Top air fryers of 2022, according to kitchen pros
Air fryers come in several styles, including what we like to call basket-style, which is great for large batches of foods such as fries and vegetables that benefit from shaking; oven-style, ideal for cooking food on numerous shelves and often including rotisserie accessories; and toaster-oven-style, which can air-fry, in addition to toast, bake, broil and more. No matter the style, the air fryers require minimal cleanup, which is one of the main reasons we like using them.
In the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Culinary Innovation Lab, we have tested more than 40 air fryers over the years, cooking at least 1 pound of chicken wings in each, as well as a 1/2 pound of frozen fries and 1/2 pound of fresh homemade fries. Our top performers air-fried food to a crispy texture with a moist interior and were a cinch to use with large, easy-to-read controls that barely required the owner’s manual. These are the best air fryers and air-fryer toaster ovens of 2022 that you can buy right now.
HOW WE TEST AIR FRYERS
When we test air fryers, we evaluate their performance and ease of use by air-frying frozen and fresh french fries, as well as chicken wings. We do not test baked goods such as cake because cake and most other desserts benefit from an even distribution of gentle heat, and most air fryers do not have heating elements on the bottom, in addition to the top (though fruit crumbles and air-fryer doughnuts come out great). We score the food on its crispiness, juiciness and evenness, and we consider details such as how quickly the food cooks, how helpful the user guide is and whether the machine is loud. We also evaluate features such as the control panel, temperature range and whether the accessories are dishwasher-safe.
OUR TOP AIR-FRYER PICKS:
Best overall air fryer: Ninja Max XL Air Fryer. This 5.5-quart basket-style Ninja Air Fryer Max XL was the top performer in our air-fryer test. The Ninja Max XL scored the highest marks across the board for ease of use, thanks to its intuitive, easy-to-read buttons, and clear and useful owner’s manual. During our tests, the air-fryer basket slid in and out easily, which made handling a breeze. We are fans of the basket’s removable tray and slick ceramic interior, which makes it nonstick. The tray also fits snugly and securely on the bottom of the basket so you don’t have to worry about it falling out when you put the food onto a plate. Both basket and tray are dishwasher safe and easy to clean, even if you choose to hand-wash them.
In addition to being easy to use, the Ninja Air Fryer Max XL scored the highest in performance. It produced crispy and evenly cooked frozen fries and homemade fries, as well as chicken wings that were moist on the inside. The model we tested comes with a broiling rack for even quicker and juicier results — and a fast way to create melty cheese. The fryer also features several cook settings, which are programmed with unique maximum and minimum temperatures — including Max Crisp and Air Broil (which reach 450 F) and dehydrate (which reaches a low of 105 F) — so you can achieve various cooking results. Another unique feature is the timer, which counts down to the second. For a larger capacity, consider the Ninja Foodi 6-in-1 2-Basket Air Fryer. It performs just as well as the Air Fryer Max XL, with even more versatility. The Ninja Foodi is the one we turn to the most for one-person meals because each individual basket is smaller and takes up less room in the dishwasher.
Best-value air fryer: Cosori Air Fryer. Though it is not the least expensive air fryer on our list, this Cosori Air Fryer is of great value. It is straightforward, easy to use and can feed an entire family without costing a fortune. It has a 3.7-quart square basket, which offers a lot of cooking space, especially compared with its round competitors. The basket is removable and lightweight, with many vents for optimal air circulation. The control panel is loaded with presets that are programmed with recommended cooking temperatures and times, including a preheat option. The Cosori Air Fryer can also be used with a manual setting if none of the presets is the perfect fit.
In our tests, the Cosori scored high for ease of use, and more than 13,000 five-star reviewers on Amazon agree. The Cosori also made good fresh fries and wings. Frozen fries required almost 10 minutes less than the manufacturer’s instructions, so keep an eye on the goodies you are cooking. Steam came out of the air fryer during cooking, which caused condensation to develop on the drawer (it did not seem to affect results).
Best compact air fryer: Philips Compact Air Fryer. Our favorite feature of the Philips Premium Air Fryer is its compact shape that still cooks enough food for two portions. At 2.5 quarts, it is the smallest of the Philips air fryers, which also come in XL and XXL sizes. It is also the only air fryer we tested with a splatter lid. In our tests, the lid helped make crisp frozen fries that were moist on the inside and evenly golden on the outside. The fryer also allowed for the cooking of greasy foods, such as sausages, which are not typically recommended in an air fryer because they can cause smoking. In addition to the lid, the Philips is very easy to operate, with a userfriendly control panel and four preset settings. The basket handle removes for easy cleaning.
Best large-capacity air fryer: GoWISE USA 7-Quart Electric Air Fryer. The GoWISE USA 7-Quart Electric Air Fryer is the one we turn to most for cooking in large batches because it is so big. In our tests, it air-fried crispy fries and juicy wings that we kept going back to nosh on. Its air fryer basket has an oblong shape, which allows more cooking in a single layer than round baskets — a big benefit when it comes to dehydrating. This GoWISE air fryer comes with three additional racks that stack, which sets it apart from others on the market. The stacking racks allow one to air-fry and dehydrate up to four layers at a time. The GoWISE is also available in two additional colors: mint and red.