The 5 Best Air Fryers, Tested by BHG

Air fryers are basically the kitchen’s cheat code: you press a few buttons, walk away, and come back to food that
looks suspiciously like you deep-fried itwithout turning your home into an oil-scented candle.
Better Homes & Gardens (BHG) put a stack of popular air fryers through hands-on testing and narrowed the field to
five standout picks. The result is a list that covers the real-world “how do I actually live with this thing?”
questions: Does it cook evenly? Is it easy to clean? Can it handle weeknight chaos without a meltdown (yours or the appliance’s)?

Below are BHG’s top five air fryers, plus practical buying advice and a “things you learn after the honeymoon phase”
section at the endbecause the only thing more common than air-fryer chicken is air-fryer regret from buying the wrong size.

Quick Picks at a Glance

• Best Overall: Cosori TurboBlaze Air Fryer (6-quart)
• Best Budget: PowerXL Vortex Pro Air Fryer (8-quart)
• Best Splurge: Dreo Chefmaker Combi Fryer (6-quart)
• Best Glass: Ninja Crispi Air Fryer (4-quart glass containers)
• Best Air Fryer Toaster Oven: Instant Omni Plus Air Fryer Toaster Oven (19-quart)

How BHG Tested Air Fryers (and Why That Matters)

Plenty of “best air fryer” lists read like someone copy-pasted product descriptions and called it a day.
BHG took a more serious route: they tested 25 air fryers and evaluated them across categories like features,
ease of use, performance, and valuethen kept using the top picks to watch for issues over time.
Translation: these choices are based on how air fryers behave when you’re hungry, distracted, and trying to
get dinner on the table before your stomach starts filing complaints.

That testing mindset matters because air fryers can be deceptively similar on paper. Two models might both claim
“crispy results,” but one gives you evenly browned fries while the other produces the classic “half crunchy, half sad.”
Testing separates marketing sparkle from actual crunch.

The 5 Best Air Fryers, According to BHG Testing

1) Best Overall: Cosori TurboBlaze Air Fryer

If you want an air fryer that behaves like a friendly co-worker (helpful, predictable, low drama), this is BHG’s pick.
The Cosori TurboBlaze won “Best Overall” thanks to consistent, even cooking and a control panel that doesn’t require
a three-credit course in Button Interpretation.

Why it stands out: The TurboBlaze is built for the way people actually cook: quick proteins, crispy sides,
and reheating leftovers so they taste like food again (not like microwave déjà vu). It offers a wide temperature range
and multiple cooking modes beyond air fryuseful if you want one appliance that can roast veggies, warm dinner rolls,
or revive pizza without turning the crust into cardboard.

What to know before buying: BHG noted the basket can take a bit of effort to insert and remove. That’s not a deal-breaker,
but it’s the kind of detail you’d rather learn before you’re holding a hot basket while doing the “please click in place” dance.

Best for: most households; small families; anyone who wants one air fryer that can handle weeknights,
snacks, and reheats with minimal fuss.

2) Best Budget: PowerXL Vortex Pro Air Fryer

Budget doesn’t have to mean “tiny basket, tiny dreams.” BHG’s budget winner is the PowerXL Vortex Pro, and the headline
feature is capacity: an 8-quart basket that’s built for family-sized cooking.

Why it stands out: In testing, it handled crowd-pleasers like nuggets and fries well, and it’s designed
for bigger batchesgreat for households where “one serving” is a myth. It also includes multiple presets and extra functions
(like dehydrating) that can add value if you’ll actually use them.

What to know before buying: BHG called out loud alerts with no volume adjustment.
So yes, your air fryer may announce “FRIES ARE DONE” like it’s hosting a cooking show.
If you have a sleeping baby, thin walls, or a nervous dog, that’s worth considering.

Best for: families, batch-cookers, and anyone who wants more space without paying premium prices.

3) Best Splurge: Dreo Chefmaker Combi Fryer

Some air fryers are basically “hot air + timer.” The Dreo Chefmaker is more like “hot air + science project,” in a good way.
BHG’s splurge pick focuses on precision cooking, especially for meat.

Why it stands out: This model includes a temperature probe and uses moisture control features designed
to help you land the doneness you actually wantparticularly useful if you’ve ever cut into chicken and immediately regretted your confidence.
It’s the kind of air fryer you buy when you want steakhouse vibes without steakhouse prices (or the need to babysit a pan).

What to know before buying: The exterior can show fingerprints, which means you may find yourself wiping it down
often if shiny smudges bother you. Also, while some parts are dishwasher-safe, the probe typically needs hand-washingsmall effort,
but it’s part of the “fancy tool” lifestyle.

Best for: home cooks who want more control, love cooking proteins, or want a “wow, I made that?” moment more often.

4) Best Glass: Ninja Crispi Air Fryer

If the phrase “nonstick coating” makes you squint suspiciously, BHG’s best glass pick is going to feel like a breath of fresh,
non-plastic air. The Ninja Crispi uses glass containers, which also happen to be handy for storing leftovers.

Why it stands out: The system is compact and comes with glass containers plus lidsmeaning you can cook,
then store, then travel with leftovers without transferring food through three different dishes like you’re doing kitchen relay races.
BHG liked its footprint for smaller kitchens and found the stackable parts convenient.

What to know before buying: Glass gets hot. Really hot. The Crispi’s containers need careful handling,
ideally with oven mitts and a healthy respect for physics.
BHG also noted some trial-and-error may be needed to dial in settings for different foodsnothing unusual, but don’t expect
“perfect results” on day one without learning your machine.

Best for: small households, minimalists, glass fans, and anyone who loves the idea of “cook & store” convenience.

5) Best Air Fryer Toaster Oven: Instant Omni Plus Air Fryer Toaster Oven

If basket-style air fryers are scooters, air fryer toaster ovens are minivans: bigger, more flexible, and capable of hauling a lot.
BHG’s pick here is the Instant Omni Plus, which brings air frying into an oven-style setup.

Why it stands out: Capacity. This model is large enough to bake a 12-inch pizza, and multiple racks let you
cook more food at once. BHG also liked the crisping performance on friesimportant, because oven-style models sometimes do great at baking
but only “fine” at air frying. The Omni Plus also includes extra functions like rotisserie, which can be surprisingly useful
if you want hands-off chicken with a crispy finish.

What to know before buying: Unlike many basket air fryers, BHG recommends preheating this toaster-oven style model,
and noted it took several minutes to reach high heat. That’s not a flawit’s just how oven-style machines workso plan for a slightly longer runway.
Also: make sure you have the counter space. This is not a “tuck it behind the toaster” situation.

Best for: bigger households, entertainers, and anyone who wants one appliance that can air fry and toast, bake, roast, and reheat.

How to Choose the Right Air Fryer for Your Kitchen

Pick the style that matches how you cook

• Basket-style air fryers: usually fastest for crisping and easiest for weeknight cooking.
• Oven-style air fryer toaster ovens: best for flat foods (pizza, toast) and cooking more at once.
• Dual-basket air fryers: ideal if you want to cook two foods at different temps and timings (great for “protein + side” nights).

Buy capacity based on portions, not optimism

A good rule: smaller baskets are fine for one or two people; 6-quart models tend to suit 2–4 people;
larger baskets (8 quarts and up) work better for families or batch cooking.
Oven-style air fryers can be the best option when you want surface area (like fitting a full pizza or multiple trays).

Look for features that actually improve food

• Even airflow and strong heat: the difference between “crispy” and “kind of roasted.”
• Basket pause / auto-stop: helpful when you shake fries or check doneness.
• A window (optional): reduces heat loss from opening, but it’s not mandatory.
• Temperature probe (nice-to-have): especially helpful for meat, and a major plus for precision models.
• Easy cleaning: dishwasher-safe parts are great, but also consider shapetiny grooves can become crumb museums.

Safety and Maintenance Tips (So Your Air Fryer Behaves)

An air fryer is low-effort cooking, not no-effort ownership. A few habits keep performance high and smoke alarms quiet:

• Start clean: grease buildup can cause smoking and affect airflow.
• Don’t overcrowd: air needs space to circulate. If you pack the basket like a rush-hour train, crisping suffers.
• Use a little oil strategically: a light coating can improve browning on many foods without turning dinner into a deep-fry reenactment.
• Check recalls and register products: for peace of mind and faster notices if anything changes.

Important note: In 2023, Cosori recalled certain air fryer models due to an overheating/fire risk involving wire connections.
That recall applied to specific sizes and model numbers sold in prior yearsso don’t panic, but do verify your exact model if you own an older unit.
When shopping, it’s smart to buy from reputable retailers and keep your registration/serial info somewhere you can find it later.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is an air fryer just a convection oven?

Pretty much: it’s a compact convection appliance that circulates hot air around food.
The big advantage is speedsmaller space heats quickly, so you often cook in less time than a full-size oven.
The best models also balance airflow and heat in a way that produces a convincingly crisp exterior.

Do I need to preheat an air fryer?

Many basket-style air fryers don’t require preheating for decent results, though a short preheat can help with certain foods.
Oven-style air fryer toaster ovens often benefit from preheating, since they behave more like traditional ovens.

What foods are “air fryer magic,” and what’s overrated?

Magic: wings, fries, frozen snacks, roasted vegetables, reheated pizza, salmon, and quick chicken cutlets.
Overrated: very wet batters (they can drip and make a mess) and anything that needs a long, low braise.
Air fryers shine with high-heat, dry-ish cooking where crisp edges are the goal.

Real-Life Air Fryer Experiences: What You Learn After the First Week (500+ Words)

The first week with a new air fryer is pure romance. You air-fry everything: fries, wings, broccoli, the concept of time itself.
You tell friends, “It’s so fast!” like you personally invented hot air. Then real life kicks in, and that’s where the best lessons appear.

Lesson #1: Size regret is real. Most people don’t regret buying an air fryerthey regret buying the wrong capacity.
If you cook for one or two, a compact or mid-size model feels efficient and easy to store. But if you routinely cook for four,
a too-small basket turns dinner into a two-round cooking marathon. By the time the second batch is done, the first batch is filing for early retirement.
That’s why BHG’s list is satisfying: it includes options for different lifestyles, from compact glass containers to a roomy toaster-oven style machine.

Lesson #2: “Crispy” is a technique, not a button. Yes, good air fryers help. But crispiness also comes from a few habits:
don’t overcrowd; shake or flip when needed; and use a tiny bit of oil on foods that are naturally lean.
The air fryer is not a wizardmore like a very fast, very hot fan with strong opinions about airflow.

Lesson #3: The best air fryer is the one you’ll actually clean. The secret to consistently good air-fried food is starting with a clean machine.
Old grease can cause smoke and weird flavors, and it can mess with airflow. The “I’ll clean it later” approach tends to turn into
“Why does my kitchen smell like last Tuesday’s wings?” Models with dishwasher-safe parts help, but the shape matters toodeep ridges and tight corners
can become crumb storage units.

Lesson #4: Reheating is the sleeper superpower. People buy air fryers for fries and wings, but they keep them for leftovers.
Pizza revives with a crisp base and melty top. Fries come back from the dead. Chicken nuggets stop being sad.
If your household reheats a lot, a reliable model with even cooking can pay for itself in “I didn’t throw that away” victories.

Lesson #5: Precision features are either life-changing or pointlessdepending on you. If you love cooking meat and you care about doneness,
a temperature probe and smarter controls can genuinely improve results. If you mostly air-fry frozen snacks and roast vegetables,
those features may be expensive decoration. Think about your real cooking habits, not your aspirational “I will meal prep salmon weekly” identity.

Lesson #6: Counter space is a serious ingredient. Oven-style air fryer toaster ovens can be incredible if you’ll use the baking and toasting features.
But if your kitchen is small, a large appliance can become the countertop roommate you didn’t ask for. Compact models (especially those designed for storage convenience)
can make the air fryer feel like a daily helper instead of a space-hogging monument to good intentions.

In other words: the best air fryer experience isn’t about chasing the fanciest modelit’s about matching the machine to your routine.
When you do that, air frying stops being a trend and becomes a genuinely useful way to cook faster, waste less, and eat more “crispy things”
without turning your stovetop into an oil slick.

Conclusion

BHG’s five winners cover the air fryer spectrum: the Cosori TurboBlaze for everyday reliability, the PowerXL Vortex Pro for big-batch value,
the Dreo Chefmaker for precision-minded cooks, the Ninja Crispi for compact glass convenience, and the Instant Omni Plus for anyone who wants
oven-style flexibility. Pick the one that fits your household size, your counter space, and the way you actually cookand you’ll get the kind of
crispy, fast results that make air fryers feel like a genuine kitchen upgrade (not just another appliance you store next to the bread maker you swore you’d use).

SEO Tags