Best Air Fryers

• Compact air fryers generally provide enough food for one or two people. In general, the size of the basket indicates the capacity of a unit. Smaller air fryers usually make a maximum of eight cups of food.
• Compact air fryers take up less counter space than standard models. However, they may not have digital controls.
• Some compact models are designed to be tall and narrow to fit into particular cabinets or countertops.

• High-capacity air fryers hold more. They have baskets that can accommodate five quarts to more than 12 quarts of food. The largest air fryers are often referred to as “air fryer ovens.”
• They make the best air fryers for families who need larger meals. High-capacity air fryers are also well suited for people who entertain often. They're best for cooking larger items like chickens, turkeys or pizza.
• Baskets have two or three levels for keeping food items separate while cooking.
• High-capacity air fryers tend to be more costly. They are also harder to clean and take up more counter space.

• Many air fryers come with baskets that must be removed in order to stir during preparation. Paddle-type air fryers, however, require less attention.
• These self-stirring air fryers include a rotating paddle that turns the food to ensure that its evenly cooked. With a self-stirring air fryer, you can avoid undercooking one side of food and overcooking the other.
• Paddle-type air fryers tend to be more costly than basket air fryers.

• Digital air fryers offer more exact time and temperature settings compared to analog controls.
• Some digital air fryers have LED displays and touch screen settings.
• A memory feature makes it easy to cook the same item in the same way again. All you have to do is press a preset button.

• Air fryer/toaster oven combinations are designed to add the flexibility of toaster ovens to the functionality of air fryers.
• Air fryer/pressure cooker combinations, similarly, can cook crispy “air fried” items. You can also use them to make flavorful stews, pastas, rice dishes and more in the traditional style of pressure cookers.
• Combination models can be more bulky and costly than either appliance on its own. However, a combo unit takes up less space on a countertop than two appliances.

Air fryers operate in a similar way to traditional convection ovens for comparable results.

• Convection ovens have higher capacity and are better for larger families or people who frequently cook for larger groups. They take more time to preheat and thus use more energy. Also, they often take up more space and are harder to clean.
• Air fryers tend to be more compact and efficient for one or two people. They cook more quickly. Some users find that they are better than convection ovens at preparing frozen foods and breaded foods such as jalapeño poppers, chicken fingers and mozzarella sticks. They also tend to be gentler on baked goods such as souffles. Air fryers take up less space and are easier to clean.

Look for air fryers that have these key features that may meet your needs and preferences.

• Accessories such as pizza racks, baking pans and drip trays.
• Timers with preset options and automatic shutoff.
• Multi-level baskets for air-frying two or more items at the same time, such as fish and chips.
• Interior light to more easily monitor the cooking progress.
• Sleek designs and choice of colors to match your kitchen.
• Removable, dishwasher safe parts for easy cleaning.
• No-slip feet.

Tip: Most air fryers have a non-stick coating, but still need to be seasoned to ensure that food is unlikely to stick.