The 5 Best Air Fryers Across Every Price Range, Tested

Rough rule: 1-1.5 quarts per person for typical meals. For a single person, 4 quarts (like the Philips 3000 Series) is enough. Couples — 5-6 quarts (Cosori Pro II or Instant Vortex Plus). Families of 3-5 — 8-10 quarts (Ninja Foodi DZ201).

Capacity is measured by the basket volume, but actual cooking surface area matters more than raw quarts. A 6-quart basket fryer fits about 1 lb of wings in a single layer; a 10-quart cu ft toaster oven hybrid (Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro) fits 2-3 lbs and a whole 5-lb chicken. If you cook for groups, oversize.

Only if you'll genuinely use the dual zone. The Cosori Pro II at $129 cooks single-basket recipes (fries, salmon, sprouts) just as well as the Ninja Foodi DZ201 at $230 — same blind-test scores within margin of error. The Ninja's $100 premium buys you two zones, 4.2 extra quarts, and Match Cook + Smart Finish.

If you regularly cook items that need different temperatures or finish at different times (a common Tuesday dinner: fries 400°F/18 min + wings 380°F/25 min), Ninja saves you 20+ minutes per meal. If you usually cook one thing at a time, Cosori is the better value. Our comparison tool can help you decide based on usage patterns.

Genuinely yes — but only if counter space is precious. The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro at $400 replaces three appliances: toaster oven + air fryer + small convection oven. If you'd otherwise own all three, the math works.

Where it shines: recipes that need both convection circulation and a larger cavity — whole chickens, 13" pizzas, sheet-pan dinners, and Brussels sprouts (which won our blind taste test in the Breville). Where basket fryers win: faster preheat (2 min vs 5 min), smaller footprint, and wing crisp (the tight basket creates more surface contact). For one-appliance kitchens or serious cooks, the Breville is genuinely the right choice. Browse all Breville smart ovens.

Most modern air fryer baskets are dishwasher-safe — Ninja Foodi DZ201, Cosori Pro II, and Philips 3000 Series all have removable baskets that go in the top rack. The Instant Vortex Plus basket is hand-wash only.

For sticky residue (cheese, sugary marinades), let the basket cool for 10 minutes, then soak in warm soapy water for 30 minutes before scrubbing with a non-abrasive sponge. Never use steel wool — it'll scratch the non-stick coating and shorten the basket's life. For a deeper clean, use 1 tablespoon of baking soda mixed with water as a paste, apply for 15 minutes, then rinse. Browse our cleaning guides on the blog for more.

Yes, with caveats. Aluminum foil is fine if you weigh it down with food and don't block the air circulation holes in the basket — never line an empty basket with foil during preheat. Parchment paper is generally safer; specifically buy air fryer parchment paper with pre-cut holes that allow proper airflow.

What you should NEVER use: wax paper (melts and burns), plastic bags or wrap (melts and contaminates food), or silicone mats not rated for high heat (only use mats rated to 425°F+). For sticky foods like sugary glazed wings or melted cheese, parchment with holes is genuinely worth the small cost — and saves you the basket-cleaning hassle.

Yes — significantly. Traditional deep frying submerges food in 4+ cups of oil at 350°F. Air fryers use 1-2 tablespoons tossed with the food for browning, plus the food's own fat (chicken skin, salmon belly, etc). For frozen foods like fries that already contain frying oil, air fryers use zero added oil and still produce crisp results.

Calorie comparison: 4 oz of deep-fried french fries ≈ 365 calories, 17g fat. Same 4 oz air-fried ≈ 165 calories, 5g fat. Real difference of 200 calories per serving. Air fryers don't make food magically healthy — but they genuinely cut oil-based calorie load by 50-70%. Browse our Home & Kitchen category for more nutrition-focused appliance reviews.

Mostly no. The Cosori Pro II's VeSync app with 100+ recipes is genuinely useful for first-time air fryer owners — preset cook times mean less experimentation. The Ninja Foodi DZ201's app is functional but most users stop opening it after the first month.

What smart features genuinely add value: preset cook times per food type (saves you guessing fresh fries take 22 min not 18), and recipe libraries with photos. What's gimmick: voice control (you have to be at the fryer anyway to load it), and remote start (also requires loading). Skip the upcharge if you're an experienced cook; pay for it if you're new to air fryers. Browse our blog for smart kitchen gear roundups.

Mostly brand sites for warranty and authenticity. NinjaKitchen.com, Cosori.com, InstantPot.com, Philips.com, and Breville.com all offer broad model selection, easy warranty registration, and frequent sales (15-30% off during seasonal events).

Amazon is fine for standard configs and faster shipping. Best Buy, Target, and Walmart all stock major air fryer brands and price-match brand sites. Costco often has bundle deals (air fryer + extra basket + cookbook) for 20-25% below equivalent retail. Browse current deals on our deals page.