Best Air Fryer in 2024

Editor's note: On Feb. 23 2023 Cosori recalled over 2 million air fryer models due to a potential fire and burn hazard. The below model was not affected by the recall.

It was a battle to the finish line between the Ninja and the Cosori. In truth, I would be happy with either one on my countertop. The Cosori Lite is 4 quarts -- a size I like, although the brand makes plenty of larger models. This air fryer has a max temperature of 400 degrees Fahrenheit, which is 50 more than the Ninja, but I cooked chicken wings on high in both machines for 25 minutes, and they emerged nearly identical.

Another thing I liked about this model is the placement of the LED controls, which sit directly on top of the oven, making them easy to see and program. The dishwasher-safe basket fits snugly into place and I was able to easily remove it without having to use force. 

I liked the simple and straightforward cooking programs -- not too few and not too many. The Cosori is also a smart air fryer so you can control it from your phone via an app. This wasn't something I found particularly useful, but it's there if you want it. The app also has more than 100 recipes to try, which is great for air fryer inspiration.  

As the award suggests, this air fryer is small. About as small as any brand makes them. But if you're only cooking for one, or even two, it very well may be enough capacity and will save you precious space on the counter. The Gourmia has good power to make eight or nine crispy chicken wings in about 25 minutes and a few servings of fries in about half that time. 

The digital controls are easy to manipulate, and there are several modes to use. Air frying. Of course, but also broil, bake and reheat if you want to cook foods more gently. For an air fryer under $40, this model is solidly built and the basket fits snugly into the hull without any wobble. It's also easy to clean and quiet when running.  

If you want a slight upgrade in size, I recommend the Magic Bullet 2.5-quart model. It has simple analog controls and 1,300 watts of power, which is more than enough for an oven this size. It runs about $20 more than the Gourmia but will give you more cooking capacity to play with. 

A dual-basket air fryer allows you to cook most of an entire meal in one go without fear of burning one thing or undercooking the other. Smaller baskets net better results when air frying, so I suggest a dual-basket as opposed to an oven with one single, large cooking chamber. 

While Instant also makes a formidable version, Ninja's 8-quart (two 4-quart baskets) is our top pick sporting tons of power at a great price. As with the single-basket Ninja, this machine feels rock solid and the baskets slide in firmly with no wiggle. 

It has all the same settings and cooking modes as the single basket model as well but allows you to toggle between both baskets to set the time and temp accordingly. There is also a handy match cook setting if you're doing one huge heap of wings in both baskets. This model will take up the most space of any on the list, so keep that in mind before you decide. There is a smaller 6-quart model (two 3-quart baskets) and a larger 10-quart version (two 5-quart baskets) if you think you'll need it. 

Need more info? Check out our full review on the Ninja Foodi Dual-Basket air fryer. 

If you're eyeing an air fryer but also an Instant Pot or another multicooker, let me save you some money and kitchen space. The Instant Pot Duo does all the work of the popular multicooker -- pressure cooker, slow cooker, steam and saute -- but comes with a separate air fryer lid and cooking function as well.

I found the air fryer function worked as well or better than most of the solo air fryers I tested. One reason, and something you might consider a drawback, is that the cooking capacity is relatively small, which generally translates to better air fryer results since the hot circulating air hits the food harder, hotter and faster. 

Instant Pot's Duo model made incredible crispy "fried" chicken, wings, veggies and other classics, but know that you'll likely have to cook in batches if you're making food for a group. It's also a solid deal considering all this machine does. The Duo Crisp can often be found for $150 or cheaper if you nab it on sale.

One thing I don't love about this model is the steel air fryer basket, which is trickier to clean than the pod-shaped models, most of which feature nonstick cooking baskets.

Breville's stylish Smart Oven Air is our favorite air fryer and toaster combo. This isn't just a proficient air fryer but a mini version of a smart oven that can handle a small chicken, as many as four filets of salmon or a tray of homemade cookies. Most likely because of its size, the Smart Oven Air took a little bit longer to get crispy chicken wings and Brussels sprouts, but only by a few minutes. 

The Breville heats very consistently and has a wealth of cooking modes -- toast, bagel, bake, roast, broil, warm, reheat, air fry -- making it about as good a replacement for your big oven as any. If you have a toaster oven you like and are just looking for an air fryer, this probably isn't the pick. But if you want a countertop appliance that can do far more than wings and wedges, this is a whole lot of oven for under $300.

Ninja's $200 Foodi oven is another we tested and really liked. While it was the best toaster at actually air frying, its cooking chamber is very slim, making it impossible to fit certain foods. It's also more of a pain to clean than the Breville.