Best Air Fryers of 2022 – (Top 5 Tested)

An air fryer is a kitchen appliance that cooks by circulating hot air around the food using the convection mechanism. It is a smaller version of the convection oven.

 A mechanical fan circulates the hot air around the food at high speed, cooking the food and producing a crispy layer via the browning reactions of caramelization and the Maillard reaction. The Maillard reaction requires temperatures of between 280-330°F (140-165°C), while caramelization temperatures depend on the sugar being caramelized and range from 230-360°F (110-180°C). (source)

Types Of Air Fryer 

Basically all air fryers works the same way. Air is heated and blasted around the inside of the appliance in a way that’s similar to a fan oven. They can also be used to cook a range of other foods.

The model you pick affects how much space you have to cook with, and how much effort you have to put in. These are the main types:

• Air fryers with a pull-out tray – these have a tray or basket you add food to and slot in, you usually can’t check progress without pulling out your food.
• Air fryers with a bowl – these have a wider bowl with a viewing window in the lid so you can check on the food without disturbing the process. They sometimes have a stirring paddle too, though this doesn’t always make for better chips.

What Can You Cook In An Air Fryer?

Air fryers are fast, and once you understand how they work, they can be used to heat frozen foods or cook all sorts of fresh food like chicken, steak, pork chops, salmon and veggies. Most meats require no added oil because they’re already so juicy: just season them with salt and your favorite herbs and spices. Make sure you stick to dry seasonings — less moisture leads to crispier results. If you want to baste meats with barbecue sauce or honey, wait until the last couple minutes of cooking.

How To Use Air Fryers

1. Shake it.

Be sure to open the air fryer and shake foods around as they “fry” in the machine’s basket—smaller foods like French fries and chips can compress. For best results, rotate them every 5-10 minutes.

2. Don’t overcrowd.

Give foods plenty of space so that the air can circulate effectively; that’s what gives you crispy results. Our test kitchen cooks swear by the air fryer for snacks and small batches.

3. Give foods a spray.

Lightly spray foods with cooking spray or add just a bit of oil to ensure they don’t stick to the basket.

4. Keep it dry.

Pat foods dry before cooking (if they are marinated, for example) to avoid splattering and excess smoke. Similarly, when cooking high-fat foods like chicken wings, make sure to empty the fat from the bottom machine periodically.

5. Master other cooking methods.

The air fryer isn’t just for frying; it’s great for other healthy cooking methods like baking, roasting and grilling, too. Our test kitchen also loves to use the machine for cooking

How We Choose The Best Air Fryers

Each and every air fryer in our best air fryer guide has been tested by our Small Appliances Editor, Samantha Webber. Samantha has used each of these air fryers in her own kitchen over the course of at least a few weeks, meaning she is able to compare directly on key factors such as taste, user experience, cooking times, and ease of cleaning.

Samantha used standardized recipes across all the machines she tested, cooking streaky bacon to see how fast and evenly it would crisp up, and cooking homemade potato fries to see how well the air fryers can handle large servings. Because she used them in her own kitchen for weeks at a time, Samantha also cooked an assortment of home recipes while working from home and making lunchtime salads.

BEST AIR FRYER 2022: OUR TOP PICKS

#1. INSTANT VORTEX PLUS DUAL BASKET AIR FRYER – (Best Air Fryer Overall *Tested*)

SPECIFICATIONS

• Dimensions: 17.8 x 17.5 x 14.8 inches
• Capacity: 8 Quarts
• Settings: Air fry, roast, broil, bake, reheat, and dehydrate

Instant™ Vortex™ Plus Dual Basket is the best air fryer for 2022. It has a ton of useful features, but top of the list has to be the ClearCook window. The see-through window works with a perfectly placed light inside so you can check on the cooking progress without opening the basket. The dual baskets mean you can cook double up cooking, or cook two separate foods at the same time. Sync Cook and Sync Finish automatically match settings for cooking or match the finish time between the two baskets. The EvenCrisp™ air flow technology delivers crispy, tender results every time with 95% less oil. 6 cooking programs give you one-touch access to easy recipes, but let you customize for yourself. And because the cooking basket and cooking trays are non-stick and dishwasher safe, clean-up is a snap. Download the User Manual

• 8-in-1 air fry, roast, broil, bake, reheat or dehydrate
• ClearCook window and internal light to easily monitor cooking progress without opening the basket
• Dual air fry baskets and separate controls for each basket
• Sync Cook program automatically cooks two portions with the same settings
• Sync Finish program automatically finishes cooking at the same time for two types of cooking
• 6 customizable cooking programs for quick one-touch meals
• EvenCrisp™ air flow technology for the crunch and tenderness of deep-frying with 95% less oil
• Adjustable cooking temperature from 95 to 400° F (35 to 205° C) to fit any recipe
• Little to no preheating time, from frozen to golden in minutes
• Easy to use touchscreen with step-by-step instructions displays each stage of cooking
• Cook up to 8 portions: perfect for perfect for large families, parties and meal prep
• Dishwasher-safe non-stick cooking basket and cooking trays make clean-up easy
• Countertop-friendly design fits any size kitchen
• Stainless-steel accents for a perfect combination of function and style
• Built-in safety features like Overheat Protection™, auto-off and more
• 1700 watts, 120 V~ 60 Hz, ETL Certified

With an 8-quart capacity that’s split across two drawers, this Instant Vortex Plus Dual Basket Air Fryer is a brand new model that’s designed for families and those who want to cook a whole meal in one appliance

How-To Videos

#2. NINJA FOODI 14-IN-1 8-QT XL – Amazon’s Favorite Air Fryer is Amazing Value

SPECIFICATIONS

• Dimensions: 11.8 x 14.3 x 12.7 inches
• Capacity: 5.8 Quarts
• Settings: 13 cooking functions, keep warm, pre-heat

Meet the Ninja Foodi 14-in-1 8-qt. XL Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer with SmartLid. The pressure cooker that steams and crisps. SmartLid Slider unlocks pressure cooking, air frying, and SteamCrisping, all under one SmartLid. SteamCrisp Technology steams and crisps at the same time for faster, juicier, crispier results. 14 1-touch programs unlock even more versatility.

• Pressure cook, air fry, and SteamCrisp all under one SmartLid
• SmartLid Slider: Slide to unlock 3 cooking modes and 14 cooking functions all under one lid.
• SteamCrisp Technology: Steam and crisp at the same time for faster, juicier, crispier results without drying out.
• Unlock the juiciest way to air fry, prepare 1-touch meals up to 40% faster, and bake artisan breads and cakes up to 25% faster.
• Deluxe Reversible Rack: Double your cooking capacity or make 3-component full meals at the touch of a button mains and sides all done at the same time.
• 14 programmable cooking functions: pressure cook, steam&crisp, steam&bake, air fry, broil, bake/roast, dehydrate, sear/saute, steam, sous vide, slow cook, yogurt, keep warm, proof
• Pressure cook up to 70% faster than traditional cooking methods* and air fry for crispy results with 75% less fat than traditional frying. (*Vs. slow-cooked, braised, and low-simmer recipes) (**Tested against hand-cut, deep-fried French fries)
• 8-qt. pot and 5-qt. Cook & Crisp Basket are ceramic coated, nonstick, PTFE/PFOA free, and dishwasher safe.
• Includes: 1760-watt unit with SmartLid, 8-qt. cooking pot, 5-qt. Cook & Crisp Basket, Deluxe Reversible Rack, and 45+ recipe chef-inspired cookbook.

With a newer take on multi-cooking, the Ninja Foodi 14-in-1 8-qt XL Pressure Cooker makes it easier than ever to air fry in your instant pot. The lid has a slider that will allow you to adjust the lid for all different cooking modes, including a new one: steam air fry. 

How-To Videos

#3. INSTANT POT VORTEX PLUS 6-QUART 6-IN-1 AIR FRYER – (Best For Speedy Meals and Delicious Fries)

SPECIFICATIONS

• Dimensions: 14.92 x 12.36 x 12.83 inches
• Capacity: 6-quart
• Settings: Air fry, roast, bake, broil, dehydrate, reheat

The Instant^™ Vortex^™ Plus 6-quart Air Fryer is sleek, fast, versatile, and convenient, perfect for the modern family on the go. With EvenCrisp^™ technology for crispy, tender results every time whip up all your favorite finger foods with less oil and no mess.

Download the User Manual

• 6-in-1 so you can air fry, roast, broil, bake, reheat or dehydrate
• 6 customizable programs for one-touch lemon chicken, stuffed peppers, cinnamon buns and more
• Adjustable temperature ranges from 95 to 400 °F (35 to 205 °C)
• Easy to use touchscreen displays each stage of cooking
• Little to no preheating time, from frozen to golden in minutes
• Non-stick air fryer basket fits a 2 lb. bag of fries or a 4 lb. chicken
• EvenCrisp™ air flow for the crunch and tenderness of deep-frying with 95% less oil
• Cook up to 6 portions: perfect for perfect for growing families, side dishes, and meal prep
• Countertop-friendly design fits any size kitchen
• Stainless-steel accents for a perfect combination of function and style
• Built-in safety features like Overheat Protection™, auto-off and more
• 1700 watts, 120 V~ 60 Hz, ETL Certified

WNot only does it air fry like a dream, but the Instant Pot Vortex Plus 6-Quart 6-in-1 Air Fryer has six setting to bake, reheat, broil, and even dehydrate. 

How-To Videos

Introducing the Vortex Plus 6 Quart

Instant Vortex 6 Quart – Perfect Peach Turnovers

#4. NINJA FOODI 2-BASKET AIR FRYER WITH DUALZONE – (Best Air Fryer For Families)

SPECIFICATIONS

• Dimensions: 14.92 x 12.36 x 12.83 inches
• Capacity: 6-quart
• Settings: Air fry, roast, bake, broil, dehydrate, reheat

The Ninja^® Foodi^® 6-in-1 8-qt. 2-Basket Air Fryer with DualZone^™ Technology. It is an air fryer with 2 independent baskets that let you cook 2 foods at once, not back-to-back like a traditional single-basket air fryer.

• DualZone^™ Technology features Smart Finish feature for cooking 2 foods 2 ways that finish at the same time, and a Match Cook button to easily copy settings across zones for full 8-qt capacity.
• 6 customizable programs: Air Fry, Air Broil, Roast, Bake, Reheat, and Dehydrate.
• XL 8-qt. air fryer capacity lets you fit mains and sides at the same time for making quick family meals, or up to 4 lbs. of French fries or chicken wings.
• 2 independent 4-qt. zones have their own cooking baskets, cyclonic fans, and rapid heaters.
• Easy-to-clean baskets and dishwasher-safe crisper plates.
• Wide temperature range: 105°F–450°F.

There are six modes: air broil, air fry, roast, reheat, dehydrate, and bake. We found that the air fry mode is great, especially when you use the removable crisper plates, and you can use one in one drawer to air fry chicken while baking or roasting vegetables in the other drawer to make fajitas or simply a balanced meal. 

How-To Videos

#5. PHILIPS ESSENTIAL AIRFRYER – (Best Air Fryer For Small Kitchens)

SPECIFICATIONS

• Dimensions: 13.31 x 13.31 x 13.98 inches
• Capacity: 1.8lb
• Settings: 7 cooking modes, reheat

Philips has been manufacturing air fryers for more than a decade, and the Essential Airfryer HD9252/91 certainly benefits from the brand’s years of experience. Its all-black design and orange LED display may not be the most stylish, but it turns out evenly browned fries and chicken wings every time. 

Air fryers use hot air to crisp foods placed in the frying basket more quickly compared to traditional methods. The Philips HD9252/91 uses a starfish design on the bottom of the frying basket, which, according to Philips, ensures hot air circulates more easily. This means that, like all air fryers, it uses considerably less oil when crisping food – Philips claims you’ll require 90% less oil with its air fryer – and so offering a healthier way to enjoy foods that would usually be deep-fried, without compromising on the taste.

• 5-quart / 4.8-liter capacity
• Frying basket and plastic holder are dishwasher-safe
• Seven presets covering fries, chicken and frozen food

We were impressed by the air frying in the Philips Essential Airfryer. It has a unique ‘starfish’ base that makes sure the air circulates around the entire basket, for even results. 

How-To Videos

Are Air-Fried Foods Better for You?

By most measures, air frying is healthier than frying in oil. It cuts calories by 70% to 80% and has a lot less fat.

This cooking method might also cut down on some of the other harmful effects of oil frying. The reaction that happens when you fry potatoes or other starchy foods makes the chemical acrylamide, which research links to greater chances of getting cancer. One study shows that air frying lowers the amount of acrylamide in fried potatoes by 90%.

Some things about air frying may not be better for you, though. In one study, air frying of fish raised the amount of a substance called “cholesterol oxidation products” (COPs). COPs form when the cholesterol in meat or fish breaks down during cooking. Studies connect these substances to coronary heart disease, hardening of the arteries, cancer, and other diseases.

One way to lower the amount of COPs when you air fry fish, the study shows, is to add fresh parsley, chives, or a mixture of the two. Research shows these herbs act as antioxidants to reduce the COPs in air-fried foods.