What makes the best air fryer to buy? Imagine a mini convection oven on your countertop that crisps fries and roasts veggies with almost no oil. That’s essentially what an air fryer is: a compact, powerful fan-forced cooker that heats up quickly and mimics deep-frying by circulating hot air. This means you get the same crunchy, golden results using up to 90% less oil. In practical terms, an air fryer lets us enjoy staples like fries, chicken, or roasted veggies guilt-free – they come out crispy outside and juicy inside, with far less fat than traditional frying.
Air fryers also simplify daily cooking. They heat a small cooking chamber very fast, so meals are ready in minutes. For example, the Compact Cosori TurboBlaze model uses a 3600 RPM fan to cook foods faster than a regular oven. Testing shows an air fryer used only ~0.80 kWh to bake a potato, versus 1.10 kWh in a standard oven – saving time and energy. In short, an air fryer is perfect for busy weeknight dinners or quick snacks: pop in frozen fries or chicken nuggets and they emerge hot and crispy without the preheating hassle. Cleanup is easy too – most baskets are nonstick and dishwasher-safe, so we spend less time scrubbing and more time eating. Check the benefits of Air fryers:
Key Benefits of Air Fryers:
- Healthy Cooking: Use minimal to no oil for frying, cutting fat by up to 85–95% according to foodandwine.com and techradar.com.
- Speed & Convenience: Heats up very fast (smaller chamber + big fan), cooking meals quicker than a full-size oven. Great for reheating or turning frozen foods into crispy delights with barely any effort.
- Energy Efficiency: Smaller space means lower energy use – in tests, an air fryer baked a potato using 27p of electricity vs 37p in a mini-oven. This efficiency saves both money and cooking time.
- Versatility: Most models do more than “fry”: you can bake, roast, grill, broil or even dehydrate. Many have preset menus and wide temperature ranges (typically 90–450°F).
- Easy Cleanup: Removable baskets/pans are usually dishwasher-safe or wipe-clean, making cleanup a breeze.
With these advantages, air fryers are a dream for families and health-conscious cooks alike. They free us from heavy oils and long oven preheats – like having a speedy, oil-free “fryer” right beside the toaster. Now, let’s check out our top five air fryers of 2025, chosen for popularity and performance in both the U.S. and Europe (from compact to full-size):
Top 5 Air Fryers to Buy in 2025
1. COSORI TurboBlaze™ 6-Quart Air Fryer
Highlights: 9-in-1 functions (air fry, roast, bake, dehydrate, etc.), TurboBlaze tech for extra-quick heat, quiet operation, square basket for more capacity.
We love this mid-size model for its balance of features and price. The 6-quart square basket holds a family-size meal (like 2 lbs of fries) at once. Its innovative TurboBlaze system uses a 3600 rpm fan, reaching up to 450°F to cook food faster than most air fryers Reviews show it cooks evenly across the entire basket (no undercooked edges) thanks to its powerful airflow. Key pros include its versatility (9 cooking modes) and quiet performance, and it’s an Amazon top-seller (4.8★ from 10K+ reviews and Amazon’s Choice). Great for: crispy fries with veggies, one-pan chicken dinners, homemade chips or dried fruit snacks. It’s also energy-efficient for its size – most weekday dinners come out in under 20 minutes.
COSORI TurboBlaze™ 6-Quart Air Fryer
- TurboBlaze™ tech cooks 46% faster than older COSORI models – ideal for weeknight meals.
- Quiet operation, even with a 3600 RPM fan – great for open kitchens.
- 9-in-1 functionality (air fry, roast, bake, broil, dehydrate, etc.) for all-in-one cooking.
- Square 6QT basket fits more food than round models – cook for 3–5 people with ease.
2. Ninja Air Fryer, 4-Quart (AF101)
Highlights: 4-in-1 cooker (air fry, roast, reheat, dehydrate), compact footprint, 4.7★, 85K+ ratings, 10K sold last month.
This Ninja model is a bestseller for small kitchens or singles, a top rated air fryer. Despite its compact 4-quart basket (fits ~2 lbs of fries) it nails every task. With a wide 105–400°F range and solid ceramic nonstick basket, it browns chicken wings or toasties as well as larger units. In tests it consistently made the crispiest chicken wings in the shortest time. The intuitive controls are easy enough that even newbies find it user-friendly. Its family-sized capacity can handle meals for 2–4 people. We appreciate that it dehydrates (for kale chips or fruit) without extra parts. Plus, thousands of reviewers praise its durability – it holds up under daily use. Perfect for: smaller households or side dishes; quick snack batches (fries, onion rings, roasted nuts); making crispy garlic or toasted veggies in under 10 minutes.
Ninja Air Fryer 4-Quart (AF101)
- Compact size with big performance – perfect for small kitchens or couples.
- Wide temperature range (105°F–400°F) allows dehydrating and crisping in one device.
- Nonstick ceramic-coated basket is dishwasher-safe and toxin-free.
- Huge user base (85K+ ratings) with consistently top reviews for reliability and results.
3. Ninja Foodi 10-Quart Dual Zone XL 2-Basket Air Fryer (DZ401)
Highlights: 10-quart total (2×5-quart) with independent baskets; 6-in-1 multi-cooker; MatchCook & Smart Finish features for syncing two dishes.
This is our pick for extra-large families and meal prep. It’s two air fryers in one unit – you can cook different foods at once (or the same food double-portion). Each basket has independent controls. In practice, you can “match cook” to start one side later so both finish together, or simply run them separately. Users love this for cooking, say, fries on one side and a roast chicken on the other without flavor transfer. Its XL size (10 quarts total) means you can batch-cook for gatherings. It’s also an Amazon’s Choice product with a 4.7★ rating (37,680 reviews). The dual-basket design means no more waiting: one side can roast a chicken while the other air-fries vegetables. Ideal uses: family dinners (pizza and wings together), batch cooking meal-prep items, or tackling multiple sides at holiday time. Note: it’s heavier and pricier than single-basket models, but the flexibility is unmatched if you cook for many.
Ninja Foodi DualZone XL 10-Quart (DZ401)
- Two independent 5QT baskets – cook two foods with different settings at once.
- Smart Finish & Match Cook features sync cooking times automatically.
- XL capacity perfect for large families or entertaining.
- 6-in-1 functions including air fry, roast, bake, and reheat – more than just frying.
4. Philips Essential Airfryer XL (6.2L)
Highlights: Rapid Air tech with “starfish” design for even cooking; 6.2-liter (approx 6.5 quart) capacity; 7 presets; easy-clean QuickClean basket.
Philips is the brand that popularized air frying. The Essential XL is their workhorse model. Its patented starfish heating element provides very even hot-air circulation, so items turn out consistently crispy. Philips claims up to 90% less fat vs deep frying. The basket can handle up to 5 portions (around 2.6 lb of food) – easily enough for a family meal. Unlike basket-style fryers, the Philips has a clever removable pan that slides out, making shakes or cleaning easier. It’s highly rated in Europe and the US (4.5★ from 2,191 reviews), another top rated air fryer. We like its simplicity: set a program (Fries, Meat, Fish, etc.), or pick temperature/time on the touchscreen. The Philips app even offers hundreds of recipes for inspiration. Good for: people who want trustworthy performance. Try it for classics like fresh-cut oven fries, roasted veggies, or even baked goods. Bonus: the basket lifts out in one piece for dumping food quickly, and its coating means almost nothing sticks. This is the best air fryer for family!
4. Philips Essential Airfryer XL (6.2L)
- Rapid Air with starfish design ensures even, crispy results every time.
- Trusted Philips brand, pioneers of air frying tech.
- 7 preset programs and an intuitive digital interface – beginner-friendly.
- QuickClean nonstick basket is dishwasher-safe and easy to maintain.
5. Instant Pot Vortex Plus 6-Quart Air Fryer
Highlights: 6-in-1 functionality (air fry, broil, roast, bake, reheat, dehydrate); 6QT capacity; Amazon’s Choice with 4.6★ (20K+ reviews); convenient viewing window on door (ClearCook version).
Instant Pot’s Vortex Plus is a solid mid-range model that appeals to both US and European shoppers. It’s a workhorse with a sizeable cooking chamber. Popular features include a bright LED display, 10 preset programs (including “Odor Erase” for keeping kitchen smells down), and a clear glass door on newer versions so you can monitor progress. Like others, it uses rapid hot air to crisp food with up to 95% less oil. Users report very even results – for example, frozen fries come out golden all the way through. It’s reliable and easy to use, and the many 5★ reviews call it “fast, crispy, effortless”. Great for everyday use: we run it for everything from baked fish fillets to reheated pizza to weekend bacon. Cleanup is straightforward with dishwasher-safe trays. For a versatile all-rounder without a gourmet price tag, this model delivers.
Instant Vortex Plus 6-Quart Air Fryer
- Viewing window (ClearCook) lets you watch food without opening the basket.
- Odor Erase filter reduces lingering cooking smells – great for small apartments.
- 6-in-1 versatility: air fry, broil, roast, bake, reheat, dehydrate.
- Fast preheat and even cooking make it a top pick for daily use.
FAQ – Air Fryers & Healthy Cooking
- Are air fryers really healthier than ovens? Yes. Because an air fryer needs very little oil, it can cut fat calories by over 75–90% compared to deep-frying. You still get that crisp outer layer on foods, but with only a light coating of oil or none at all. Tech experts note air fryers produce “much healthier food that’s just as delicious”.
- Do air fryers save energy? Generally yes, for small-to-medium meals. Air fryers heat a smaller chamber and preheat almost instantly, so they use less total electricity than a large oven. In tests, baking a potato cost only 0.80 kWh in an air fryer vs 1.10 kWh in a standard oven. So you’ll save a bit on your energy bill (especially for quick recipes).
- How do I choose the right size? Consider how many people you cook for. A 2–4 quart fryer is great for 1–2 people (or small sides), while 5–6+ quarts can feed 3–5 people. Our list includes compact models (4 QT Ninja) up to family-size (10 QT Ninja DualZone). For couples or singles, a compact 4QT may be plenty. For families, go 6QT+ so you can cook larger batches at once.
- Can I cook multiple foods together? Yes! The Dual-Zone models (like the Ninja Foodi) let you prepare two dishes in parallel with separate controls. For single-basket fryers, you can still mix, say, fries and vegetables if they have similar cook times. Some recipes recommend the “shake” reminder. For the most flexibility, use models with two baskets or clear cooking windows (Instant Vortex Plus) so you can keep an eye on multiple items.
- Are air fryer baskets hard to clean? Not at all. Most modern air fryers have nonstick-coated baskets or pans, and many parts are dishwasher-safe. The Philips QuickClean basket, for example, has a collapsible mesh that rinses off easily. Always let the unit cool, then either wash the basket by hand with warm soapy water or toss it in the dishwasher. It usually takes only a minute to clean up after cooking.
