Indulge in perfectly crispy fried food minus the guilt. That’s the tempting offer of air fryers. Unsurprisingly, many have taken the bait and embraced the world of oil-free cooking.
Instead of cooking food in deep fat, an air fryer circulates hot air to cook it within 10 to 20 minutes. An exhaust fan sits right on top of the cooking basket (where you store your food), which regulates the heating temperature and ensures that the food is cooked evenly.
As for the taste of air-fried food, it can’t totally replicate the same flavors and textures of deep-fried food—but it comes pretty close. Nevertheless, there are several reasons why you should get one for your kitchen.
Compared to convection ovens, an air fryer is easier to use. It also requires very little maintenance as it comes with an internal cooling system that keeps the machine nice and clean. Due to its soaring popularity, we now have endless options on the market, some from well-known brands like Philips and Breville. To help you get started with oil-less cooking, we’ve made a little guide for you.
Here, we first delve into the factors to consider for an air fryer and feature seven of the top air fryers in 2019.
Here's a list of 7 Best Air Fryers
| Best Air Fryer | Rating |
|---|---|---|
 | ||
 | ||
 | ||
 | ||
 | ||
 | ||
 |
Things to Consider When Buying an Air Fryer
If you’re interested in buying an air fryer but don’t know how to choose one, this guide is for you. We cover all the information you need about choosing one for your kitchen.
When you’re picking out an air fryer, consider the following factors:
- Cooking performance – Of course, not all air fryers are made equal. Look up the cooking performance air fryers have before deciding to buy one. Read reviews such as this to find out if an air fryer has impressed a diverse range of consumers.
- Functions and features – All air fryers are designed to be compact. They can fit on your kitchen counter along with your coffee maker and other appliances. Some are large enough to cook for a family of five, while others can fit meals for one to two people at a time. Thus, you ought to find the right size for your family.
- Ease of use – Is the air fryer’s interface easy to use? Does it come with cooking accessories? A free cookbook, perhaps? These are the questions you need to be considering when you’re looking for a user-friendly air fryer.
- Value for money – Air fryers can range from $55 to $200, while some high-end versions can cost as much as $300. Sometimes, the best investments aren’t the most expensive ones. Instead of browsing the higher-end sections, pick out an air fryer that can deliver the best bang for your buck.
- Ease of maintenance – In general, air fryers are easier to maintain than convection ovens because they are small and they have dishwasher-safe components. Of course, not all models offer such a convenience. To free yourself from the burden of hand-washing, pick out an air fryer that’s not only easy to clean but also dishwasher-safe.
Best Air Fryer Reviews
We’ve made a list of the most reliable air fryers in 2019 to help you in your search. Below, you will find seven exceptional air fryers that are worth considering:
Best Overall: Philips HD 9641/96 Airfryer
The Philips HD 9641/96 uses TurboStar Technology making healthier cooking and frying a reality. This system ensures that heat is circulated evenly within the basket, ensuring that your favorite foods are cooked evenly with less oil. Simply put, there’s no turning needed when you’re frying with the Philips HD 9641/96 Airfryer.
It has a solid black body, a digital display, and a 2.75-quart basket. Aside from frying food, it can grill, roast, and even bake your favorite foods, making it ideal for families who want to make healthier eating choices. Measuring 12x11x15 inches, the Philips HD 9641/96 Airfryer can fit on your countertop and still spare some room for other appliances. Despite its small size, it can cook up to four servings. Due to all these features, the air fryer is on the higher-end side.
Philips HD9641 Air Fryer Video Review
Best for Large Meals: Secura Extra Large Capacity Air Fryer
Secura’s extra-large capacity electric air fryer has a 4.2-quart basket, giving you more capacity than most models on the market. If you’re cooking for a small family, this makes an ideal choice for your kitchen. It comes with a non-stick fryer basket, a skewer rack, and a toaster rack, all for a relatively affordable price.
The air fryer has two dials: one for controlling the temperature and one for setting the time. While there are models with digital controls, the Secura XL doesn’t offer the most precise way of setting the time or temperature. Nevertheless, its cooking performance makes it worth your purchase. If you’re looking for a durable, affordable, and family-friendly air fryer, the Secura XL might be the one you need.
Secura Extra Large Air Fryer Video Review
Best Budget Multipurpose Air Fryer: Cuisinart TOA – 60
If you’re looking for versatility that fits within your budget, you need the Cuisinart TOA-60. It’s a convection oven, toaster oven, and air fryer rolled into one. Aside from air frying, it can bake, broil, warm, and toast your favorite foods.
Measuring 15.5x16x14 inches, the Cuisinart TOA-60 is one of the larger air fryer models on the market. It might take up more space on your counter but it can certainly cook more food. It has a 0.6 cubic foot non-stick interior which ensures you won’t have a hard time picking food off its interior. For some context, it can fit six slices of bread or a four-pound chicken.
The Cuisinart TOA-60 comes with handy cooking accessories, including an oven rack, air frying basket, and a baking pan.
Cuisinart TOA-60 Air Fryer Video Review
Best for Hands-Free Cooking: T-fal Multi Actifry Fryer
Indeed, T-fal might not be as well-known as other brands in this list, but it does have something valuable to offer—the Multi Actifry Fryer. This model is equipped with a simple power switch that maxes out after an hour and a half, a digital countdown timer, and a buzzer for hassle-free monitoring.
Perhaps the best thing about it is its automatic rotating paddle for hands-free cooking. The built-in paddle gradually rotates the food for you. This can be handy especially for moms who often have to cook and take care of their little ones. With the T-fal Multi Actifry Fryer, all you have to do is set up your air fryer and forget about it until the alarm tells you the food is ready.
Cuisinart TOA-60 Air Fryer Video Review
Best for a Low-Carb Lifestyle: Avalon Bay Air Fryer
Much like other air fryer models, Avalon Bay has a user-friendly interface with a temperature setting for as much as 400 degrees and a 30-minute timer.
However, what makes it different from the rest is that it comes with a 52-page cookbook that empowers beginners and air frying enthusiasts to commit to this low-carb lifestyle.
Avalon also has a 90-day return policy. Thus, if the air fryer doesn’t live up to your expectations, you can send it back within 90 days of purchase and ask for a full refund.
Avalon Bay Air Fryer Video Review
Best Value: Go-WISE USA 8-in-1 Digital Air Fryer
The Go-Wise USA digital air fryer offers an incredible mix of features for an affordable price tag. Its sleek and modern look boasts a touch-screen menu with eight built-in cooking functions: fries/chips, steak, chicken, pork, shrimp, fish, cake, and pizza. It also has an alarm function that alerts you whenever you need to flip or shake your ingredients.
If you purchase this Go-Wise USA digital air fryer, you also get an accessory kit with an eight-inch baking pack, an insert rack with three skewers, a toasting rack, a silicone pot holder, and a recipe book made specifically for Go-Wise USA air fryers. Even with all that functionality, you won’t have to break the bank to get your hands on this model.
GoWise USA Air Fryer Video Review
Best Oven/Fryer Combo: Breville BOV900 BSS Convection and Air Fry Smart Oven
Most air fryers on our list have exceptional features, but none can truly replace the convection oven—except for the Breville BOV900 BSS. It has a two-speed convection fan that delivers greater control over your cooking. At the same time, it guarantees fast and even heating, making it ideal for frying, roasting, and dehydration.
The Breville BOV900 BSS is also versatile, offering a total of 13 cooking functions. The only thing you have to be concerned about is its size. However, it does give you greater cooking capacity than most air fryers.
Breville Air Fryer Video Review
Conclusion
Oil-free or low-fat cooking is the route you need to take for a healthier lifestyle. You no longer have to lay off the fries to maintain or improve your health and nutrition now that a healthier alternative is within your grasp. Having an air fryer in the kitchen makes it so much easier to cook low-calorie meals every day and commit to a healthier lifestyle. As long as you choose the right one, your investment will be worth it.
