The Best Air Fryers for 2026: Instant, Ninja, Cosori, Philips and Typhur
By Claire Whitmore. Last updated October 2026.
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An air fryer is really a small, powerful convection oven. A fan blasts hot air around food in a compact basket, so you get crisp edges in less time than in a full-size oven, with much less oil than deep frying. A good one becomes the appliance you reach for on busy weeknights. A poor one steams food, has a basket that’s a pain to clean, and leaves you with a crowded countertop.
We built this guide from five major test programs. America’s Test Kitchen cooked thousands of fries and more than 50 pounds of chicken. Food & Wine has run years of retesting, Wirecutter did its own testing, and The Guardian ran lab tests on seven U.S. models in July 2026. We haven’t tested these air fryers ourselves. Prices are from the reviewers’ buying links and change often.
Quick answer: the Instant Vortex Plus 6-Quart is the best air fryer for most households, and both America’s Test Kitchen and Food & Wine rank it first. Choose the Ninja Air Fryer Pro for the crispiest results in a smaller footprint, the Cosori Iconic stainless steel model if you want a PFAS-free, plastic-light machine, and the Philips 3000 Series dual basket if you cook two things at once.
Our picks at a glance
| Pick | Best for | Capacity | Approx. price* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Instant Vortex Plus 6-Quart | Best overall | 6 qt | About $120 to $150 |
| Ninja Air Fryer Pro (5-qt) | Crispiest results, simple controls | 5 qt | About $100 to $130 |
| Cosori Iconic Stainless Steel | Best premium / plastic-light | 6.5 qt | About $227 to $249 |
| Philips 3000 Series Dual Basket | Cooking two foods at once | 6 L + 3 L | About $170 to $250 |
| Typhur Dome | Design and big batches | Large, flat basket | About $340 to $499 |
*Prices from America’s Test Kitchen, Food & Wine and The Guardian at the time of writing.
The best air fryers
1. Instant Vortex Plus 6-Quart: best overall
Best for: families of two to four who want great results without fuss.
America’s Test Kitchen’s January 2026 winner was, in its words, the first model it tested that delivers on the promise of extra-large capacity. Even though it’s only about a foot tall, it held four chicken cutlets, two 15-ounce bags of frozen fries, or a whole 4-pound chicken, and everything came out crisp and golden. Its wide drawer basket was easy to slide in and out and kept hands away from the heating element. The knob-and-display controls are clear and intuitive.
Food & Wine also names it best overall after round after round of testing. It says it has “the strongest cooking results of any machine we’ve tested” across fries, wings, coconut shrimp and Brussels sprouts, and that salmon and pork tenderloin cooked evenly. Its complaints are minor: the preheat is a bit slow, there’s no app, and the basket liner can slip out when you tip the basket over.
Pros
- Top results in two major test programs
- Roomy square basket
- Intuitive controls
- Reasonable price
Cons
- Slowish preheat
- No smart features
- Liner can fall out when inverted
2. Ninja Air Fryer Pro: crispiest results
Best for: smaller households and anyone who values maximum crunch.
Wirecutter’s top pick, the 5-quart Ninja Air Fryer Pro, heats up quickly and makes “the most satisfyingly crispy food” of all the air fryers it has tested. Its uncluttered interface is one of the easiest to use, with simple controls in place of a wall of presets.
At 5 quarts it’s a little smaller than the Instant, so it’s better for one to three people or side dishes. Food & Wine’s best small model is Ninja’s 4-quart AF101, at about $120, if counter space is tight.
Pros
- Exceptionally crispy food
- Fast preheat
- Clean, simple controls
Cons
- Smaller basket than the Instant
Best for: cooks who want a PFAS-free coating, less plastic and very consistent results.
The Guardian’s July 2026 lab tests named the Cosori Iconic best overall. It was the most consistent machine tested and scored high for crispness, preheat time and ease of cleaning. It made the crunchiest chicken nuggets, and the testers’ favorite vegetables, salmon and fries all cooked evenly every time.
Its PFAS-free nonstick coating and stainless body appeal if you’re trying to cut down on plastic in the kitchen. Food & Wine calls it the best plastic-free air fryer. Six modes, including proofing and dehydrating, give keen cooks more control. Cosori’s TurboBlaze, about $100 to $120, is Food & Wine’s runner-up if you want Cosori performance for less.
Pros
- Most consistent in lab testing
- PFAS-free coating
- Stainless, plastic-light build
- Six cooking modes
Cons
- Costs about twice as much as our top pick
4. Philips 3000 Series Dual Basket: best dual basket
Best for: cooking a main and a side at the same time.
Food & Wine’s dual-basket pick has a 6-liter and a 3-liter basket, and in testing “everything from cauliflower to chicken wings came out excellent and crispy.” Dual-basket machines let you sync two foods to finish together. That’s what makes an air fryer a real dinner appliance, not just a fry maker.
The Guardian also names Philips’ 3000 Series 7.6-quart its best budget family-size machine. Food & Wine’s only real complaint is that there are no viewing windows to check on food.
Pros
- Two independent baskets
- Consistently crispy
- Good family capacity
Cons
- No viewing windows
- Wider footprint
5. Typhur Dome: best design
Best for: design-conscious cooks who want a large, flat basket.
Food & Wine gives the Typhur Dome its best-design award. Its wide, shallow chamber spreads food out in one layer, which is the secret to crisp results, and the sleek dome shape looks better on the counter than the usual plastic box. It’s pricey at about $340 to $499, but Food & Wine calls it a standout. Typhur’s Sync smart model (about $179 to $219) is its best smart air fryer, if you want app control and a probe.
Pros
- Large single-layer basket
- Striking design
Cons
- Expensive
- Takes up counter width
Also consider: air fryer toaster ovens
If you’d rather replace your toaster than add another gadget, an oven-style air fryer can toast, bake, roast and air fry. Food & Wine’s pick is the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer (about $350). It’s bigger and doesn’t crisp quite as fast as a basket model, but it handles a sheet-pan dinner. Our countertop ovens guide covers this category in detail.
How to choose an air fryer
- Size by household. 4 to 5 quarts suits one to three people. 6 quarts or more, or a dual basket, suits families of four. Remember that food crisps best in a single layer, so the floor area of the basket matters more than the stated quarts.
- Basket vs. oven style. Baskets crisp fastest and are easiest to shake. Oven styles are more versatile and take up the space of a toaster oven.
- Coatings. Most baskets are nonstick. If you’d rather avoid PFAS-based coatings, look for models with ceramic or stated PFAS-free coatings, or a glass basket like the Ninja Crispi (Food & Wine’s best glass air fryer).
- Controls. Testers consistently prefer simple dials or a few clear buttons over long lists of presets.
- Noise and power. Most draw 1,500 to 1,800 watts. Avoid running one on the same circuit as a kettle or microwave.
- Cleaning. Check that the basket and crisper plate are dishwasher-safe. Even so, hand-washing helps nonstick coatings last longer.
Air fryer tips
- Don’t overcrowd. Hot air needs to reach every surface. Cook in batches if you need to.
- Shake or flip halfway. This evens out browning.
- Use a little oil. A light spray on fresh vegetables and breaded foods gives better color.
- Preheat. Two or three minutes is usually enough, and America’s Test Kitchen’s winner is ready in two.
- Cut cooking times. Start with about 20% less time than an oven recipe, then check.
Are pricey air fryers worth it?
For most people, no. The test winners from America’s Test Kitchen and Food & Wine cost about $120 to $150. Spending more gets you stainless construction and PFAS-free coatings (Cosori Iconic), more capacity (dual baskets), better looks (Typhur) or app control. Those are worth paying for if you care about them, but they won’t make dramatically crispier fries.
FAQ
Is an air fryer healthier than frying?
Air frying uses far less oil than deep frying, so foods typically have less fat. It’s still roasting, so the results depend on what you cook.
Can an air fryer replace my oven?
For small meals, sides and reheating, often yes. It heats faster and uses less energy. For large roasts, baking and sheet-pan dinners you’ll still want an oven or a large countertop oven.
What size air fryer do I need for a family of four?
Look for at least 6 quarts, like the Instant Vortex Plus, or a dual basket like the Philips 3000 Series.
Are glass air fryers any good?
Food & Wine liked the Ninja Crispi, which lets you watch food cook and doubles as a storage container. It’s a good choice if you want to avoid nonstick coatings.
The bottom line
Buy the Instant Vortex Plus 6-Quart. Two major testing teams rank it first, it holds enough for a family, and it’s affordable. The Ninja Air Fryer Pro is the pick for maximum crunch in less space. Upgrade to the Cosori Iconic for a stainless, PFAS-free machine, or the Philips dual basket for cooking a whole dinner at once.
