Why Trust These Air Fryer Recommendations?
After testing 23 air fryers over several years, Bon Appétit Commerce Writer Alaina Chou has identified the models that deliver exceptional crispiness, even cooking, and ease of use. The following picks are based on rigorous testing of basket-style and oven-style air fryers from brands including Cosori, Breville, Instant Pot, Ninja, and Philips. All products were evaluated on crispiness, even cooking, ease of use, functional design, cleanability, and storage.
Top Air Fryer Picks for 2026
Best Overall: Cosori Turboblaze 6.0-Quart Smart Air Fryer
Price: $100–$150. Capacity: 6 quarts. Wattage: 1725W. 10 cooking functions: Air Fry, Roast, Broil, Frozen, Preheat, Reheat, Dehydrate, Proof, Bake, Keep Warm. Weight: 11.5 lb. Dimensions: 11.8″ x 14.4″ x 11.9″. Color: White. Warranty: 2 years. Temperature range: 90°F–450°F. Pros: Moderately priced, user-friendly interface, wide temperature range, variable fan speeds (5 levels). Cons: Food can fall between crisper plate and basket bottom. Features a VeSync app for remote/voice control. Also available without smart features. Produced the crispiest results in record time among all tested.
Best Small: Cosori Lite 2.1-Quart Mini Air Fryer
Price: $50–$60. Capacity: 2.1 quarts. Wattage: 900W. 4 functions: air-fry, bake, roast, reheat. Colors: Gray, red, white, green. Weight: 4.9 lb. Dimensions: 10.1″ x 8.3″ x 10.5″. Warranty: 2 years. Pros: Low profile, lightweight, inexpensive, easy controls. Cons: Only 2 servings, few cooking functions. Manual says basket is dishwasher-safe, but hand-washing recommended for nonstick.
Best Air Fryer–Toaster Oven: Breville Smart Oven Pro
Price: $400. Capacity: 1 cubic foot. Wattage: 1800W. 13 cooking functions: Toast, bagel, broil, bake, roast, warm, pizza, proof, air-fry, reheat, cookies, slow-cook, dehydrate. Color: Stainless steel. Weight: 38.9 lb. Dimensions: 21.25″ x 17″ x 12.75″. Warranty: 2 years. Pros: Most versatile, large capacity. Cons: Large footprint, high price. Fits quarter sheet pan and 13×9″ casserole. Companion app for advanced presets including rotisserie-style chicken. Performs best with foods in a single layer.
Best Small Oven-Style: Breville Smart Oven Compact
Price: Lower than Pro model. Capacity: .5 cubic feet. Wattage: 1800W. 5 cooking functions: Toast, bagel, broil, pizza, bake/roast. 5 air-frying functions: Air-fry, fries, wings, bacon, crispy reheat. Color: Stainless steel. Weight: 15.8 lb. Dimensions: 15.7″ x 16.9″ x 10″. Warranty: 2 years. Pros: Versatile, compact size. Cons: Still uses horizontal space, price higher than basket-style. Includes “bit more” button. Guide printed inside door. Struggled with frozen sweet potato fries due to smaller capacity.
Basket with Window: Instant Pot Vortex Plus 6-Quart ClearCook
Price: $30 cheaper than Vortex Slim. Capacity: 6 quarts. Wattage: 1700W. 6 functions: Air-fry, bake, reheat, roast, broil, dehydrate. Color: Black. Weight: 11.35 lb. Dimensions: 14.9″ x 11.8″ x 13.0″. Warranty: 1 year. Pros: Moderately priced, large capacity, user-friendly interface, helpful basket window, easy to clean. Cons: Bulky. Square basket fits one less veggie patty. Temperature as low as 95°F.
PFAS-Free Option: Cosori Iconic Stainless Steel 6.5-Quart
Price: Double the Turboblaze. Capacity: 6.5 quarts. Wattage: 1725W. 6 functions: Air Fry, Roast, Bake, Dehydrate, Proof, Reheat. Color: Stainless steel. Weight: 14.1 lb. Dimensions: 11.8″ x 11.8″ x 11.6″. Warranty: 5-year limited. Pros: Ceramic nonstick (PFAS-free) basket, sleek digital interface, 5 fan speeds. Cons: Bulky, pricey, spaceship-like appearance.
How We Tested Air Fryers
We spent hours testing popular models from Breville, Cuisinart, Ninja, Philips, and Cosori. Each appliance was subjected to:
- Skin-on proteins: Salmon fillets and chicken breasts/thighs evaluated for crispiness, juiciness, and even cooking.
- Fresh veggies: Brussels sprouts tested for moisture handling – crisp edges, tender interiors.
- Marinated tofu: Cubes tested for crunchy golden brown exterior and soft interior without sticking.
- Frozen foods: Entire package of frozen sweet potato fries to test from-frozen cooking and moisture management.
What Makes a Good Air Fryer?
Key criteria:
- Crispiness created: Can it crisp better than a standard oven?
- Even cooking: Consistent browning after shaking or stirring.
- Ease of use: Simple time/temperature settings.
- Functional design: Square/rectangular baskets offer more surface area; fewer interlocking pieces easier to clean.
- Easy to clean: Disassembly and scrubbing evaluated.
- Mobility and storage: Suitable for both cabinet storage and countertop placement.
Other Air Fryers We Liked
Instant Pot 4-Quart Mini Air Fryer
Good middle-ground size. Features viewing window, built-in light, ceramic nonstick interior. Decent crispiness, but not as good as Cosori Turboblaze.
Instant Vortex Slim 6-Quart Air Fryer
Previous top pick. Compact design with large cooking surface area due to rectangular basket. Fitted six veggie patties.
Typhur Dome 2
Spacious: 139.5 sq. in. cooking surface, fits 12″ pizza, 20 chicken wings, or 11 large chicken thighs. 15 presets plus app. Performance: took 45+ minutes for 11 bone-in thighs; didn’t merit top pick due to long cook time.
Philips Premium Digital Air Fryer (XXL)
Generous capacity, easy controls, minimal shaking required. But heavier basket, louder, harder to clean due to interlocking parts. Higher price tag.
Philips 3000 Series Single Basket Air Fryer
Touchscreen, viewing window, 16 settings. Good performance but preferred Cosori and Instant designs. Window feature comparable to Instant ClearCook.
Dreo ChefMaker Combi Fryer
Air-fryer with probe cooking and app. Personal favorite of senior editor Olivia Tarantino. But winning Turboblaze produced crispier results at a third of the price.
Our Place Wonder Oven Pro
Developed with J. Kenji López-Alt. 8 functions, touchscreen, 30-liter capacity. Crisped food up to twice as fast as Breville. Preheating slower (8–9 min to 400°F vs Breville’s 4–5 min) and restarts preheat cycle even when hot.
Cuisinart Air Fryer Oven 6-Qt
Easy to use, quiet, preheat feature, viewing window. Square basket reduces surface area.
Ninja DoubleStack XL 2-Basket Air Fryer
Vertical stacked baskets, space-saving. Smart Finish feature. Confusing interface.
Models We Don’t Recommend
- Instant Pot air fryer models (various): Not specified which, but Vortex Slim performed better.
- Ninja basic basket air fryer: Round shape limits versatility.
- Cosori lower-end model: Lacked additional settings, though had app monitoring.
- Dash air fryer: Retro look but soggy fries, uneven tofu, only one veggie burger. Two dials lack precision.
- Panasonic oven-style air fryer: 12 functions with poor labeling, Air Fry only 410°F–445°F, forced preheat cycle could not be bypassed.
- Original Our Place Wonder Oven: Uneven browning, mushy veggies, imprecise analog controls. However, made good crispy-skinned salmon.
- Ninja Crispi: Glass container + PowerPod, no precise temperature control (4 presets), longer cook time, uneven results.
- Typhur Sync: Wireless probe, app, PFAS-free basket, 9 programs. In testing: fries soggy, salmon skin not crispy, Brussels not golden. At $160, not worth it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an air fryer? Is it just a convection oven?
An air fryer is a countertop convection oven that uses a fan to circulate hot air for crispier textures. It requires far less oil than deep frying and doesn’t leave lingering odors. Technically, all air fryers are small convection ovens, but classic ones are egg-shaped with baskets.
What accessories should I buy for my air fryer?
Common extras include silicone liners, multipurpose pans, and oil sprayers. For more recommendations, see Bon Appétit’s air fryer accessories guide.
About the Reviewer
Alaina Chou has been testing air fryers and small appliances for Bon Appétit and Epicurious since 2023. She has cooked countless batches of salmon, Brussels sprouts, and frozen fries, and has blown out power in the Test Kitchen multiple times. She has been creating commerce content since 2022, covering topics from coffee makers to kitchen tools.