The Drexel Food Lab at Drexel University in Philadelphia tested 10 air fryers and compared them to a standard convection oven. All 20 participants noticed a difference in crispness, with vegetables, frozen fries, chicken wings, and chicken nuggets coming out browner and crisper from the air fryers.
Best Air Fryers at a Glance
- Best overall: Cosori Iconic Stainless Steel 6.5Q ($249)
- Best budget: Philips 3000 Series 7.6Q ($190)
- Best for meat: Typhur Sync ($159, originally $219)
- Best combo toaster oven: Our Place Wonder Oven Pro ($242.99, originally $325)
- Best splurge: Typhur Dome 2 ($390)
- Best for casual cooks: Ninja Crispi 4-in-1 Glass Air Fryer ($159.99)
- Quietest: Cuisinart Air Fryer Toaster Oven with Grill ($158.40)
How We Tested
Over about two months, the lab tested preheat speed, noise level, and crispness using a texture analyzer. Frozen French fries were cooked at the same time and temperature in each air fryer, then crushed to measure resistance. A triangle test compared top air fryers against an Electrolux convection oven.
Best Overall: Cosori Iconic Stainless Steel 6.5Q
The Cosori ranked high in crispiness, preheat time, and ease of cleaning. It has six settings: air fry, dehydrate, roast, bake, proof, and reheat. Chicken nuggets, vegetables, salmon, and fries came out evenly cooked. The texture analyzer confirmed its crispness. It is Pfas-free with a non-stick coating. Dimensions: 14.8in x 11.8in x 11.6in; capacity: 6.5qt.
Best Budget: Philips 3000 Series 7.6Q
The Philips came in a close second with efficient air flow for crispy fries, broccoli, and chicken wings. It has 16 settings and a window to check food. The detachable basket is easy to clean. It was one of the quieter models. Dimensions: 13in x 17.75in x 12.25in; capacity: 7.2 liters.
Best for Meat: Typhur Sync
The Typhur Sync includes a wireless temperature probe controlled by an app, allowing precise internal temperature for steak or roast chicken. It preheated to 350F faster than any other air fryer tested. If the probe gets jostled out, it can stop the program. Dimensions: 12.6in x 18.2in x 13.7in; capacity: 8qt.
Best Combo Air Fryer and Toaster Oven: Our Place Wonder Oven Pro
The Our Place Wonder Oven Pro produced crispy fries and nuggets and evenly baked cookies. It is made without Pfas chemicals. However, it was difficult to clean: grease splattered around the heating elements. Dimensions: 16.75in x 13.25in x 13in; capacity: 30 liters.
Best Splurge: Typhur Dome 2
The Typhur Dome 2 cooked a 12in pizza and gave even crisp to chicken wings and fish. It is large, at almost 20in in length. Dimensions: 19.7in x 15.6in x 10.3in; capacity: 5.6qt.
Best for Casual Cooks: Ninja Crispi 4-in-1 Glass Air Fryer
The Ninja Crispi has four functions: Max Crisp, Recrisp, Bake, and Air Fry. It uses swappable non-toxic glass bowls. You cannot control the time, which led to burned lunches during testing. Dimensions: 13.38in x 11.96in x 13.58in; capacity: 6 cups (small bowl) and 4qt (large bowl).
Quietest: Cuisinart Air Fryer Toaster Oven with Grill
The Cuisinart registered only 45 decibels, comparable to a refrigerator hum. The air fryer basket was compact and easy to clean, but the inside of the oven was harder to clean and oil buildup could cause smoking. Dimensions: 12.25in x 15.75in x 13.75in; capacity: 3lb.
Other Air Fryers Tested
Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro, Magnifique Combo Air Fryer, and Cuisinart 6-qt Basket Air Fryer AIR-200NAS were also tested.
What to Know About Air Fryers
When choosing an air fryer, consider how you will use it: multi-functional for small spaces, fewer options for simplicity, dual baskets for multiple dishes, or the Typhur Dome 2 for pizza. Inner dimensions matter for serving size. Air fryers are not inherently healthier; adding enough oil can make them nutritionally equivalent to deep-fried foods. To clean, soak the basket and rack in hot soapy water for 10 minutes. For stuck food, use a baking soda paste. Always follow the appliance's maintenance instructions.
