Best Air Fryers of 2024
1. BEST OVERALL
Ninja Air Fryer Max XL
PROS
- Best performance of the basket-style air fryers we tested
- Easy to use
- Cooking basket is nonstick and dishwasher safe for easy cleaning
CONS
- Some may find the basket diameter a bit small
The 5.5-quart, basket-style Ninja Air Fryer Max XL was the top performer in our air fryer test. It scored the highest marks across the board for ease of use, thanks to its intuitive, easy-to-read buttons and clear and useful owner’s manual. During our tests, the air fryer basket slid in and out easily, which made handling a breeze.
We’re fans of the basket’s slick, ceramic nonstick interior, and we like that the removable tray fits snugly and securely in the bottom of the basket so you don’t have to worry about it falling out when you turn the food out onto a plate. Both the basket and tray are dishwasher safe and easy to clean, even if you choose to hand wash.
In addition to being easy to use, the Ninja Air Fryer Max XL scored the highest in performance. It produced crispy and evenly cooked frozen fries and homemade fries as well as chicken wings that were moist on the inside. The model we tested comes with a broiling rack for even quicker and juicier results — and a fast way to create melty cheese.
2. BEST VALUE
Instant Pot Vortex Plus ClearCook
PROS
- Preheat function
- Manual light turns on right before the timer goes off
- Cooking basket is non-stick and dishwasher safe for easy cleaning
- Quiet, according to user reviews
CONS
- Tray falls out when basket is turned upside down; use silicone-tipped tongs to serve
Air fryers from Instant have been on our list of the best air fryers since we started testing them. All the Instant air fryers we’ve tested, including this one, are easy to program and high-performing.
This model — a steal when on sale but a great value even at full price — particularly stands out for its see-through window design, which allows you to peer inside without pulling out the basket. It also has a light inside that turns on automatically right before the timer goes off — and you can turn it on manually whenever you want to see what’s going on in there.
In our tests, chicken wings came out crispy, golden and juicy in just 20 minutes, and frozen fries were moist but crisp and evenly cooked without shaking midway. This 6-quart ClearCook model has a preheat function built in. It takes about 3.5 minutes to reach 400˚F and chirps when it’s at the right temperature.It does not require you to press Start again after it preheats, which is helpful if you want to add your food from the beginning and walk away. It also alerts you halfway through cooking, should you want to shake or turn the food.
3. BEST COMPACT
Dash Compact Air Fryer
PROS
- Comes in an assortment of colors
- Doesn’t require as much counter space as full-size models
- Basket is non-stick and dishwasher safe for easy cleaning
CONS
- Homemade fries did not cook evenly
The Dash Compact is a good air fryer for people who cook for one or for someone who’s new to air frying and wants to try it out.At 2 quarts, it can quickly cook small portions of food. It takes up less room on your counter, and its compact, nonstick basket is dishwasher safe for easier cleaning. The cooking basket is non-stick and the overhead heating fan doesn’t touch food, so it doesn’t get dirty often.
This model has a dial timer, which makes it a little tricky to program to the exact minute. The temperature is also set via a dial and doesn’t offer many options, but we found the Dash was still a nice pick since we use its maximum temperature of 400˚F to air fry most foods. In testing, we noted that homemade fries did not cook evenly. We love that it comes in an assortment of colors that pop, unlike most air fryers on the market. The aqua, pictured here, is a fave.
4. BEST AIR FRYER TOASTER OVEN
Cuisinart Convection Toaster Oven
PROS
- Cooks very quickly
- Large cooking surface
- Drip/crumb tray for easy clean-up
CONS
- Since foods cook quickly using air fry, we recommend using a lower temp and keeping a close eye on food to help prevent burning
Cuisinart was one of the first brands to introduce a toaster oven air fryer that allows you to toast, bake, air fry and convection bake. We tested this digital version, which made not only the crispiest air-fried food in the shortest amount of time out of all the air fryers we tested, but also some of the most evenly colored toast in our toaster oven test.
Since foods cook quickly using the Air Fry setting, we recommend using a lower temp and keeping a close eye on food to help prevent burning.
The rectangular 15.5 x 16-inch air fry rack offers a large cooking surface (especially compared with basket-style air fryers) and sits atop a drip/crumb tray for easy clean-up. Since launching the toaster oven air fryer, Cuisinart also introduced a smaller, non-digital version with the same features and quality performance plus a same-sized model with a grill pan that we’re eager to test.
5. BEST PRESSURE COOKER WITH AIR FRYER
Instant Pot Duo Crisp Ultimate
PROS
- Great at multiple functions, including pressure cooking
- Clear LED display
- Dishwasher-safe parts for easy clean-up
CONS
- No cooking chart is included
Instant, the same brand that makes the Instant Pot brand multicookers, shows up on our list again, because it’s created an appliance that delivers on both pressure cooking and air frying. It’s a space saver if you don’t want to dedicate counter space to two separate units. And it also performed well in our Lab tests with its other functions, including slow cooker, steamer, sauté pan, food warmer, roaster, mini oven, broiler, dehydrator, yogurt maker, sous vide and bread proofer.
We found it simple to switch between the Duo Crisp’s 13 different cooking methods, but there’s no chart displaying easy directions of cooking times and temps. When you want to air fry, just flip the multi-use tray to the proper side and remove the protective cover that keeps the air frying element clean (it’s removed for some settings and popped on for others).
6. BEST LARGE
Ninja Speedi Rapid Cooker & Air Fryer
PROS
- Can air fry and cook with steam
- Fast and powerful
- Non-stick pot and crisper tray are dishwasher safe for easy cleanup
CONS
- Bulky, industrial design
Though the Ninja Speedi Rapid Cooker and Air Fryer looks different from — and is somewhat larger and bulkier than — most air fryers on the market, it’s worth making room for on your counter. The 12-in-1 appliance air fries well (and quickly!) and can sear, sauté, bake, roast, broil, steam, slow cook, proof, cook sous vide and even dehydrate. It can also steam and bake/air fry at the same time for the juiciest and most flavorful results.
One of the most impressive things it can do is cook quick one-pot meals by cooking the base — like pasta, rice or quinoa — on the bottom of the square basket and the toppings — like chicken, shrimp or meatballs — on the top level by inserting a rack. The rack is used for air frying and steaming in the lower position and crisping/broiling in the upper position. The tray and 6-quart basket are ceramic coated, like the other Ninja air fryers, so they’re easy to clean by hand or in the dishwasher.
7. BEST WITH STEAM
Dreo ChefMaker Combi Fryer
PROS
- Allows for steaming during air frying
- Includes a probe for guided temperature-based cooking
CONS
- Expensive
While it comes with a high price tag, this new model from Dreo impressed us in our Lab tests. The small water reservoir allows users to steam while air frying for crisp and moist results.
The unit also includes a probe that you can use when cooking in “chef mode,” which lets you select your protein and doneness to achieve an ideal cook. This mode made perfectly cooked salmon in our tests. It performed particularly well with chicken wings producing attractive browning — and while it needed a little longer than our standard testing time for grilled cheese, we were very pleased with how crunchy and gooey our sandwich was in the end.
