Eating a healthy diet is essential to living a good life. Unfortunately, that means saying goodbye to a lot of delicious foods… or at least, it did until the air fryer came about. This countertop, vertical convection oven allows you to still enjoy deep-fried foods without all the unhealthy fats you get from the vat of oil you cook it in.
And yes, you read it right. It works very much like a convection oven so it’s not only for deep-fried goodies. You can roast, grill, and even bake using this appliance. The question now is, which one do you buy? Well, we’ve compiled a list of the 10 best air fryers in the market today and reviewed each one to help you out.
Top 10 Air Fryers Of 2020 Reviewed
1. Philips XL Airfryer
Air Fryer with a Large Capacity
One of the most expensive air fryers in the market also happens to be number one on our list. Why? Well, you definitely get what you pay for with the Philips XL. You get loads of space – enough to feed a family of 4. You get a smart preset button which allows you to keep the setting for your favorite food. You’re able to customize the settings. The temperature reaches 390 degrees. And this high quality machine comes with not just a recipe book but a free app as well that has over 150 recipes!
Pros:
- Smart Preset Button
- Large cooking surface
- Digital touchscreen that’s incredibly user-friendly
Cons:
- Takes up a lot of space on your counter
- Very expensive
- Accessories sold separately and are also very expensive
2. BLACK+DECKER HF110SBD
Best Air Fryer Under $200
If you’re looking for something that’s more affordable, you may want this next one on our list. It’s definitely not on the high-tech side because it lacks a touchscreen as some of our other picks. But at half the price of the XL, you still get a top quality air fryer that does the job at also half the power (only 1220 Watts). The size is smaller which makes it perfect for small kitchens. And it comes with dual convection fans to speed up cooking time.
Pros:
- Dual convection fans means faster cooking time
- Affordable
- Easy to clean
Cons:
- A bit noisy
- Can’t cook for a large group
- The numbers on the dials are very small/hard to read
3. Ninja 4-in-1 AF101 Air Fryer
Air Fryer With Accessories
The Ninja 4-in-1 AF101 Air Fryer is one of the appliances that should be in your kitchen already. Not only will you cook your favourite meals and snacks quickly, but also you will enjoy healthy cuisine. As the name itself suggests, the Ninja 4-in-1 Air fryer is multipurpose; you can use it to air fry, roast, pre-heat and dehydrate your food. Hence, this fantastic fryer is an all-rounder; this means that you can use it as a supplementary or you can replace other kitchen appliances totally. Because the Ninja Air Fryer cooks your food with up to 75% less fat compared to conventional frying style, you will be able to enjoy your food without any guilt.
Given the performance and the wide temperature range, this air fryer gently dehydrates the food and makes them crispy. Therefore, it is perfect for veggie chips, homemade dried fruits, and jerky. The Ninja Air Fryer features a 4-quart ceramic-coated non-stick basket and crisper plate and also a 2.6 ft cord. Interestingly, it is super easy to clean as the plate, and the basket is dishwasher friendly.
Pros:
- Multipurpose and convenient
- Easy to use and clean
- Lightweight and takes less space
Cons:
- May take a while before the burning plastic smell comes off
- Needs a few minutes to pre-heat
- The fan is a bit loud
4. Breville BOV900BSS Convection and Air Fry Smart Oven Air
If you like to host but prefers to serve healthy meals, then you need to invest in Breville Smart Oven Air. This fantastic appliance will help you provide the perfect foods and beverages with little effort. Breville Air Fry Smart Oven is versatile and has impressive capabilities; you can use it to roast, broil, toast, dehydrate, slow cook, make pizza, and so on. Interestingly, it is 1 cubic ft, which is large enough to fit a 14-lb turkey.
What not to love about Element IQ 6-independent quarts, this feature allows the power to move where it’s needed most whether it’s above or below. Therefore, allowing the most precise cooking. Additionally, this appliance features an LCD display with 13 preset cook programs that makes it easy to access and function. The oven light will automatically switch off at the end of the cooking cycle.
Pros:
- Versatile and easy to use
- It’s large enough to make big meals
- Features an LCD display for ease of use
Cons:
- It takes longer to toast bread than the regular method
- A bit pricey
- Convection fan is loud
5. Philips HD9641/96 Airfryer Avance Turbo Star
One of the features that clearly stand out to us about this Philips air fryer is the presets. You get 4 cooking presets for chicken, frozen fries, meat, and fish. This makes cooking a little bit easier for someone new to the air frying trend. In addition to that, you also get over 200 recipes from an app and a free recipe book. While it is 20% smaller than the XL, it still uses the same technology which means you’ll get crispy, fried results every time.
Pros:
- Comes with preset programs for frozen fries, meat, fish, and chicken
- Comes with an app and free recipe book (a total of over 200 recipes)
- Easy to clean
Cons:
- Can only cook for 2-3 people at a time
- Loud
- Instructions aren’t detailed
6. GoWISE USA GW22621 4th Generation Electric Air Fryer
Best Air Fryer For The Money
If you’re smart about your money, you’ll definitely GoWise. For less than $100, you get a top quality air fryer that has a 30-minute timer, a temperature range of 175 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, a touchscreen, and seven presets. No more guesswork needed when it comes to your favorite foods! Once you’re done the cooking, the air fryer goes into standby mode so you don’t have to turn it on again if you need extra cooking but it also doesn’t continue heating up.
Pros:
- 7 built-in smart programs for favorite foods
- Really affordable
- Large enough to cook one whole chicken
Cons:
- Non-stick coating may chip and flake
- No rack for creating cooking layers
- Can only cook small amounts of food at a time
7. Big Boss Oil-less Air Fryer
While most of our other picks don’t allow you to see the food as it cooks, the Big Boss does. Made mostly out of clear glass, you can see your fries, chicken, fish, or whatever slowly turn into something crispilicious. Not that you need to watch it because this air fryer comes with a temperature and timer dial.
There are recommended time & temperatures for certain popular foods right beside the dials plus one light to let you know when the air fryer is turned on and another to let you know when it’s heating up. Another feature you might want to know about this air fryer is the fact that you can stack two types of foods using the air fryer’s trays and cook them both at the same time!
Pros:
- Allows you to see what’s happening inside
- Can cook 2 different types of food at the same time
- Affordable
Cons:
- Hard to clean
- Too bulky/big to leave on the countertop
- Takes too long to cook
8. T-fal FZ7002 ActiFry
The T-fal Actifry is a popular choice among consumers because it delivers exactly as it promised – you can cook all your favorite fried food with only one tablespoon of oil (or less!). It even includes a measuring spoon for you. Like the Big Boss, you can also check the food while it cooks through a steam-free viewing window.
And if you’re likely to be busy preparing other things in the kitchen while your food cooks, the ActiFry comes with a buzzer that alerts you when the food is done. As an added bonus, this air fryer also comes with a filter to ensure odor-free cooking!
Pros:
- Steam-free viewing window
- Enough space to cook 2.2 pounds of food
- Lid and the ceramic-coated nonstick pan are both dishwasher-safe
Cons:
- Takes up a lot of space on your countertop
- Doesn’t produce a “deep fried” taste as much as other models on our list
- Expensive but not feature-rich
9. Aucma Air Fryer
Do you enjoy to indulge in some fries, chicken and steak? Or do you like to pass your time baking your favourite cake? You can now enjoy all those meals healthily with less fat. If that’s the case, consider Aucma Air Fryer. This fantastic kitchen appliance will take your cooking to a whole new level. Besides, you can pre-warm it in advance to make your baking even. Let’s start off by acknowledging the fact that with the 9 preset programs, Aucma Air Fryer will give you the flexibility and the convenience to cook your desired meals.
It features a digital touch control temperature of up to 400°F and a 60-minute timer. Because safety is a priority, Aucma Air fryer is designed in a way that it automatically shut off when the cooking session is complete. What not to love about the detachable basket that allows you to put and pour out food. The basket has 3 layers of Teflon coating that is non-stick and dishwasher safe. Because of the ample ventilation, heat will be dissipated quickly, which means it will serve you for a long time.
Pros:
- Has dynamic airflow making it durable
- Easy to use and clean
- Has a sturdy construction
Cons:
- Maybe a little small to cook a big meal
- Cooking time may take a bit longer
- Beeping noise is too loud
10. COSORI Air Fryer
Cosori Air Fryer takes your cooking to a whole new level. It means cooking more than just fries. This appliance will cook just about anything; from the egg bakes, side dishes, desserts, roasted vegetables and meats. Because it has a pre-heating option, you will love the texture of the food once the cooking is complete. And besides, pre-heating takes 2-5 minutes which beats the time taken by conventional ovens.
Cosori Air Fryer has a unique Shake and Keep Warm function that alerts you when to shake the food for an even fry. The Keep Warm function maintains the ideal temperature incase you want to serve it later. The inner basket is removable and completely portable. You can take it to the table in case you want to help from there. On top of that, the detachable basket is non-stick and dishwasher safe. If you are looking for a perfect kitchen appliance to gift someone, this is it.
Pros:
- Easy to use and clean
- Cooking time is faster than conventional methods
- Reheats food very well without losing the taste
Cons:
- May need to buy some accessories separately
- Basket release steam which might dampen the surface
- The burnt plastic smell may take a while to go away
Some other air fryers you might also want to check out include the Power Air Fryer XL, NuWave Brio Air Fryer, the Kalorik Convection Air Fryer, and the Gourmia GCR1700.
How To Choose the Best Air Fryer: The Ultimate Buying Guide
There’s no question that you love fried food. Who doesn’t, right? But eating a healthy diet means eliminating all that fried goodness from your meals… or does it? Fortunately for you and me, air fryers can create the deliciously crispy foods we love without using the same amount of oil. But before you rush out to get yourself one of these magical devices, you might want to consider several important factors that will help you choose which one will work best for you. Take note that all air fryers use the same basic technology – using the circulation of hot air – to cook food so this shouldn’t factor in your choice.
Price
This may be everyone’s number 1 concern because these babies don’t come cheap. The most affordable one in our list, NutriChef Digital Electric Oil-Free Air Frying Cooker, still requires you to shell out almost $100. The GoWISE USA GW22621 4th Generation Electric Air Fryer which is also under $100 costs a few dollars more than the NutriChef but gives you more bang for your buck. If you’re willing to shell out more, you might be interested in the higher end models from Philips which cost over $200 but most consumers swear they’re worth the price.
Capacity
Naturally, you want to be able to cook enough food to feed the people inside your house. Most air fryers have a capacity for 1.5 to 2.5 pounds of food inside the basket at a time. Perfect for those fries, chicken wings, or nuggets that you want to cook for snack time. Or for single people who simply want to cook healthier. But if you have a large family, you might want to go for an air fryer that can cook more at one go such as the Philips XL Airfryer.
Size
This is an issue that you need to consider because of two things – storage and counter space. An air fryer needs space at the back for the hot air to come out and sort of a “runway” space in front for when you pull out the basket of food. If you plan on leaving it on your countertop, storage won’t be a problem. But if you plan on putting it away after use, you may want to check if there’s space enough in your cabinet for the air fryer.
Wattage
Air fryers usually require around 800 to 2,100 watts of power, depending on the model. You’ll need to make sure that the outlet in your kitchen can support this.
Temperature Range
This is an essential feature because different foods cook at varying temperatures. You might also want to consider a maximum temperature of 400 degrees Fahrenheit to give you even more versatility. Most of our picks have this maximum temperature point.
Digital or Analog
How techy are you? Some people prefer turning dials while others prefer a touchscreen.
Preset Programs
You may want to consider a unit that offers this feature because it takes a lot of the guesswork out of your hands. If not a preset program, you might want to look for an air fryer that comes with recipes to make learning how to use it much easier.
Other things you might want to consider when checking out air fryers include warranty, alert features, included accessories, and maintenance.
While our top picks are supposed to help make your choice a lot easier, it won’t always be true since improvements are bound to turn up in the future. The important thing to remember is to consider all your needs and your current lifestyle so that you end up making the right choice.
