LootList

Kitchen / Reviews

Kitchen review roundup

The best air fryers, in plain English

An air fryer makes food crispy with a fan and little or no oil. We read hands-on tests and boiled them down: which ones crisp best, which fit a family, and which save counter space.

  • Last reviewed October 20, 2026
  • 6 air fryers
  • 7 expert reviews read

We didn't test these ourselves. We read reviews from experts who test products hands-on, then summed up where they agree and where they don't. Every source is linked. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Short on time? Start here

Our top pick in each group. Tap one to jump to the details.

Best for most people Ninja AF101 Air Fryer (4 qt) $70–$110 Crispy results and easy cleanup for 2 to 3 people. See details Best for families Ninja Foodi DualZone 2-Basket Air Fryer (8 qt) $150–$200 Two baskets that finish at the same time. See details Best budget Instant Vortex 4-in-1 Air Fryer (6 qt) $60–$100 Roomy and simple for under $100. See details Best PFAS-free Cosori Iconic Stainless Steel Air Fryer (6.5 qt) $130–$180 Stainless steel with a ceramic basket. See details

Before you buy: 3 quick checks

Size matters more than presets.

Pick the right size

About 4 quarts feeds 2 to 3 people. A family of four or more needs 6 quarts or a two-basket model. Bigger isn't always better: a crowded basket makes soggy food.

One basket or two?

Two baskets let you cook a main and a side at once, each at its own setting, and finish together. They take more counter space, unless the baskets are stacked.

Give it room

Air fryers blow hot air out the back. Keep a few inches of space around it, away from cabinets and the wall, and don't set it under a shelf.

Compare at a glance

On a phone, swipe the table sideways to see every column.

Air fryerBest forTypical priceSizeBaskets
1. Ninja AF101 Air Fryer (4 qt) Best for most people $70–$1104 quarts (2 to 3 people)1 basket
2. Ninja Foodi DualZone 2-Basket Air Fryer (8 qt) Best for families $150–$2008 quarts (4 to 6 people)2 side-by-side baskets
3. Ninja DoubleStack XL 2-Basket Air Fryer (10 qt) Best space-saver for families $170–$23010 quarts (4 to 6 people)2 stacked baskets
4. Cosori Iconic Stainless Steel Air Fryer (6.5 qt) Best PFAS-free $130–$1806.5 quarts (3 to 5 people)1 basket
5. Instant Vortex 4-in-1 Air Fryer (6 qt) Best budget $60–$1006 quarts (3 to 4 people)1 basket
6. Ninja Crispi Glass Air Fryer (4 qt) Best glass design $130–$1804 qt and 1.5 qt glass dishesGlass dishes with lids

The 6 best air fryers, explained

Best overall first. Prices are typical ranges, not live prices, so check Amazon for today's price.

#1Best for most people

Ninja AF101 Air Fryer (4 qt)

  • 4 quarts (2 to 3 people)
  • 1 basket
  • Dishwasher-safe basket

$70–$110typical price

A simple, reliable basket air fryer that makes food very crispy. TechGearLab names it the best air fryer overall, Reviewed calls it the best value, and Woman & Home picks the same model (sold as the AF100 in the UK) for couples.

What testers liked

  • Crisps fries and wings better than many bigger models.
  • Easy to clean.
  • Simple buttons that anyone can use.

Common complaints

  • Too small for a family of four or more.
  • A little noisy, and it doesn't pause when you pull out the basket.

Skip it if: You often cook for four or more people. A two-basket model is a better fit.

See it on Amazon
Read the reviews (4)

Summed up from TechGearLab, Reviewed, Woman & Home, T3.

#2Best for families

Ninja Foodi DualZone 2-Basket Air Fryer (8 qt)

  • 8 quarts (4 to 6 people)
  • 2 side-by-side baskets
  • Two foods finish at the same time

$150–$200typical price

Two baskets let you cook chicken in one and fries in the other, and a sync button makes them finish together. TechGearLab picks it for meal prep, and T3 names the same model (sold as the AF300 in the UK) the best dual-basket air fryer.

What testers liked

  • Huge capacity for families.
  • Cook two different foods at once, each its own way.
  • Lots of presets that are easy to use.

Common complaints

  • Takes up a lot of counter space.
  • Pricier than a single-basket fryer.

Skip it if: You have a small kitchen. Look at the DoubleStack, which stacks its baskets.

See it on Amazon
Read the reviews (2)

Summed up from TechGearLab, T3.

#3Best space-saver for families

Ninja DoubleStack XL 2-Basket Air Fryer (10 qt)

  • 10 quarts (4 to 6 people)
  • 2 stacked baskets
  • Narrow footprint

$170–$230typical price

Two baskets stacked on top of each other, so you get family-size cooking in less counter space. TechRadar names it the best air fryer overall, and T3 calls it the best space-saving pick.

What testers liked

  • Big capacity in a small footprint.
  • Top-tier cooking results in TechRadar's tests.
  • Can cook up to four foods at once with the racks.

Common complaints

  • Pricey for a two-basket fryer.
  • T3 found it didn't always cook evenly, and the controls take time to learn.

Skip it if: You want to cook a whole chicken or other big foods. The shallow stacked baskets can't fit them.

See it on Amazon
Read the reviews (2)

Summed up from TechRadar, T3.

#4Best PFAS-free

Cosori Iconic Stainless Steel Air Fryer (6.5 qt)

  • 6.5 quarts (3 to 5 people)
  • 1 basket
  • Ceramic coating, no PFAS

$130–$180typical price

A stainless steel air fryer with a ceramic nonstick basket instead of the usual PTFE coating. PFAS are "forever chemicals" some people want to avoid. Tom's Guide names it the best PFAS-free air fryer, and Reviewed calls it the best stainless steel model.

What testers liked

  • Crisp, even results in both tests.
  • The ceramic basket wipes clean easily.
  • Five-year warranty (a promise to fix or replace it).

Common complaints

  • The steel picks up fingerprints.
  • Costs more than basic air fryers, and it's so powerful it's easy to overcook at first.

Skip it if: You're on a tight budget. The Instant Vortex costs about half as much.

See it on Amazon
Read the reviews (2)

Summed up from Tom's Guide, Reviewed.

#5Best budget

Instant Vortex 4-in-1 Air Fryer (6 qt)

  • 6 quarts (3 to 4 people)
  • 1 basket
  • Light and simple

$60–$100typical price

A roomy, easy air fryer for a low price. T3 names it the best cheap air fryer, and Woman & Home picks it as the best budget model.

What testers liked

  • Super easy to set up and use.
  • Quick to clean.
  • Light enough to move around.

Common complaints

  • You need to shake the basket often for even crisping.
  • Takes up a fair bit of space, and the cord is short.

Skip it if: You want the crispiest results. The Ninja AF101 crisps better in tests.

See it on Amazon
Read the reviews (2)

Summed up from T3, Woman & Home.

#6Best glass design

Ninja Crispi Glass Air Fryer (4 qt)

  • 4 qt and 1.5 qt glass dishes
  • Glass dishes with lids
  • Cook, serve and store in one dish

$130–$180typical price

A different take: the heater clicks onto glass dishes, so you can cook, serve and store leftovers in the same container. Tom's Guide and Yahoo name it the best small air fryer, and TechRadar and T3 pick it as the best portable one.

What testers liked

  • Glass dishes double as food storage with lids.
  • Easy cleanup, and no nonstick coating.
  • Looks great.

Common complaints

  • Small capacity, and baking results are weak.
  • Pricey for its size.

Testers disagree on: TechGearLab doesn't recommend it at all, because the outside of the glass reached about 280°F in their tests. The other four sources liked it.

Skip it if: Kids are around. TechGearLab found the glass gets very hot on the outside.

See it on Amazon
Read the reviews (4)

Summed up from Tom's Guide, Yahoo Shopping, TechRadar, T3.

How we pick

More kitchen reviews