Chicken wings, french fries, mozzarella sticks, potato bites, onion rings, mini pizzas ... these greasy and guilty pleasures have a special place in our hearts, but so much fried food can end up being very expensive in health. An air fryer could be your secret weapon. At the touch of a button, you can prepare all of the above foods at a fraction of the oil or fat content and therefore also with fewer calories.
Unlike typical fryers, air fryers circulate hot air throughout the device, similar to what happens in a convection oven. And when combined with a minimal amount of oil (usually only about a teaspoon or less, unlike the pints of oil used in frying), you can produce the same delicious, crisp results as frying.
While all air fryers can do a good job, the differences between models vary in terms of functionality and overall capacity. Some are better for single-serving cooking, others have smart designs that can give you more control over food preparation. There is a big difference between them, which makes buying a deep fryer a more difficult decision than you might anticipate.
To help you find the right air fryer for you, we've compiled seven of the best models. To make it even easier, we've broken down which device is right for each type of lifestyle and set of needs.
For Instant Pot lovers
Instant Pot 6-Quart Vortex Air Fryer ($ 96.99; amazon.com)
Instant Pot devotees will love the brand's proprietary air fryer, which comes with Instant Pot's one-touch cooking technology. The Vortex Air Fryer has eight simple touch controls, making cooking a breeze. Four built-in smart programs go beyond frying and can grill, bake and reheat food in no time. Other benefits of the appliance that have earned previous customers include its easy-to-clean basket as well as its spacious design that can hold large amounts of food, such as a 4-pound whole chicken. Just think how many chicken wings you can make at once with this one.
For those obsessed with technology
Cosori Smart Wi-FI Air Fryer ($ 119.99; amazon.com)
If you love to cook but you also love tech gadgets, especially smart gadgets that take everyday tasks into the 21st century, this Cosori air fryer is for you. This device can be connected to a companion application that will give access to more than 100 original and pre-programmed recipes that you can cook completely with your hands free. And its added voice assistant integration means you can also control the device through Alexa devices, such as Amazon Echo or Echo Dot.
For small kitchens
Dash 2-Quart Compact Air Fryer ($ 69.95; amazon.com)
Most fryers come in 5 to 6 quarter designs. But if your kitchen counter space is limited, a compact air fryer might be the right choice. This popular Dash design is about half the size of traditional designs and is great for cooking dishes for one.
For Amazon devotees
Cosori Air Fryer Max XL ($ 119.99; amazon.com)
With over 8,000 ratings from past customers to its credit, Cosori is Amazon's top-rated air fryer. It is also one of the most popular, with a 4.7-star rating. This design is larger than the previous designs on our list (it can feed three to five people in total and can hold more than 6 pounds of food). It has 11 touch settings that can cook steaks, poultry, seafood, shrimp, bacon, frozen food, potato chips, vegetables, bread, and desserts. Basically, whatever. If you're not sure where to start, the device comes with a guide to nearly 100 recipes to get your creative juices flowing.
Ninja Air Fryer ($ 99.99, originally $ 129.99; amazon.com)
Another model that has won over Amazon customers is the Ninja Air Fryer (rated 4.7 stars by over 5,000 customers). It's also been named an Amazon's Choice product, a special accolade for on-site products that are highly-rated, well-priced, and available to ship immediately. This dishwasher safe model is best known for its ability to help foodies enjoy healthy alternatives to fried foods that contain 75% less fat than traditional cooking methods.
For foodies
Chefman 6.3-Quart Digital Air Fryer ($ 99.99, originally $ 149.99; bestbuy.com)
When it comes to kitchen appliances, you want something that is versatile and can be used to make many dishes. After all, you are an enthusiast who loves to create and try new foods. The Chefman digital air fryer is a model that adapts to your lifestyle. This design can handle much more than just fries (although it's great for them, too). It can dehydrate fruits, make crispy pizza crust, act as a grill for your protein, and bake desserts perfectly.
For tight budgets
Gourmia Digital Air Fryer ($ 69.99; bestbuy.com)
The Gourmia Digital Air Fryer has everything you ask for from an Air Fryer, but at an affordable price. This design comes with eight pre-programmed settings to choose from, based on its ingredients (including fries, meat, bacon, pizza, chicken, fish, and shrimp). Cooks can also increase the capacity of the device, thanks to its two-tier cooking design. And at $ 69.99, it's much cheaper than other full-size air fryers.
Note: The above prices reflect the price at the time of article posting.