Ever feel like your kitchen counter is just a graveyard for single-use gadgets? I totally get it. That’s why the promise of an american test kitchen air fryer caught my eye. If anyone’s gonna put a trendy appliance through its paces, it’s the meticulous folks at America’s Test Kitchen. They’re known for their no-nonsense testing, so when they put their name on something, you know it’s been vetted for real home cooking, not just hype.
But does this model actually live up to that reputation? We spent weeks crisping, roasting, and even baking in it to find out. From frozen fries to weeknight chicken, we’re breaking down wether it’s a worthy investment or just another countertop clutter. Let’s see if it can earn a permanent spot in your kitchen lineup.
Product Comparison Table: 10 Best American Test Kitchen Air Fryer
| Image | Why We Like This Product | Editor’s Rating | |
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Ninja | Air Fryer | 4-in-1 Pro Air Fry,…
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9.6 |
Read Review |
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Emeril Lagasse Extra Large French Door Air Fryer Toaster…
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9.4 |
Read Review |
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bella 4Qt Slim Air Fryer, Fits-anywhere™ Kitchenware, EverGood™ Ceramic…
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9.3 |
Read Review |
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Chefman Air Fryer – 6 QT Compact Airfryer for…
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9.1 |
Read Review |
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Gourmia Toaster Oven Air Fryer Combo 17 cooking presets…
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9.0 |
Read Review |
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Gourmia Air Fryer – 6 Qt Large Capacity, FryForce…
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8.8 |
Read Review |
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CHEFMAN Multifunctional Digital Air Fryer+ Rotisserie, Dehydrator, Convection Oven,…
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8.7 |
Read Review |
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CHEFMAN 2 Qt Mini Air Fryer – Digital Space-Saving…
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8.5 |
Read Review |
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Simple Deluxe 12-in-1 Air Fryer 6.34 Qt, Digital Preset…
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8.4 |
Read Review |
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Chefman Air Fryer TurboFry 7-Qt, 6-in-1 High-Powered 450°F Cooking…
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8.2 |
Read Review |
Quick Review For Top 10 American Test Kitchen Air Fryer
Ninja | Air Fryer | 4-in-1 Pro Air Fry, Roast, Reheat, Dehydrate | 5QT Capacity fits up to 4lbs of French Fries | 400F Max Temp | Nonstick Basket & Crisper Plate | 120V | Grey | AF141
The Ninja AF141 Air Fryer is a versatile kitchen appliance designed to simplify how you cook. It uses superheated air to create crispy, satisfying results with significantly less oil than traditional methods. This 4-in-1 unit functions as an air fryer, a roaster, a reheating station, and even a dehydrator, making it a practical tool for a wide range of meals. At the heart of its performance is the Air Crisp Technology.
It circulates 400-degree air around your food, ensuring a hot and crispy finish that rivals deep frying. Independent testing shows it can use up to 75% less fat, allowing you to enjoy your favorite fried foods more often. You can go straight from freezer to table, turning frozen ingredients into a crispy meal in minutes without needing to thaw. The 5-quart capacity is thoughtfully designed.
It can handle up to 4 pounds of french fries or a full 5 pounds of chicken wings, which is ample for feeding a family. Despite this generous size, Ninja has engineered this model to be a space saver on your countertop. The design is compact, so it won’t dominate your kitchen while still offering full meal capacity. Cleanup is straightforward. Both the main basket and the crisper plate have a nonstick coating, so food residue wipes away easily after use.
Emeril Lagasse Extra Large French Door Air Fryer Toaster Oven Combo, 24 Cooking Functions and Digital Controls, 7 Accessories Included, Stainless Steel Finish, 26QT Capacity
The Emeril Lagasse Extra Large French Door Air Fryer Toaster Oven Combo is a major appliance for your countertop, designed to handle a huge range of cooking tasks without heating up your full-sized oven. It combines 24 different cooking functions into one sleek stainless steel unit, giving you a ton of flexibility from air frying and baking to roasting and toasting.
With its 26-quart capacity, this is a seriously spacious oven. It can comfortable prepare meals for four to six people.
You can fit a 12-inch pizza, rotisserie a six-pound chicken, or bake a large casserole. That makes it fantastic not just for everyday dinners but also for when your hosting a gathering. The elegant french doors open smoothly with a single pull, and an interior light lets you check on your food without letting the heat out.
One of it’s core strengths is air frying.
The dual-speed fan creates powerful 360-degree superheated air circulation, which is key for getting that golden, crispy texture on foods like fries, wings, or veggies without submerging them in oil. It’s a healthier way to achieve fried-like results. And as a toaster, it’s smart and reliable. You set the toast countdown timer, and the oven shuts off automatically when it’s done, so no more burnt toast.
bella 4Qt Slim Air Fryer, Fits-anywhere™ Kitchenware, EverGood™ Ceramic Nonstick Coating, Adjustable Temperature, 6 Preset Cooking Options, 60 Min Auto Shutoff w Audible Tone, 3.3lb Capacity, Oatmilk
The Bella 4Qt Slim Air Fryer is designed to be a practical and versatile addition to your kitchen counter. Its core promise is to deliver the benefits of air frying—crispy results with less oil—without taking over your entire kitchen. The slim profile is a key feature, engineered to fit comfortably in small spaces or on crowded countertops.
It saves a significant amount of space compared to bulkier models, so you don’t have to sacrifice a appliance you use regularly just because your kitchen is cozy.
At the heart of this air fryer is the EverGood ceramic nonstick coating. This coating is free from PFAS, PFOA, and other materials of concern, which is a important consideration for health-conscious cooking.
The nonstick surface means food releases easily and cleanup is straightforward, usually just requiring a quick wipe of the basket. No more scrubbing stuck-on bits for ages. The 4-quart, or 3.3-pound, capacity is generous for a unit this size. It’s well-suited for preparing a meal for a family or making a sizable batch of snacks, like enough fries or chicken wings for a few people in one go.
Operating the Bella is straightforward thanks to its digital controls.
Chefman Air Fryer – 6 QT Compact Airfryer for Quick & Easy Meals in Minutes, Features Hi-Fry Technology for Extra Crisp, Touchscreen Controls with 4 Presets, Nonstick & Dishwasher Safe Basket – Black
The Chefman Air Fryer – 6 QT Compact Airfryer is designed to simplify your cooking routine. It combines a surprisingly large 6-quart capacity with a space-saving, narrow design that won’t dominate your counter. This size is ideal for preparing meals for three to five people, making it a practical choice for small families or weeknight dinners.
Operating it is straightforward.
The digital touchscreen gives you full control over time and temperature, or you can use one of the four preset functions for a truly one-touch start. This means less guesswork and more consistent results, whether your cooking frozen snacks or fresh vegetables. An helpful feature is the LED shake notification, which uses an audible alarm to remind you to shake the basket halfway through.
This simple step helps ensure everything cooks evenly and gets perfectly crispy.
A standout feature is the 450°F Hi-Fry Technology. You can activate this during the last two minutes of cooking to give foods like french fries or chicken tenders an extra-crispy, golden finish. It mimics the effect of deep-frying but with significantly less oil. That’s the core benefit here: you can enjoy the texture and taste of fried foods while making a healthier choice for you and your family.
Gourmia Toaster Oven Air Fryer Combo 17 cooking presets 1700W french door digital air fryer oven 24L capacity accessories, convection rack, baking pan tray recipe book GTF7460,Large,Black
The Gourmia GTF7460 French Door Air Fryer Toaster Oven is designed to be a versatile countertop hub for your kitchen. Its standout feature is the spacious 25-quart interior, accessed through unique dual French doors. These doors open smoothly with one hand, making it easy to slide in a whole chicken, a 12-inch pizza, or six slices of toast without the awkward juggling of a single, hot door.
It’s a thoughtful design for everyday family cooking.
This appliance consolidates several gadgets into one. With 17 built-in cooking presets, it simplifies the process for air frying, baking, broiling, roasting, toasting, and even dehydrating. You can go from crispy, oil-free fries to a roasted chicken to a batch of homemade jerky with just a few button presses.
The digital control panel is straightforward, letting you ajust time from 1 to 99 minutes and temperature from 90°F to 450°F for when you want to fine-tune things manually.
At its heart is the 1700-watt FryForce Convection system. This powerful fan circulates hot air rapidly around the food, which is what gives you that crispy, golden texture associated with deep frying but using little to no oil. It cooks food evenly and efficiently, whether your air frying wings or baking cookies.
Gourmia Air Fryer – 6 Qt Large Capacity, FryForce 360º, Digital Display with 12 Presets, Roast, Bake, Broil, Dehydrate, Dishwasher Safe Accessories, Black
The Gourmia Air Fryer – 6 Qt Large Capacity with FryForce 360 is designed for everyday cooking. It aims to simplify how you prepare a wide variety of foods, offering a countertop alternative to traditional oven or stovetop methods. This model focuses on combining a useful capacity with straightforward digital controls to help you get consistent results. With its 6-quart capacity, this air fryer is sized for family meals. It can handle portions for three to four people comfortably.
This makes it suitable for preparing dinner proteins like chicken breasts or salmon filets, as well as sides such as roasted vegetables or french fries. The interior is large enough for a whole chicken or a batch of snacks for game day, providing flexibility beyond just single servings. Operation is centered around a digital panel with 12 one-touch presets. You can select functions for air frying, roasting, baking, broiling, and even dehydrating.
These presets are meant to remove guesswork by setting a recommended time and temperature for each cooking style. You can, of course, manually adjust the temperature from 90°F to 400°F and set your own timer for full control over any recipe. A key feature is the FryForce 360° Technology. This refers to the internal system that circulates hot air rapidly around the food. The intent is to create a crispy, browned exterior on foods like fries, wings, or nuggets while using minimal oil.
CHEFMAN Multifunctional Digital Air Fryer+ Rotisserie, Dehydrator, Convection Oven, 17 Touch Screen Presets Fry, Roast, Dehydrate, Bake, XL 10L Family Size, Auto Shutoff, Large Easy-View Window, Black
The CHEFMAN Multifunctional Digital Air Fryer+ is designed to be a central hub for your countertop cooking. It consolidates the functions of several appliances into one sleek unit, letting you air fry, bake, roast, dehydrate, and even rotisserie without cluttering your kitchen.
Its core advantage is versatility; whether your aiming for crispy fries, roasted vegetables, homemade jerky, or a golden rotisserie chicken, this single device handles it all.
One of the most significant benefits is the speed and efficiency it brings to cooking. Unlike a traditional oven, there’s typically no need to preheat. The powerful convection system circulates rapid hot air around your food, cooking it evenly and crisping it thoroughly from all sides.
This method also promotes healthier eating. You can achieve that desirable fried texture and taste using upto 98% less oil than conventional deep fryers, making favorite meals a bit more guilt-free.
Ease of use is a major focus. The capacitive touch screen with 17 intuitive presets takes the guesswork out of settings. You simply select the food type, and the appliance adjusts time and temperature for you, making consistent results accessible for any cook.
CHEFMAN 2 Qt Mini Air Fryer – Digital Space-Saving Compact Air Fryer with Nonstick and Dishwasher Safe Basket, Quick & Easy Meals in Minutes, Features Digital Timer and Shake Reminder – Black
The CHEFMAN 2 Qt Mini Air Fryer is a compact digital kitchen helper designed for simplicity and efficiency. If you’re cooking for one or two people and want to make quick, healthier meals without taking up much space, this model is worth a close look. Its straightforward digital controls and thoughtful features aim to take the guesswork out of air frying.
At the heart of this air fryer is its speed and ease of use.
The digital touchscreen lets you set the temperature, which goes up to 400°F, and the timer with just a few taps. It cooks food significantly faster than a traditional oven, which is perfect for busy weeknights or when you just need a quick snack. The whole process is very hands-off, thanks to features like the automatic shake reminder. About halfway through cooking, an alarm sounds to prompt you to give the basket a shake.
This helps ensure everything gets cooked evenly and comes out nice and crispy, without you having to constantly check on it.
One of the biggest appeals of any air fryer is healthier cooking, and this one is no exception. It uses rapid air circulation to crisp up foods like fries, chicken wings, or veggies with little to no added oil. You can enjoy the textures and flavors you love while cutting down on excess fat and calories.
Simple Deluxe 12-in-1 Air Fryer 6.34 Qt, Digital Preset Airfryer with Visible Window, Nonstick and Dishwasher-Safe Basket, Air Fry, Roast, Bake, Dehydrate, Fries, 1700W, Gary
The Simple Deluxe 12-in-1 Air Fryer 6.34 Qt is designed to be a versatile and practical kitchen helper. It’s core function is to simplify how you cook everyday meals, offering a straightforward path to healthier versions of your favorite foods. By using advanced rapid air circulation, it achieves that desirable crispy texture we all love but with a significant reduction in oil.
You can enjoy foods like french fries, chicken wings, or roasted vegetables using up to 95% less oil, which makes sticking to healthier habits much more manageable. One of the standout features is it’s 12 preset cooking functions. This takes the guesswork out of cooking different dishes. Whether you want to air fry, roast, bake, or even dehydrate fruits for snacks, the digital interface lets you select the right mode with one touch.
It’s built for busy schedules, providing a quick and effortless way to get dinner on the table without compromising on taste or texture. The 1700-watt power ensures everything cooks rapidly and evenly. The large 6.34-quart basket is genuinely family-sized. You can prepare multiple servings at once, which is perfect for a family meal or when you have friends over. Despite this generous capacity, the unit itself has a compact, space-saving design.
Chefman Air Fryer TurboFry 7-Qt, 6-in-1 High-Powered 450°F Cooking for Crispier Results, Compact Space-Saving Design, Air Fry, Bake, Broil, Reheat, Dehydrate, Defrost, Fast & Even Cooking – Black
The Chefman Air Fryer TurboFry 7-Qt is a high-powered kitchen appliance designed to simplify how you cook. Its core innovation is the Supercharged Convection Power system. This isn’t your average air fryer; it uses a high-tech DC motor that cooks up to 40% faster than other Chefman models. It reaches a max temperature of 450°F, which is key for achieving that desirable crispy exterior while keeping the inside of your food juicy and tender.
You get results that feel closer to deep frying, but with significantly less oil.
This model truly stands out with its 6-in-1 Versatility. It functions as a complete countertop oven. The digital touchscreen gives you easy access to six dedicated functions: Air Fry, Broil, Dehydrate, Convection Bake, Reheat, and a specific Cook Frozen Foods setting. That Frozen function is particularly smart.
It starts at a lower temperature to safely defrost items like mozzarella sticks or chicken tenders, then automatically ramps up the heat to crisp them to a golden-brown finish. No more soggy frozen snacks. The Reheat function is also a game-changer for bringing back the texture of leftover pizza or fries without making them chewy or dry.
Despite its power, the Chefman TurboFry boasts a Space-Saving Design.
American Test Kitchen Air Fryer Buying Guide
Air fryers from America’s Test Kitchen are known for being rigorously tested. They focus on performance and reliability, not just fancy extras. When you’re looking at one, key things to consider are its capacity, how easy it is to clean, and the control options it offers. Getting these right means you’ll use it way more often.
Size and Kitchen Space
Think about where this appliance will live on your counter. These models aren’t tiny, so measure your space first. Capacity is directly tied to size—a larger basket is great for families, but a compact one suits singles or small kitchens better. Ask yourself how much food you typically cook at once.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Nobody wants a gadget that’s a pain to clean. Look for a non-stick basket that’s dishwasher safe; it’s a total game-changer. Removable parts should come apart easily without lots of nooks for grease to hide. A simple wipe-down exterior is also a big plus for keeping things tidy.
Control Panel and Presets
Do you prefer simple dials or a digital touchscreen? Digital controls offer precise temperature and time settings, which is great for repeatability. Some models come with handy presets for common foods, which can save you time and guesswork. Choose the interface that feels most intuitive for you to use daily.
Performance and Even Cooking
This is where the testing really matters. A good model will circulate hot air effectively so food cooks evenly without needing constant shaking. Check reviews for notes on how well it handles different items, from crispy fries to juicy chicken. Consistent results are what make an air fryer worth it.
Additional Functions
Many of these units do more than just air fry. They might roast, bake, or even dehydrate. While extra functions are nice, consider if you’ll actually use them. Sometimes, a dedicated machine that excels at one thing is better than a multi-cooker that’s just okay at several.
Frequently Asked Questions About American Test Kitchen Air Fryer
What makes an American Test Kitchen recommended air fryer different?
American Test Kitchen tests many models. They recommend ones that cook evenly, are easy to use, and last. Their picks are based on real kitchen performance, not just features.
How do I choose the right size air fryer?
Think about your household. For 1-2 people, a 3-5 quart model is often enough. For a family, look for 6 quarts or more. A larger basket lets you cook more food at once without overcrowding.
Are air fryers from their reviews easy to clean?
Most top-rated models have dishwasher-safe baskets. Non-stick coatings help, but always check the manual. Wiping the main unit down after it cools keeps it looking good.
What can you actually cook in one of these?
You can cook a lot! Think frozen fries, chicken wings, roasted veggies, and even reheated pizza. Some models can bake small cakes or roast a whole chicken. It’s very versatile.
Is it healthier than a traditional oven?
An air fryer uses much less oil to get food crispy. This can mean fewer calories from fat. But the healthiness really depends on the food you put in it to begin with.
Do thay take up a lot of counter space?
They can. Check the product dimensions before you buy. Some have a square footprint that fits easier, while others are more round. Consider where you’ll store it when not in use.
What features are most important?
Look for clear digital controls and preset functions. A shake reminder is handy for even cooking. Good air circulation is key, so the design of the basket matters alot.
Are they worth the cost?
If you want faster cooking and crispier results without heating a big oven, yes. It can save time and energy. For small meals or sides, it becomes a go-to appliance real quick.
Our Verdict
So, what’s the final take? An air fryer can be a real helper in your kitchen. It makes getting a meal on the table faster. It’s great for crispy foods with less oil. And it can handle a surprising variety of tasks, from reheating leftovers to roasting vegetables. If you want simpler cooking and easier cleanup, it’s a solid choice. Just think about how much you’d actually use it and the space you have.
For a model that gets the basics right, many folks look to the american test kitchen air fryer recommendations. Their testing is thorough, so you can trust their top picks. They focus on how well the machine cooks, not just fancy features. This helps you find a reliable one that works great everyday. In the end, the best air fryer for you fits your routine and makes cooking a bit more easier.