Whether you're in the market for your first air fryer, or you're ready to buy replace your old one, this collection of real Air Fryer reviews by bloggers and home chefs is a great place to start!
For many foodies out there, buying your first Air Fryer has become a right of passage. But how to decide which brand to buy? What size? Which capabilities? It can be exhausting.
What to consider when buying an air fryer
There are a few important factors to consider when you're purchasing an air fryer. These include:
- Price -- Obviously price is a huge factor when making a large purchase. Air fryers come at various price points ranging from very cheap to very expensive. I think it makes more sense to look at value over price since there are a number of other factors to consider. But if price is an obstacle for you, consider waiting for a big sale. You can often find great deals on the best Air Fryer brands on Black Friday (that's when I got mine!).
- Size -- There are two important aspects to size. 1) How many people do you regularly feed? For 1 to 2 people a small basket is great, but for 3 or 4, you'll want a larger basket. 2) How much storage space/counter space do you have available? I actually store my massive air fryer in a hall cabinet because that's the only place it will fit. For some bigger models it's not even feasible to move it on and off the counter after every use, so choose wisely.
- Expected Usage -- Ask yourself, realistically, how often you expect to use your air fryer. If you just plan to throw in frozen french fries once or twice a month, you can probably opt for a smaller, cheaper air fryer that can be easily stored out of eyesight. But if you expect to use it multiple times a week for a variety of dishes, an air fryer with a double basket might be right for you.
- Capabilities -- Many brands of air fryers out there also function as a grill, pressure cooker, dehydrator, and more. So if you have a small kitchen or you just don't like to have a lot of gadgets around, getting a multi-purpose air fryer might be for you!
- Brand -- Although they might be pricier, there's a reason you'll see a few brands mentioned multiple times in this collection. That's because they are well-trusted brands that have a proven track record. While you could save money initially by buying a lesser-known off-brand, you have to consider that if the quality is poor you'll probably have to replace it sooner. So in the long run, it might actually be cheaper to go with a better-known but more expensive brand.
Why real user reviews matter
Air fryer reviews on big websites can be useful, but they have limitations. Most noticeably, the reviews aren't always based on actual experience. That's why I decided to offer you a collection of reviews by food bloggers and real home chefs. Not only can you get some insight into what the pros and cons of each air fryer are, but you'll also get a sampling of what people actually love to cook in their air fryer!
Believe it or not, this is a random sampling of air fryer reviews, but there are two brands that come up again and again. See if you can spot them!
So without further ado, let's get to the air fryer reviews, starting with my own!
Julianne Lynch, Air Fryer Veg and No Sweat Vegan
I love my Ninja Foodi Grill and Air Fryer! It has a large capacity for my family of four and it cooks my food evenly. When I use a liner or baking sheet, cleanup is a snap. I also think Ninja is an excellent brand, and I've never had any problems with any of their products.
One con for the Ninja Foodi is that it's quite large. However, if/when I buy a new one, I'll opt for one with two baskets because sometimes I want to air fry two foods at once! (Like these tater tots and buffalo tofu bites).
Mackenzie Burgess, registered dietitian nutritionist and recipe developer at Cheerful Choices
I use the Instant Pot Vortex 6QT and I swear by it! I would buy it again in a heartbeat! I love how it’s large enough to fit everything from mini pizzas to wings. It also has features such as preheating the oven, telling you to flip the food halfway through, and a light to be able to see the inside of the air fryer while cooking! The downside is the air fryer is quite large and can be an eyesore on your countertop so I tend to store it in a cabinet and take it out when needed.
My favorite recipe to make in the air fryer is savory caramelized mushrooms! They’re super flavorful and pair perfectly with burgers, avocado toast, and risotto.
Amy Katz, Veggies Save the Day
If you're serious about air frying, I recommend the Breville Smart Oven® Air Fryer Pro. This combination toaster/convection oven cooks evenly and fits a large volume of food. Plus it looks stylish on your kitchen counter and can be used instead of your regular oven to cook a variety of foods like casseroles and cookies.
My favorite recipes are these Air Fryer Home Fries!
Dan and Jess, Vegan Punks
I love the Ninja Air Fryer AF100UK because it looks cool, has a small countertop footprint, is reliable and has a dehydration mode!
Fave air fryer recipe: https://veganpunks.com/air-fryer-smashed-potatoes/
Best Air Fryers for vegans (in my opinion): https://veganpunks.com/best-air-fryers-for-vegans/
Lyn Croyle, Cook Eat Live Love
I use the Instant Pot Vortex 6QT for cooking all my favorite air fryer recipes. It was my second air fryer, the first was quite small so I needed an upgrade. I enjoy the Vortex quite a bit and find it easy to operate and to clean. I think its capacity is perfectly suited for small households without requiring cooking in multiple batches. It does have a few hotspots but once I figured that out I've been able to adjust without any major issues. My favorite recipe are these falafel bites.
Robin Means, Vegan Dollhouse
I use a Ninja AF101, and I love it. The main pros are that it's coated in ceramic so I haven't had the coating of the basket chip off, and it's very easy to clean. The only con is that it's small so sometimes I have to cook something in 2 batches. I would definitely buy this brand again. I had a Go Wise USA before and hated it. The basket capacity was bigger, but I had to replace the basket TWICE so I finally just replaced the entire thing and got this one.
My favorite recipe are these Air Fryer Vegan Omelets.
Lori Rasmussen, My Quiet Kitchen
A few years ago I received the Instant Pot Vortex 6-Quart as a Christmas gift. It took us a while to get used to using it because it seems to run hot, but once we figured that out it's been fine. I like the design and that it's easy to clean, but next time I'll go with a brand better known for air fryers.
My favorite recipe are these Air Fryer Veggie Burgers!
Gus and Joaco, Our Plant-Based World
We use an Instant Pot Duo Crisp 11-in-1 Air Fryer and Electric Pressure Cooker Combo with Multicooker Lids that Air Fries, Steams, Slow Cooks, Sautés, Dehydrates, and more!
Pros: it has many features in one device so that you can save lots of room in your kitchen.
Cons: not great to make big batches of food. Usually, the best results are only obtained with the food you put in the upper rack, and whatever you put in the bottom rack needs a second air-frying round.
We love making these Teriyaki Tofu Puffs in our air fryer.
Jenna Urben, The Urben Life
I've tried a couple of different air fryers over the years, but the Ninja DZ201 Foodi 8 Quart 6-in-1 DualZone 2-Basket Air Fryer is my favorite. It has two air frying baskets that allows you to cook at different temperatures and times. This air fryer is convenient and easy to use. The only downside is it’s pretty loud when air frying. Overall, I would buy this brand again as it’s been incredibly helpful in our kitchen!
My favorite recipe is Air Fryer Frozen Green Beans.
Cindy Newland, Intentionally Eat
A few years ago I bought a Dash Compact Air Fryer on a Black Friday sale. I thought it would be large enough for my husband and myself, however, it isn't. It's a great size for one person and perfect for a dorm room.
It's great for warming food, cooking frozen food, and air-frying tofu. It has almost replaced my microwave and probably would if it were larger.
I love these Air Fryer Samosas!
Home Chef Reviews
Melissa, Theater Educator and Mom of Two
I have the Ninja DZ201 Foodi 8qt Air Fryer. I love the option of two air fryers! It's great for cooking different items at the same time with different temperatures. The downside is the baskets aren't that big. I often have to cook just one thing in both sides because I don't want to overcrowd the basket. But overall, I'm really happy with the great options and features. (Though to be honest, I mostly just use the max crisp option). I'd definitely buy it again!
Which Air Fryer do you love?
Tell us which air fryer you've been loving in the comments below. Or if you bought one based on the reviews above, tell us what you think!
Cindy says
Great resource! So much great info on air fryers!
Julianne says
Thanks, Cindy!