Like all modern appliances, air fryers come in a wide variety of different sizes, shapes and colors. Selecting just one out of the many that are available on the market is no easy task for shoppers. Trying to research and learn about the various models of air fryers out there can be a very time consuming and arduous chore. But it doesn’t have to be, and that’s where we can help.
After investing 22 hours into product research, comparing and analyzing over two dozen different models of air fryers, we picked three units which we consider to be the cream of the crop. We based our selections on a number of different factors, including cooking capacity, controls, design, advanced features and price. Click here to see our comparison chart.
Best Overall: Philips HD9240-94 Avance X-Large Air Fryer
The Philips HD9240-94 Avance is, in our opinion, the best air fryer currently on the market. It is our top pick and we give it our highest recommendation. The Philips HD9240-94 air fryer has all-digital, easy-to-use controls that will allow even the least technologically savvy people to prepare their favorite fried foods at home.
The Philips Avance uses “Rapid Air Technology” to cook your foods to a crunchy and crispy finish without using any oil (although you may use a tablespoon or so of oil if desired). The fryer circulates hot air quickly and evenly throughout the cooking basket, which cooks the food in a way so as to give it a texture similar to if you had deep fried it in oil. The food comes out crispy on the outside and juicy/tender on the inside. In addition to the health benefits of this air fryer, you’ll also find that it leaves much less of a smell than a traditional deep fryer, which can cause your home to reek of fried oil for hours.
Using the touch screen controls, you can adjust the heat to the right temperature for the type of food that you are cooking, up to a maximum of 390 degrees. Setting the timer is easy and only requires the push of a button. The Philips HD9240-94 Avance has a very large 2.6 pound (5.5 Liter) cooking basket, which is larger than any other model with the exception of the GoWISE USA GW22631, and will allow you to cook a generous quantity of food in a single cooking session. Additionally, the fryer’s unique double layer rack helps give it a greater “effective” cooking surface area than it would otherwise.
The Philips air fryer is also very easy to clean, as both the non-stick drawer and basket are diswasher safe. In addition, it has a nifty cord storage department that helps reduce clutter on your countertop. With a price of just over $300, it’s certainly not the cheapest air fryer on the market, but if you have a large family to feed and want to buy the biggest and best unit out there, then you’re going to have to pay up.
Best Value: GoWISE USA GW22631 4th Generation XL Air Fryer
If you’re looking to get the best “bang for your buck” then the GoWISE USA GW22631 is the one you want. The GoWISE USA GW22631 is a “4-in-1” appliance that can grill, bake, roast and of course fry, all without requiring the use of unhealthy and fattening oil. The fryer’s powerful 1,500 watt heating element can cook foods at a temperature of up to the 400 degrees. And with an extra large basket capacity of 2.6 pounds (5.5 Liters), the GoWISE USA GW22631 will allow you to cook fries, mushrooms and meatballs for the whole family, without having to run multiple cooking sessions.
The fryer also has a 30 minute timer, which you can conveniently adjust depending on what kind of food you plan to cook and your own personal tastes (the longer you fry the food, the browner and crispier it will become).
It also comes with a handy cookbook containing a number of different recipes that air frying newbies will find invaluable. There is a bit of a learning curve when using this device, as it takes a bit of trial and error to get your food exactly to your liking, but the cookbooks are a big help in getting you up to a quick start.
Additionally, not only is the GoWISE USA GW22631 4th Generation XL easy to clean, but all of its parts are dishwasher safe as well. All in all, this is a terrific air fryer, and considering that you can pick one up for just under $180, it also offers excellent value for money spent.
Best Budget Model: Ivation IV-AFT3215B Oil-Less Air Fryer
If you’re new to the world of air frying and don’t like the idea of shelling out a ton of money on something that you’ve never used before, then you should definitely take a look at the Ivation IV-AFT3215B. Affordably priced at just under $140, the Ivation IV-AFT3215B is perfect for people who just need a basic air fryer that a novice user can set up and use quickly right out of the box with minimal hassles.
But don’t get us wrong – this is still a good quality air fryer, and it can even match up with some of the higher end models in certain areas. Its best feature may actually be its aestethics. Its blue, digital “touch screen” display, sleek black body and silver accents give it a decidedly modern and stylish look. But this futuristic looking gadget isn’t nearly as complicated to use as its appearance might suggest. Its 7 pre-set cooking functions allow you to cook just about anything with a simple touch of the screen. You can even bake a cake with this versatile cooking machine.
The temperature is fully adjustable and can be set to as low as 175 degrees or as high as 392 degrees. Additionally, it comes with a built-in 30 minute timer as well as various safety features, including automatic shutoff in case of overheating and auto stand-by mode. Bottom line: If you’re looking for a bargain, then you won’t find a better one than the Ivation IV-AFT3215B.
How To Choose The Best Air Fryer
If you want to be able to cook foods quickly and without needing to use artery clogging oil, then you will definitely want to have an electric air fryer in your home, and a good quality one at that. It’s important that you know what to look for, as the best air fryers have certain qualities and features in common. Also, some features may be more important to you than others, depending on what your needs and preferences are. Here is a list of some points to consider when deciding on which air fryer to purchase.
Capacity
Unless you want to spend a lot of time cooking, you’ll want to get an air fryer that has a large basket that can hold a substantial amount of food. Most air fryers come with baskets that can hold approximately 3.2 liters of food. Generally speaking, the bigger the capacity the better. However, if you have limited countertop space, you’ll probably want to get a unit that has a smaller footprint. But getting a unit that’s too small may limit your cooking options (e.g. a whole chicken may not fit inside the basket), so it’s important to weigh the pros and cons of each.
Controls & Settings
If you’re not a tech savvy person, then you’ll want to stay away from air fryers that have complicated controls. However, this is generally not an issue as you’ll find that most air fryers have just two basic adjustable settings: cooking time and temperature. Most fryers can reach a max temperature of about 390, but can also be set at a lower temperature, down to about 150 depending on the model. Some machines also come with pre-programmed settings that are designed to be used with a specific type of food item, such as chicken or French fries.
Price
Air fryers can range quite a bit in price, anywhere from about $80 on the low end to over $300 for more advanced models. If you’re having a hard time picking out a model to buy, it can be very helpful to first narrow down your choices by price. Be aware, though, that like with any product, you’ll generally get what you pay for and air fryers are no exception to that rule. Cheaper units tend to be less durable and harder to clean, so keep that in mind if you do decide to go with a lower end model.
Comparison Chart
Our Top Pick
$$$$$
2.6 Pound / 5.5 L (X-Large)
Extra-Large Capacity
Yes
Yes (Up to 390°F)
Yes
17 x 12 x 12
Best Value
$$
2.6 lb. / 5.5 L (X-Large)
Extra Large Capacity
Yes
Yes (Up to 400°F)
Yes
15 x 14 x 12
Best Budget Model
$
1.5 lb. / 3.2 L (Medium)
7 Pre-set Functions
Yes
Yes (Up to 392°F)
Yes
14 x 13 x 13
Best Compact Air Fryer
$
1 lb. / 2 Liter (Compact)
Dual Convection Fans
No
Yes (Up to 400°F)
Yes
14 x 13 x 13
Top Rated
$$$$
1.8 lb. / 3.8 L (Medium)
Rapid Air Technology
Yes
Yes (Up to 390°F)
Yes
15 x 15 x 15
Top Rated
$$$
2.2 lb. / 4.6 L (Large)
Odorless Filter
No
No
Yes
14 x 17 x 9
Very Good
$
1.7 lb. / 3.5 L (Medium)
7 Pre-set Functions
Yes
Yes (Up to 400°F)
Yes
15 x 14 x 14
Good
$
1.5 lb. / 3.2 L (Medium)
Small Footprint
No
Yes (Up to 400°F)
Yes (Downloadable)
14 x 13 x 12
Good
$$
1.5 lb. / 3.2 L (Medium)
2 Extensive Cookbooks
No
Yes (Up to 392°F)
Yes (e-Book)
16 x 13 x 13
Good
$
1.4 lb. / 3 L (Compact)
8 Pre-set Functions
No (Push Buttons)
Yes (Up to 392°F)
Yes
13 x 12 x 12
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