If you’re reading this, you’ve probably decided to finally give into the air fryer rage. Get ready to say goodbye to pre-heating your oven, waiting for it to beep and patiently hoping your food doesn’t burn.
The reason? Air fryers have taken the world by storm — and we’re definitely not mad about it!
The hardest part about using an air fryer is choosing which one to buy. With so many appliance options, and each one housing its own set of features, it can be difficult to find the right one for your space and needs.
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Luckily, we turned to a seasoned kitchen expert to dial it down.
“An air fryer is so versatile — you make make anything from frozen chicken nuggets to fresh sweet potato fries to chicken breast,” the Crate & Barrel Kitchen Team shared with the New York Post. “With air fryer cooking, you can get crispy results with less oil and quicker cooking, resulting in less fat.”
In an effort to help you find the perfect air fryer, we did all the research for you and rounded up the14 best air fryers to pick up online — as recommended by Crate & Barrel’s kitchen team and our personal at-home testing.
Additionally, be sure to check out our in-depth FAQ section for more tips on air fryers — with expertise from the Crate & Barrel kitchen team — including how they differ from other buzzy kitchen appliances.
Click to jump to a specific section:
- Best Air Fryer Overall
- Best Value Air Fryers
- Best Air Fryers Worth the Splurge
- Best Small Air Fryer
- Best Large Capacity Air Fryer
- Best Air Fryer Toaster Oven
- Best Pressure Cooker with Air Fryer
- Most Versatile Air Fryers
- Most Chic Air Fryers
Philips Essential Digital XL Basket Air Fryer
Pros:
- Incredible value for the price
- Features seven preset options
- Simple to clean
Cons:
- Some reviewers say the digital display could have been more well made
If you’re searching for a top-of-the-line air fryer that’s offered at an exceptional value and is easy to use, the Philips Essential Digital XL Basket Air Fryer is the model to look into.
“Its excellent quality will deliver excellent results from the creators of air fryers,” Crate & Barrel told The Post.
Additionally, this nifty kitchen appliance can do more than just fry; it also bakes, grills, roasts and even reheats. It’s clad with a digital touch screen fully loaded with seven presets to make it simple to find the appropriate temperature for whatever you’re cooking.
Best Value Air Fryers
Cuisinart Compact AirFryer Toaster Oven
Pros:
- Inexpensive, compared to most others on the market
- Generous temperature range
Cons:
- Doesn’t feature an LCD digital display
- The trays aren’t dishwasher-safe
Cuisinart is a brand we know and love, with a remarkable reputation for dishing out kitchen appliances and tools at a phenomenal value. Fitting the bill is its Compact AirFryer Toaster Oven — the stainless essential that’s equipped with an AirFry setting, plus toast, convection bake, convection broil, pizza, and warm. It also upholds a vast temperature range, from warm to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
“This compact one is great for small spaces, apartments and looks more like a sleek oven on your countertop,” Crate & Barrel adds, recommending the model.
Instant Vortex Plus 6-Quart Basket Air Fryer
Pros:
- Feature Odor Erase Technology and EvenCrisp Technology to eliminate lingering smells and achieve a golden finish
- Simple to use with its basket design
Cons:
- Some reviewers say the alarm feature has a learning curve
“This is a good quality air fryer for value with an innovative window to see cooking progress and reduces smell of cooking,” Crate & Barrel says, recommending the Instant Vortex Plus 6-Quart Basket Air Fryer. With a handy basket design, it couldn’t be easier to use, either.
What’s more, this air fryer comes with a ClearCook window and internal light so you can easily monitor cooking progress without opening the basket. With Odor Erase Technology (built-in, replaceable air filters that remove odors during cooking to reduce lingering cooking smells and EvenCrisp Technology (advanced technology that drives air flow top-down for a “perfect golden finish and crispy, tender results every time,” per the brand), it’s a no-brainer purchase.
Best Air Fryers Worth the Splurge
Breville Joule Brushed Stainless Steel Oven Air Fryer Pro
Pros:
- Features 13 pre-set cooking settings
- Pairs with an app to cook and adjust settings if needed
- Dual-tray design
Cons:
- Takes up a good amount of counter space
With a sharp look, the Breville Joule Brushed Stainless Steel Oven Air Fryer Pro is one that’s surely worth the investment. It features 13 pre-set smart cooking functions powered by the Element IQ system to help steer power when and where it’s needed for your next flavorful dish.
“With the Breville+ app, you can do so much with this from guided cooking to autopilot to get inspiration from your favorite chefs,” Crate & Barrel explains.
Philips Premium Digital Smart Sensing XXL Airfryer
Pros:
- Helps remove more fat from what you’re cooking, as well as decrease the amount of oil used
- High-tech and fully smart design
Cons:
- Some reviewers say the the baskets’ coating can wear off easily
“This air fryer can actually sense when something is done cooking and shut off; it’s like magic!” Crate & Barrel says, sharing why the Philips Premium Digital Smart Sensing XXL Airfryer is the real deal. It’s loaded with Fat Removal Technology to extract and capture excess fat — more fat than other air fryer competitors. Now, you can eat a bit healthier with little or no added oil you can fry your favorite foods with little or no added oil and limited fat.
More, it’s extremely high tech. With Smart Sensing technology, it combines smart sensors that estimate how much food is in the basket with rigorously tested cooking algorithms to automatically adjust cook time and temperature continuously while in use. It’s loaded with even more food settings and features, too.
Best Small Air Fryer
Philips Essential Digital Compact Basket AirFryer
Pros:
- Circulates air well
- Helps food become crispier
- Features seven settings
Cons:
- Some reviewers say operating the preset settings could be easier
“The Philips Essential Digital Compact Basket AirFryer is great for small spaces and feeding one to two people,” Crate & Barrel notes, recommending the model. Offered at a fair price, it upholds a unique and patented starfish design to swirl hot air. This way, your foods are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with little to no added oil.
It also features seven preset programs allow you to easily prepare frozen snacks, fresh fries, meat, fish, chicken drumsticks, cake and even grilled veggies at the touch of a button. How great is that? You’ll appreciate how it’s easy to clean, too, much ado to its nonstick coating and dishwasher-safe design.
Best Large Capacity Air Fryer
Instant Vortex Plus 8-Quart Dual Basket Air Fryer
Pros:
- Dual-basket design makes multi-tasking in the kitchen a snap
- Comes with 8-in-1 customizability
Cons:
- Some reviewers say the finished dish could have been crispier
For big meal prep days (or, if you’re feeding a large group), the Instant Vortex Plus 8-Quart Dual Basket Air Fryer is the best model to snag. “The two-in-one air fryer lets you cook a side and a main all at once, and it will synchronize to finish at the exact same time!” Crate & Barrel highlights.
For less than $200, its 8-in-1 functionality is a force to be reckoned with. Specifically, it can air fry, roast, broil, bake, reheat, dehydrate, SyncCook and SyncFinish.
Oh, and it’s wonderful for multi-tasking in the kitchen, thanks to its ability to synchronize your cooking. SyncCook lets you cook both baskets with the same cooking settings, while SyncFinish allows you program baskets with two different settings to automatically finish at the same time.
Best Air Fryer Toaster Oven
Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro
Pros:
- Replaces the need for multiple kitchen appliances
- Features an interior light for increased visibility
- Vast temperature range
Cons:
- Some reviewers say it can be easier to clean
According to Crate & Barrel, “the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro is one that many of our kitchen team members own personally, and they use it every single day!” This makes total sense to us here at the New York Post, too, as its Element iQ System is a versatile countertop oven allowing you to roast, air fry and dehydrate.
You can also use its super convection setting to reduce cooking time by up to 30% and choose from 13 cooking functions. We love how it includes an interior oven light for a bit of *cooking ambiance* and features a temperature range from 80 to 480 degrees Fahrenheit.
Best Pressure Cooker with Air Fryer
Instant Pot 6.5-Quart Duo Crisp Pressure Cooker Basket Air Fryer
Pros:
- Dismisses the need for both an air fryer and pressure cooker
- Wonderful end flavor and temperature controls
Cons:
- Some reviewers don’t like the steam release feature
If you were thinking about buying a pressure cooker and, separately, an air fryer, now you don’t have to — and it’s all thanks to the Instant Pot 6.5-Quart Duo Crisp Pressure Cooker Basket Air Fryer.
“This is a good quality air fryer for value with an innovative window to see cooking progress and reduces smell of cooking,” Crate & Barrel shared. With a whopping 35,000 rave reviews on Amazon alone (and counting), this model is well-respected for its impressive temperature control, impeccable flavor and useful safety features.
Most Versatile Air Fryers
GE Profile Smart Oven
Pros:
- Comes with a wealth of settings (11, to be exact)
- Dismisses the need to preheat before cooking, helping to save time
Cons:
- Some reviewers say the interior is too small for their tastes
As its name suggests, the GE Profile Smart Oven is super smart and oh-so-versatile. With 11 preset functions — including Air Fry, Warm, Toast, Broil, Roast, Pastry, Reheat, Pizza, Cookies, Bake and Bagel — it can pretty much handle whatever you’d like to cook or toast.
“Is no-preheat [feature] saves time,” Crate & Barrel said. “The cool upward opening is extra safe for little hands and makes it a lot easier to get food out. It can also connect to the app for guided cooking.”
Breville Combi Wave 3-in-1 Microwave Air Fryer and Convection Oven
Pros:
- Doubles as a microwave, impressively
- Works quickly and efficiently
- Great for frozen foods
Cons:
- Some reviewers say the model is too large for their tastes
“This is not only an air fryer and convection oven — but it’s also a microwave!” Crate & Barrel highlights, spotlighting the Breville Combi Wave 3-in-1 Microwave Air Fryer and Convection Oven. “And, it has an awesome soft-touch close!”
More, this model boasts a proprietary Fast Combi function that’s designed to cook your favorite dishes faster. Because it combines a convection oven, grilling and microwave (the ultimate trifecta!) to achieve your desired temperature, it’s said to work faster than other models.
Additionally, the Cook from Frozen function is designed to achieve perfectly cooked results from frozen meals. Overall, it’s a pretty sweet model that can be used in a multitude of ways.
Most Chic Air Fryers
Our Place Wonder Oven
Pros:
- Incredibly chic and partially retro design in fun colorways
- Features six unique settings, plus a steam infusion setting
- Conveniently sized to be countertop-friendly
Cons:
- The dials could be easier to read
Move over Always Pan (though we love it) —there’s a new gizmo in town. It’s called the Wonder Oven, a more recent launch from Our Place that I seriously love.
I’ll be honest, I caved in and ordered it because of its chic appeal. The durability, coupled with the convenient interior basket, makes me feel like I’m using a modern-day Easy Bake Oven. It’s a statement piece, but it air-fries veggies and poultry extremely well.
It’s also simple to clean and I feel like a little Suzie Homemaker when using it. Overall, it’s a model that helps me cook faster — and, it makes a wonderful gift to anyone who’s in need of an air fryer (or, simply loves to cook).
GE Café Couture Air Fryer Toaster Oven
Pros:
- Aesthetically pleasing design
- Available in a few, modern-day colors
- Comes with 14 impressive cooking settings
Cons:
- Doesn’t come with a pause feature so, if you want to cancel cooking, you have to restart completely
If there’s anything we’ve picked up on when reviewing kitchen items, it’s that the GE Café line is likely the most chic you’ll find on the market. And, we’re not the only ones who thinks so, too.
“This air fryer has a beautiful matte color that’s accented in rosy brushed copper,” Crate & Barrel pinpoints, recommending the GE Café Couture Air Fryer Toaster Oven. It features 14 essential cooking modes — including Air Fry, CrispFinish, Bake, Broil, Roast, Toast, Bagel, Pizza, Cookies, Proof, Dehydrate, Slow Cook, Reheat and Keep Warm Watch Video — to make it both effective and stunning to look at.
Its bright LCD display that let you program cook mode, time and temperature. You can also add Crisp Finish to any meal and enable Café’s connected features.
KitchenAid Dual Convection Countertop Oven with Air Fry
Pros:
- Extremely modern silhouette
- Helps cook certain foods more quickly than other models
- Ultra-fast to operate
Cons:
- Some reviewers say the model is too small for pizza
“The KitchenAid Dual Convection Countertop Oven with Air Fry is sleek matte with stainless steel touches and a digital display,” Crate & Barrel told us. In other words, it doesn’t have the commonplace stainless “appliance look” as some others on this list.
Notably, it has garnered close to 3,500 applauding reviews on Amazon alone — much for its convenience and ease of use. Its Even-Heat Convection Technology is said to cook chicken up to 20% faster with Dual Convect Bake feature, compared to the Bake setting.
It’s also ultra-fast to operate. This countertop oven and air fryer hybrid preheats fast to 350 degrees, in less than four minutes, so you can get cooking in no time.
An FAQ on Air Fryers
Ahead, Crate & Barrel shares the 411 on air fryers — specifically, what to look for ahead of ordering.
What is an air fryer?
First things first — what is an air fryer? Let’s start with the basics.
“An air fryer is a countertop kitchen appliance that uses a powerful fan to circulate hot air to cook food,” Crate & Barrel’s kitchen team told The Post. Impressively, they help replace some other cookware appliances, like toaster ovens and pressure cookers.
How do air fryers work?
According to Crate & Barrel, air fryers use a heating element and powerful fan to circulate hot air to cook food.
“Air fryers can make food healthier depending on what you cook,” the brand adds. “If you air fry fresh potato fries using a little bit of oil, that is a lot healthier than deep frying them.”
What’s the difference between an air fryer and a toaster oven?
“While a convection oven can produce similar results, you will never quite get as crispy results as an air fryer because a convection oven does not use a powerful fan to circulate the air,” Crate & Barrel says. “Toaster oven-air fryer combos are one of our favorites because you get multiple appliances in one!”
Why? You rarely need to use your regular oven.
What’s the difference between an air fryer and a pressure cooker?
In short, a pressure cooker uses pressure to cook food faster. “Results are a meal cooked quickly, but there is generally no crisp,” Crate & Barrel explains. “Typically a combination pressure cooker-air fryer will have two different mechanisms in a lid (or two lids) to cook these different ways.”
What to look for in a quality air fryer, per a kitchen expert
Ahead, Crate & Barrel outlines *exactly* what to keep in mind ahead of shopping for a newly minted air fryer.
“One should determine if they have space on their countertop — we would recommend a toaster oven air fryer combo,” the brand shares. “One should think about how many people they are feeding to determine the size of the air fryer. What kind of food will they be cooking? How often will they use it? Do they need two compartments?”
Check out the New York Post Shopping section for more content.