The 5 Best Air Fryers for Healthier Cooking
An air fryer is really a compact convection oven, and it earns its counter space by making vegetables, proteins, and leftovers crisp with a fraction of the oil of deep frying. We ranked these on how evenly they cook, how easy they are to clean, capacity for real households, and value.
Our top picks, ranked
- Even, reliable results across foods
- Easy-clean nonstick baskets
- Strong value with useful capacity options
- Straightforward presets for common foods
- Dishwasher-safe basket
- Compact footprint
- Consistent cooking and solid build quality
- Long track record with air frying
- Good for households that use it daily
- Doubles as a full toaster oven
- Large capacity for families
- Air fries and bakes well
- Affordable and simple to use
- Good results for the price
- Easy to store
How we chose
We weighted cooking evenness and performance first, then capacity for real households, ease of cleaning, and value. We also considered how versatile each unit is beyond basic frying.
No brand paid for placement. Links go to each maker for current models and sizes.
What to look for
- Capacity: basket models suit 1 to 3 people; oven-style units fit families.
- Cleanup: removable, dishwasher-safe baskets save real time.
- Presets vs manual: presets are convenient, but simple temperature and time control is all you truly need.
- Counter space: measure before you buy, since larger units are bulky.
Frequently asked questions
Are air fryers actually healthier?
They can be. Using little or no oil to get crisp results cuts a lot of added fat compared with deep frying. As always, what you cook and how often matters more than the appliance.
Do air fryers reduce acrylamide?
Cooking starchy foods to a lighter golden color, rather than dark brown, helps limit acrylamide formation. Air fryers make that easy since you can check and shake food partway through.
What size air fryer should I get?
For one or two people a basket model is plenty. For a family, a larger basket or an oven-style air fryer avoids cooking in multiple batches.
References
- Acrylamide and diet, food storage, and food preparation (U.S. FDA)
- Are air fryers healthy? (Cleveland Clinic)
