What's the best air fryer?Īnother question that depends on your needs and budget. ![]() Digital air fryers tend to cost a bit more and you run the risk of the panel shorting out, but having a digital readout of the temp and cook time can be nice. Digital air fryers have presets for things like chicken wings, french fries, fish and such, but I find that even if the presets exist, it takes me just a few runs to learn how long things need and the correct temperatures, and I end up bypassing them anyways. This depends on your personal preference but the controls don't have much to do with the performance or end result. Should you get a digital air fryer over an analog? Meh, not really. I found the air fryer lids work exceptionally well, although they don't have a large capacity for cooking. If you already have an Instant Pot, you can buy an Instant Pot air fryer lid ($90) to attach or a Mealthy ($60) which will clamp on top and air fry food down below. You can buy an air fryer lid for your existing Instant Pot. I'd say if you just want to try air frying but don't want to commit a lot of money or kitchen space, opt for one of these. Solo air fryers are the least expensive too, and they can be had for as little as $30. Ninja makes a particularly good one with two 4-quart cooking baskets (8 quarts overall). There are also air fryers with dual compartments so you can make two types of food at different temps simultaneously. These models come with digital controls or manual dials. These come as small as two quarts and can be as big as six or seven. They are generally just a cylindrical base with a basket to hold the food that pulls in and out. The most basic of air fryers looks like a small robot. If you spring for a hybrid oven with multiple racks, you can cook as many as 10 or 12 chicken thighs at once, but it will take longer than with a smaller air fryer What are the different types of air fryers? Solo air fryer: Best for most people (and most budget-friendly) ![]() A 5-quart model will comfortably fit six thighs and so on. Using medium chicken thighs as a unit measurement, a 2.5-quart air fryer can fit three thighs. I find that smaller air fryers like Magic Bullet's 2-5-quart model ($60) do an excellent job but the trade-off is less cooking space. The smaller air fryers mean less overall capacity so you may have to cook in batches. I've found that small and powerful air fryers including the Magic Bullet 2-5-quart model and Instant Pot's Duo Crisp (which actually has a small air frying capacity once you load the air fry basket in) work exceptionally well and very quickly. A smaller air fryer means food is going to get blasted faster and more often than inside a larger model where the air has further to travel and more time to lose heat. Size matters when it comes to air fryer prowess but maybe not in the way you expected. So, if you plan to air fry for five people on a regular basis, spring for a 5-quart model. From there, I would suggest adding a quart of capacity for every person that you're regularly cooking for. ![]() ![]() If you're cooking for one or two people a 2- or 3-quart air fryer should be large enough. There are air fryers large enough to cook a Christmas ham, but I find small- and medium-sized models under 5 quarts net the best results. These can go as high as $300 but you can get less advanced models from bargain brands or ones that are on sale for around $150. That said, if you bump up another $30 or $40 you're going to get a better build, sharper look and generally a bit more power too.Īt the high end are the hybrid countertop ovens with air fry functions. Small no-frills air fryer models start at $25 or $30 and I've found they will do a serviceable job. A basic air fryer is actually not a terribly complex machine so you really needn't break the bank. Like anything else, you can pay a whole lot for an air fryer but in our experience, the most expensive air fryers aren't necessarily the best. Anything with some inherent oil content, like chicken or salmon, will have plenty of natural oil to baste itself while cooking. Remember, you're still using far less oil than deep-frying or even pan-frying in which food sits in oil or is submerged the entire time it's cooking. Vegetables including green beans, broccoli, asparagus, and even potatoes will dry out if you blast them in an air fryer so a light spritz of avocado or olive oil can go a long way. But some foods do well with a light spray or coating of cooking oil. oven baking: Which cooking method is best? Do you need to use oil with an air fryer?
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