

This model will take up the most space of any on the list, so keep that in mind before you decide. There is also a handy match cook setting if you're doing one huge heap of wings in both baskets. It has all the same settings and cooking modes as the single basket model as well but allows you to toggle between both baskets to set the time and temp accordingly. As with the single-basket Ninja, this machine feels rock solid and the baskets slide in firmly with no wiggle. While Instant also makes a formidable version, Ninja's 8-quart (two 4-quart baskets) is our top pick sporting tons of power at a great price. Smaller baskets net better results when air frying, so I suggest a dual-basket as opposed to an oven with one single, large cooking chamber. The below model was not affected by the recall.Ī dual-basket air fryer allows you to cook most of an entire meal in one go without fear of burning one thing or undercooking the other. 23 Cosori recalled over 2 million air fryer models due to a potential fire and burn hazard. The app also has more than 100 recipes to try, which is great for air fryer inspiration.Įditor's note: On Feb. This wasn't something I found particularly useful, but it's there if you want it. The Cosori is also a smart air fryer so you can control it from your phone via an app. I liked the simple and straightforward cooking programs - not too few and not too many. The dishwasher-safe basket fits snugly into place and I was able to easily remove it without having to use force. This air fryer has a max temperature of 400 degrees Fahrenheit, which is 50 more than the Ninja, but I cooked chicken wings on high in both machines for 25 minutes, and they emerged nearly identical.Īnother thing I liked about this model is the placement of the LED controls, which sit directly on top of the oven, making them easy to see and program. The Cosori Lite is 4 quarts - a size I like, although the brand makes plenty of larger models. In truth, I would be happy with either one on my countertop. It was a battle to the finish line between the Ninja and the Cosori. This simply requires a little bit more checking when you're air-frying certain foods for the first time. So, much as in earlier rounds of testing, the fresh Brussels sprouts emerged a tad overdone - even burnt in spots.

One thing to note is the Ninja lacks a special cooking mode for vegetables. There are a handful of presets and cooking modes beyond just flicking on the air fryer including bake and reheat which are perfect for warming bread or reviving leftover pizza without burning them. The Ninja's control panel is simple and intuitive. Air frying is about getting the outside crispy without drying out the middle, and you need a blast of hot convection to do it. It seems to run a little hotter than other models of its size, but I consider that a good thing. The Ninja turned out the best chicken wings of any air fryer we cooked them in. There were no discernible differences in performance between the two.

We tested both the 4-quart model and the otherwise identical 5.5-quart model. The Ninja is powerful, easy to operate, looks great and clocks in at a reasonable price. Ninja's sleek and simple pod air fryer continues to impress in our yearly testing and thus we see no reason to remove it from the top spot. (You can also check out our picks for the nine stellar kitchen products that are worth a splurge.) Ninja still makes our favorite pod-shaped air fryer overall, but we also tested some excellent small air fryers, large air fryers and air frying toaster ovens worthy of consideration. Depending on your cooking habits, space and budget, one might be a better fit than another. In testing to find the best air fryers, we've stumbled across a few in all of the above categories that we like.

We also did some math and it turns out that energy-efficient air fryers can even save money on your electric bill. The air fryer remains a very buzzed-about kitchen gadget and is our absolute favorite way to fire off quick snacks using less oil and to reheat leftovers. There are even air-frying Instant Pots and microwave-air fryer combos to consider. There are also air-frying toaster ovens, which are typically heavier, more stationary and more expensive. There are simple and inexpensive pod-shaped air fryers, including tiny models, all the way up to massive dual-basket ovens to cook for large groups and families. The answer depends on your needs, budget and space. For most people, Ninja's 4-quart model is the best air fryer to scoop up with plenty of power, a user-friendly control panel and a price that's easy to swallow. After you've decided you want one - trust me, you want one - we've done all the heavy lifting to match you with the right model.
