cnet best air fryers
Introduction
As someone who loves to cook but doesn’t have a lot of time, I’ve been hearing a lot about air fryers lately. They’re supposedly a healthier and quicker alternative to traditional fryers, and I was curious to see if they lived up to the hype. That’s why I was thrilled to stumble upon CNET’s list of the best air fryers currently on the market. In this article, I’ll be sharing my personal experiences with one of the products on the list, as well as highlighting the features and benefits of the others.
CNET’s Top Picks
Let’s start with an overview of the top air fryers on CNET’s list. There are five in total:
1. Philips XXL
This air fryer can hold up to 3 pounds of food and has a digital touch screen for easy temperature and cooking time selection. It also boasts a “Fat Removal” technology and dishwasher safe parts for easy cleanup.
2. Ninja Air Fryer Max XL
The Ninja Air Fryer Max XL can hold up to 4 quarts of food and has a temperature range of 105°F-450°F. It also comes with a recipe book full of easy and healthy air fryer recipes.
3. Cuisinart AFR-25
The Cuisinart AFR-25 has a whopping 7 cooking functions, including air fry, bake, broil, and roast. It also has a compact design that’s perfect for smaller kitchens.
4. Cosori Smart WiFi Air Fryer
This air fryer can be controlled with your smartphone using the VeSync app, which also allows you to access hundreds of recipes. It also has a preheat function and a large 5.8-quart capacity.
5. Instant Vortex Plus
The Instant Vortex Plus includes a rotisserie function and can also bake, roast, broil, and dehydrate. It has a large 10-quart capacity and comes with a rotisserie spit, drip tray, and cooking trays.
Comparison
When comparing these air fryers, the biggest differences I noticed were the size, cooking functions, and ease of use. For example, the Philips XXL and Ninja Air Fryer Max XL are both larger and have fewer cooking functions than the Cuisinart AFR-25 and Instant Vortex Plus. However, the Philips XXL has a “Fat Removal” technology and the Cosori Smart WiFi Air Fryer can be controlled with your smartphone, which might be important factors for some buyers.
Product Testing
I decided to try out the Ninja Air Fryer Max XL since it had such great reviews and a reasonable price point. Overall, I was impressed with the ease of use and the cooking performance. It was super simple to select the temperature and cooking time, and the food came out crispy and delicious. I especially loved making sweet potato fries in the air fryer – they were cooked perfectly and tasted amazing without any additional oil.
Ease of Use
One thing that surprised me was how quiet the air fryer was when it was running. I was expecting it to be loud and obnoxious, but I could barely hear it from the other room. Additionally, the basket was easy to remove and clean, and the recipe book provided some helpful inspiration.
Cooking Performance
In terms of cooking performance, the air fryer exceeded my expectations. It cooked everything evenly and quickly, and I appreciated that I didn’t have to preheat the oven or wait for the oil to heat up. Plus, it was satisfying to know that I was making a healthier choice by using an air fryer instead of a traditional fryer.
User Reviews
To get a more well-rounded perspective, I checked out some of the user reviews on various retailers and review sites. Overall, the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Users raved about how easy it was to use and clean, as well as the delicious results. A few of the recurring negative comments included the size of the air fryer being too small for larger families and the plastic construction feeling a bit flimsy.
Conclusion
Based on my personal experience and the reviews I read, I would definitely recommend giving air fryers a try. They’re a great way to cook healthy and delicious meals without a lot of fuss or clean-up. If you’re in the market for an air fryer, take a look at CNET’s top picks and consider your own personal preferences for size and features. And if you have any questions or want to share your own experiences, feel free to leave a comment below!
List of 10 cnet best air fryers
- Now enjoy guilt free food; Air fry with up to 75 percent less fat than traditional frying methods; Tested against hand cut, deep fried French fries
- Wide temperature range: 105 degree Fahrenheit to 400 degrees Fahrenheit allows you to gently remove moisture from foods or quickly cook and crisp foods with convection heat
- 4 quart ceramic coated nonstick basket and crisper plate fit 2 pounds of french fries. Cord length (feet) - 2.6
- The unit will need time to preheat before coming up to temperature. We recommend that you preheat the unit for 3 minutes before adding your ingredients to achieve the best results
- Dehydrate: Create flat, chip like dehydrated foods for fun, homemade snacks pounds; The combination of low fan speed and low temperature enables thorough dehydration
- The Breville Smart Oven Air with Element iQ System is a versatile countertop oven allowing you to roast, air fry and dehydrate; Use super convection to reduce cooking time by up to 30% and choose from 13 cooking functions; Includes an interior oven light.Temperature : 80-480 °F
- ELEMENT iQ SYSTEM: Using 6 independent quartz elements, smart algorithms steer power to where and when it's needed to create the ideal cooking environment; Sensing and digital PID temperature control eliminates cold spots for precise and even cooking
- AIR FRY & DEHYDRATE SETTINGS: Air fry French fries and other family favorites; Higher temperatures combined with super convection (maximized air flow) deliver crispy golden air fried foods; Dehydrate a wide range of food, up to 4 trays of goodness at once
- SUPER CONVECTION TECHNOLOGY: 2 speed convection fan (super & regular) offers greater cooking control; Super convection provides a greater volume of hot air to ensure fast and even heat distribution perfect for air frying, dehydration and roasting
- 13 COOKING FUNCTIONS: Super versatile countertop oven and air fryer with 13 functions to guide you to perfection: Toast, Bagel, Broil, Bake, Roast, Warm, Pizza, Proof, Air Fry, Reheat, Cookies, Slow Cook and Dehydrate
- DIGITAL CRISP CONTROL TECHNOLOGY: Precision-controlled temperature, heat source, and airflow for ultimate versatility and optimum cooking performance.
- 8-IN-1 VERSATILITY: The ultimate meal-making machine with 8-in-1 functionality: Air Fry, Air Roast, Air Broil, Bake, Bagel, Toast, Dehydrate, and Keep Warm all in one powerful, 1800-watt appliance. The height of the interior of this machine is approximately 3".
- LESS FAT: Eat all of your air fried favorites guilt-free with up to 75% less fat when using the Air Fry function vs. traditional deep frying. Tested against hand-cut, deep fried French Fries.
- FASTER COOKING: Cooks up to 60% faster than a traditional oven on Air Roast; 60-second preheat; full meals in as little as 20 minutes.
- LARGE CAPACITY: 45% larger usable pan cooking area vs. the flat surface area of the Cuisinart toa-60 and toa-65 pan. Fits a 13" Pizza, up to 9 slices of toast, or 6 chicken breasts (6–8 oz. each).
- 6-IN-1 FUNCTIONALITY: Air fry, broil, roast, dehydrate, bake and reheat
- EvenCrisp TECHNOLOGY: Advanced technology that drives air flow top down for a perfect golden finish and crispy, tender results every time!
- ONE-TOUCH SMART PROGRAMS: Customizable programs for one-touch wings, roasted veggies, garlicky potatoes, cookies, cinnamon buns and more!
- FAST PREHEATING: Little to no preheating time, from frozen to golden in minutes! Create gourmet meals with the versatility of a temperature range of 95 to 400° F.
- EASY CLEAN-UP: Non-stick, dishwasher safe air fry basket and tray.
- 6-IN-1 FUNCTIONALITY: Air fry, broil, roast, dehydrate, bake and reheat
- EvenCrisp TECHNOLOGY: Advanced technology that drives air flow top down for a perfect golden finish and crispy, tender results every time!
- ONE-TOUCH SMART PROGRAMS: Customizable programs for one-touch wings, roasted veggies, garlicky potatoes, cookies, cinnamon buns and more!
- FAST PREHEATING: Little to no preheating time, from frozen to golden in minutes! Create gourmet meals with the versatility of a temperature range of 95 to 400° F.
- EASY CLEAN-UP: Non-stick, dishwasher safe air fry basket and tray.
- MORE THAN 12-IN-1: 12 functions for Air Fry, Roast, Bake, Broil, Toast, etc. Explore more possibilities by saving your preferred time and temperature
- FULLY MEET FAMILY NEEDS: 2-layer even cooking, The oven’s 26 quart / 25-liter capacity 1 layer fits up to 6 slices of bread, a 12-inch pizza, or a 5lbs whole chicken
- ENJOY MEALS IN MINUTES: 6 heat elements, a 2-speed fan, and temperatures up to 450°F allow cooking up to 30% faster than a traditional convection oven
- COOK SMARTER: Just pick up your smartphone and tap the VeSync app to make meals at the touch of a button, or enjoy hands-free control of your toast oven by connecting to the Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant
- WHAT’S INCLUDED: 1 x wire rack, 1 x food tray, 1 x fry basket, 1 x user manual, 1 x recipe book（30 chef-made recipes, more on the VeSync app). Search B0B92TPHTV,B0B93CMST3, B0B8ZNVRX3 for accessories
- 6-IN-1 FUNCTIONALITY: Air fry, roast, broil, bake, reheat and dehydrate
- WATCH YOUR FOOD COOK: ClearCook window and internal light to easily monitor cooking progress without opening the basket
- ODOR ERASE TECHNOLOGY: Built-in, replaceable air filters remove odors during cooking to reduce lingering cooking smells.
- EvenCrisp TECHNOLOGY: Advanced technology that drives air flow top down for a perfect golden finish and crispy, tender results every time!
- ONE-TOUCH SMART PROGRAMS: Customizable programs for one-touch wings, roasted veggies, garlicky potatoes, cookies, cinnamon buns and more!
- MAKE ADJUSTMENTS ON-THE-FLY – Want hotter temperature or need to cook it longer? No problem. Simply adjust on-the-fly. Starting the cooking process over is not necessary. Brio’s intuitive digital controls are easy to operate, and the response is immediate. Brio’s cool white display is easy-to-read in any light or no light.
- HEALTHY FRIED FOOD & EASY CLEANUP - Brio uses super-heated air and an efficient air-flow design to cook crispy delicious fried foods without the guilt. No more messy oil, added fats, or calories. Brio allows you to air fry all your favorites - even from frozen, without defrosting. The ultra-non-stick air circulation riser is great for grilling and air frying. The premium stainless steel reversible rack allows for multi-layer cooking. All are dishwasher safe, and the cleanup is a breeze.
- 100 PRE-PROGRAMMED MENU PRESETS AND CONVENIENCES BUILT-IN – Brio is programmed with 100 pre-programmed menu presets for grilling, air frying, baking, broiling, roasting, dehydrating, reheating, defrosting, toasting and more. It also has additional 50 memory slots where you can save and recall your own favorite recipes. It’s the perfect combination of capacity and versatility. Perfect for busy households on the go!
- LINEAR THERMAL (LINEAR T) TECHNOLOGY – Fine tune your own temperature settings from 50 degree to 400degree in precise 5degree increments. Patented Linear T Technology executes the set temperature accurately throughout the entire cooking process by continuously monitoring temperature fluctuations and making constant power adjustments every second to maintain the set temperature to ensure perfect results. Unlike the primitive methods of turning the heater on and off
- CHEF INSPIRED FEATURES, FUNCTIONS & RECIPES – Every feature and function of NUWAVE cooking products are created and rigorously tested by highly trained NUWAVE chefs and RD team. We obsessed over every detail in pursuit of best taste and performance. Get inspired and confidently create your own masterpieces. Brio is engineered to outperform your expectations. Whether you are cooking an appetizer, breakfast, lunch, dinner, or dessert, we have the perfect chef inspired recipe for you.
- HEALTHY FRYING: Achieve perfect fried results with little or even no oil! Temperature range from 200°F - 400°F allows you to cook at your desired temperature, achieving a healthy, crispy, fried finish using at least 98% less oil than traditional fryers.
- SPACE SAVING COMPACT SIZE: The personal size air fryer saves space on your counter and in your cabinet; perfect for any small kitchen, dorm, office, RV trips, and more!
- VERSATILITY: Manual temperature control & 60-minute integrated timer lets you air-fry everything from frozen veggies, chicken & even reheat yesterday's dessert! The detachable BPA-Free basket, cool touch exterior, & auto-shutoff ensures added safety & security.
- EASY CLEAN: The Black basket and tray are removable and top rack dishwasher safe, so your meal is as easy to clean as it is healthy and delicious. Basket is nonstick, so no cooking spray is required!
- RESOURCES: cETL approved with advanced safety technology for long lasting durability, & 1-year warranty provided by Chefman, so you can purchase worry-free - we've got your back! For information on how to use your product, scroll down for a PDF User Guide. – RJ38-2LM
- XL CAPACITY: With the 5.5 qt. nonstick basket and crisper plate, you can save time by cooking up to 3 lbs. of French fries or wings with ease.
- 5-IN-1 VERSATILE FUNCTIONALITY: Includes 5 versatile cooking programs: Air Fry, Air Roast, Bake, Reheat, and Dehydrate. BPA free: Yes
- LESS FAT: Up to 75% less fat than traditional air frying methods. Tested against hand-cut, deep-fried French fries.
- EASY CLEANING: Both the basket and crisper plate are nonstick, easy-to-clean and dishwasher safe.
- WIDE TEMPERATURE RANGE: 105°F to 400°F allows you to gently remove moisture from foods or quickly cook and crisp foods with convection heat.
People also ask
What are air fryers?
Air fryers are kitchen appliances that use hot air to cook food in a way that mimics deep frying, but with less or no oil. They are designed to produce crispy and evenly cooked meals with less fat and fewer calories compared to traditional deep frying.
What makes air fryers a healthy cooking option?
Air fryers require less or no oil to cook your food, which makes them a healthier cooking alternative to deep frying. Restaurants, fast food chains, and households have started using air fryers to produce healthier and crispy meals without sacrificing the taste and texture of the food.
What are the top features to look for in an air fryer?
Some of the top features to look for in an air fryer include its capacity, cooking speed, cooking presets, temperature control, ease of use, and cleaning. A good air fryer should have features that make it easy to cook a variety of meals and make cleaning up a breeze.
Are air fryers easy to use and clean?
Yes, air fryers are easy to use and generally have simple controls that allow you to cook your food to your desired level of crispiness with minimal effort. Cleaning air fryers is also relatively easy as most models have dishwasher-safe parts, and some come with non-stick coatings that prevent food from sticking to the surface.
Which air fryers are the best according to CNET?
CNET recommends the Philips Airfryer XXL as the best overall air fryer based on its high capacity, fast cooking time, and ease of use. The Cuisinart AFR-25 Compact Air Fryer is also a great option for those looking for a more affordable and space-saving air fryer, while the Ninja Air Fryer AF101 provides excellent versatility and cooking presets.