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8 best air fryers: Your new favorite kitchen gadget



You never know when a new trend will catch on. It can happen anytime and in any imaginable category or scenario. In the kitchen, we’ve seen the rise of modern rice cookers, crock pots, pressure cookers, blenders and more.

Gadgets like the Instant Pot combine many of the above appliances into one and have been a bestseller on Amazon. Tap or click here for three Instant Pot secrets.

Air fryers have seen a rise in the past few years and as many are stuck home during the pandemic, the interest has only grown. Air fryers hold an advantage over more traditional and unhealthier fryers. What is an air fryer and which one is right for you? Read on to find out.

Air fryers don’t actually fry

It’s actually a lot of hot air. Air fryers work like a convection oven. Food is placed in a basket, and then hot air is rapidly circulated. This cooks and browns the food, adding crispiness without the need for oil. Tap or click here to take your health journey further with the five best weight-loss apps.

An air fryer can cook most foods intended to be deep-fried. In some models, you can also roast vegetables, cook meat and bake cookies. Frozen foods like french fries and mozzarella sticks can also be tossed into your air fryer for a quick snack.

There are many air fryers to choose from and we’re here to help you narrow down some of the best ones.

1. COSORI Air Fryer Max XL

This high-capacity air fryer has 11 presets for everything from steak to dessert and comes with 100 additional recipes. The COSORI Air Fryer Max XL uses up to 85% less fat than traditional fryers.

The removable nonstick basket is dishwasher safe, PFOA-free and BPA-free. Its 5.8-quart square basket can prepare a meal for three or more people in one shot, so go for this one if you’re cooking for the family.

2. Instant Vortex Pro Air Fryer Oven 9-in-1

If you’re cooking for large groups or parties, this air fryer’s basket measures a festive 10 quarts. The Instant Vortex Pro Air Fryer 9-in-1 has nine built-in smart programs that work with a touch of a button. You can roast, toast, broil, bake, reheat, air fry, dehydrate, reheat, proof dough or cook on the rotisserie.

Prepare two meals at once with dual cooking trays. The drip pan, cooking trays, rotisserie basket, rotisserie spit and forks are all dishwasher safe. A free iOS and Android app will give you access to a thousand recipes, and you can ask Alexa for more.

3. Chefman TurboFry 3.7 Air Fryer Oven

This smaller air fryer uses 98% less oil than traditional fryers and is geared towards the budget chef. The Chefman TurboFry 3.7 Air Fryer Oven’s 3.7-quart nonstick basket is dishwasher safe and suitable for small groups.

Air fry desserts, pizzas, chicken, French fries, vegetables and frozen foods or reheat your favorite meals. Set the timer to your desired cook time and the air fryer will shut off automatically when it’s done.

4. Philips Premium Digital Air Fryer

Remember the George Foreman Grill? It was touted to “Knock out the fat.” The Philips Premium Digital Air Fryer has fat removal technology to reduce and capture excess fat. Its three-quart capacity is suitable for a party of four.

This air fryer can bake, grill, roast, reheat, dehydrate and toast. The basket and other removable parts are dishwasher safe. Be aware that this air fryer’s fat removal feature adds to the price.

5. Dash Tasti-Crisp Air Fryer + Oven Cooker

If you don’t have much space on your countertop, the Dash Tasti-Crisp Air Fryer + Oven Cooker is one way to go. This air fryer lacks some features of its competitors and this is reflected in the price.

Load the two-quart fryer basket and set the temperature and time. That’s all you need to do for meals that are 70-80% less fattening than ones you would prepare in a traditional fryer. Toss in a dozen chicken wings or a pound of fries. This little air fryer is good for groups of 1-4 people.

6. Ninja Air Fryer

This model cooks at up to 75% less fat than traditional frying. The Ninja Air Fryer’s four-quart ceramic-coated nonstick basket and crisper plate are dishwasher safe. The basket fits up to two pounds of fries. Four programmable functions include air fryer, roast, reheat and dehydrate. You can use the dehydrate function to create your own chips.

7. Cuisinart TOA-60 Convection Toaster Oven Air Fryer

Want to give air frying a shot but are reluctant to give up your convection toaster oven? Get an air fryer that does both. The Cuisinart TOA-60 Convection Toaster Oven Air Fryer is a full-size toaster oven with a built-in air fryer.

In addition to air frying, it also bakes, broils, warms and toasts. There is enough room inside to prepare any of the following at once: six slices of bread, three pounds of chicken wings, four pounds of chicken or a 12-inch pizza. Plus, the 60-minute timer has auto-shutoff.

8. Ultrean Air Fryer

Here’s another compact option for those of you without much counter space. The Ultrean Air Fryer is a multifunction cooker that can also grill, roast and bake. It has a 4.2-quart capacity and the basket is dishwasher safe.

You can prepare meals with up to 85% less fat than you would with a traditional fryer. Set the automatic timer for up to 30 minutes and check on your meal’s status via its LCD display. The included cookbook will help air fryer novices.

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