Cooking takes practice and patience—two things that are hard to come by when you have a busy schedule. When it comes to making meals in a pinch, look no further than the air fryer. The latest and greatest kitchen appliance has garnered loads of support in the last few years thanks to being easy, user-friendly, and fast. You can make a delicious meal in just a matter of minutes—who doesn’t want that?! And we’ve got the 10 best air fryers for your cooking needs!
How Does An Air Fryer Work?
We are no rocket scientists, but we can explain this one to you—an air fryer is essentially a compact, standalone convection oven that utilizes hot air to crisp and cook your food thoroughly. It is typically regarded as a healthier way to fry food without dousing it in oil, but keep in mind that it doesn’t make your traditionally unhealthy foods (we’re looking at you, waffle fries) that much better for the body. What it certainly can do is help you cook an easy, quick meal. Not everyone can become an overnight Emily Mariko, but here’s to trying!
Are There Different Types of Air Fryers?
Yes! When you think of an air fryer, you are likely picturing a basket air fryer. These are the most common types because they are compact, fast and effective. They can feature one or two basket-style compartments with holes on the bottom to allow the hot air to move evenly over your food. A second type is the oven air fryer. These resemble oven toasters with a hinged door and racks for a crisper or baking tray. They often feature more than one mode and can hold more food than a basket air fryer, but tend to take longer to preheat and demand more counter space. A third type is the paddle air fryer. These are less common, but still effective. They typically feature a paddle that automatically rotates the dish to help provide an even distribution of heat. All three categories have made our best list and are excellent selections. Learn more about which air fryer is right for you with the 10 best air fryer 2022 options below. Next thing we know, you’ll be on an episode of Chopped! Here at Parade.com, we’re all about sharing products we love with our audience. When you make a purchase on an item seen on this page, we may earn a commission, however, all picks are independently chosen unless otherwise mentioned.
Best Air Fryer 2022
Café Couture Air Fryer Toaster Oven, $399 (on sale from $449) at Best Buy
Looking for an upscale air fryer option that has a gorgeous aesthetic and smart technology? This luxe Café Couture air fryer toaster oven looks chic with a matte white finish and brushed copper hardware and offers 14 different cooking modes—Air Fry, Bake, Broil, Roast, Toast, Bagel, Frozen Pizza, Cookies, Proof, Dehydrate, Slow Cook, Reheat, Keep Warm and CrispFinish. There is little you can’t do with this air fryer. One reviewer marveled, “Every single function exceeded our expectations.”
Best Rated Air Fryer
Best Dual-Compartment Air Fryer
We are big fans of multi-tasking, so when we heard about the dual-compartment Instant Vortex Plus, we knew it was a winner. It has 8 different modes (air fry, roast, broil, bake, reheat, dehydrate, SyncCook and SyncFinish) and each basket has a window so you can see just how crisp your food is. The separate baskets save even more cooking time by allowing you to cook two different foods or two batches at once.
Best Small Air Fryer
Alternatively, if you are cooking for one most nights, the Dash air fryer is your perfect fit. As the best compact air fryer, it is a 2.6-quart basket size that fits just enough for one meal. It is compact, lightweight and features AirCrisp Technology to circulate hot air and crisp without added oils effectively.
Best Aesthetic Air Fryer
Ninja Foodi XL DualZone Air Fryer, $219.98 at QVC
Best Smart Air Fryer
Philips Essential XL Smart Airfryer, $179.95 at Philips
This basket air fryer from Philips is unique in its technology component. Not only does it feature five different modes, but it can also be controlled from your smartphone through the Philips app. You can access a plethora of recipes for inspiration and monitor or adjust the settings from anywhere in your home, as long as you are on the Wifi.
Best Paddle Air Fryer
De’Longhi 1.8 qt. Multi-Fry Air Fryer MultiCooker, $249.99 at Bed, Bath & Beyond
This paddle air fryer option from De’Longhi brings versatility to your kitchen. The automatic mixing paddle can be used to fry, sauté and roast with minimal effort and maximum results. If the paddle isn’t needed, you can remove it and use the air fryer for cooking, baking, broiling and more.
Best Air Fryer Toaster Oven
Looking for the best toaster oven air fryer? Let’s get to it! Stepping into the best air fryer oven category, this option from Breville has 13 preset functions, including Toast, Bagel, Bake, Roast, Broil, Pizza, Cookies, Proof, Air-Fry, Dehydrate, Reheat, Warm and Slow Cook. It is also larger in size with two racks that can fit everything from a turkey to french fries and features a “super convection” setting to help reduce your cook time by up to 30 percent while still keeping things crispy.
Best Large Air Fryer
Kalorik 26 Quart Digital Maxx Air Fryer Oven, $229.95 at Macy’s
If it feels like you have to feed an army every night, then this is the choice for you. The 26-quart air fryer oven from Kalorik is easily one of the largest we have seen yet. It comes with 21 smart presets, 10 cook functions, and nine different accessories so you can air fry any food under the moon. Among other things, it can fit a large chicken, a 12-inch pizza and lots more.
Best Value Air Fryer
Coming in at just $64.99, this air fryer from Ultrean crisps your food instantly. It features 360° hot air circulation that can also grill, roast and bake your food of choice. It is compact with a decent serving size of 4.2 quarts and a nonstick pan. Next up, 33 healthy air fryer recipes!
Shop Air Fryer Deals:
Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer, Was $499.99, Now $350Ninja Foodi Grill 6-in-1, Was $299.99, Now $199.99Cuisinart Stainless Steet Oven Air Fryer, Was $219.95, Now $127.99
