Compbrella Guide for Choosing the best air fryer for your kitchen
We’re all trying to eat healthier these days. Whether we’re going full keto or paleo diet, eating zucchini pasta instead of wheat pasta, or simply dropping meat altogether, everyone has their preferred method of eating healthier. Cooking with an air fryer can reduce caloric intake by up to 80%, allow you to cook a wide range of diet-friendly meals, and still enjoy your fried guilty pleasures.
Recommended Air Fryers:
- Ninja AF161 Max XL Air Fryer, 5.5-Quart
- COSORI Air Fryer, Max XL 5.8 Quart, 1700-Watt
- Philips Premium Digital Airfryer XXL
What functions to look for in air fryers?
All air fryers have two main components: a heating unit and fan to circulate air around the food. Other than that each type has a few distinct features. There are a few features that will be crucial to your enjoyment of an air fryer:
-If the food you make isn’t delicious then there’s no point in making it. When choosing which air fryers to feature here and recommend, we had to make sure they make crispy delicious french fries that are just as good as deep-fried ones. Remember that air-fryers are exactly that: fryers. They’re excellent for dry, crispy food but not suitable for wet foods like pasta or vegetables that secrete a lot of juice.
-Pr-programmed settings are must-haves if this is your first air fryer. Like any other form of cooking, it takes a bit of time to know how hot or how fast you need to set the machine and programmed settings take the guesswork out it, allowing you to enjoy healthy, well-prepared food right out the gate. Every air-fryer has different programs so make sure to check out which ones have the programs that are right for you. This can range from simple quick air-fry programs to longer programs that simulate roasting and even dehydration.
-Capacity and shape is another important feature. Air fryers have a wide size range and you’ll want that extra space if you’re cooking for your family. Egg-shaped baskets are the most common. Air fryer ovens use racks like a regular oven instead of a basket. This allows you to cook different types of food at the same time rather than just throwing it all together and mixing up flavors.
What can I cook with an air fryer?
You can cook a wide variety of meals in an air fryer. While most assume they’re best with dry foods like french fries and chicken fingers, (and frankly, just eating healthier versions of those is worth the price), air fryers are much more versatile. The best air fryers allow you to roast, bake, and even braise food. As more and more people discover the health benefits of oil-less cooking, a whole industry of cookbooks has popped up showing home cooks how to create healthy versions of their favorite comfort foods like jalapeno poppers, turkey meatballs, and even pork chops.
Most important features in an air fryer
There are a few features that will be crucial to your enjoyment of an air fryer. Pr-programmed settings are must haves if this is your first air fryer. Like any other form of cooking, it takes a bit of time to know how hot or how fast you need to set the machine and programmed setting take the guesswork out it, allowing you to enjoy healthy, well prepared food right out the gate. Capacity is another important feature. Air fryers have a wide size range and you’ll want that extra space if you’re cooking for you family. Finally, power output is important. More power means shorter cooking time means you’ll be able to enjoy your dinner sooner.
Compbrella Pick for Top 3 Best Air Fryers
Best Overall: Ninja AF161 Max XL Air Fryer, 5.5-Quart
One of the best air fryers with some extra features and an extended warranty make this worth the extra cost. The GoWise 5.8 offers 8 preset cooking options, manual temperature control and an accessory kit that includes a baking pan, several cooking racks, and a recipe book specifically made for the GoWise.
Best value: COSORI Air Fryer, Max XL 5.8 Quart, 1700-Watt
One of the best air fryers available on the market with excellent value. It’s simple to use with just an on-off switch and a timer so you can enjoy easy hassle-free cooking
Best for families: Philips Premium Digital Airfryer XXL
Philips Premium Digital Airfryer XXL is simple, versatile, and a great addition to any kitchen. Its transparent bowl allows you to see the food as you cook so you can check the progress and its capacity is expandable up to 16 quarts so you can easily cook for the whole family!
Why you should trust us
Compbrella was founded by a group of entrepreneurs with over twenty years experience working in retail, electronics, and e-commerce. Over the years, we have spent endless hours writing and revising consumer guides, interviewing customers about the products they enjoyed using, and talking to an untold number of technicians about why some products fail and others don’t. We draw from our own experiences about what products a household needs and what we use in our everyday lives. If we’re reviewing a product, it means we one of us has it in their home and thinks it, or a different version, would be a great addition to your homes. We stand by our recommendations because we make them to each other first.