Air Fryers: The Complete Buying Guide

On this page (11 sections)

1. What should you look for in an air fryer?
2. How much air fryer capacity do you need?
3. Which air fryer controls are easiest to use?
4. What air fryer features are worth choosing?
5. Which air fryer fits your cooking routine?
6. Is basket cleanup easy?
7. Should you choose a basket or oven-style air fryer?
8. How should you set up and use a new air fryer?
9. What are common air fryer buying and cooking mistakes?
10. What should you check before buying an air fryer?
11. How do you choose the right air fryer?

An air fryer buying guide should help you choose a size and style that fit your counter, meals and cleanup routine. Start with how much food you cook at once, then compare dimensions, controls and the features you'll use regularly.

Basket air fryers can cook fries, vegetables, chicken and reheated food with little or no added oil. Their drawer-style baskets make it easy to shake some foods during cooking, but capacity and counter space still set practical limits.

This guide compares the choices that matter and four basket models with different strengths. For a wider shortlist, browse our easy-to-use air fryer picks.

What should you look for in an air fryer?

Choose an air fryer by matching its capacity and footprint to your routine, then check how you'll operate and clean it. A useful feature list begins with your kitchen constraints, not with the number of presets.

Think about where the appliance will live before you compare small differences in features. If it must be carried from a cabinet after every meal, weight and handling matter alongside cooking capacity.

A model with fewer functions may be easier to use if it covers your usual meals. Extra modes are most useful when they replace another appliance or make a task you already do more convenient.

How much air fryer capacity do you need?

Pick capacity for the largest batch you expect to cook often, not only the number of people at home. Food shape and spacing also affect how much fits in a single layer.

The models in this guide range from 6 to 8 quarts. Gourmia describes its 8-quart basket as large enough for meals for 4–6 people; Instant says its 6-quart model handles up to 6 portions.

Those descriptions are guides, not fixed limits for every food. A basket can hold a lot by volume, but crowded food may not brown as evenly as a less crowded batch.

Measure the counter and storage space before choosing a larger model. Gourmia is 13 in deep, 13 in wide and 14 in high; Instant is 12.36 in deep, 14.92 in wide and 12.83 in high.

If your kitchen has a small counter or limited cabinet space, compare models in our best small air fryers guide. Measure the spot where you plan to use the unit, including clearance above it.

How do you choose air fryer capacity for your kitchen?

Measure the place where you'll use the air fryer, including nearby cabinets and the space needed to open and remove its basket. Compare those measurements with the appliance dimensions and the clearances in its manual.

Decide whether you'll leave it on the counter or put it away after each use. A bulky appliance can become inconvenient if you need to lift it from a high shelf or move other items every time you cook.

Capacity alone doesn't tell you how much food will cook well in one batch. Leave room for air to move around food, and follow the manual's instructions for loading and shaking.

Which air fryer controls are easiest to use?

Choose controls you can read and adjust without guesswork. Touchscreens show settings and cooking stages, while dials offer a direct way to set time or temperature.

All four featured models use touch controls. Gourmia has 12 one-touch functions, Chefman has 4 presets, and Philips offers 9 presets.

A preset can speed up a familiar task, but it doesn't account for every portion size or recipe. Check that you can set time and temperature yourself when you want to adjust a cooking cycle.

Look at how clearly the display presents its settings and whether buttons are easy to reach from the spot where the appliance will sit. If you prefer turning a dial, our guide to manual air fryers and dial controls explains when that style may be a better fit.

Controls also affect who can comfortably use the appliance. A display with clearly labeled buttons can be easier to follow than several settings that require memorizing a sequence, while dials may suit someone who prefers simple physical adjustments.

What air fryer features are worth choosing?

Choose features that solve a regular cooking task. A window helps you keep an eye on browning, a shake reminder can prompt you to move food, and more modes help when you use them.

• Viewing window: Philips includes one, so you can look at the food during cooking.
• Shake reminder: Chefman has an audible alarm halfway through cooking.
• Multiple cooking modes: Instant offers air fry, bake, roast, broil, dehydrate and reheat.
• Dishwasher-safe parts: Gourmia's basket and tray are dishwasher safe; Instant's basket is dishwasher safe.
• Temperature range: Compare the settings with recipes you expect to make, especially if you need lower heat or a high-heat finish.

A feature can add another step as well as convenience. A window needs to be easy to see from where the appliance sits, and removable accessories need a place to dry and store.

Extra cooking modes don't turn a basket air fryer into a full-size oven. If reheating is your main reason for buying, compare the options in our air fryer vs microwave guide.

For fries in particular, basket space and the ability to shake food can matter more than a long preset list. Our guide to gear for air fryer French fries covers the choices that affect crisping and serving.

Which air fryer fits your cooking routine?

Choose a model by the feature that will make the biggest difference in your kitchen: a larger basket, several cooking modes, a shake reminder or a window. Each option below suits a different buyer, so compare the trade-offs with your daily routine.

Instant Vortex Plus: air fryer buying guide pick for multiple modes

The Instant Vortex Plus suits someone who wants a 6-quart basket and several cooking functions. The brand says the capacity handles up to 6 portions, and the functions include air fry, bake, roast, broil, dehydrate and reheat.

Its touchscreen offers one-touch settings and shows each cooking stage. The nonstick basket is dishwasher safe, which can reduce hand washing if it fits your dishwasher.

Choose it if you expect to use more than air frying and want one basket appliance for several tasks. Skip it if you need the smallest counter footprint or prefer a dial-based interface.

The unit measures 12.36 in deep, 14.92 in wide and 12.83 in high. Check those dimensions against the counter and the clearance guidance in its manual.

Chefman Compact: air fryer buying guide pick for reminders

Chefman suits a buyer who wants a 6-quart basket with a halfway shake reminder. The brand describes it as serving 3–5 people and calls its design compact.

The touchscreen lets you adjust cooking time and temperature. Its basket and rack are dishwasher safe, and the brand says Hi-Fry raises heat to 450°F during the final two minutes for an extra-crisp finish.

Choose it if you often cook foods that benefit from shaking and appreciate an audible prompt. Skip it if you want a viewing window, more than four presets or a model that needs less depth: it measures 14.88 in deep, 11.1 in wide and 11 in high.

Philips 2000 Series: air fryer buying guide pick with a window

Philips suits someone who wants a viewing window and several cooking programs. Its 9 presets include frozen fries, fresh fries, chicken, meat, fish, breakfast, vegetables, cake and keep warm.

Philips describes its cooking system as RapidAir and lists air frying, baking, grilling, roasting and other functions. Its care instructions call for hand washing, so factor that into your cleanup routine.

The model is described as 6.6 quarts in its title and product description, while its capacity specification is 6.2 liters. Its dimensions are 12.2 in deep, 15.9 in wide and 12.1 in high.

Choose it if you want to check browning through a window and expect to use its programs. Skip it if dishwasher cleanup is a priority or if you need a narrower appliance.

Gourmia Stainless Steel: air fryer buying guide pick for larger batches

Gourmia suits someone who wants an 8-quart basket for larger batches. The brand describes it as large enough for meals for 4–6 people and includes 12 one-touch functions.

It has touch controls and a temperature range of 90–400°F. Its basket and tray are dishwasher safe, and the appliance measures 13 in deep, 13 in wide and 14 in high.

Choose it if smaller baskets leave you cooking multiple batches for the same meal. Skip it if your counter is tight or your usual portions are small enough for a 6-quart model.

Is basket cleanup easy?

Cleanup is easiest when the removable parts match your preferred washing routine. Check each part's care instructions rather than assuming that every basket, tray or rack can go in a dishwasher.

Gourmia's basket and tray are dishwasher safe, and Instant specifies a dishwasher-safe basket. Chefman's basket and rack are dishwasher safe, while Philips calls for hand washing.

A nonstick surface can make residue easier to remove, but avoid tools and cleaners that could damage the coating. Let removable parts cool before washing, and wipe the outside with a damp cloth where the care instructions allow it.

Grease and crumbs can collect around the basket and cooking area. Empty the basket carefully, clean removable pieces after use, and check the manual before wiping any interior surfaces.

Our guide to cleaning an air fryer basket and inside walks through routine care. Choose a model whose cleanup steps you can keep up with, especially if you plan to use it several times a week.

Should you choose a basket or oven-style air fryer?

A basket air fryer fits foods you can load into a drawer, shake or turn, then lift out for serving. An oven-style model may suit you better if shelves and a door fit the way you cook.

Think through access before choosing. A drawer basket pulls out for serving and washing, while an oven-style interior may involve cleaning shelves and surfaces separately.

Neither style is automatically larger or easier to clean. Compare the usable space, food arrangement, storage needs and care instructions for the specific model.

If you're new to the appliance, our first-time air fryer use guide explains setup and basic cooking steps. It can help you decide whether a basket's loading and shaking routine fits your meals.

How should you set up and use a new air fryer?

Set up an air fryer on a stable surface with the clearance its manual requires. Read the model's instructions before the first cooking cycle, since placement, removable parts and controls vary by appliance.

Unpack the removable basket, tray or rack and wash the parts according to the care instructions. Place the appliance where its cord can reach safely and where hot air can escape without being directed toward a wall or cabinet.

Before cooking, make sure the basket and tray are seated correctly. Use the manual to learn how the timer, temperature settings and any presets work, then choose a familiar recipe for your first meal.

Some recipes call for preheating and others do not. Follow the recipe and the appliance guidance rather than assuming one setting applies to every model and food.

Arrange food with space around it instead of pressing pieces tightly together. Shake or turn foods when the recipe or appliance instructions call for it, and use a utensil to remove hot food safely.

What are common air fryer buying and cooking mistakes?

The most common mistake is choosing by capacity alone. A basket must fit your counter and your food, and it needs enough room around it for safe placement and operation.

Other mistakes can make a suitable appliance frustrating to own:

• Ignoring depth: Measure the counter from front to back, not just the width.
• Assuming all parts are dishwasher safe: Check whether the tray, basket and rack each have the same care instructions.
• Buying presets you won't use: Choose functions based on meals you make, not the number on the control panel.
• Overfilling the basket: Crowding can block airflow around food and make browning less even.
• Skipping the manual: Placement and clearance guidance can differ by model.
• Expecting identical cooking times: Food size, amount and arrangement can change how long a recipe takes.
• Forgetting storage: Measure the cabinet or shelf if you plan to put the appliance away after each use.

A reminder or window can make cooking easier, but neither removes the need to follow food safety and recipe guidance. Use a food thermometer where the recipe or food safety guidance calls for one.

What should you check before buying an air fryer?

Check dimensions, power requirements, care instructions and included parts before choosing. Those details help confirm that the model fits your kitchen and your regular routine.

Use this pre-buy checklist:

1. Measure the counter and nearby cabinets.
2. Compare width, depth and height with the available space.
3. Check wattage and voltage against your kitchen setup.
4. Review the temperature range and cooking functions.
5. Confirm which removable parts are dishwasher safe.
6. Check whether a crisper tray or rack is included.
7. Read the manual's placement and setup instructions.

All four models in this guide list 1700 watts. Instant specifies 120V 60Hz, and Chefman lists 1700W/120V.

The manual is the right source for clearance and placement directions. Keep the appliance away from surfaces or items that conflict with those directions, and leave room to remove the hot basket safely.

How do you choose the right air fryer?

Choose the air fryer that fits your portions, counter and cleanup habits, then pick a feature that solves a recurring need. This air fryer buying guide points to Instant for multiple modes, Chefman for a shake reminder, Philips for a viewing window and Gourmia for larger batches.

Choose Instant if you want six cooking functions in a 6-quart basket. Choose Chefman if an audible reminder would help, Philips if you value a window and don't mind hand washing, or Gourmia if you regularly cook larger portions and have room for its basket.

Start with our easy-to-use air fryer picks to compare more models. Before you buy, measure your counter and check the care steps you'll follow after each meal.

Sources

• USDA guidance on air fryer cooking and food safety
• US Department of Energy: energy saver tips for kitchen appliances

Frequently asked questions

How do I choose the right air fryer size?

Choose capacity for the largest batch you expect to cook regularly, then check the appliance dimensions against your counter and storage space. A 6-quart basket can suit everyday portions, while an 8-quart basket gives you more room for larger batches.

Capacity is only a starting point.

Food shape and how it sits in the basket also affect how much you can cook at once.

Is a basket or oven-style air fryer better?

A basket air fryer suits foods you can load into a drawer, shake or turn, then lift out for serving. An oven-style model may suit you if shelves and a door fit your cooking habits better.

Compare access, cleaning and storage space with the foods you make most often.

Do I need preset cooking programs?

Presets can save time when they cover foods you cook often, such as fries or chicken. Manual time and temperature controls give you room to follow a recipe or adjust a result.

Pick a control layout you can use comfortably.

A longer preset list adds little if you rarely cook those foods.

Should I buy an air fryer with a viewing window?

A viewing window lets you check browning without opening the basket. It can be useful when you like to watch food as it cooks, but you still need to follow cooking guidance and check that food is done.

Compare the window with capacity, controls and cleanup to decide whether it will matter in your routine.

What should I check before buying an air fryer?

Measure the counter and nearby cabinets, then compare those measurements with the appliance's width, depth and height. Check capacity, controls, temperature range, wattage, care instructions and included parts.

Choose functions that suit meals you actually make.

Follow the manual's setup and clearance directions when you use the appliance.