🍟 Best Air Fryers of 2026: We Tested the Hype
Air fryers earned their popularity honestly: they make genuinely crispy food faster than an oven, with a fraction of the oil. But the market is flooded with near-identical machines and inflated “capacity” numbers. Here’s what actually matters and which models we’d buy.
First, how big do you need?
Manufacturers list capacity in quarts, but that number is misleading — a “5.8-quart” basket doesn’t hold 5.8 quarts of fries in a single layer. As a rough guide:
- 1–2 people: 3–4 quarts
- 3–4 people: 5–6 quarts
- 5+ or you cook whole chickens: 7+ quarts, or an oven-style model
Bigger isn’t automatically better — a large basket takes longer to preheat and hogs storage space.
Basket vs. oven style
Basket air fryers are simpler, easier to clean, and crisp better because the food sits close to the heating element. Oven-style units fit more and can toast/bake, but food often needs rotating and they take more counter space. For pure air frying, we prefer baskets.
Our picks
Cosori Pro II Air Fryer (5.8 Qt)
Best for: The best all-around basket air fryer for most households
👍 Pros
- Crisps evenly
- Dishwasher-safe nonstick basket
- Quiet and fast to preheat
👎 Cons
- Presets are more marketing than magic
- 5.8 qt is snug for a family of 5
Ninja Foodi Dual-Zone Air Fryer
Best for: Cooking two foods at once — e.g., fries and chicken finishing together
👍 Pros
- Two independent baskets
- "Sync finish" is genuinely useful
- Large total capacity
👎 Cons
- Big footprint
- Each basket alone is modest
Instant Vortex 4-in-1 (4 Qt)
Best for: Small kitchens and 1–2 person households on a budget
👍 Pros
- Compact
- Simple controls
- Affordable
👎 Cons
- Small basket
- Basic feature set
What to cook first
If you’re new to air frying, start with frozen foods — fries, wings, spring rolls — because they’re formulated to crisp up and they build your confidence. Then move to fresh vegetables (Brussels sprouts and broccoli are transformative) and finally proteins.
Cleaning and longevity
- Wash the basket after every use — baked-on oil is what wears out the nonstick coating.
- Never use metal utensils or abrasive scrubbers.
- Wipe the heating element occasionally once it’s cool; smoke usually means grease has built up there.
Bottom line
The Cosori Pro II is the one we recommend to most people: it crisps well, cleans easily, and isn’t overpriced. Cook for a crowd? The Ninja dual-zone solves the real problem of getting everything hot at once.