Here are the best air fryers to buy today for oil-free frying chips, fish, croquettes, and vegetables.
We can cook raw or frozen food without oil or use a minimal amount with the air fryer. This way, we have more digestible and light foods with much fewer calories and without sacrificing taste.
The air fryer works with a fairly simple method that involves a flow of hot air generated by resistance and diffused by a fan. Many compare this technology to the convection oven, with the difference that the space inside the fryer is reduced, and the food cooks faster and more homogeneously. In addition, depending on the structure, the heating elements are positioned in different ways and offer different cooking modes.
Using an air fryer instead of an oil-filled frying pan has many benefits, including cleaner, odor-free, and fat-free cooking on the hob.
Depending on the model, or personal preference, air fryers use very little oil, equal to one or two tablespoons, or work without. This allows for an effortless and quick cleaning compared to the traditional deep fryer.
Finally, the air fryer is very convenient because it has programs and timers. So we don’t have to worry about cooking all the time and fumbling with hot oil or cooking utensils. Instead, load the ingredients and wait for the deep fryer to prepare the food for us.
Among the many models on the market, we can occasionally choose a simple and essential fryer to fry chips or fish sticks. Or opt for a state-of-the-art model with features that allows us to cook many other foods, such as roast chicken, fish, and desserts.
Table of Contents
How to choose an air fryer: types and characteristics
We must consider the different types, available functions, and cooking programs to correctly choose the best air fryer.
Structure and dimensions
The space occupied by the air fryer is important for organizing the spaces in our kitchen. The structure of an air fryer can be different depending on the model and the brand, and the choice of size will be influenced by the space we have available. However, we can divide the structure into two broad categories:
- Vertical fryer: Air fryers with a vertical structure have a fan that moves the air from bottom to top or vice versa. The appliance height can exceed 40 cm, and the width is between 30 and 40 cm. With this structure, the space for food insertion is located at the bottom of the machine. In addition, the cooking basket usually has a handle and is pulled out like a drawer, thus requiring free space on the fryer’s front.
- Horizontal fryer: The models with horizontal structure have a more contained height, which does not exceed 30 cm, but on the other hand, the width is greater, up to 40-50 cm. There is usually a lid at the top of horizontal fryers, which lifts with a book opening. This allows food insertion from above without removing the basket, except for cleaning after use. Furthermore, the lid, usually provided with a glass window, allows us to monitor the cooking status at any time.
Capacity
The capacity consists of the quantity of food it can contain during preparation. The smaller fryers usually have about 2 liters, contain about 600 g of ingredients, and are more suitable for households with two or three people.
To cook food for more people, it is better to consider fryers with at least 3 liters, which contain about 800 g of food, or even 9 liters, which allow you to prepare complete lunches for a large family.
We will consider this aspect based on the number of people who make up the family nucleus, the number of regular guests, or the number of different foods to be cooked simultaneously. The most capacious air fryers have special grids or separators to cook more foods simultaneously.
Functions
Through the touch screen displays, buttons, or knobs, we can set and control the fryer’s functioning and the various cooking programs. Among the essential functions of air fryers, we find that temperature regulation ranges between 104 and 390°F. This allows you to set the ideal temperature for each food.
The timer and acoustic signals that warn of the end of cooking are now present in all the models, together with the automatic switch-off, allowing easier management. In addition, the best air fryers are equipped with preset programs for timing and temperature, cooking desserts, frying food, and heating or defrosting food.
Accessories
An additional factor to consider is the accessories included with the air fryer. Some models do not provide extras, but others have handy accessories that vary recipes and cooking times. Here is a list of the most common accessories:
- Separator. Useful to divide the space into two to cook two different foods simultaneously.
- Grid or rack. It has the same function as the separator, with the difference that having open spaces allows the aromas of the various foods to be incorporated.
- Shovel to mix food during cooking.
- Stencils. Useful for preparing dishes such as timbales, muffins, and sweet or savory cakes.
- Skewers. Practical for preparing skewers and other spit-roasted dishes.
- Cookbook. Includes specific recipes for the oil-free fryer, with the respective temperatures and cooking times.
The Best Air Fryers to Buy
Let’s now see the selection of the best air fryers chosen in a price range between $50 and $250, with respective technical characteristics and prices.
#1. COSORI Air Fryer
- 85% Less Fat: Enjoy the same crispy textures and delicious flavors with up to 85% less fat than traditionally fried foods.
- Non-Stick Square Baskets: The air fryer’s square 5.8-qt baskets let you fit a variety of food. The baskets are removable, nonstick, dishwasher-safe, PFOA-free, and BPA-free. Product Dimensions (LxWxH): 11.8 x 12.0 x 12.7 inches (not including handle); Basket Dimensions (LxWxH): 9.5 x 9.5 x 5 inches.
- Cook Faster: The air fryer’s high-speed air circulation cooks food faster and with crispier and tastier results than a traditional convection oven.
#2. KitCook Large Air Fryer, 6.8 QT Air Fryer
- Detachable basket – The safe design of the handle makes holding the basket more convenient and avoids burns.
- One-touch led panel – The eight preset menus of air fryers can satisfy most cooking needs, Including fries/chips, pork, chicken, steak, shrimp, cake, fish, vegetables, and pizza.
- Healthier lifestyle – KITCOOK Air fryer uses hot air circulating up to 85% less oil than traditional deep-fried methods.
#3. Sanhoya Convection Oven, Glass Bowl Container, Air Fryer Toast Oven Oil Free
- Easy to use – Programmable 11-in-1 Cooker, digital touch screen, Cooking temperature up to 500℉ (350℃), makes you easily cook all foods, from crispy fries to delicious chicken wings, sweet dessert and popcorn, frozen items, ready-to-eat items, seafood, chicken and veggies.
- Healthier fried foods – 360° cyclone electric heating tube rapid heating and baking technology. With the patented spray function of the SANHOYA Convection Oven water tank, It can spray water out from the nozzle during the high-temperature degreasing cooking process to keep the ingredients fresh and juicy.
#4. Allcool Air Fryer
- Easy To Use: 30mins timer and adjustable temperature setting (175°F-400°F) are great for all ages. A novice can also cook delicious food following our 16-recipes cookbook, or many shared online recipes.
- Oil-free & Healthier: Now, Enjoy low-fat fried foods with the oil-free air fryer, frying food with at least 85 % less oil than a traditional deep fryer.
- Quick & Well Cooking: Our air fryer has a 360° hot air heat circulation system, makes food come out golden brown, and keeps the original delicious taste.
#5. Dash Deluxe Electric Air Fryer
- Quick and easy: Short on time? Load the large six qt capacity fryer basket, set the temp and timer, your food comes out crispy.
- Safer: The auto-shut-off function prevents overcooking, and the cool touch housing and handle make it safer. It’s so simple, and even your kids can use it.
- Healthier fried food: Enjoy guilt-free food with the Dash Deluxe Air Fryer; Aircrisp technology (instead of oil) reduces fat by 70-80% without sacrificing the flavor of your fried food (no more residual smell hours after you’ve eaten)—cord Length- 50 inches.
#6. KitCook Air Fryer Oven
- Multifunctional cooking methods – These air fryers have a large 4.2QT capacity, can fit a regular roast chicken, and serve a family of 3-4 people. You can do more than just fry, as this machine also roasts, grills, and bakes food like pizza, steak, french fries, drumsticks, or bread.
- Healthier fried food – KitCook air fryer with innovative, dynamic airflow technology. Fry the food more healthily, with up to 80% less oil than traditional deep-fried methods, without sacrificing the flavor. Let your family enjoy the same fried and crispy foods with less fat and grease.
#7. Elechomes Air Fryer Oven
- Easy to use: The air fryer oven has 12 cooking pre-set (Frech Fries, Chicken, Seafood, Steak, Shrimp, Pizza, Fish, Cake, Vegetable Dry Fruit Defrost) on the LED touchscreen, you can also set the cooking temp(100-400F)/time(1-60 minutes). Simple touch. No hassle, no mess.
- Large capacity: The countertop convection oven with 18.5 Quart large capacity is suitable for your whole family, and You can roast a whole 4lb chicken, 10” pizza, and even over 1kg french fries! It can accommodate full meals and even cook on three racks at once.
#8. Ninja OS101 Foodi 9-in-1 Pressure Cooker and Air Fryer
- TenderCrisp Technology lets you quickly pressure cook to lock in juices and swap lids for a crispy, golden air fry finish.
- 9-in-1 versatility lets you pressure cook, slow cook, steam, make yogurt, sear/sauté, air fry crisp, bake/roast, broil, and keep warm.
- The best of pressure cooking and air frying all in one pot.
#9. Instant Pot Vortex Plus 6-in-1 Air Fryer
- 6 Smart Programs: Customizable one-touch programs for air frying, roasting, broiling, and more.
- Easy-to-Use Display: The touchscreen shows each stage of cooking.
- 6-in-1 Appliances: Air fryer, broiler, roaster, dehydrator, plus baking and reheating.
- Fast Preheating: Little to no preheating time. Adjustable Temperature: select from 95 to 400°
#10. Instant Vortex Plus 7-in-1 Air Fryer
- Air fryer with seven built-in smart programs, including bake, roast, toast, broil, dehydrate, and rotisserie.
- 1-step EvenCrisp TechnologyTM allows you to achieve a crispy outside and tender inside whether you tumble-fry in the rotating basket or roast meat rotisserie style.
- Air fryers give you all the flavor of deep-fried cooking without the oil and mess. Get crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, perfection every time.