You want to fry your favorite dishes without drenching it in oil? It’s possible with the best air fryer.
Look, doctors and medical practitioners have been advising people to stay away from foods that contain too much fat because of the increasing cases of food-related diseases, but many people are finding it hard to give up their favorite dishes.
As a result of this, experts in the food industry have come up with technology to make people prepare and consume their favorite dishes with little or no oils. So, if you enjoy fried food, grab the best air fryer on the market and make your favorite dish with 80% less oil.
However, air fryers are made differently and with different features and functionality. So you need to do enough homework before you buy one. Though, it’s not easy to choose, especially with the plethora of brands out there. But we have simplified the job for you. We have done extensive testing, read customer reviews and perused on different online forums and narrowed down the top 5 best air fryers to buy. We have reviewed them so you can make an informed decision.
What Is An Air Fryer?
An air fryer is a cooking appliance that resembles a large rice cooker with a removable pan where you place your dishes while cooking. This modern kitchen appliance cooks food by use of hot air. It uses a small amount of oil and so the food prepared contains little or no fats.
This way you can enjoy a cleaner and healthier meal compared to the traditional cooking methods where food is drenched in oil while cooking. This is the best cooking appliance to use, especially for people who want to eat foods that contain less fat. The greatest thing about an air fryer is that the food prepared is delicious.
Top Rated Air Fryers In The Market 2019
Benefits of Using an Air Fryer
Besides making cleaner and healthier meals, there are a number of benefits of using an air fryer. Below are some of the reasons why you should buy yours now.
· Easy to clean: While the traditional deep fryers cook faster, the large basket with oil makes them hard to clean. But an air fryer uses less oil and cleaning it is easy.
· Easy to use: Air fryers are designed with straightforward features and functionalities. In fact, some are designed with 2-3 buttons and some have preset programs so you just press the buttons to adjust the temperatures and timers automatically.
· Safe to use: Since the basket that holds the food is enclosed, the chances of getting burnt are minimal and in fact, once the cooking is completed, most devices switch off automatically.
· Fast cooking time: With an air fryer, you can cook your food in about 10 to 20 minutes. This is because the device circulates hot air around the food with temperatures as high as 200 degrees Celsius.
5 Best Air Fryers Reviews – Read Carefully Before You Buy Yours
1. Secura 4-Liter XL- Best in Performance
The Secura electric is one of the best air fryers on the market today. The air fryer is large with a maximum capacity of 4 liters/4.2 quarts capable of cooking more food for at least 3-4 people at once. This convenient air fryer is powered by 1,500 watts, plus maximum temperature of up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
The greatest thing about the Secura air fryer is that it features an automatic shut off functionality so it will not overheat and overcook your food. Another great thing about the air fryer is that you can wash it quickly in a dishwasher since it comes with a removable basket. This best air fryer under $100 is controlled with analog buttons that feature a 60-minute timer setting and a temperature regulator. You can have a look at the required temperatures for various foods for optimal cooking results.
What’s more?
Once you buy this air fryer, you also get a recipe booklet, four metal skewers, and a toast rack, so you don’t have to buy them separately. The pan makes it easy to bake your food. Moreover, the longer electric cord makes it possible for you to place it in your preferred location easily.
However, you must secure the electric cord to prevent young children or pets from pulling it which could burn them. Cooking with this air fryer takes less than 20 minutes
Overall, the Secura is the best air fryer for your money. It will cook more food for a big family and during the summer season, you will still enjoy the heat that this air fryer generates inside your kitchen.
Pros
Auto shut off feature to prevent overheating or overcooking
Extra-large cooking basket up to 4.2 quarts – can cook food for a big family
Best air fryer for the money
Comes with bonus gifts including a recipe booklet, four skewers, and toaster rack so you don’t have to buy them separately
Faster cooking of food- less than 20 minutes
Easy to clean and use
Cons
Long cord could be pulled by children or pets so you have to secure it always
Comes from a brand that is not well-known, but the overall performance of the air fryer is excellent.
2. GoWISE GW22621 – Best Air fryer Under 100
Want to buy an air fryer without breaking the bank? The GoWISE GW22621 is the best option for you. The air fryer is designed with an excellent digital display for better cooking performance.
Coming from GoWISE, this user-friendly air fryer features 7 pre-set buttons so you can cook meat, fish, chips, chicken and other fried foods. You could also fine-tune the temperature and time manually if you wish to.
Does it overcook food or overheat? Nope, once cooking is complete, the air fryer will make a beep sound and switch the device to standby mode.
What about cleaning it? The unit features a removable cooking basket that sits in a drawer. You just need to pull out the drawer and remove the basket by pressing a button to keep the drawer intact. You then clean the cooking basket and the drawer using a cloth with warm water in a super easy way.
However, the timer is only 30 minutes, which usually is enough, it would be better if it would increase to a higher level.
The greatest thing about this air fryer is that it features a digital screen display so you can select various settings according to the food you are cooking. You can also regulate temperature and speed for various foods.
The 3.7 qt. capacity although small compared to other air fryers, it’s an ideal choice for you if you want to cook food for yourself.
To sum it up, if you are looking for a large air fryer to cook for a big family, then this is not for you. It also lacks extra accessories like pans or racks which makes it hard to cook certain foods. However, if you buy the device, you also get a recipe booklet to guide you in your cooking.
Pros
Auto shut off functionality to prevent overcooking and overheating
Various pre-set cooking options for various foods
Easy to clean
Easy to use
Budget-friendly
Compact
Digital display with accurate temperature and timer settings
Easy to follow recipe booklet
Cons
Lack of accessories such as a pan and rack
Limited capacity, 3.7 qt. – Not ideal for a big family
Plastic materials sacrifice durability
Cooking time not enough for some foods
3. Air Fryer by Cozyna – Dishwasher Safe Air Fryer
You want to fry, grill, bake and roast food with little or no oils? Air fryer by Cozyna is for you. This best budget air fryer will cook fries, chicken, burgers and many other foods in less than 30 minutes under adjustable temperature up to 392 degrees.
When choosing a cooking appliance, especially when it comes to cooking foods with oils, ease of cleaning is an important consideration. The air fryer is dishwasher safe. You don’t need to use your hands to wash it. You just wipe the exteriors with a cloth soaked in warm water.
You can either choose the 3.7QT capacity if you want to cook food for yourself or the XL 5.7QT capacity for a big family.
Well, a lot of people want to change their eating habits to avoid the illnesses associated with certain foods. But you don’t have to ditch all of your favorite dishes since this air fryer will cook your dishes with little oil, which means the food you eat is 70% less fat compared to that cooked with a traditional deep fryer.
What’s more?
The air fryer features two buttons to adjust the timer and temperature accordingly. The greatest thing about the air fryer is that it features a digital that shows precise timer and temperature readings.
When you buy the device, you will also get some added bonuses including an eBook, plus over 50 recipes to choose from, and a cookbook. The recipes will guide you to cook your favorite meals.
Summarizing, the Air fryer by Cozyna is the healthiest cooking device to make your favorite dishes like hamburger and fries since it allows you to cook with little oil. However, for a big family, you will need to choose the XL 5.7QT which is a bit pricey compared to the 3.7QT.
Pros
Dishwasher parts make it safe
Cleaning is easy- You only need to clean the drawer and the basket
Comes with an extra cookbook plus over 50 recipes
Comes in two varieties- 3.7 QT for a single person and 5.7QT for a big family
Black exterior compliments any décor
Durable and long-lasting
Cons
People used to Celsius could find it confusing to use Fahrenheit
May generate more heat in the entire kitchen, though this is good, especially for summer days
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Bottom drawer tends to require more effort to slide back in
4. Philips HD9220/28 – Best Air Fryer Under 200
If your test for analog display surpasses that of digital, then Philips HD9220/28 is a solid choice for you. Coming from Philips, a brand that has earned its reputation for producing quality and well-made electronic devices, this model, though small, will provide you an excellent frying outcome.
To adjust the time, the air fryer features a knob on the front. On the top edge is a temperature knob to help you keep the temperature within the required levels for certain foods. All controls are simple.
What’s more?
The air fryer can fry, grill, roast, and bake so you can use it to cook various foods for yourself, your family, and guests. It comes with over 200 easy to follow recipes for any type of meal. Philips has gone an extra mile to make this air fryer more economical, safe, and easy to clean.
It’s compactly designed on the worktop. The top part contains a heating element and fan, whereas the bottom portion houses the drawer that holds the cooking basket.
The greatest thing about the air fryer is that it can cook a bit faster with fewer oil to produce food with less fat. However, there are some drawbacks with this air fryer in that the analog display is not always precise when it comes to settings and temperature readings.
Overall, this air fryer is a perfect choice for anyone with a test for quality analog cooking appliances. Although its price is slightly higher for an appliance with limited accessories, the durability it offers makes it ideal for most people.
Pros
Compact
Solid design and long-lasting
Easy to clean
Well-made with quality materials
Proper placement of controls- timer and temperature dials
Analog controls – Simple to use
Great cooking performance
Over 150 recipes to choose from
Built-in timer
Cons
Slightly costly for an appliance with limited accessories
Small food capacity, thus not ideal for a big family
Need to buy accessories separately mean additional cost.
5. BLACK+DECKER HF110SBD – Best Cheap Air Fryer
Coming from Black and Decker, a US company that is trusted for producing heavy-duty tools and appliances, the BLACK+DECKER HF110SBD air fryer is a durable, and high performing cooking device. It’s a simple and affordable air fryer for beginners and professionals alike.
To back up the quality of their products, Black and Decker offers a 2-year manufacturer warranty. So you can return it to the manufacturer in case it’s not meeting your needs and ask for a refund. From various sites, this air fryer is reviewed as one of the best air fryers on sale. Although we would disagree due to some few notable flaws, the air fryer is not actually far off.
It’s a simple, durable, and sleek air fryer can be used on different applications, but it will not cook food for more than two people. The shape and design look rounded, but somehow flat to save some space on the counter.
The two fixed control knobs on the front are conveniently placed to adjust cooking time and temperature. The cooking time and efficiency of this air fryer are also significant due to the dual convection fan which circulates hot air around the food.
What’s more?
The cooking appliance features integrated safety features to prevent overheating. All removable parts can be cleaned in the microwave and the basket divider makes it possible to cook two different foods at once.
Overall, the BLACK+DECKER HF110SBD is ideal for fast and efficient cooking. However, the capacity allows cooking food for only one person. It is well-constructed and the separator feature that makes it possible to cook two meals at once makes it an excellent pick for anyone in a hurry.
Pros
It’s easy to clean
The basket divider makes it possible to cook two meals at a go
All removable parts are dishwasher safe
Auto shut off mechanism to prevent overcooking and overheating
Dual fans to circulate sufficient hot air around the food
Sleek design and durable
Simple control knobs
Cons
Small cooking capacity
Limited accessories
Analog controls might not be precise
Tiny fonts on temperature and timer knobs make it hard to read, especially for people with eyesight problems.
Best Air Fryer Buyer’s Guide – Factors to Consider When Buying an Air Fryer
If you have been reading the article with me up to this far, you are close to purchasing your best air fryer. But wait! Not all air fryers are the same, although most of them are meant to accomplish the same purpose.
Here are some few factors to consider before purchasing your air fryer.
- Cooking Efficiency
This is an obvious factor that you need to consider. The best air fryer is one that can cook fast with less supervision. A great quality air fryer like the Secura 4-Liter XL will take less than 20 minutes to cook all your favorite dishes quickly and evenly using hot air combined with high-speed hot air circulation. It also requires little oil to cook thus producing clean and healthier food.
- User-friendliness
Not all people are tech-minded and that’s why companies produce digital and analog displays for ease of use when working with an air fryer. If you are a beginner with little or no knowledge about tech, then an analog air fryer can be suitable. In this case, the Philips HD9220/28 or BLACK+DECKER HF110SBD would make an appropriate choice for you.
- Size
If you have small counter space, you may want to buy an air fryer that is small in size. Nevertheless, if you want a higher capacity air fryer, then you have no choice than to go with a large size one. This is because a small unit has a small food capacity while a more substantial unit has a larger food capacity. The larger unit makes it possible to cook two or more meals at once which save time.
- Capacity
This is also another critical factor that you MUST consider when purchasing an air fryer. Different models have different food capacity, so you must be clear on the quantity of food you want to cook at a go.
If you want to cook food for yourself, then a less than 2-quart capacity air fryer can serve you well. However, if you plan to cook food for a family, then an air fryer that has more than 2lbs will be ideal for you. Remember, cooking food for more than 3 people in an air fryer that has a capacity of less than 2 liters could lead to your food not being cooked well.
- Safety features
It is good to keep safety first while in the kitchen and when it comes to buying kitchen appliances, it is good to choose one that guarantees safety. There are air fryer models out there that feature only an On/Off button, a temperature and timer settings. Others feature pre-set controls for various foods.
You may want to choose an air fryer with safety features like an automatic shut off, a cool touch handle and more.
- Ease of cleaning
Since cooking with an air fryer involves some little oil, you should also consider how easy it is to clean the unit.
Thankfully, most air fryers are designed with components that are dishwasher safe- the bottom drawer and the basket. This means you can remove them and clean them in a dishwasher.
- Accessories
Some air fryers come with extra accessories to make a great cooking experience, for instance, a grill pan, steak cage, tongs and more. This makes it easy to cook different foods on the same air fryer. You might want to cook grill pork chops or roasted chicken wings instead of French fries. What if you don’t have the accessories to help you out?
- Timer
Time can be digital or analog. Because air fryers are designed to cook food quickly, most of them have timers that go up to 30 minutes. Nevertheless, if you want to cook food for more than 30 minutes, then an air fryer that can be set up to 60 minutes would be your best option. Even though analog dials are simple, they have some downsides such as inaccuracy which could end up displaying misleading readings.
Do you purchase a digital timer? This depends on your preference. Although they are considered to be more accurate, they are pricey.
- Temperature settings
Not all foods can cook under the same temperatures. Some require high temperatures while others require low temperatures to achieve an optimal cooking outcome. For instance, cooking potato wedges will require low temperatures while pork or bacon will require high temperatures.
Nevertheless, if the air fryer does not have the required temperature for the type of food you are cooking, you could extend the time.
- Price
Well, we have listed this factor as the last one since it should not be the determinant when buying an air fryer. What you should look for is a unit that balances quality, functionality, and price.
The best part?
Most air fryers today come at a budget-friendly price. Nevertheless, lowly priced air fryers are not always the best, so choose a reasonably priced unit with the features, functionality, and quality you are looking for.
Final Verdict
We have prepared this best air fryer review article not to sell the products to you, but to educate you so that you can make an informed decision. We do not own nor sell any of the products we’ve reviewed here, we gathered all the information from various review platforms, online forums and interviewed different experts in the field.
We hope that if you are looking for the best air fryers for the money, you can buy one after carefully reading this article. Equally, if you are looking for the best unit for your needs, you will still get one here.
We understand that air fryers are handy appliances when you want to cook food that contains less fat due to the health issues associated with fatty foods. That’s why we decided to review the best air fryers to help you cook your favorite dishes quickly and healthier.