To curate a list of top air fryers, over a dozen models were tested based on criteria such as power, consistency, ease of use, design, features, and overall performance. The testing process involved over 75 hours of air frying, focusing on popular foods associated with air fryers like chicken wings, French fries, frozen snacks, and dense vegetables such as Brussels sprouts. Each air fryer’s manual was consulted for cooking directions, and if specific instructions were not available, uniform procedures were applied based on the type of food being prepared.
For the chicken wing test, a basic air fryer recipe was followed by preheating the air fryer to 400 Fahrenheit and cooking the wings for 25 minutes while checking and turning them every 8 minutes. Most air fryers tested performed well in this test, with models like Ninja and Cosori Lite producing crispier wings in the given time frame. Brussels sprouts were cooked at 375 Fahrenheit for 15 minutes after being rinsed, cut in half, and tossed with olive oil. The ovens struggled to brown the sprouts initially, but eventually achieved the desired result.
In the French fry test, frozen crinkle-cut fries from Alexia were used, following the air fryer directions on the bag. Thinner-cut fries were cautioned against due to the risk of drying out easily, with recommendations for heartier varieties like waffle fries, tater tots, crinkle cut, or potato wedges. After each test, the evenness of cooking, thorough cooking, and the level of crispy, crunchy texture were evaluated to determine how closely they resembled deep frying or pan frying.
The ease of use of each air fryer was a significant factor in the testing process, focusing on how intuitive the controls and buttons were to operate. Models with overly complicated settings did not receive high marks, but certain features such as preset programs for various foods like wings, fries, fish, veggies, and baked goods were appreciated. Control options ranged from digital controls to manual dials, with a preference for user-friendly designs like the top placement of the control panel on the Cosori Lite air fryer.
The cooking performance of each air fryer was evaluated through three tests: chicken wings, Brussels sprouts, and frozen french fries. While most air fryers passed the French fries test, it was important to monitor them closely to prevent overcooking and drying out. The overall performance and handling of the air fryers in each test were considered to provide a comprehensive assessment of their capabilities and suitability for a variety of cooking tasks.
