Ever feel like you’re constantly choosing between eating well and having any free time at all? I’ve been there, staring at the oven with dread. That’s why getting a countertop air fryer felt like such a game-changer for my kitchen. It promised crispy food with way less oil and in a fraction of the time, which honestly sounded to good to be true.
But does it actually live up to the hype? In this review, I’m putting a popular model through its paces with everything from frozen fries to roasted veggies. We’ll see if it can really deliver those perfect, guilt-free crunch and become your new go-to appliance for busy nights.
Product Comparison Table: 10 Best Countertop 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 |
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Cosori 9-in-1 TurboBlaze Air Fryer 6 Qt, Premium Ceramic…
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9.4 |
Read Review |
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Emeril Lagasse Extra Large French Door Air Fryer Toaster…
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9.3 |
Read Review |
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bella 4Qt Slim Air Fryer, Fits-anywhere™ Kitchenware, EverGood™ Ceramic…
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9.1 |
Read Review |
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Chefman Air Fryer – 6 QT Compact Airfryer for…
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8.9 |
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Gourmia French Door Air Fryer – 25 Qt Large…
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8.8 |
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CHEFMAN Multifunctional Digital Air Fryer+ Rotisserie, Dehydrator, Convection Oven,…
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8.6 |
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Chefman 12-Quart 6-in-1 Air Fryer Oven with Digital Timer,…
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8.4 |
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Ninja Toaster Oven & Air Fryer, 8-in-1 Functionality, Large…
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8.3 |
Read Review |
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Ninja Digital Air Fry Countertop Oven, 8-in-1 Functionality, 1800W,…
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8.1 |
Read Review |
Quick Review For Top 10 Countertop 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 tool, and a dehydrator, giving you multiple ways to prepare meals from a single device on your counter. Its core feature is the Air Crisp Technology. It circulates air up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit around your food.
This process gives you a hot and crispy texture on the outside while keeping the inside tender. You can achieve results similar to deep frying but with up to 75% less fat according to tests against hand-cut french fries. It’s a practical approach to enjoying foods like fries or wings more regularly. The unit also excels at cooking directly from frozen, turning frozen snacks or proteins into a crispy finish in minutes without needing to thaw.
Capacity is a key consideration, and the AF141 offers a 5-quart nonstick basket. This size can fit up to four pounds of french fries or about five pounds of chicken wings, making it suitable for preparing meals for a family or for having leftovers. Despite this generous capacity, Ninja has designed this model to be a space saver on your countertop, with a footprint that doesn’t waste valuable kitchen real estate.
Cosori 9-in-1 TurboBlaze Air Fryer 6 Qt, Premium Ceramic Coating, 90°–450°F, Precise Heating for Even Results, Air Fry, Roast, Bake, Broil, Dry, Frozen, Proof, Reheat, Keep Warm, 120V, Dark Gray
The Cosori 9-in-1 TurboBlaze Air Fryer 6 Qt is designed to be a versatile and reliable countertop appliance for everyday cooking. Its core function centers on using rapid air circulation to cook food, offering a way to achieve textures similar to deep frying but with significantly less oil.
Independent lab analysis shows it can use up to 95% less oil, which is a notable consideration for those mindful of their dietary intake.
At the heart of its performance is the TurboBlaze Technology. This system utilizes a high 3600 rpm fan speed and can reach temperatures up to 450°F. The combination aims to create crispy exteriors while keeping the inside of your food juicy. Complementing this is a precise heating system with five fan speeds and a temperature range from 90° to 450°F.
This level of control is intended to promote even cooking and consistent results, whether your making fries or roasting vegetables.
The appliance’s 6-quart square basket provides a practical capacity for family-sized meals. Its design is meant to optimize interior space while maintaining a relatively compact footprint on your counter. The basket and crisper tray feature a premium ceramic coating.
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 designed to be a central, hardworking appliance in your kitchen. It combines the functions of an air fryer, toaster, and convection oven into one large-capacity unit, aiming to simplify how you cook for family and friends.
With 24 different cooking functions, this appliance offers a lot of flexibility. You can use it for air frying, baking, roasting, broiling, and even as a dehydrator.
The digital controls make it straightforward to select the right setting for what your making. It’s built to handle a variety of tasks, from quick snacks to full meals for a group.
One of it’s standout features is the 26-quart capacity. This extra-large size means you can cook for 4 to 6 people easily. You can fit a 12-inch pizza, roast a 6-pound chicken on the rotisserie spit, or bake a large casserole.
It’s a good option if you often cook for a family or like to entertain, as it can replace several smaller appliances on your counter.
The air frying function uses a dual-speed fan for 360-degree hot air circulation. This is meant to give you crispy results similar to deep frying but with less oil.
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 for kitchens where counter space is precious. Its sleek, compact profile is built to tuck neatly under cabinets or into tight corners, taking up significantly less room than many other models. This means you get a full-featured appliance without the bulky footprint, making it a practical choice for apartments, dorms, or anyone who prefers a minimalist setup.
At the heart of this air fryer is the EverGood ceramic nonstick coating.
This coating is free from PFAS, PFOA, and other concerning materials, offering a healthier cooking surface that’s also incredibly easy to clean. Food releases smoothly, and a quick wipe is often all that’s needed. The 4-quart, 3.3-pound capacity basket is surprisingly spacious for its slim exterior.
It’s well-suited for preparing a meal for a small family, allowing you to cook a main protein and a side together or make a large batch of favorites like fries or chicken wings in one go.
Operation is straightforward with its digital touch controls. You can manually adjust the temperature for precise results or use one of the six preset functions: Air Fry, Bake, Roast, Broil, Reheat, and Dehydrate.
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. Its core promise is delivering quick, easy, and healthier meals without sacrificing the texture and taste you love. With a 6-quart capacity, it’s perfectly sized for preparing meals for three to five people, making it a practical choice for small families or weeknight dinners.
At the heart of this appliance is its user-friendly operation.
The digital touchscreen gives you full control to customize time and temperature for any recipe. If you prefer simplicity, the four one-touch presets take the guesswork out of cooking common favorites. An innovative feature is the Hi-Fry Technology. By boosting the heat to 450°F in the final two minutes, it adds that extra-crispy, golden finish to foods like fries and chicken tenders that can sometimes be missing from air frying.
We all know consistency is key for great results.
That’s where the LED shake notification comes in. An audible alarm reminds you to give the basket a shake halfway through cooking. This ensures everything cooks evenly and gets perfectly crispy on all sides, which is a game-changer for avoiding soggy spots.
Despite its generous capacity, this air fryer boasts a surprisingly compact and sleek design. Its narrow profile maximizes it’s interior space while taking up minimal room on your countertop.
Gourmia French Door Air Fryer – 25 Qt Large Capacity Convection Oven, Fryfroce 360°, Digital Display with 17 Cooking Presets, Bake, Toast, Roast, Dehydrate, Fits 12” Pizza
Gourmia French Door Air Fryer – 25 Qt Large Capacity Convection Oven
If you need a kitchen appliance that can handle a lot of different tasks without taking up your whole counter, this Gourmia French Door Air Fryer is worth a close look. Its defining feature is the unique french door design. Instead of one large door that swings out, it has two smaller doors that open to the sides. This makes it much easier to load and unload food, especially when your dealing with large or awkward items.
The interior space is 25 quarts, which is substantial. You can fit a whole 12-inch pizza inside, six slices of toast at once, or even a complete roasting chicken. For a family or anyone who likes to meal prep, this capacity is a real practical benefit. This isn’t just a simple air fryer. It functions as a full multi-use convection oven. It has 17 built-in presets to handle jobs like air frying, baking, toasting, roasting, and even dehydrating.
The presets take the guesswork out of settings for things like fries, chicken, pizza, or vegetables. Of course, you also have full manual control. The digital display lets you set the temperature anywhere from 90°F for dehydrating to 450°F for high-heat roasting, and the timer can be set from 1 to 99 minutes. This precision helps you get consistent results everytime you cook. The cooking performance is driven by Gourmia’s FryForce 360 technology.
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 an air fryer, convection oven, rotisserie, and dehydrator into a single, streamlined appliance. This means you can handle a wide variety of cooking tasks without cluttering your kitchen with multiple gadgets.
Whether your aiming to bake, roast, dehydrate snacks, or achieve a perfectly crispy rotisserie chicken, this unit is built to handle it all.
One of it’s key advantages is speed and efficiency. The rapid air heating technology eliminates the need for lengthy preheating times typical of traditional ovens. It cooks food quickly and evenly, promoting a crispy texture using significantly less oil.
In fact, you can achieve similar results to deep frying using up to 98% less oil, making it a simpler tool for preparing healthier versions of your favorite meals. The extra-large 10-liter capacity is a major benefit for families or those who like to meal prep. You can cook substantial portions all at once, saving both time and energy throughout the week.
Operation is straightforward, even for beginners.
Chefman 12-Quart 6-in-1 Air Fryer Oven with Digital Timer, Touchscreen, and 12 Presets – Family Size Countertop Convection Oven, Dishwasher-Safe Parts
The Chefman 12-Quart 6-in-1 Air Fryer Oven is designed to be a versatile centerpiece for your kitchen counter. Its main appeal is consolidating several appliances into one, saving you space and simplifying your cooking routine. You can air fry, bake, dehydrate, use the rotisserie, roast, or reheat food all with this single unit. The digital touchscreen and 12 cooking presets make it straightforward to get started, even if your new to this style of cooking.
Just select the preset for what your making, and the oven adjusts the time and temperature for you.
With a 12-quart capacity, this model is built for family-sized meals. You can prepare a whole chicken on the included rotisserie spit, fit multiple racks of vegetables for roasting, or make a large batch of fries. The stainless-steel rotisserie is a standout feature, rotating food for even cooking and that classic crispy skin without needing a lot of added oil.
An interior light and a large viewing window let you monitor your meal’s progress without opening the door and letting heat escape, which is a common issue with other ovens.
Temperature control is a key strength. It offers a wide range from 95°F for gentle dehydrating all the way up to 400°F for most air frying and baking tasks. For that final crispy touch, the Hi-Fry button boosts the heat to 450°F during the last two minutes of cooking.
Ninja Toaster Oven & Air Fryer, 8-in-1 Functionality, Large Capacity, Air Fry Basket, Sheet Pan, Wire Rack & Removable Crumb Tray, Stainless,1800 watts, SP151
The Ninja SP151 Flip Toaster Oven & Air Fryer is designed to be a versatile and space-saving solution for your kitchen. Its standout feature is the ability to flip up and store vertically against your backsplash, reclaiming about 50% of your precious counter space compared to a traditional toaster oven.
This large-capacity appliance packs 8-in-1 functionality into a relatively small footprint, aiming to handle a wide variety of your daily cooking tasks.
At its core is Ninja’s OvenCrisp Technology. This system uses six infrared heating elements and a powerful fan to rapidly circulate hot air around your food. The result is edge-to-edge even cooking that’s about 50% faster than a traditional full-size oven.
The temperature range is notably wide, from 85°F for dehydrating all the way up to 450°F for high-heat roasting or air frying. This speed and efficency also translates to using up to 80% less energy than preheating your large oven for smaller meals.
You can air fry, roast, broil, bake, make pizza, toast, bagels, and even dehydrate snacks.
Ninja Digital Air Fry Countertop Oven, 8-in-1 Functionality, 1800W, Flip-Up Design, XL Capacity, Air Fry Basket, Wire Rack & Crumb Tray, Silver, SP101
The Ninja Digital Air Fry Countertop Oven SP101 is a versatile kitchen appliance designed to simplify cooking while saving space. Its 8-in-1 functionality consolidates several appliances into one, offering Air Fry, Air Roast, Air Broil, Bake, Bagel, Toast, Dehydrate, and Keep Warm settings. This means you can handle everything from crispy fries to dehydrated snacks and a warm dinner roll all with the same machine.
At the heart of its performance is Digital Crisp Control Technology.
This system precisely manages temperature, heat, and airflow to ensure consistent results. Whether your air frying or roasting, it aims for optimal cooking performance every time. A major benefit of the Air Fry function is that it can use up to 75% less fat compared to traditional deep frying, letting you enjoy favorites with less guilt. Plus, it cooks remarkably fast—up to 60% faster than a traditional oven on the Air Roast setting, with a quick 60-second preheat.
You can have full meals ready in as little as 20 minutes.
Despite its power, the Ninja oven is thoughtfully designed for real kitchens. Its XL capacity is substantial, with a 45% larger usable pan area than some leading competitors. It can fit a 13-inch pizza, up to nine slices of toast, or six chicken breasts. When your done cooking, the flip-up design is a game-changer.
Countertop Air Fryer Buying Guide
That crispy fried texture without teh deep fryer mess? That’s the promise of a countertop air fryer. It’s a compact oven that circulates super-hot air around your food. You get a similar result to frying, but with just a little oil or sometimes none at all. It’s a game-changer for quick weeknight dinners or reheating leftovers.
Capacity and Your Household Size
Think about how many people you’re usually cooking for. A 2-3 quart model is great for singles or couples. For a family of four, you’ll likely want 5 quarts or more. A larger basket means you can cook a full meal at once, like chicken and veggies together. There’s nothing worse than having to cook in multiple batches when your hungry.
Ease of Cleaning
If it’s a pain to clean, you won’t use it. Look for a non-stick basket that’s dishwasher safe—it’s a total lifesaver. Some models have dishwasher-safe parts too, like the crisper plate. A smooth interior with minimal nooks and crannies prevents grease and crumbs from getting stuck. Trust me, this factor is just as important as how it cooks.
Control Style and Presets
Do you prefer simple or smart? Basic models have dials for time and temperature, which are intuitive and fast. Digital touchscreens offer precise control and one-touch presets for foods like fries, chicken, or fish. Presets are super convenient, but ensure you can still manually adjust settings. After all, you know your preferences best.
Footprint and Storage
These appliances live on your counter, so size matters. Check the dimensions before you buy, especially if you have limited space. Some have a square footprint, others are more vertical. Consider if you’ll store it away sometimes; a lighter model with a cord that wraps neatly is easier to move. It needs to fit your kitchen’s real life flow.
Frequently Asked Questions About Countertop Air Fryer
What exactly does an air fryer do?
It cooks food by circulating very hot air around it. This gives you a crispy result similar to deep frying, but with much less oil. You can cook a lot more than just fries, like chicken, veggies, and even bake small cakes.
Is it really healthier than a deep fryer?
Yes, generally it is. Since you use little to no oil, you significantly cut down on fat and calories. For example, french fries made in an air fryer can have up to 80% less fat. It’s a great alternative for healthier versions of your favorite fried foods.
What size air fryer should I get?
This depends on your household. A 2-4 quart model is good for 1-2 people. For a family of 3 or 4, look for 5 quarts or larger. Consider your kitchen space too, as thay can take up a fair bit of counter space.
Are they difficult to clean?
Most are quite easy. The basket and pan are usually non-stick and dishwasher safe. Just be sure to let the appliance cool completely before you clean it. A quick wipe of the outside keeps it looking good.
Can I cook frozen foods in it?
Absolutely. It excels at cooking frozen foods like nuggets, fries, and pizza rolls. There’s often no need to thaw them first. Just adjust the cooking time from the package instructions, as it usually cooks faster than a conventional oven.
Do air fryers use a lot of electricity?
They’re actually pretty efficient. They cook food faster than a large oven and don’t need to preheat for as long. This means they often use less overall energy for small to medium meals, which can help on your utility bills.
What can’t I cook in an air fryer?
Avoid foods with very wet batters, like traditional wet-battered fish, as it will make a mess. Also, don’t cook loose leafy greens as they can fly around. And always avoid putting in any paper or plastic that isn’t explicitly rated for high heat.
Is preheating necessary?
It’s a good idea for some foods. For the crispiest results on things like fries or chicken wings, preheating for 2-3 minutes helps. But for many items, you can just add a couple extra minutes to the cook time instead. Your manual will usually give you guidance.
Quick Recap
So, that’s teh basic lay of the land. You’ve got a good idea of what to look for now. Think about your kitchen space and how many people you’re usually cooking for. Consider the features that would make your weeknights easier. It’s really about finding the right fit for your routine.
Bringing a countertop air fryer into your home can simplify a lot of meals. It’s a handy tool for quick dinners and easy snacks. You might find yourself using it more than you’d expect. Just give it a try and see how it works for you. The best part is how straightforward it all is.