Air fryers have gone from novelty appliances to everyday kitchen staples surprisingly fast. They’re quick to heat up, easy to use and well suited to everything from frozen snacks to roasted vegetables and simple desserts. For many people, they’ve replaced the oven for smaller meals, cutting down on cook time without adding extra cleanup.
The category has also expanded well beyond basic basket-style models. Some air fryers are designed for small kitchens or single servings, while others offer larger capacities and preset cooking modes for roasting, reheating or dehydrating. After testing a wide range of machines, the Instant Vortex Plus continues to stand out for its reliable performance, straightforward controls and consistently good results.
Below, we’ve gathered the best air fryers you can buy right now across different sizes and price points. Whether you’re replacing an older unit or trying one for the first time, these picks focus on appliances that are easy to live with and deliver crisp food without the need for deep frying.
Best air fryers for 2026
Instant Pot Best air fryer overall Instant Vortex Plus 6-Quart Air Fryer Capacity: 6-quart | Type: Pod-shaped | Cooking functions: Fry, roast, broil, bake, reheat, dehydrate | Weight: 16.19 lb | Power consumption: 1700W | Depth: 14.92” | Height: 12.83” | Width: 12.36” | Features: See-through window, odor control filter, EvenCrisp technology, fast preheating You probably know the “Instant” brand from the line of very popular Instant Pot pressure cookers, but did you know that the company makes great air fryers too? We’re especially impressed by the Instant Vortex Plus with ClearCook and OdorErase, which features a clear viewing window so you can see the air fryer basket while your food is cooking, plus an odor-removing filter. In our testing, we found that it didn’t completely eliminate smells, so if you’re whipping up an air fryer salmon it might be obvious, but it seemed significantly less smoky when compared to our Breville Smart Oven Air. We love its ease of use, intuitive controls, the easy-to-clean nonstick drawer basket, plus the roomy interior – it’s big enough to fit four chicken thighs. Plus, this top pick heats up very quickly with virtually no preheating time. A slightly more affordable option is its predecessor, the Instant Vortex Plus 6-Quart. It lacks the viewing window and the odor-removing filters, but it still has the same intuitive control panel and roomy nonstick interior, so you can easily cook a chicken breast or smaller meals from your favorite cookbooks. If you want an even bigger option, Instant also offers Instant Vortex Plus in a 10-quart model that has a viewing window and a rotisserie feature. Pros ClearCook window lets you see your food as it cooks
Intuitive controls
Easy to clean drawer basket Cons Can't cook very large foods $110 at Amazon Explore More Buying Options $100 at Belk$110 at Kohl's
COSORI Best air fryer overall - runner up Cosori 6-quart 9-in-1 air fryer Capacity: 6-quart | Type: Pod-shaped | Cooking functions: Air fry, broil, roast, frozen, bake, reheat, preheat, dry, proof, warm | Weight: 13 lb | Power consumption: 1725W | Depth: 14.4” | Height: 11.9” | Width: 11.8” | Features: Touchscreen display, shake reminder, dishwasher-safe basket, rapid 360-degree air circulation We’ve tested a few Cosori small kitchen appliances in the past and have generally liked them, and the six-quart 9-in-1 air fryer is no different. While Instant’s Vortex has the upper hand mostly thanks to its ClearCook window, those who don’t mind peeking inside the machine to check out their food should consider Cosori’s machine. Its six-quart capacity is great for side dishes like brussel sprouts and onion rings, but it’s also large enough to have quite a few chicken wings and a whole block of tofu without too much overlap. The rounded-square basket is one of the roomiest I’ve seen on a device with as (relatively) small of a footprint as Cosori’s air fryer. Overall, this Cosori air fryer crisped up foods nicely regardless of if they started off raw, frozen or fridge-cool. The nine preset cooking modes include a preheat option for starting things off right at the precise temperature, a proof option for bakers and a dedicated frozen setting for premade appetizers and snacks. Most people will likely use the standard air fry mode the most, but it’s convenient to have so many other options, including the basics like broil, bake and roast. After testing a number of air fryers over the past few years, I appreciate the small features this Cosori model has like an easy to use touchscreen, a basket release button (a good safety feature, since you must press it to remove the basket from the main unit) and the auto-pause feature that turns the cooking element off when you release the basket (it’ll turn right back on, though, if you just opened it up for a quick look). Pros Spacious cooking basket
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