What Is an Air Fryer?
An air fryer is a countertop cooking appliance that combines a heating element and a powerful fan to circulate hot air, similar to a convection oven. Air fryers produce foods that are crispy outside and moist and tender inside without actual frying. Philips invented the original air fryer and debuted it at a European consumer electronics fair in 2010. Since then, the category has exploded. By some estimates, more than 25 million air fryers were sold in the U.S. over the past two years. Philips’ original brand name, Airfryer, has now become the generic term for the category.
Air fryers on the market today come in two basic styles: those with cooking baskets and those that are like toaster ovens with an air fryer convection feature. They come in a variety of sizes, shapes, colors, and weights. They are also available at a range of price points, with some small models costing as little as $40 and larger multi-use models running upwards of $300. The proliferation of models and manufacturers has produced a range of features, with many multi-functional units offering cooking options beyond air frying, including roasting, toasting, baking, dehydrating, rotisserie, and more. Some models feature parts that are dishwasher-safe for easy clean up.
Important considerations when choosing an air fryer include how you intend to use it, what foods you intend to cook in it, how many people you plan to feed, how much counter space you have available, and your sensitivity to noise and heat. Since it’s likely to live on your countertop, aesthetics are another factor to consider.
How Does an Air Fryer Work?
Air fryers use convection heat to cook foods so that they are browned and crispy on the outside but remain moist and tender on the inside. Cooking with an air fryer takes less time and makes less of a mess than deep frying or traditional oven roasting. Another plus is that air frying also uses minimal oil.
Air fryers feature perforated baskets, wire racks, and/or ceramic plates with holes that allow hot air from above to circulate around food at temperatures around 400 degrees Fahrenheit. This cooks the outside first and seals in the moisture. If you’re looking for convenience, you’ll find that some models come with preset programs to cook common foods at the touch of a button. You may also have a preference for digital controls – think LEDs and touchscreens – versus analog dials to control time and temperature.
Special Deals On Air Fryers – (Top 5)
Below you can take a look at the top 5 special deals on air fryers for 2023. Select the best deal on air fryers for you:
#1. INSTANT VORTEX PLUS DUAL BASKET AIR FRYER – (Best Air Fryer Overall)
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 comes with one of the best special deals on Air Fryers. 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
PROS
- Transparent doors
- Speedy cooking
- Straightforward cleaning
- Family-friendly
- Simple to use
CONS
- Makes a little noise
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.
PROS
- 14 cooking modes with one lid
- an steam air fry
- 75% less fat
CONS
- A hefty model
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.
- 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
PROS
- Makes delicous homemade fries
- Budget-friendly
- Large capacity
- great for families
- Removable air fry insert
CONS
- None!!
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.
PROS
- Easy to use and clean
- Cook two dishes at once
- Generous capacity
CONS
- The controls are a little fiddly
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
PROS
- A top option for compact kitchens
- Easy to clean
- Preset cooking modes for convenience
CONS
- Modes are a little confusing
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.