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For quick and easy baked potatoes, pork chops, chicken wings and more. Detachable Basket With Air Fryer
Maybe a devoted air frying fan has already told you everything you need to know about air fryers. Well, our kitchen pros say you should listen to them. We've tested more than 40 air fryers over the years, and we believe they're a great addition to most homes. Air fryers differ from convection baking thanks to their smart design — a compact chamber with great heat and airflow — that can help you make a quick weeknight dinner with little (or no!) oil. So which is the best one for you?
In the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, we test air fryers by cooking chicken wings, frozen fries, frozen mozzarella sticks and grilled cheese in each model. The top performers in our tests produced food with a crispy texture and a moist interior and offered easy-to-read, intuitive controls.
We've found great picks whether you're looking for a basket style, which has a pull-out basket and allows you to shake the foods for more even cooking; an oven style, which uses shelves to help cook foods in an even layer; a toaster oven air fryer, which can toast, bake, broil and more in addition to air frying; or a pressure cooker with air frying capability, which can sauté and pressure cook as well.
Read on for more about how we test air fryers and for our tips on how to clean an air fryer.
This 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. It also features several cook settings, which are programmed with unique maximum and minimum temperatures — including Max Crisp and Air Broil (which reach 450˚F) and dehydrate (which reaches a low of 105˚F). Another unique feature is the timer, which counts down to the second.
If you need a larger capacity model, consider the Ninja Foodi 6-in-1 Two-Basket Air Fryer. It performs just as well as the Air Fryer Max XL with even more versatility. The two baskets total 8 quarts in capacity, and you can cook the same food in each or two different foods at two different temperatures. It's also the one we turn to the most for one-person meals since each individual basket is smaller and takes up less room in the dishwasher.
READ OUR FULL REVIEW: Ninja Max XL Air Fryer Review: Easy to Use with Great Results
Air fryers from Instant, the same brand that makes Instant Pot multicookers, 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 1/2 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.
The digital control panel is highly responsive, and the knob makes it easy to program the temperature and time quickly. It has six settings that are preset with recommended (but adjustable) cooking temperatures and times, including Air Fry, Bake, Roast, Reheat, Broil and Dehydrate. The square basket maximizes cooking space, is easy to slide out and maneuver and fits comfortably in the dishwasher. It has a removable tray versus a separate basket that sits inside a drawer, and we found the tray easier to wash than a whole basket.
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 basket means easier cleaning.
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 good pick since we use its maximum temperature of 400˚F to air fry most foods. 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.
RELATED: The Best Small Air Fryers, According to Our Lab Testing
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.
The rectangular 15.5- by 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 cleanup. 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.
RELATED: The Best Air Fryer Toaster Ovens
Instant 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. When you want to air fry, just flip the multiuse 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). We also liked the large LCD display that provides helpful instructions. The 6.5-quart cooking pot, steaming/air frying rack and pressure cooking cover are all dishwasher safe for easy cleanup.
READ OUR FULL REVIEW: Instant Pot Duo Crisp Ultimate Lid Review: One Multicooker with 13 Functions
Though the Ninja Speedi Rapid Cooker and Air Fryer looks different from — and is somewhat larger 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. We found the Speedi simple to program and liked the clear control panel. The user guide is loaded with helpful instructions, tips and colorful recipes so you can learn how to make the one-pot meals.
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.
The digital interface is attractive and helpful, but it's somewhat unique (with basic air frying accessed via the "classic cook" menu), so there is a small learning curve compared with most air fryer control panels. The one caveat here is that the misting steam chamber and fancy interface do come with a steeper price tag than some other models.
We've tested more than 40 air fryers in the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances Lab, including traditional basket-style air fryers, air fryer ovens, air fryer toaster ovens and even several microwaves and multicookers with air fry capabilities. We also cook with them quite regularly in the Lab and at home and have developed countless air fryer recipes.
When we test air fryers, we evaluate their performance and ease of use by air frying frozen french fries, homemade french fries and frozen mozzarella sticks. We also prepare chicken wings and grilled cheese. Those that have steam functions also get a salmon test. We score the food on its crispiness, moistness and evenness, and we consider details like how quickly the air fryer cooks, how helpful the user guide is and whether the machine is loud. We also evaluate features like the control panel, temperature range and whether the accessories are dishwasher-safe.
We have not scored based on baked goods like cake because cake and most other desserts benefit from an even distribution of gentle heat, and most air fryers don't have heating elements on the bottom in addition to on the top (though fruit crumbles and air fryer donuts come out great!).
✔️ Style: There are several styles of air fryer now on the market, including microwave air fryer combos and electric ranges that have air fry capabilities, but we've focused on countertop models here. • Basket-style air fryers have a pull-out basket and are good for small quantities and foods that are easy to shake, like fries and veggies. • Air fryer ovens are a bit bigger and can air fry food on multiple shelves, but they require more monitoring and food often needs to be rotated during cooking. • Air fryer toaster ovens can perform multiple cooking functions — like toasting, baking, roasting, broiling and sometimes even rotisserie — in addition to air frying. • Pressure cookers with air frying capability can also provide a slew of cooking functions beyond air frying and pressure cooking, including rice, slow cook, sauté and even yogurt or dehydrate.
✔️ Size: How many people are you cooking for at one time? A compact size (around 2 quarts) is good for one to two people, while a bigger size works better for three or more. You should also consider what kinds of foods you cook. Do you need room for a dozen egg rolls, or do you just want to cook a piece of salmon for yourself?
✔️ Price: Digital air fryers tend to cost more than mechanical air fryers, as do stainless steel options versus plastic. And models that provide more functions, like steam cooking or slow cooking, will also cost more than those that are focused on air frying.
Air fryers are worth it if you like to cook foods quickly with minimal cleanup. Sure, some are bulky and may feel like a usurper of your counter space, but most people who use them see the benefits right away. They're especially great for prepackaged frozen foods and leftovers, like french fries or dumplings, that would normally get soggy or rubbery in a microwave. In the Kitchen Appliances Lab, we like using ours for quick dinners. All types of proteins, like chicken, pork chops and salmon, cook up quickly and become golden brown and juicy; veggies become nicely blistered or caramelized. We especially like air frying root vegetables, like mini potatoes and diced butternut squash and beets. And an air fryer can stand in for a toaster at times as well, producing crispy frozen waffles and even toasted bagels.
Most air fryers pair a heat source at the top of the appliance with a large fan that circulates the hot air. This design causes food to cook quickly, as do other elements like the use of perforated trays, which help increase airflow, and a small-capacity design, which helps create a high-heat environment. Through our Lab tests, at-home use and recipe development, we've found that most foods cook best at high temps, like 400˚F, for short periods of time. Small food items don't typically need to be tossed or flipped, but they can be for more even results; larger foods generally do benefit from turning for the most even cooking.
Many people don't want to hear it, but you must clean your air fryer after every use. Even if you haven't added oil — but especially if you have — the basket, trays and element can collect grease and get gummy, start to smell or, most critically, put the machine at risk of smoking.
Been using your air fryer for a while? Read our tips on how to deep clean your air fryer.
Converting a regular recipe to an air fryer recipe is not as straightforward as converting a regular recipe to a convection oven recipe, which typically requires decreasing the temperature by 25˚F and checking on it sooner. Instead, keep in mind that most foods air fry best at 400˚F unless they are thicker (e.g., chicken breasts, which take longer to cook and should be air fried at a lower temperature, like 370ºF or 375ºF, to avoid drying them out). If you're reheating foods, a good rule of thumb is to start at 300˚F for 5 to 8 minutes.
The most important thing to remember is that air fryers cook food very quickly, so keep your user guide handy and check the included cooking charts and recipes often. Until you know the recipe, it's also a good practice to start checking your food within a quarter of the time you would normally check it in the oven.
"Air frying uses significantly less oil than deep frying and pan frying, so it can provide a lower-calorie and lower-fat alternative that still delivers a crisp texture," says Stefani Sassos, M.S., R.D.N., C.D.N. "But air fryers are only as healthy as the foods you chose to cook in them. They won’t magically remove saturated and trans fats from your meals.”
To get the most health benefits out of your air fryer, Sassos recommends using it as a vessel to add more veggies and lean proteins to your diet. One of her favorite uses is air frying frozen veggies. "I couldn't believe how easy it was the first time I tried it," she says.
Nicole Papantoniou is the director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab. She has worked at kitchen appliance companies, where she helped develop some popular air fryers as well as many recipes for them. Since joining Good Housekeeping, she has had her hands on all of the new air fryers that come through the Lab (whether testing herself or overseeing testing) and has tasted food that was made in almost all of them. She's an avid air fryer user at home, too, where she has about six to choose from.
Sarah Wharton is a deputy editor with the Good Housekeeping Institute. She has tested many air fryers and added new picks to this story based on her latest evaluations.
Nicole (she/her) is the director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, where she has overseen content and testing related to kitchen and cooking appliances, tools and gear since 2019. She’s an experienced product tester and recipe creator, trained in classic culinary arts and culinary nutrition. She has worked in test kitchens for small kitchen appliance brands and national magazines, including Family Circle and Ladies’ Home Journal.
Sarah (she/her) is a deputy editor for the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she tests products and covers the best picks across kitchen, tech, health and food. She has been cooking professionally since 2017 and has tested kitchen appliances and gear for Family Circle as well as developed recipes and food content for Simply Recipes, Martha Stewart Omnimedia, Oxo and Food52. She holds a certificate in professional culinary arts from the International Culinary Center (now the Institute of Culinary Education).
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