For years, air fryers have dominated the cookware market. Now, we can see air fryers with all possible shapes, sizes, and additional features. Unlike microwave ovens that retain their essential functions, air fryers are upgraded from time to time.
You can see how air fryer varies from each model-to-manufacturer. For example, some are attached as lids on pressure cookers and multicookers; others have additional features like convection-oven quality and even different whistles and bells for the dehydration process.
Here are some of the top air fryer models tested by several air fryer enthusiasts, websites, and long-time users. This will give a more detailed note on which appliance stands among the rest. Listed below are three of the best-rated air fryers today:
- Best for Families: Cuisinart TOA-60 Airfryer Oven
- Best for Versatile Cooking: Instant Pot Vortex Plus 6-in-1 Air Fryer
- Best for Big-batch Cooking: COSORI Air Fryer Max XL
Best for Families: Cuisinart TOA-60 Airfryer Oven
Cuisinart TOA-60 is an air fryer combo with a toaster oven. It is different from a regular air fryer: it has many more functions than just air frying. While this brand is not the most multifunctional, it is intelligent and easy to operate. Due to its large frying capacity, this air fryer is recommended for family cooking.
Looking closer, you can notice that this air fryer is built similarly to a high-quality toaster oven with an integrated air fryer. It doesn’t mean just bakes, broils, and toasts; it also allows you to use the air fryer setting within the furnace. Air frying is proven to provide a healthier, fried taste to several meals without increasing the food oil’s content. Since this fryer has an oven toaster function, you don’t have to transfer it to another cooking appliance.
TOA-60’s gorgeous silver exterior and the traditional, nearly minimalist design make it appropriate for every kitchen counter surface. In addition, the toaster’s glass is large enough to ensure that you can keep an eye on food without stopping the cooking process.
While this toaster oven has a large fan, the engine is so quiet you’ll never hear it. It’s excellent since you can spend time talking in the kitchen while cooking with your loved ones. You won’t even wake anyone up when you cook a midnight snack with its quiet noise and interior light within the oven.
Some users claimed that products like donuts or a fried chicken could not be adequately cooked. The frying appears to be uneven, especially if it is loaded to the top. Another problem is the incorrect timer feature of this device. The timer of 60 minutes is mechanical, not digital. Therefore, you may need to check every food item to ensure that the timer runs too long.
Best for Versatile Cooking: Instant Pot Vortex Plus 6-in-1 Air Fryer
If you need an air fryer with a dehydrated setting, the Instant Pot Vortex Plus 6-in-1 Air Fryer is recommended. Like the earlier Instant Pot model, this appliance has a large frying basket with a good exterior. With the additional cooking setting, this definitely hit the spot for the air fryer with versatile cooking methods.
Known for giving various cooking methods in one appliance, Instant Pot’s latest addition provides a more stylish and versatile take on air fryers. In addition, it has brushed stainless steel instead of a dark plastic exterior—creating a better upgrade from the Instant collection.
The Instant Vortex Plus Air Fryer is a substitute for hot oils using overheated circulating air to achieve the same crunchy taste and texture, making fried food excellent. It still picks juices in the crispy layer without the extra fat.
Aside from air frying and dehydrating, this gadget can also bake, reheat, grill, and roast. Another good feature of this air fryer is its immense capacity: with 6-quarts of space ready to be filled with tasty meals for you and your family.
Similar to the 4-in-1 counterpart, the Vortex Plus has a nonstick frying basket to make an easier cleanup for your side. Additionally, the nonstick basket can fit enough food for a small to medium-sized family. The interface is also highly user-friendly, equipped with pre-programmed settings and a temperature control dial.
Several users who have used the Instant Pot Vortex Plus 6-in-1 Air Fryer’s broiler function commented on its drawback. While broiling the cheese and breadcrumbs, one user experienced that the meal was not browned good enough. Other reviews stated the tendency to release an overwhelming scent of melted plastic while using the air fryer.
Best for Big-batch Cooking: COSORI Air Fryer Max XL
COSORI Air Fryer Max XL is the most popular air fryer of Amazon and a formidable competitor to other air fryer products. While COSORI Air Fryer is an expensive investment, it doesn’t have many functions compared to its other cheaper counterparts. Still, it can accommodate more extensive food service, making it ideal for big-batch cooking.
There are 14 cooking settings to prepare your dish, from frozen meals to steaks. It’s a worthy kitchen appliance for those who want to prepare meals with multiple cooking methods using one gadget. Controls of COSORI Air Fryer Max XL are simple to operate. It’s digital, and you can simply push the touch panel to select the cooking environment and other settings. The controls then adapt and display the rest of the time you start cooking.
This fryer arrives in a huge box, already ready to use. There is a basket in the drawer below the fryer. You can move a plastic panel to press a button and release the basket from the drawer, which removes your air fryer basket with the help of its sturdy handle attachment.
In addition, COSORI offers a manual that shows how to use presets, including time and temperature changes for different food items. This allows you to know how to use it with chicken wings, nuggets, meatballs, shrimp, vegetables, and so much more.
Several online reviews called the air fryer due to incidents related to some units stopping during the arrival or those who don’t operate after the first year. Another common complaint with this product is its tendency to stop and eject the food during the cooking process and other similar cooking malfunctions.
The main picture is from Amazon – Cuisinart Store. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
