Intro
An air fryer is essentially a small, powerful convection oven — and it’s become one of the most genuinely useful countertop appliances you can own. Crispy wings, roasted vegetables, reheated leftovers that don’t go soggy: a good air fryer does all of this faster than a full-size oven, with a fraction of the oil of a deep fryer.
We rounded up the six air fryers that appear most consistently across 2026 expert roundups — Wirecutter, America’s Test Kitchen, Good Housekeeping, Food Network, CNET and Bon Appétit — spanning budget, mid-range and premium tiers, from a 4-quart starter to a 10-quart dual-basket workhorse. Every pick below is a real, currently available product.
How We Chose These Air Fryers
KitchenBrisk picks are editorial and research-based. For this guide we compared manufacturer specifications for every current model in the category — usable capacity, wattage, temperature range and basket design — against verified owner feedback across major retailers and the findings of established review publications, and we weighted the things owners actually complain about a year in: baskets that lose their coating, fans that get loud, and controls that fight you. The shortlist is ordered by who each machine suits, not by price or brand. Where we state a capacity or temperature, it is the manufacturer’s figure; where we give a view, it is labelled as ours.
Our Top Picks at a Glance
| Pick | Air Fryer | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| ⭐ Best Overall | Ninja Air Fryer Pro | Wirecutter’s pick: the most “fried-like” crisp of any basket model |
| 🧺 Best Dual-Basket | Ninja Foodi DZ550 Smart XL 10-Qt DualZone | Cooking two different foods at once for a family |
| 🔄 Best All-Rounder | Instant Vortex Plus 6-Quart | 7-in-1 versatility with rotisserie at a mid-range price |
| 💰 Best Budget | Gourmia 4-Quart Air Fryer | Entry-level air frying that actually works |
| 🤫 Best Smart & Quiet | Cosori TurboBlaze 6-Quart | App control, five fan speeds and the quietest fan here |
| 🍕 Best Oven-Style | Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro | A countertop oven that doubles as an air fryer |
The Reviews
1. ⭐ Ninja Air Fryer Pro — Best Overall
Wirecutter’s longstanding top pick, chosen after testing dozens of models since 2017. The Air Fryer Pro heats up fast with no preheating needed, and reviewers consistently say it produces the most genuinely fried-like crisp of any basket-style fryer. The simple dial-and-button interface (no fiddly touchscreen) is a plus for daily use.
Pros
- Crispiest results of any basket model in side-by-side tests
- No preheat needed; reaches temperature very quickly
- Simple, reliable dial controls — no touchscreen to fail
- Replacement parts available for longevity
Cons
- Tends to run hot and overshoot the set temperature — check food early
- Loud fan compared with newer competitors
- No smart/app features at this tier
Best for: cooks who want the single best-performing everyday basket air fryer.
2. 🧺 Ninja Foodi DZ550 Smart XL 10-Qt DualZone — Best Dual-Basket
Two independent 5-quart baskets in one machine, with Ninja’s SYNC finish so both zones are ready at the same time even with different times and temperatures. This is the air fryer for families and batch cooks: crispy wings in one basket, roasted vegetables in the other. It’s also a dehydrator, roaster and reheater, and components are dishwasher-safe. Cooking two foods at two temperatures is its own skill — our dual-zone air fryer guide covers when the format is worth the counter space.
Pros
- True dual-zone cooking — two foods, two temps, one finish time
- Large 10-quart total capacity suits a family
- Even heat distribution with no frustrating hot spots
- Dishwasher-safe baskets and crisping plates
Cons
- Very large footprint — it will dominate a countertop
- Steeper learning curve with dual-zone modes and SYNC settings
- Heavier and harder to stash away than single-basket models
Best for: families and meal-preppers who want to cook a whole meal at once.
3. 🔄 Instant Vortex Plus 6-Quart — Best All-Rounder
Food Network’s best-overall pick. The Vortex Plus packs seven functions — air fry, roast, broil, bake, reheat, dehydrate and rotisserie — into a mid-range 6-quart basket model with a responsive touchscreen. Reviewers praise its consistent results across functions and dishwasher-safe parts, making it one of the most recommended mid-range fryers in any roundup.
Pros
- Seven functions including a working rotisserie — rare at this price
- Even, consistent cooking across all modes in lab tests
- Dishwasher-safe basket and trays for easy cleanup
- Intuitive touchscreen with one-touch presets
Cons
- Footprint is bulky for a 6-quart basket model
- Loud alert beeps that can’t easily be muted
- Rotisserie parts add pieces to store
Best for: cooks who want maximum versatility from one mid-range appliance.
4. 💰 Gourmia 4-Quart Air Fryer — Best Budget
Wirecutter’s budget pick. The 4-quart Gourmia proves you don’t need to spend much to get genuinely good air frying: it cooks evenly, has the essential presets, and the nonstick basket is dishwasher-safe. Capacity is modest, but for one or two people — or as a first air fryer — it does the job.
Pros
- Outstanding value; the cheapest genuinely good air fryer here
- Cooks evenly and crisps well for the price
- Dishwasher-safe basket; simple controls
- Compact footprint for small kitchens
Cons
- 4-quart capacity means multiple batches for families
- Build quality is lighter-duty than mid-range rivals
- Fewer presets and functions; no smart features
Best for: first air fryer, students, and kitchens cooking for one or two.
5. 🤫 Cosori TurboBlaze 6-Quart — Best Smart & Quiet
Good Housekeeping lab-tested and a favourite among reviewers for refinement rather than raw power. The TurboBlaze’s DC motor runs five adjustable fan speeds and stays notably quiet (rated under 53 dB — a conversation-level hum rather than a jet engine). The VeSync app adds recipes, scheduling and voice-assistant control, and the PFAS-free ceramic-coated basket is dishwasher-safe. We go deeper in our full COSORI TurboBlaze review.
Pros
- Quietest fan of any fryer on this list
- Five fan speeds for finer control over browning and crisping
- VeSync app with recipes, remote control and scheduling
- PFAS-free ceramic coating; dishwasher-safe parts
Cons
- Full functionality leans on the app, which some users find fiddly
- Bulkier than its 6-quart capacity suggests
- Voice-control setup takes some patience
Best for: tech-friendly cooks and anyone sensitive to appliance noise.
6. 🍕 Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro — Best Oven-Style
America’s Test Kitchen’s recommended air-fryer toaster oven, and a favourite of Serious Eats and Wirecutter’s toaster-oven coverage too. This is a different beast from the basket models above: a large countertop oven that air-fries, bakes, roasts, toasts and dehydrates. Its interior fits a quarter sheet pan or 13×9″ casserole dish, effectively doubling your oven space. Reviewers praise its accurate temperature control and excellent toast.
Pros
- True multi-function countertop oven — bakes, roasts, toasts, air-fries, dehydrates
- Accurate temperature control where rivals miss by dozens of degrees
- Large interior fits a 13×9″ pan — genuinely replaces a second oven
- Premium build and intuitive knobs plus digital display
Cons
- Premium price and a large, permanent countertop footprint
- Harder to shake or toss small foods mid-cook than a basket model
- Food can benefit from slightly higher temps/longer times vs basket fryers
Best for: cooks who want an air fryer that replaces their toaster oven — or backs up their main oven.
Buying Guide: How to Choose an Air Fryer
Capacity. This is the first decision. 2–4 quarts suits one or two people and small kitchens; 5–6 quarts is the family sweet spot for four; 8–10 quarts (or dual-basket models) handle large families and batch cooking. Buy for the meals you actually cook — an oversized fryer wastes counter space and energy on small batches.
Basket vs oven-style. Basket models (the Ninja Air Fryer Pro, Vortex Plus) circulate air best around small foods and are easiest to shake mid-cook — the crispest results. Oven-style models (the Breville) do far more: bake, toast, broil, roast — but they’re bigger, pricier and slightly less crisp on fries.
Wattage. Most good basket fryers run 1,400–1,800 watts. Higher wattage means faster heat-up and crisper results, but check your kitchen circuit — an 1,800W fryer plus a kettle on the same circuit can trip a breaker.
Controls and presets. Simple dials (Ninja Air Fryer Pro) never crash; touchscreens and apps (Cosori TurboBlaze, Instant Vortex Plus) add recipes and remote control. Dual-basket models add SYNC modes — decide whether you’ll actually use them.
Nonstick coatings and health. Most baskets use nonstick coatings. Look for PFAS-free or ceramic coatings (like the Cosori TurboBlaze) if that matters to you, and replace baskets if the coating starts to flake. Glass-basket models exist for the coating-wary.
Cleaning. Air fryers get greasy fast. Prioritise dishwasher-safe baskets, crisping plates and trays — all six picks here have them. Models with fewer crevices and removable heating elements are easier to wipe down. Keep it performing: our air fryer cleaning guide and best air fryer accessories cover the upkeep and the extras that are actually useful.
Noise and footprint. Air fryers are loud by nature — fans run at full blast. If you cook while others sleep or work nearby, the quiet-rated Cosori is worth a look. Measure your counter: dual-basket and oven-style models are 15–20 inches wide and live there permanently.
FAQs
What size air fryer do I need? For one or two people, 4 quarts is enough. For a family of four, go 5–6 quarts. For five or more, or if you batch-cook, consider a dual-basket 8–10 quart model like the Ninja Foodi DZ550.
Are air fryers actually healthier than deep frying? They use far less oil — most foods need just a light spray — so air-fried food is meaningfully lower in fat than deep-fried. It’s still fried-adjacent food, but it’s a big step up from a deep fryer.
Do air fryers use a lot of electricity? They draw 1,400–1,800W while running, but they preheat in minutes and cook faster than a full-size oven, so a typical meal usually costs less in energy than heating the big oven.
Can I put foil or parchment paper in an air fryer? Yes — perforated parchment liners work well for sticky foods, and foil is fine for roasting. Never cover the basket’s air holes completely, and never put loose paper in during preheat with nothing weighing it down.
Basket-style or oven-style air fryer — which should I buy? Buy a basket model for the crispiest fries and wings with the least fuss. Buy an oven-style model like the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro if you want to bake, toast and roast too — it’s a second oven, not just a fryer.
