Air Fryer Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Model for You

Air fryers are not only the latest craze in the kitchen, but they’re among the greatest, at least in recent memory. They’re like the Harry Potter of kitchen appliances, getting people to cook who wouldn’t otherwise, as well as giving home chefs an easier, more convenient, or at least alternate method of getting dinner (or a snack) ready.

These devices are not magic. In fact, they’re surprisingly simple – they’re small convection ovens, regardless of what shape they come in. There’s a heating element inside that produces radiant heat and a fan that whips that hot air around so that food cooks quicker and more evenly.

Like all appliances in and out of the kitchen, there are good ones and there are ones that you’re better off avoiding. It does get a little more complicated than that, however, as they do come in a variety of shapes and sizes with a number of different features. So, one might be great but not right for you, while another one fits the bill perfectly.

To help you navigate all the various air fryers out there, I’ve broken down the types of air fryers and who they’re best for, as well as the different criteria best used to rate all the models out there. Buckle up, because you’re about to know a lot more about air fryers than you ever thought possible.

How To Choose an Air Fryer

There are a number of factors to consider when choosing an air fryer. Some are more important than others, but they all have a place when making that choice. Not only do you want to have a good handle on how much power you need, but internal capacity, temperature range, what kind of modes are available, and more.

Capacity

The internal capacity of an air fryer might be one of the most important considerations. The price and physical dimensions are often correlated to how much food an air fryer can cook at once.

First, be aware that you’ll see the capacity listed in liters in one place and quarts another. They’re almost one to one, so a six liter capacity is the same as a six and a third quart capacity.

The smallest models including portable air fryers and smaller basket air fryers have under a three liter capacity. Since this capacity really limits you to cooking a single serving at once, you should really only consider one of these if you want something portable or want an air fryer that needs to be stored under a dorm bed, as you can only cook a small amount of food with this.

Models between three and five liters are similar in that they only really work as a kitchen appliance for households of one or when you just want to prepare a snack.

Most regular sized basket-style air fryers fit in the five to ten liter range, and allow a decent amount of internal capacity for one or two people. If you want to create a serving of fries for two people, shoot for this range of capacity.

Toaster oven or oven-style air fryers make up the majority of models that fit in the 10 to 20 liter and the 20+ liter ranges. These models have a lot more capacity, often allowing one to cook multiple dishes at the same time. The internal capacity is more ideal for larger households or home chefs that like to do more than the bare minimum. They often allow you to cook multiple dishes at once, especially when they come with more than one tray. Imagine using multiple trays in a regular oven. It’s the same here, but smaller.

The 20+ liter models take this to the next level as these are the ones that are also big enough to rotisserie a full chicken. Most people cooking for a family will be okay with the 10 – 20 liter range if they don’t care about doing rotisserie.

Capacity (Liters / Quarts)	Best For	Typical Servings	Common Appliance Types	Notes
<2 L / <2.1 qt	Singles, dorm rooms, quick snacks	1 small portion	Compact basket models	Very limited space—fits a handful of fries or 2–3 chicken wings.
2–3 L / 2.1–3.2 qt	Singles or light eaters	1–2 small portions	Compact basket models	Good for reheating, frozen snacks, or small meals.
3–4 L / 3.2–4.2 qt	One-person meals, occasional two-person use	1–2 full servings	Standard basket	Can handle a small chicken breast and some sides.
4–5 L / 4.2–5.3 qt	Couples, small families	2–3 servings	Standard basket or small oven	Good balance of size and footprint; fits 2–3 chicken thighs.
5–6 L / 5.3–6.3 qt	Families of 3–4	3–4 servings	Large basket or oven-style	Can roast a small whole chicken or batch cook sides.
6–7 L / 6.3–7.4 qt	Families or batch cooking	4+ servings	XL basket or multi-function ovens	Suitable for meal prep or larger portions of meat and veggies.
7–10 L / 7.4–10.6 qt	Larger families or entertaining	5–6 servings	Large oven-style or dual-basket	Often includes racks or trays; good for multiple-layer cooking.
10+ L / 10.6+ qt	Meal prep, large households, multi-dish use	6+ servings	Oven-style, rotisserie combos	Can cook full meals at once; includes rotisserie, bake, dehydrate modes.

Temperature

If you think that all air fryers essentially have the same temperature range, you’ll be surprised to find out that that’s not actually the case. Not every air fryer can get down to around 130 F needed for dehydrating fruit. And some machines top out at 400 F, even though some recipes require temperatures of 450 F.

Temperature Range (°C / °F)	Best For	Common Appliance Types	Notes
70–90°C / 160–195°F	Dehydrating fruits, herbs, jerky	Oven-style or premium models	Not all air fryers offer this range. Requires longer cook times.
100–120°C / 210–250°F	Proofing dough, gentle reheating, low-temp roasting	Some multi-function and oven models	Ideal for delicate tasks. Not usually available in budget models.
130–150°C / 265–300°F	Reheating leftovers, baking soft items (e.g., muffins)	Most modern air fryers	Helps avoid over-crisping when reheating or baking.
160–180°C / 320–355°F	Baking, roasted veggies, general cooking	Basket and oven-style	Common mid-range setting; good for balanced crisp and cook-through.
180–200°C / 355–390°F	Most air frying tasks: fries, nuggets, meat, fish	Nearly all air fryers	Core cooking range; good balance of crisping and moisture retention.
200–230°C / 390–450°F	Fast crisping, browning, frozen foods, broiling	Premium models, some XL baskets	Not available in all units. May require preheating to prevent burning.

Similarly, the Timer Range on air fryers is not universal, either. Just about every air fryer can get up to an hour, but plenty can’t go beyond that. If you want to dehydrate food, you not only need a low temperature, but a long cooking time. And if you want to use an air fryer for baking, you might need a longer time range.

Timer Range	Best For	Common Appliance Types	Important Features to Look For	Notes
0–30 minutes	Quick meals, snacks, reheating	Compact/budget models	Manual dial or digital timer; auto shutoff may be missing or imprecise	Usually enough for fries, frozen snacks, or wings. May lack pause/stop.
0–60 minutes	General daily cooking: meat, veggies, baked goods	Most mid-range basket models	Digital interface, auto shutoff, end-of-cycle alert	Most foods finish within this window. Look for timers accurate to the minute.
0–90 minutes	Longer baking, denser foods, batch cooking	Larger basket or oven-style	Countdown timer with pause/resume; auto preheat alert	Allows longer unattended cooking, e.g., roasts or casseroles.
Up to 10 hours (600 min)	Dehydrating, proofing dough, very slow cooking	High-end multi-function models	Dedicated dehydrate or proof mode with long timers	Requires accurate low temp control to be useful.

A little more niche but also important is heating type. Most air fryers have a single heating element and that’s more than enough, especially for basket-style and smaller size air fryers. Some have dual heating elements. If you’re looking to get very large models, you might want to keep an eye out on whether there’s a second heating element to help out. The third type of heating element is the most niche. You won’t come across a lot of infrared models, but you’ll find them to be pricey thanks to this cutting edge way of heating food. Plus, they heat up almost instantaneously.

Heating Element Type	Best For	Common Appliance Types	Important Features to Look For	Notes
Single Top Element	Everyday frying: fries, nuggets, meats	Most basket-style models	Strong top fan, reflective inner walls for even heat	Most common setup; fast and effective for most air frying tasks.
Top + Bottom Elements	Baking, casseroles, multi-textured meals	Oven-style, dual-zone air fryers	Independent control, adjustable zones	Provides more even browning and eliminates need to flip food mid-cook.
Dual Heating Zones	Split-cook meals, faster preheat, versatility	High-end dual-basket models	Separate timers/temps per basket or zone	Ideal for families or cooking mains + sides at once.
Infrared + Convection Hybrid	Fast cooking, searing, less oil use	Niche premium models	High-temp searing, lower overall power draw	Less common, but can give better browning at lower energy cost.
Ceramic-coated Heating Area	Health-focused users, easier cleanup	Some nonstick models	Ceramic insulation, stain resistance	Doesn’t impact heat performance much but improves hygiene and durability.

The lack of a temperature control is more of a worry with cheap models and something I would wholeheartedly just avoid if you can. Not having temperature control really limits what you can cook in the air fryer. Some foods need a certain amount of time to fully cook. You can’t just lower the time to account for temperature every time, though sometimes you can.

Wattage

The wattage of an air fryer is somewhat closely related to temperature insofar that underpowered models can only muster so much heat just because they’re limited by wattage. Models range from about 1000 to over 1,700 watts.

Models at the low-end may take longer to heat up and are going to be limited in how high of a temperature they can hit. Going from 1,000 to 1,500 watts typically offers better performance. Since models with around 1,500 watts are basket-style air fryers and don’t have a huge internal capacity, it’s more than enough power and you don’t really need to worry about finding a model with more than that.

In fact, you won’t really see basket-style air fryers with 1,700+ watts as that amount of power usually comes with toaster oven models that have more internal capacity to heat up. In regards to toaster oven air fryers, you do want more wattage as they need more power to heat up that larger internal capacity. I’ve seen some cheaper toaster oven air fryers with under 1,200 watts and they end up with, at best, mixed reviews on their performance.

Wattage Range	Best For	Typical Appliance Types	Cooking Performance	Things to Consider
800–1000W	Small snacks, single servings, low power use	Mini/compact air fryers (<2 L)	Slower heat-up, limited browning	Good for travel, dorms, or light use.
1000–1300W	One-person meals, occasional use	Small to mid-size basket models	Moderate cook times, limited crisping power	May struggle with dense or large foods.
1400–1600W	General household use (2–4 people)	Standard basket (3–5 L)	Balanced speed and crisping	Energy-efficient while still capable.
1700–1800W	Family-sized meals, faster preheat	Large baskets, oven-style models	Fast, even cooking; good for proteins	Requires dedicated outlet to avoid tripping breakers.
1800–2000W+	Large families, meal prep, multi-function	XL ovens, dual-basket or hybrid units	Excellent searing and speed; handles volume well	May be overkill for small households. Some models auto-adjust wattage.

Controls

Controls are a matter of preference. For instance, though most models use digital controls, there are plenty with physical ones. Having digital controls does usually means that there’s a display of some sort telling you the temperature and how much time is left. And many will prefer that, not to mention adjusting or selecting a mode with a press of a button.

Analog controls do offer a tactile feel, however, that some might like. And though you would think only cheaper models have analog controls (that is mostly true), there are some more premium models such as the Our Place Wonder Oven that uses physical controls.

If you have an air fryer with extra features (we’ll cover that below), the display helps tell you whether that feature is engaged. Maybe you have a toaster oven air fryer with an included thermometer. That thermometer is typically just a sensor that plugs somewhere into the air fryer where the display will pop up with a temperature reading, to give one example.

One of the biggest areas for consideration when it comes to an air fryer’s controls are the amount and variety of cooking modes included.

Now, most basic basket-style air fryers, especially on the cheaper side of things, top out at four distinct modes. Besides “Air Fry,” you’ll find some combination of “Reheat,” “Bake,” “Roast,” “Toast,” or even “Dehydrate,” if that particular air fryer can go low enough temperature-wise. The pricier models, especially with toaster oven air fryer models, offer a lot more including “Proof,” “Broil,” and “Rotiserrie” just to name a few.

Among the various modes, “Dehydrate,” “Broil,” and “Rotisserie” are specific use cases that you should watch out for if you have any interest in dehydrating, broiling, or doing rotisserie. After all, most other modes are just temperature and time presets.

While these are as well, for the most part, they require higher or lower temperatures and times than most air fryers can achieve. Plus, the Broil function allows a high heat situation that some air fryers can’t handle so that you can crisp the top of, say, a french onion soup or crème brûlée.

Of course, seeing these functions available in the modes lets you know right away that this particular air fryer is capable of these things.

Mode / Function	What It Does	Best For	Do You Need It?	Notes
Preheat	Brings the fryer to target temperature before cooking begins	Crispier fries, meats, baked goods	Helpful, especially for proteins and baked items	Some models preheat automatically; others require manual timing.
Reheat	Warms up leftovers without drying them out	Pizza, fries, cooked meats	Nice to have, but can be replicated manually	Usually uses moderate temps (130–160°C / 265–320°F).
Keep Warm	Maintains cooked food at a low temp (~60–80°C / 140–175°F)	Delaying dinner, batch cooking	Useful for families or multitasking	May activate automatically after a cook cycle in some models.
Dehydrate	Runs low, consistent heat over several hours for moisture removal	Fruit chips, jerky, herbs	Only if you plan to dehydrate	Needs long timers (4–10 hrs) and low temps (<90°C / 195°F).
Bake	Adjusts time/temp curves for more even baking	Muffins, brownies, breads	Good if you plan to bake often	Works best with oven-style models with racks.
Roast	Cooks at steady mid-to-high temps for larger portions	Vegetables, chicken, casseroles	Useful, but often similar to regular air fry setting	Often overlaps with “air fry” in performance.
Grill	Uses high heat for char or browning (sometimes bottom element)	Steak, veggies, fish fillets	Useful if paired with a grill plate	More common in multi-function units; may require special tray.
Broil	Focuses high heat from the top element for crisping the surface	Cheese melts, finishing meats, gratins	Helpful for top-browning	May go up to 230°C / 450°F. Requires strong top element.
Air Fry	Main mode: circulates hot air for crisping with little or no oil	Fries, chicken wings, nuggets, tofu	Essential	Default mode for most recipes and units.
Toast	High direct heat over short time	Bread, bagels, quick crisping	Optional	Works better in flat oven-style models than deep baskets.
Custom / DIY / Multi-Stage	Lets you program multiple cooking phases (e.g., 5 min at 200°C, then 10 min at 180°C)	Complex or layered meals	Very useful for advanced users	Found in high-end models. Saves time if you often tweak recipes.

Build

Air Fryer Type

Start with the type of air fryer. I’ll go over this more in-depth later, but here are the basics:

Basket-style: Most common. Great for quick meals and compact kitchens.
Oven-style: Usually larger, with trays instead of baskets. Better for batch cooking or baking.
Multi-cookers with air fry lids: Flexible but bulkier. Good if you want one appliance for multiple cooking methods.

Note: Paddle-style air fryers are largely outdated and typically only found second-hand. They’re not part of the current mainstream market.

Size and Weight

While capacity (liters/quarts) often determines the overall size and weight, don’t ignore the external dimensions:

Compact kitchens: Check that the unit will fit on your counter or inside a cabinet.
Storage needs: If you plan to put it away between uses, make sure it’s not too heavy or awkward to lift.

Single vs. Dual Compartment

Most air fryers have a single cooking compartment, but a few premium models offer dual baskets with independent time and temperature controls. These are ideal if you want to cook two different dishes at once, like a main and a side. Expect to pay more for this feature.

Cooking Surface Design

Basket-style models use a crisper plate, which sits at the bottom of the basket. Always look for a removable crisper plate, as fixed ones are difficult to clean.
Oven-style models use removable trays, which serve the same purpose. If the tray isn’t removable, skip that model—cleaning will be unnecessarily difficult.

Ease of Cleaning

Check whether the following parts are dishwasher safe:

Basket
Crisper plate
Tray

Most modern air fryers have dishwasher-safe components, but not all do. Models requiring hand-washing of internal parts or accessories can become a chore, especially with frequent use. Oven-style models often require manual cleaning of the interior walls—just like a regular oven.

Interior Materials

There’s growing concern about plastic components inside air fryers, especially:

Basket-style units with plastic near the top heating element and fan. This is the part directly above your food.
If you’re avoiding PFAS or microplastics, look for units with all-metal interiors or those that avoid exposed plastic near the heating element.
Oven-style models are typically better in this regard—they tend to have fewer exposed plastic components near the cooking zone.

See-through Windows and Interior Lighting

These are convenience features, not essentials, but they improve usability:

A see-through door or basket window lets you monitor food without interrupting the cooking cycle.
An interior light helps make that window useful—especially in darker kitchens or with smaller foods that are harder to see.

Category	What to Look For
Type	Basket-style, oven-style, or multi-cooker. Avoid outdated paddle-style units.
Size & Weight	Check dimensions and weight—especially for small kitchens or stored-away appliances.
Compartments	Single is standard; dual basket models offer more flexibility but cost more.
Crisper Plate/Tray	Must be removable for easy cleaning. Avoid models with fixed components.
Dishwasher-Safe Parts	Most are, but always double-check. Dishwasher-safe baskets and trays save time.
Interior Materials	Avoid exposed plastic near the heating element. Prefer metal-lined cooking zones.
Viewing Window & Light	Nice-to-have features for monitoring without stopping the cooking process.

Extra features

When considering which air fryer to buy, it’s worth thinking about what kinds of features matter to you. Some models keep things very simple, including little more than a single crisper plate or tray. Others come with a wider range of accessories and options that expand what you can do.

Toaster oven–style air fryers, in particular, often include multiple trays, each designed for specific types of cooking—like roasting, baking, or dehydrating. A few high-end models even include built-in meat thermometers that plug directly into the unit, allowing you to monitor internal food temperature in real time through the display.

While it’s difficult to objectively compare air fryers based on accessories—since it comes down to what the manufacturer includes—this does make a practical difference if you plan to cook certain dishes. For example, if you’re regularly preparing steak or rotisserie chicken, a built-in thermometer can be very useful, especially if you don’t already own one.

Safety features are another important part of the equation. One of the most essential is auto-shutoff, which stops the device when the timer runs out or when something goes wrong. While it might seem like this would be standard on all air fryers, it’s actually not.

Some lower-cost models skip it entirely, which introduces unnecessary risk. For something that heats to high temperatures on your countertop, skipping basic safety features to save a bit of money isn’t worth it. If cost is a concern, it’s still better to go with a well-reviewed budget model that includes core protections than to compromise on safety.

Smoke control is another feature that occasionally appears, though it’s less common and generally less critical than auto-shutoff. These systems usually rely on proprietary filters or airflow designs to reduce visible smoke, especially when cooking fatty or marinated foods.

If you already have a good understanding of how to adapt recipes for air frying—like avoiding excess oil or using lower temps when necessary—you can manage without it. That said, if your goal is to make the air fryer as safe and low-maintenance as possible, or if your kitchen has limited ventilation, smoke control is worth considering.

Types of Air Fryers

Type	Description	Strengths	Drawbacks	Best For	Typical Capacity	Typical Price Range
Basket-Style	Compact unit with a pull-out drawer and basket; food sits on a crisper plate	Small footprint, fast cook times, good crisping, easy to use	Must shake or flip food; can’t monitor without pulling basket out	Quick meals, snacks, 1–4 servings	2–6 quarts (1.9–5.7 L)	$40–$150
Oven-Style	Countertop appliance with front-opening door, trays/racks instead of basket	Large capacity, multi-rack cooking, see-through door, more versatility	Bulkier, slower preheat, may need manual cleaning inside walls	Families, batch cooking, baking, roasting	10–26 quarts (9.5–25 L)	$90–$300
Multi-Cooker (w/ Air Fry Lid)	Pressure cooker or slow cooker base with swappable lid for air frying	Very versatile, saves counter space, can replace several appliances	Heavier, not as convenient for quick air fry tasks	One-pot meals, soups, meats, occasional air frying	6–8 quarts (5.7–7.6 L)	$100–$250 (w/ lid included)

Basket-style

The most basic type of air fryer is the basket-style. It’s also the most recognizable one as an air fryer, usually a bit taller than wider, with a handle on the front to remove the basket from the air fryer, hence the name. The basket typically also contains a vented crisper plate on the bottom to allow the circulated hot air to get under the food. This crisper plate is typically, but not always, removable.

Though these types of air fryers are usually a little light on features and are on the smaller side capacity-wise compared to other types, they don’t take up too much countertop or storage space. This makes them ideal for those in small apartments or cramped kitchens. Or if you’re on your own, they’re perfect for just making a personal serving or heating up a snack.

The form factor also means that they’re the easiest of the various types to clean as the entire basket can usually be removed and put into the sink (sometimes even the dishwasher) to soak and wash.

And since they’re typically on the smaller side with less features, not to mention the most popular, they’re usually the most affordable.

Toaster Oven

The toaster oven-style air fryer, also referred to as oven-style, is the second most popular. And as their name suggests, it looks like a toaster oven. They sometimes are bigger, especially the ones that one might refer to as rotisserie air fryers, but they all have a front door or two to access the inner compartment.

Instead of removing a whole basket to place food into, these air fryers come with trays, often various types. You would place food on these trays to cook and then pull out or remove the trays to get the food you just cooked.

Toaster oven air fryers have much bigger capacity than basket-style models, so you can cook larger amounts of food, even cooking whole chickens in some cases. And since they come with multiple trays typically, more than one dish can be cooked at once.

Since the only part of the toaster oven that comes out are the trays, cleaning toaster oven air fryers is tougher. The trays are usually dishwasher safe, but you’ll have to clean the inside walls the same way one would a microwave – with a rag and cleaning solution.

On the bright side, they do come with plenty of features, with plenty of quality ones having over ten different cooking modes or presets to do everything from reheating, roasting, baking, and more. Of course, because of the bigger size and extra features, these are more expensive than basket-style models. While it’s tough to give concrete price differences, toaster oven-style models seem to be up to 50% more expensive.

These air fryers are great for those trying to make larger amounts of food, whether it’s roasting an entire chicken or trying to cook multiple dishes for a family.

Multi-Cooker

Multi-cookers are a bit tricky since they technically are more than one type. But since they’re a bit niche, it makes sense to gather them all under this term. When you see multi-cookers, you’ll come across things like microwaves or pressure cookers with air fryer functionality.

Combining two functionalities in one is great for those trying to save space as you don’t have to make countertop or storage space for both an air fryer and whatever other kitchen appliance you’re considering. Plus, even if they’re the most expensive of the various types of air fryers, you can save a little money buying one appliance over two.

Having the multiple functionalities also makes them more versatile than the other types of air fryers. After all, both basket-style and toaster oven air fryers can only use convection heat to cook, whereas a microwave can use electro-magnetic radiation, and pressure cookers use steam heat.

The flip side of that is if something goes wrong, then you have to replace a device that fulfills multiple functions for you.

Paddle-style

Paddle-style air fryers are a rarefied breed, but not necessarily for good reason. They’re out there though, so you should be aware of them. To define them, they’re a type of air fryer that includes a rotating paddle to push food around the basket, making it so you don’t have to pause cooking, remove the basket, and shake the food to get even results. However, if you overcrowd the basket or put softer foods in, the paddle can break or mush up whatever you’re cooking.

These types of air fryers are best for those who mainly want to cook things like french fries or veggies that don’t break down easily. Of course, the paddle can be removed so you can use this type of air fryer exactly the same as the basket-style, except that the basket has a gap in the middle for the mechanism moving the paddle around.

While I don’t see a ton of paddle-style air fryers available new – Tefal seems to be the only brand advertising new ones – you should be aware of them, in case you decide to go used or happen across an air fryer at a thrift store that looks a little different. I do recommend you skip and go with a quality option from one of the other types of air fryer.

What to Look For in an Air Fryer

It’s tough picking the best air fryer overall. Not just because there are multiple manufacturers making solid machines, but because there are so many different needs out there. For some, a feature-packed smart air fryer like Dreo’s ChefMaker or a dual-compartment air fryer from Ninja are the most ideal for their situation, while others would prefer something simple with great performance like the Cosori Turbo Blaze.

Since everyone’s needs are different, it’s important to get a handle on which criteria are most important to you.

If you live in a small space, you need to make sure to go with something that actually fits. That means prioritizing basket-style air fryers with smaller internal capacities – I would suggest around six liters or less.
If you’re trying to cook for your family, get something bigger, whether it’s a dual compartment air fryer or a larger capacity toaster oven model.

Consider what kind of dishes you hope to cook in one as well. Temperature range is important if you have recipes that call for very low or high heat, as not all air fryers are the same. The same thought process goes for time ranges.

Similarly, having more modes might seem better, but only if you care about versatility. If you do, then definitely look for models with more modes, focusing on which modes are important for you, whether it’s something like “Toast,” “Rotisseries,” “Dehydrate,” etc.

Also consider which additional features are make-or-break for you. Having a see-through window with an internal light is crucial for someone doing some convection baking. After all, you don’t really want to open to check and let heat out – that’s a great way to kill a soufflé, for example.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

There are a couple mistakes that people tend to make with air fryers. First, some go for the cheapest they can find. You can find good air fryers at budget-friendly prices so saving a few dollars here and there is not worth it. After all, many of these bottom of the barrel models come with tell-tale signs that they’re cheaply made.

An air fryer without temperature control or a removable tray or plate is not only more of a hassle to use than even modestly more feature-filled models, but who knows what else the manufacturer cheaped out on. Even if you’re shopping for something cheap for your kid going off to college, try to get something that’s not quite bottom of the barrel. It’s not that much more.

In a similar vein, you’ll see a few (well, a lot of) off-brand models online, especially certain big retailers with names that make no sense and seemingly no history. Be careful as you’re taking a chance with something unproven that might be a dropshipping brand that’s here today and gone tomorrow. If something goes wrong with your air fryer, they are not going to have the same warranty or customer support as established brands.

Brands

Cosori

Cosori is a newer brand that’s quickly become one of the best-selling names in the air fryer space. Their models are known for being budget-friendly yet powerful, with a variety of both basket-style and toaster oven–style options. Cosori air fryers tend to get very good reviews, especially for their performance relative to price. They offer a two-year limited warranty.

Dreo

Dreo is another relatively new company, known for forward-thinking, smart home devices. They currently only offer one air fryer, but it’s gained attention for its advanced smart features. It’s on the pricier side and comes with a one-year warranty, but stands out due to its modern design and strong user feedback.

Ninja

Ninja is arguably the most popular air fryer brand on the market. They offer a wide variety of models, including both basket-style and toaster oven–style units. Ninja is known for cutting-edge features and dual-compartment models, which are great for cooking multiple items at once. Their products tend to be more expensive than average but are consistently well rated. They come with a one-year limited warranty.

Philips

Philips was one of the first brands to bring air fryers to the mass market. While they aren’t the flashiest or most cutting-edge, their basket-style models are solid, reliable, and focused on the budget to mid-range space. Philips offers a two-year warranty, and their models are generally very well received by users.

Tefal (T-Fal)

Tefal was once known for paddle-style air fryers, but that’s no longer a focus. Today, they offer a small range of basket-style and toaster oven–style air fryers. One standout is their infrared air fryer, which heats almost instantly. Their lineup is relatively small, and they offer a one-year limited warranty.

Breville

Breville focuses exclusively on toaster oven–style air fryers, typically at the premium end of the market. Their models are known for being feature-rich, especially in terms of smart cooking functions and rotisserie capabilities. Breville units are well-reviewed and come with a two-year limited warranty.

Our Place

Better known for cookware, Our Place offers a single toaster oven air fryer in two sizes. What sets them apart is design aesthetics—their models are visually appealing and popular among style-conscious buyers. Despite the premium branding, they offer only a one-year warranty.

Instant Pot

While primarily known for pressure cookers, Instant Pot also offers a wide range of air fryers, including standalone units and multi-cookers with air fry lids. They’re among the most prolific and affordable brands in the space, offering a wide variety of sizes and styles. Reviews are generally positive, and all products come with a one-year warranty.

Chefman

Chefman is a budget brand, offering a wide variety of basket and toaster oven–style air fryers at some of the lowest prices for an established name. While they’re affordable, user ratings tend to be slightly lower than competitors. Their air fryers come with a one-year warranty.

Cuisinart

Cuisinart is a well-known kitchen appliance brand but has a relatively small footprint in the air fryer space. They do offer a few basket-style models, which are well liked and affordably priced. One standout feature is their three-year warranty, which is longer than most other brands offer.