“Ho-ho-ho, fried stuff with cheese,” exclaimed Joey from Friends once. And we couldn't agree more. Americans simply love everything fried, starting with potatoes and chicken and ending with… well, just about everything.
But until now, that craze has made health-conscious people worried due to the load of grease that comes with every fried meal. How about fried chicken with a side of heart disease? No thanks.
What if you could have that scrumptious fried chicken without all that grease dripping down your fingers? And without the nasty side effects that come from deep-fried food?
That's where air fryers come into play. First patented by Philips, air fryer is like a tiny oven and a deep-fryer combined into one appliance, minus a load of oil. Air fryer uses hot air circulation which rapidly fries the food, similarly to deep-frying, but it uses nothing else than just hot air (and a very small amount of oil – similarly to cooking food in a regular oven). Thanks to the hot air circulation, food comes out nice and crispy and has that nice deep-fried taste.
While air fryers can be a bit clunky when it comes to their size (they are definitely not on the tiny side of appliances), they are incredibly easy to use and clean. And, of course, the best part: you can enjoy the taste of deep-fried food while using a lot less oil, making air fryers great tools for any health-conscious foodies.
Best air fryers according to Amazon reviewers
Philips might have been the first to come out with this awesome invention but by now, there's such a huge selection of air fryers available that you might go insane trying to figure out which one's the best for your home.
We did some research for you and gathered together the top air fryers you can find from Amazon.
1. Philips Digital Air Fryer
From light bulbs to this little air fryer, Philips really is a revolutionary company. Though it might be a bit on the more expensive side of air fryers, you'll always have the satisfaction of owning the original air fryer.
This Philips air fryer comes with fully adjustable temperature control that goes up to 390°F. Thanks to the “starfish” design, food gets cooked evenly and incredibly quickly. According to Philips, this air fryer can easily fit 1 bag of french fries, ideal for any family.
“Amazing product that never leaves our countertop,” was one reviewer pleased. Another one was happy with the air fryer's easy maintenance and also said that “this thing has changed the way I cook completely”.
It is the original air fryer, after all.
2. Ninja Air Fryer
With over 2400 five-star ratings in Amazon, you know there's some truth behind this air fryer's quality. Ninja's air fryer is also one of the most budget-friendly appliances, especially in comparison to the Philips one.
This Ninja air fryer comes with four different cooking programs: air frying, roasting, reheating and dehydrating. Thanks to these, you'll essentially have four appliances packed into one: you can do everything from roasting veggies to heating up leftover pizza or making your own potato chips!
One reviewer was ecstatic about the purchase, saying: “This thing has been almost as good as a kid getting a new bike for Christmas”. With great price and tons of functionalities, we couldn't agree more.
3. COSORI Air Fryer
If Ninja was well-liked, then Cosori's air fryer is quite possibly the most loved air fryer in Amazon, having over 3800 five-star ratings. People have called it their “new head chef” and “a working mom’s perfect companion”. So what makes it so great?
Firstly, it's another very reasonably-priced air fryer which definitely has plenty of functionality for such a budget-friendly option. Talking about functionality, it has 11 different settings for different food, starting with bacon or shrimp and ending with bread or desserts. Thanks to sleek design it doesn't look as bulky as some other models, yet it still fits plenty of food for the entire family.
This particular model even comes with 100 recipes, so you could jump-start your journey with Cosori easily.
4. GoWISE USA Programmable Air Fryer
GoWISE's air fryer is another budget-friendly option. In addition to having 8 different presets for various foods, the air fryer comes in 4 stylish colors, suiting perfectly with every kitchen design. Its timer goes up to 30 minutes and it includes a little recipe book, so you don't have to worry about lacking dinner ideas.
Though the low price might make you question its quality, more than 1900 reviewers have expressed their satisfaction with a 5-star rating. One reviewer even said this air fryer was “one of his best Amazon purchases”. That says something!
5. OMORC Air Fryer
How would you like to roast a whole chicken in less than 25 minutes? That's exactly what many reviewers have used this OMORC air fryer for! Actually, it deserves the title of a convection oven more, thanks to its high capacity. Despite big capacity, it still looks sleek and stylish.
Similarly to other air fryers, it comes with several presets and a comfortable control knob (friendly for greasy fingers too).
6. Chefman Air Fryer
Chefman air fryer is a great bang for the buck, considering the number of functions you get for such a low price. This air fryer has a 60-minute timer, automatic shut-off, and huge 6.5-liter capacity. Thanks to a flat basket, it easily fits food for the entire family but without taking up too much space in your kitchen. Win-win!
“We’ve used this every day since we got it. Cooks chicken strips in 8 mins and runs quietly with only a little humming when it’s in,” reviewed one customer in Amazon. “Haven't found anything I don't like about this air fryer,” said another, confirming the capabilities of this air fryer once again.
7. Cuisinart Air Fryer
This air fryer is great news for all Cuisinart fans out there. And boy, it looks different from other air fryers! Thanks to the brushed stainless steel exterior, it looks great in any kitchen design. Actually, it looks a bit like a tiny oven, thanks to the window which enables you to monitor the food as it cooks.
Cuisinart's air fryer comes with 7 functions, including convection baking, broiling, and toasting. In addition to a 60-minute timer, it easily fits a 4lb chicken. It looks stylish and packs a great deal of functionality for a small price!
