

The Philips Original Air Fryer produced adequate results, including crispy fries and juicy chicken. However, we weren't big fans of the clunky dial controls that made it difficult to tell how long our food had been cooking for.

Looking for a new air fryer? Sarah Holden, culinary producer for Food Network Kitchen, breaks down three of our top picks, above.

Article Update History

In August 2026, we changed our best large-capacity pick to best for families and our best small pick to best for one person. We also added further testing insights to each product caption and testing photos. In January 2024, we added a new best overall pick, a pick for large-capacity air fryers, as well as picks for beginners and best air fryer with a window. We also updated this in August 2023 with a new best value pick, December 2022 with a new best air fryer toaster oven pick, and in January 2021, when our original favorite, the Crux 2.6-Quart Air Convection Fryer, was discontinued, we added a new best overall.

Why You Should Trust Our Testers

T.K. Brady is the senior commerce editor for FoodNetwork.com and has been testing and reviewing products for more than five years. She developed the methodology and process for testing air fryers. Ben Mims is a food editor and culinary expert. He has written a cookbook on air frying. Amanda Neal, Leah Brickley and Jill Novatt are culinary school graduates and professional recipe developers regularly creating and testing air fryer recipes. Since 2019, our Food Network Shopping Experts have tested over 25 different air fryer models to find the best ones on the market.

Why You Should Trust Food Network Shopping Experts

Food Network Shopping Experts believe the best method for testing products is based on how our fans are going to use them in the real world. In each of our Tested and Reviewed stories, products are tested in real home kitchens that reflect real-world use cases. Our testers follow rigorous testing rubrics designed by our expert editors and take copious notes during the testing process. When choosing the best products, our testers evaluate all of the testing data and take into consideration many factors, including ease of use, price, product availability and practicality. The products covered on FoodNetwork.com are chosen completely independently by our editors without any outside influence. Our editors do not accept products in exchange for a positive review or promised coverage.