Selected for its performance and value, this air fryer model comes highly recommended by expert reviewers. You might be wondering if a cnet air fryer is worth the hype. Well, we tested it thoroughly to see if it lives up to its reputation for crispy fries and juicy chicken with way less oil.
You’ll find it’s surprisingly simple to use. The controls are intuitive, and cleanup is a breeze. We’re going to break down everything, from its daily usefulness to any quirks we noticed, so you can decide if it’s the right fit for your kitchen and your weeknight dinners.
Product Comparison Table: 10 Best Cnet Air Fryer
| Image | Why We Like This Product | Editor’s Rating | |
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Cosori 9-in-1 TurboBlaze Air Fryer 6 Qt, PFAS-Free Ceramic…
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9.7 |
Read Review |
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Ninja Air Fryer | 4 QT Capacity | 4-in-1…
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9.5 |
Read Review |
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Ninja Air Fryer with Air Crisp | 5 QT…
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9.4 |
Read Review |
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bella 6 Qt Slim Air Fryer, Fits-anywhere™ Kitchenware, EverGood™…
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9.2 |
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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Ninja Crispi 4-in-1 Glass Air Fryer | 450°F |…
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8.9 |
Read Review |
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Chefman Air Fryer – 4 QT Compact Airfryer for…
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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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8.6 |
Read Review |
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Chefman Air Fryer 8 Qt | TurboFry® 4-in-1 with…
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8.5 |
Read Review |
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CHEFMAN 2 Qt Mini Air Fryer – Digital Space-Saving…
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8.3 |
Read Review |
Quick Review For Top 10 Cnet Air Fryer
Cosori 9-in-1 TurboBlaze Air Fryer 6 Qt, PFAS-Free 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 cooker for everyday use. It moves beyond basic air frying with nine functions, including air fry, roast, bake, broil, dehydrate, frozen cook, proof dough, reheat, and keep warm. This range means you can handle a wider variety of meals with a single appliance, from crispy snacks to gently reheated leftovers. A key aspect of this model is its TurboBlaze technology.
This system uses a powerful 3600 rpm fan combined with a wide temperature range from 90° to 450°F. The result is fast, even cooking that aims for a crispy exterior and juicy interior on foods like chicken wings or fries. The precise temperature control and five fan speeds give you more control over the cooking environment for consistent texture. The 6-quart square basket is sized for family meals.
Its shape maximizes usable space compared to some round baskets, fitting more food like a whole chicken or multiple servings of vegetables. Despite its capacity, the unit is designed with a relatively compact footprint to save on counter space. You’ll also notice it operates quieter than many models, at under 53dB, which helps maintain a more peaceful kitchen. Health and cleanup are addressed with its PFAS-free ceramic coating.
Ninja Air Fryer | 4 QT Capacity | 4-in-1 Roast, Crisp, Roast, Reheats, & Dehydrates | Dishwasher Safe Parts | 105°F-400°F | Includes 20 Easy & Healthy Recipes | 1550 watt | Grey | AF101
The Ninja Air Fryer AF101 is a versatile kitchen appliance designed to simplify how you cook. With its 4-quart capacity, it’s perfectly sized for preparing meals for a family or a small group. The ceramic-coated basket can hold up to two pounds of french fries, making it easy to cook larger portions in a single batch.
This means you can prepare a full meal without needing to cook in multiple rounds, saving you considerable time in the kitchen.
This model offers impressive 4-in-1 versatility. It functions as an air fryer, a roasting oven, a reheating station, and a dehydrator. The wide temperature range, from 105°F to 400°F, gives you precise control.
You can use the lower settings to gently dehydrate fruits or make jerky, while the higher heats are perfect for crisping chicken wings or roasting vegetables quickly. The air frying function is a standout, allowing you to enjoy foods like fries and wings with up to 75% less fat than traditional deep frying, based on tests against hand-cut fries.
Ninja Air Fryer with Air Crisp | 5 QT Capacity fits up to 4lbs of Fries | 4-in-1 Pro Air Fry, Roast, Reheat, Dehydrate | 400°F Max Temp | 1750 Watts | W/Nonstick Basket & Crisper Plate | Grey | AF141
The Ninja Air Fryer with Air Crisp | AF141 is a versatile kitchen appliance designed to simplify how you cook. Its core feature is the Air Crisp Technology, which uses 400°F superheated air to surround your food. This method delivers a hot, crispy texture that rivals traditional frying, but it does so with little to no oil needed. You get the results you want with a significantly different approach. This model offers impressive 4-in-1 Functionality, acting as more than just an air fryer.
You can use it to Air Fry, Roast, Reheat leftovers to bring back that just-cooked feel, and even Dehydrate foods for snacks. The 1750-watt heating system ensures it heats up quickly and cooks evenly, making it reliable for everyday meals. It’s particularly efficient at handling frozen foods, turning them from frozen to crispy in minutes without needing to thaw. Capacity is a key consideration, and this unit has a Large Capacity 5-quart nonstick basket.
It can fit up to 4 pounds of french fries or about 5 pounds of chicken wings, making it suitable for preparing meals for a family or when you have guests. The included crisper plate lifts food up for better air circulation, which is crucial for even cooking. Despite this generous size, Ninja has designed this air fryer to be a Space Saver, with a footprint that takes up less room on your countertop than you might expect. A major benefit is the ability to enjoy Guilt-Free Fried Foods.
bella 6 Qt Slim Air Fryer, Fits-anywhere™ Kitchenware, EverGood™ Ceramic Nonstick Coating, Adjustable Temperature, 6 Preset Cooking Options, 60 Min Auto Shutoff w Audible Tone, 5lb Capacity, Oatmilk
The bella 6 Qt Slim Air Fryer is designed for kitchens where counter space is precious. Its innovative Fits-anywhere™ design is significantly slimmer than traditional air fryers, saving up to half the space of older models. This means you get a full 6-quart appliance that tucks neatly away without sacrificing cooking capacity. It’s built for real life, where every inch on the counter counts. At the heart of this air fryer is the EverGood™ Ceramic Nonstick Coating.
This is a big deal because it’s free from PFAS, PFOA, and other chemicals you might want to avoid. Cleanup becomes remarkably simple—usually just a quick wipe is all thats needed. The coating ensures your food releases easily, promoting healthier cooking with little to no oil while making your routine maintenance a true breeze. Don’t let the slim profile fool you. Inside, the XL basket boasts a generous 5-pound capacity. You can prepare a whole meal for the family in one go.
Think a full bag of fries, several chicken breasts, or a good-sized salmon fillet. This capability streamlines weeknight dinners, allowing you to cook large batches efficiently and get everyone fed faster. Operating the air fryer is straightforward thanks to its digital touch controls. You have full command with an adjustable temperature dial and six handy preset functions: Air Fry, Bake, Roast, Broil, Reheat, and even Dehydrate.
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 real kitchens where counter space is precious. Its sleek, compact profile is made to tuck neatly onto your counter or in a cabinet, taking up significantly less room than many other models. This means you get a versatile cooking appliance without having to sacrifice your workspace. It’s built to fit seamlessly into your daily routine.
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 priority for many households today. It ensures that food releases easily and cleanup is genuinely straightforward—usually just a quick wipe of the basket is needed. You can cook with a bit more peace of mind and spend less time scrubbing.
Don’t let the slim exterior fool you. Inside, the XL basket offers a 3.3lb capacity, which is ample for feeding a family.
You can prepare a full batch of fries, several chicken breasts, or a good portion of vegetables all in one go. This capacity makes it practical for everyday dinners, not just small snacks. It helps you get a complete meal on the table efficiently.
Operation is simple thanks to the digital touch controls. You can manually adjust the temperature for precise cooking, or use one of the six preset functions: Air Fry, Bake, Roast, Broil, Reheat, and Dehydrate.
Ninja Crispi 4-in-1 Glass Air Fryer | 450°F | Non-Toxic | 4QT & 6-Cup Glass Containers w/Lids | Microwave, Freezer, Dishwasher Safe | Max Crisp, Air Fry, Bake, Recrisp | Cyberspace Gray, FN101GY
The Ninja Crispi 4-in-1 Glass Air Fryer (FN101GY) is designed to simplify how you cook and store food. It’s a compact system that gives you the power of a full-sized air fryer without taking up much counter space. The core of it is the Crispi PowerPod, a powerful heating unit that sits on top of specially designed glass containers. You get two sizes: a 6-cup container for a quick personal meal and a larger 4-quart one that can handle a whole 4-pound chicken with vegetables.
This flexibility means you can cook just for yourself or for the family without needing multiple appliances.
This system focuses on safe and nontoxic cooking. The CleanCrisp glass containers are free from harmful materials, so you can cook, store, and reheat your food in the same vessel without worry. The glass is incredibly versatile—it’s safe to go from the freezer, to the microwave, and right into the dishwasher for cleaning.
The snap-lock lids are leak-proof, making these containers perfect for packing meals to go without any spills. When your done, the PowerPod, containers, and lids all nest together neatly in a cabinet.
Functionality is where this Ninja shines. It offers four cooking modes in one device. Use Max Crisp for the fastest, crispiest results from frozen. The Air Fry mode gives you that classic fried texture with little to no oil.
Chefman Air Fryer – 4 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 – 4 QT Compact Airfryer is designed to simplify your cooking routine. It’s a compact, 4-quart appliance perfect for smaller households or anyone with limited counter space. Its narrow profile packs in plenty of capacity for meals serving two to four people, but won’t dominate your kitchen. The matte black finish gives it a sleek, modern look that fits with most decors.
This model focuses on making air frying straightforward.
The digital touchscreen is intuitive, letting you manually set precise time and temperature for full control. For even more convenience, there are four one-touch presets. You can get a meal started quickly without any guesswork. The 1500-watt power ensures it heats up fast, cooking your food quickly for meals in minutes.
A standout feature is the 450°F Hi-Fry Technology. It’s a simple idea with great results.
In the last two minutes of cooking, the air fryer boosts to its maximum temperature. This gives foods like french fries, chicken tenders, or veggies an extra-crispy, golden finish that rivals deep frying. An audible shake notification reminds you to give the basket a shake halfway through. This promotes even cooking and helps achieve that perfect crispness on all sides.
One of the main appeals of air frying is healthier cooking.
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 a serious countertop appliance designed to replace several others in your kitchen. It combines the functions of an air fryer, convection oven, rotisserie, and dehydrator into a single, family-sized unit. If your counter space is limited but your cooking ambitions are’nt, this machine aims to be your central hub for a wide variety of meals.
Its core advantage is versatility.
You can move from air-frying crispy fries to roasting a whole chicken on the rotisserie spit, to baking cookies, or dehydrating fruits for snacks. The 17 one-touch presets on the digital touch screen take the guesswork out of these different methods. You just select the food type, and the appliance sets the time and temperature, which is great for trying new techniques with confidence.
No preheating is needed either, so it starts cooking your food faster than a traditional oven, using a rapid air circulation system for even results.
Health-conscious cooks will apreciate the ability to achieve fried textures and roasted crispness using up to 98% less oil than deep frying. The extra-large 10-liter capacity means you can prepare a full meal for a family or batch-cook components for weekly meal prep all at once.
Chefman Air Fryer 8 Qt | TurboFry® 4-in-1 with 450°F Hi-Fry Option for Crispier Results | Bake, Dehydrate, Frozen | XL Nonstick Dishwasher-Safe Basket | Stainless Steel
The Chefman Air Fryer 8 Qt TurboFry 4-in-1 is designed to be a versatile and powerful countertop companion for your kitchen. It’s an XL capacity air fryer that focuses on delivering crispier results with thoughtful features to simplify cooking and cleanup.
At its core, this appliance uses rapid air technology to cook your favorite foods faster and with significantly less oil than traditional deep frying.
You can enjoy classics like french fries, chicken wings, and even vegetables like Brussels sprouts with a satisfying crunch and a fraction of the calories. The stainless steel housing isn’t just for looks; it built to handle frequent use while staying easy to wipe down.
This model truly stands out with its four-in-one functionality. Beyond air frying, you can use it to bake, reheat leftovers, or tackle frozen foods directly from the freezer.
The dedicated Frozen function is particularly handy—it defrosts and then crisps items like mozzarella sticks or frozen fries in one seamless process, so you don’t have to plan ahead. Controlling all these options is straightforward thanks to the intuitive touchscreen interface.
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 designed for anyone who wants a simpler, healthier way to cook without taking up a ton of space. If your kitchen counter is already crowded or you’re just cooking for one or two people, this compact appliance aims to fit right into your routine.
Its main appeal is how it streamlines cooking. The digital touchscreen lets you set the exact time and temperature you need, up to 400°F.
A big benefit is speed—it can cook food up to three times faster than a conventional oven, which is perfect for quick weeknight dinners or easy snacks. You don’t have to wait for a big oven to preheat. Halfway through, a handy shake reminder beeps to let you know it’s time to give the basket a shake. This helps everything get crispy and cooked evenly, so you don’t end up with some pieces overdone and others undercooked.
Healthier meals are a key feature here.
The air fryer method uses rapid air circulation to crisp food, meaning you can achieve that fried texture with little to no added oil. It’s a straightforward way to cut down on excess fat in foods like fries, chicken wings, or veggies. The results are meals that feel a bit more guilt-free without sacrificing taste or texture.
Thinking about cleanup? They’ve made it pretty simple. The nonstick basket and its rack are both dishwasher safe.
Cnet Air Fryer Buying Guide
CNET’s top air fryer picks highlight performance, size, and smart features. But with so many models out there, how do you choose the right one for your kitchen? This guide breaks down the key factors to consider before you click “buy,” helping you match a machine to your actual cooking habits.
Cooking Capacity & Your Household
Think about how many people you’re usually cooking for. A compact 2-quart basket is perfect for singles or couples, but it’s a struggle for a family of four. For most households, a 5 to 6-quart model is the sweet spot. It can handle a full batch of fries or enough chicken breasts for dinner without needing multiple rounds. Bigger isn’t always better if it’s going to hog your countertop for just one or two people.
Ease of Cleaning
If it’s a pain to clean, you won’t use it. This is a major pain point! Look for air fryers with dishwasher-safe baskets and trays. Non-stick coatings are a huge help, but thay can scratch easily if you use metal utensils. Some models even have accessories that go right in the dishwasher, which is a game-changer for busy weeknights. Trust us, you’ll thank yourself later.
Control Panel & Presets
Do you prefer simple dials or a digital touchscreen? Manual dials offer straightforward control, while digital panels provide precise temperature and time settings. Many air fryers come with handy one-touch presets for foods like fries, chicken, or veggies. These presets take the guesswork out of cooking, but the most versatile models still give you full manual control for when you want to experiment.
Overall Footprint
Measure your space! Air fryers need room not just on the counter, but also for ventilation around the back and sides. Some have a tall, vertical design, while others are more horizontal. Consider where you’ll store it when it’s not in use—does it need to fit in a specific cabinet? A sleek design that looks good on your counter might be worth the investment if you plan to leave it out all the time.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cnet Air Fryer
What is a Cnet air fryer?
A Cnet air fryer is a countertop kitchen appliance. It cooks by circulating hot air around your food. This gives you a crispy result similar to deep frying, but with much less oil. It’s a popular choice for healthier cooking.
What can I cook in it?
You can cook a wide variety of foods. Common items include french fries, chicken wings, and vegetables. You can also bake things like muffins or reheat leftovers. It’s very versatile for everyday meals.
Are Cnet’s recommendations reliable?
Yes, Cnet is a well-known technology review site. Their team tests many air fryer models thoroughly. They compare features, performance, and ease of use. Their recommendations are based on this hands-on testing, which helps you choose.
How do I pick teh right size?
Think about your household size. For one or two people, a 2 to 4-quart model is often enough. For larger families, look for 5 quarts or more. Also check the basket’s physical size to ensure it fits your common foods.
Is it easy to clean?
Most models have dishwasher-safe baskets and trays, which makes cleanup simple. Always check the manufacturer’s instructions. Wiping down the main unit with a damp cloth after it cools is usually all thats needed.
What features should I look for?
Look for clear digital controls and preset cooking programs. These presets make it easier. A good air fryer should also have adjustable temperature and timer settings. Some useful extras include a shake reminder and a non-stick basket.
Where can I buy one Cnet recommends?
Cnet’s articles usually link to major retailers. You can find their picks at stores like Amazon, Best Buy, or Target. It’s good to check a few sites to compare the final price and shipping options.
Last Thoughts Before You Buy
Based on rigorous testing and expert analysis, these CNET-highlighted air fryers represent the top tier for performance and value. They can make your cooking routine faster and easier. You’ll get crispy results with less oil. That’s a win for busy weeknights. Remember to think about your kitchen space and how much food you usually cook. A good fit for your counter and your family size is key.
No single appliance is perfect for everyone. But starting your search with a top-rated cnet air fryer is a smart move. It guides you toward models that really work well. You can feel confident in your choice, knowing these picks balance features, reliability, and cost. Now you’re ready to choose one and start making great meals.