8 Best Types of Air Fryers of 2026

If you’re drowning in countertop clutter and cooking for one—or maybe two—this ultra-compact air fryer is a game-changer. The 2-quart square basket maximizes every inch of space, while the 900W heating element delivers crisp results at up to 400°F, making it perfect for reheating leftovers or whipping up single-serving snacks in minutes. Its standout shake reminder feature ensures even browning without guesswork, solving the common pain point of unevenly cooked food in small appliances. For solo diners or minimalist kitchens, this is smart, space-savvy engineering at its finest.

In real-world testing, the Chefman mini fryer excels at frying frozen nuggets, roasting veggies, and reheating pizza with impressive crispness—though don’t expect it to handle large proteins or family-sized batches. The square design boosts usable capacity slightly over round baskets, but it still struggles with anything over two servings. It heats quickly and cooks about 3x faster than a conventional oven, but the limited airflow can leave larger items needing manual rotation. Still, for its size, the performance-to-footprint ratio is outstanding, especially on cramped dorm or studio apartment counters.

Compared to full-size models like the Ninja DZ201 or Cosori 6-qt, this isn’t meant to replace your oven—but it outshines them where it counts: space efficiency and simplicity. It’s the ideal pick for singles, students, or anyone who wants fast, healthy meals without appliance overload. While the Ninja offers dual baskets and more power, this mini fryer wins on countertop real estate and ease of storage—delivering solid performance in a fraction of the space and at a much lower cost.

When cooking for a family means juggling multiple dishes and tight schedules, the Ninja DZ201 shines with surgical precision. Its dual independent 4-quart baskets let you cook chicken wings in one and veggies in the other—two foods, two ways, simultaneously—thanks to Separate Heating Zones and DualZone Technology. The Smart Finish feature is a genius twist, syncing cook times so both foods finish together, eliminating the chaos of staggered meals. With a wide 105°F to 450°F range and 6-in-1 functionality, it’s a powerhouse for meal prep, roasting, and even dehydrating jerky.

In daily use, this air fryer handles family-sized loads like a pro—air frying 4 lbs of fries or roasting two full chickens (one per basket) with consistent, crispy results. The cyclonic fans ensure even heat distribution, though overcrowding one basket can slightly delay crisping. It’s particularly strong in multi-tasking scenarios: reheat pizza in one side while air-frying salmon in the other. However, the dual-basket design doubles the cleaning load, and the unit is bulky, requiring serious counter space. Still, for households tired of batch cooking, the performance payoff is massive.

Against the Chefman XL or Instant Pot Vortex, the Ninja stands out with unmatched flexibility—it’s the only one that truly eliminates back-to-back frying. While the Cosori 6-qt offers quieter operation and ceramic coating, the Ninja wins for families needing parallel cooking. It’s more complex than single-basket models, but that complexity is its strength: maximum efficiency for busy homes. It delivers twice the productivity at a similar price point, making it a smarter long-term investment for multi-person households.

For those who want big performance without breaking the bank, the Chefman TurboFry XL is a quiet powerhouse in stainless steel. Packing 1700 watts and a spacious 8-quart capacity, it delivers crispy, golden results with 98% less oil—perfect for families of 4–6. The one-touch presets for fries, chicken, fish, and meat make it effortless for beginners, while the 200–400°F range gives pros room to experiment. Its LED shake reminder ensures even cooking, solving the common issue of soggy centers in large batches.

During testing, it handled full trays of wings, roasted vegetables, and even whole salmon fillets with consistent heat and minimal hot spots. The large window and interior light let you monitor progress without opening the basket—preserving heat and timing. While it lacks dual zones like the Ninja, it still cooks family meals in a single go, making it ideal for weeknight dinners. The only limitation? The fan noise is noticeable, and the footprint is wide, so it’s not ideal for tiny kitchens. Still, for its price, the cooking volume and speed are impressive.

Compared to the Cosori 6-qt or Instant Pot Vortex, this model offers more capacity at a lower price, though it lacks some smart features like app connectivity. It doesn’t match the Ninja’s dual-basket brilliance, but it surpasses it in value for single-zone cooking. If you need large meals without the complexity, this is the sweet spot between size, simplicity, and savings—delivering high-end performance with mid-tier pricing.

If your kitchen needs a command center, the Emeril Lagasse French Door air fryer is a bold, space-dominating champion of large-capacity cooking. With a massive 26-quart interior, it can rotisserie a 6-lb chicken, bake a 12-inch pizza, or air fry enough food for six—making it the undisputed king of volume. The dual-speed fan ensures 360° superheated air circulation, delivering even crisping across large dishes, while the elegant French doors open smoothly and let you monitor food through the interior light.

In real use, it excels at holiday meals, batch cooking, and entertaining—roasting whole chickens, baking casseroles, and dehydrating fruit with ease. The 24 cooking functions go far beyond air frying, turning it into a full convection oven replacement. However, its size means it’s not for small kitchens—it’s best suited for island countertops or dedicated spaces. Preheating takes longer than smaller models, and the controls can feel overwhelming at first. Still, for those who want oven-level capacity with air fryer speed, it’s unmatched.

Against the Ninja or Chefman XL, this isn’t just an air fryer—it’s a full countertop oven hybrid. While pricier and larger, it eliminates the need for multiple appliances, offering greater versatility than any standalone fryer. It doesn’t have dual baskets, but its sheer size and rotisserie function make it ideal for hosts, large families, or meal preppers. It delivers commercial-scale cooking at home, outperforming others in capacity and function breadth—a true luxury upgrade for serious home chefs.

This 10-liter Swiss Army knife of air fryers is built for those who want everything in one appliance—and want it fast. With 17 touch-screen presets, it handles air frying, rotisserie, dehydrating, baking, and roasting with zero preheating, thanks to rapid air heating elements. The extra-large window and interior light let you watch your food cook in real time, while the stainless steel rotisserie spit delivers juicy, evenly browned meats—a rare feature at this price. It’s a true all-in-one, eliminating the need for multiple gadgets.

In testing, it roasted a whole chicken beautifully, dehydrated apple slices evenly, and air-fried frozen fries with excellent crispness. The three airflow racks allow multi-level cooking, perfect for meal prep. However, the 10L size is bulky, and the fan noise is loud on high, which can be disruptive in open-plan kitchens. While it’s versatile, it doesn’t excel in every mode—the dehydrate function is slower than dedicated dehydrators, and baking requires close monitoring. Still, for cooks who hate clutter, it’s a space-saving marvel.

Compared to the Emeril or Ninja, it offers similar functions in a more compact form, though with less raw capacity. It doesn’t match the Emeril’s 26QT size, but it beats the Ninja in versatility with rotisserie and more presets. For home chefs who want maximum features without appliance sprawl, this is the smartest all-in-one pick—delivering pro-level cooking in a single unit at a fraction of the cost of buying each appliance separately.

The Instant Pot Vortex Plus earns its “best for easy cleanup” title with laser focus on simplicity and hygiene. Its non-stick, dishwasher-safe basket wipes clean in seconds, and the smooth interior resists grime buildup—ideal for families tired of scrubbing. With 6-in-1 functions and EvenCrisp Technology, it delivers golden, crispy results using 95% less oil, while the one-touch settings make cooking foolproof. The intuitive touchscreen shows real-time progress, and the 1700-watt heater ensures fast, even cooking.

In daily use, it air fries wings, reheats pizza, and bakes muffins with consistent results. The 6-quart capacity fits meals for 4, though it’s tight for large roasts. The app integration offers over 100 recipes, helping beginners build confidence. However, the fan is loud, and the basket shape limits airflow on dense foods. It struggles slightly with extra-crispy textures compared to the Cosori, but makes up for it with effortless maintenance.

Against the Gourmia or Chefman models, it’s more user-friendly and better built, though pricier than budget picks. It doesn’t have dual zones like the Ninja, but it beats most in ease of use and cleanup. For busy households or messy cooks, this is the low-friction champion—offering solid performance with minimal cleanup drama, making it a top-tier choice for hassle-free cooking.

The Cosori TurboBlaze isn’t just an air fryer—it’s a precision cooking instrument built for flawless results and quiet operation. With a 3600 rpm TurboBlaze fan, 5-speed airflow system, and precise 90°–450°F control, it delivers evenly cooked, crispy-on-the-outside, juicy-on-the-inside food every time. The premium ceramic-coated basket is nonstick, durable, and dishwasher-safe, reducing scrubbing while resisting scratches. And at under 53dB, it’s one of the quietest high-performance fryers on the market.

In real testing, it air-fried wings to crispy perfection, baked cookies evenly, and dehydrated herbs without scorching. The square 6-qt basket maximizes space, and the customizable preheat function adds flexibility—skip it for speed or use it for optimal browning. It handles frozen foods, proofing dough, and keeping food warm, making it ideal for serious home cooks. The only downside? The ceramic coating, while excellent, may degrade over time with metal utensils.

Against the Instant Pot or Ninja, it wins on noise, evenness, and build quality. It doesn’t have dual baskets, but it outperforms them in texture and control. For cooks who demand consistency, quiet operation, and premium materials, this is the best overall air fryer—balancing cutting-edge tech, smart design, and reliability better than any other model, even at a higher price.

For budget-conscious buyers who still want family-sized meals and smart features, the Gourmia 6-qt air fryer is a steal. With 12 one-touch presets, FryForce 360° technology, and a 6-quart capacity, it handles nuggets, fries, roasts, and dehydrated snacks with surprising competence. The 1500-watt heater reaches 400°F quickly, circulating heat evenly to crisp food without constant shaking. And at under $50, it undercuts premium models by 50% or more—making it the top pick for value seekers.

In testing, it cooked frozen foods well and handled weeknight dinners for 3–4 people reliably. The nonstick, dishwasher-safe basket makes cleanup easy, and the compact size fits small kitchens. However, the build feels lighter, and the fan is louder than higher-end models. It lacks advanced features like preheat customization or app connectivity, and browning isn’t as consistent as the Cosori. Still, for the price, it’s remarkably capable.

Compared to the Instant Pot or Chefman XL, it offers similar capacity and functions at a fraction of the cost. It doesn’t match the Cosori in performance or quietness, but it delivers 80% of the experience for 40% of the price. For students, first-time buyers, or secondary kitchens, this is the smartest budget entry—proving you don’t need to spend big to eat well.