Hello, I am Terri Sherron. Welcome to my test kitchen at SherronMyBestLife.com. Recently my twenty year old toaster oven finally gave out. I’m not mad about it. The oven was well made and affordable, and has served its purpose very well. Salute! RIP
Now I get to upgrade with an air fryer model and I couldn’t be more excited! But oh, so many to choose from. I want to make sure I choose the appliance that will best suit my needs. I have recapped what I learned about the seven top-rated kitchen appliances for cooking enthusiasts based on pricing (that was captured last week while searching), efficiency and functionality. In this post I’m sharing my findings so you, too, can make an informed decision when choosing the best air fryers for meal planning in your own kitchen. Without further ado, let’s dive into the world of air fryers!
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Air fryers are perfect for cooking up crispy and delicious meals without the guilt of using too much oil. I look to these machines as a great way to prepare meals for myself and my family quickly and efficiently. In no particular order, the air fryers I looked at are the following: Kalorik Maxx, Cuisinart Air Fryer Toaster Oven, Aria All-in-One, NuWave Bravo Air Fryer, Ninja Air Foodie, Oster Air XL and Emeril Lagasse air fryers.
First up – the Ninja AF101 Air Fryer
By far the most popular of air fryers, the Ninja Air Foodie air fryer is sleek and modern-looking and has a 4 quart capacity ceramic basket. This air fryer has a powerful heating element and offers 4 different cooking functions. However, its smaller size may not be suitable for families with more than 2-3 members.
- Air fry with up to 75 percent less fat than traditional frying methods; Tested against hand cut, deep fried French fries
- Wide temperature range: 105 degree Fahrenheit to 400 degrees Fahrenheit allows you to gently remove moisture from foods or quickly cook and crisp foods with convection heat
- The 4 quart ceramic coated nonstick basket and crisper plate fit 2 pounds of french fries. Cord length (feet) – 2.6
- Dehydrate: Create flat, chip like dehydrated foods for fun, homemade snacks pounds; The combination of low fan speed and low temperature enables thorough dehydration
Next, I looked at the Oster Air XL
The Oster Air XL air fryer is a mid-range air fryer that has a 5.3 quart capacity. It has a modern design and offers 7 different cooking functions. This air fryer also comes with a range of accessories, including a baking tray and a mesh basket. The downside to this air fryer is its hefty price tag, which may not be suitable for everyone’s budget.
- FRENCH DOORS: Elegant French doors open with a single pull, making inserting and removing meals easy and convenient
- EXTRA-LARGE CAPACITY: Fits up to a 15″ x 12″ baking pan, a full family size chicken, or 2 large pizzas; plus, its 3 rack positions make it easy to accommodate a variety of meal sizes
- 10 COOKING FUNCTIONS: Includes 10 cooking presets to easily cook a variety of foods, including Bake, Air Fry, Toast, Slow Cook, Dehydrate, Broil, Roast, Warm, Pizza, and Turbo Convection
- FASTER PREHEAT: Designed with 35 percent Faster Preheat to reduce overall cooking time, and uses up to 50 percent less energy than conventional ovens Compared to model TSSTTVFDDG
- DIGITAL CONTROLS: Digital controls provide precise cooking time and temperature to take the guesswork out of cooking
Then I looked at the Aria All-in-One
The Aria All-in-One air fryer is a top-of-the-line kitchen appliance that offers an impressive 10 quart capacity. This air fryer has a stylish design and offers 9 different cooking functions, making it incredibly versatile. It also comes with a range of accessories, including a rotisserie spit and a drip tray. The upside to this model is the price tag ; Aria comes in at the second least expensive fryer .
- All-in-1 appliance replaces your toaster, convection oven, microwave, deep fryer, and more while reducing fat in your food by up to 80% and eliminating the need for oil
- INSTANT PRE-HEAT: Heats up to 450° in seconds, while the spacious design with 3 cooking levels allows you to cook food for the entire family or all your guests
- CONVENIENT TOUCHSCREEN: Clear touchscreen features 8 cooking presets for foods such as chicken, beef, vegetables, dessert, and more
- INCLUDED COOKBOOK: Extended full-color cookbook has exclusive mouth-watering recipes curated by the champions of ABC’s Family Food Fight so you can get started right away
- 30 QT. CAPACITY: Can fit multiple 12″ pizzas, a juicy 5.5 lb. chicken, 6 slices of toast, a whole cake, and much more! Plus, two grill racks and one frying basket are included for all your needs.
Haha! I didn’t do a very good job cropping this photo! At any rate, the Kalorik Maxx air fryer is a mid-range air fryer that comes with a 26 -quart capacity, making it suitable for small families. This air fryer has a sleek and modern design that will look great in any kitchen. It is also quite efficient when it comes to cooking times, thanks to its powerful 1800 watt heating element. It boasts 10-in-1 functions and roomy enough to cook up to 9 slices of toast or a 12-inch pizza.
- Multifunctional air fryer oven can air fry, grill, bake, toast, roast, braise, sear, rotisserie, dehydrate, and broil;
- Optimized airflow system and high-performance turbo fan cook food up to 30% faster with extra large 26-quart capacity fits a large chicken, 12″ pizza, or 9 slices of toast
- Cooks food to crispy golden perfection with little to no oil, reducing fat by up to 75%
- Sears up to 500°F for perfectly-caramelized meat and vegetables
- Easy-to-use digital LED display with 21 presets
- Single-pull glass French doors prevent drips and protect from scalding
- Includes Air frying basket, baking pan, air rack, crumb tray, bacon tray, steak tray, rotisserie spit, rack handle & rotisserie handle
- 26-qt. Capacity; 1700 watts; 15.75″H x 12.5″W x 14″D
Next up – the Cuisinart Large Air Fryer Toaster Oven
The Cuisinart Large Air Fryer Toaster Oven is a versatile kitchen appliance that can be used for a range of cooking tasks. It has a 0.95 cu. ft. interior – large enough to air fry up to 4 lbs., toast 9 slices of bread, bake a 13” pizza or easily fit a 9” x 13” baking pan. It has a spacious interior, which makes it a great option for families. It is also a great option for those who want to save counter space, as it can replace both a toaster and an air fryer. However, it is a bit more expensive than some of the other models in the market.
- Multiple Cooking Functions: AirFry (with presets), Bake, Broil, Pizza, Roast, Dual Cooking, Reheat, Keep Warm, Toast, Bagel, Dehydrate, Low, Slow Cook
- 60-minute timer, auto shut off, toast shade selector and defrost option
- Adjustable cooking temperatures (up to 450°F) and times, with high & low speed convection
- Nonstick, easy-clean interior and dishwasher safe accessories
- Includes Oven rack, baking pan, airfryer basket, crumb tray
- 14.6” H x 16.8” W x 18.7” L, 1800 watts
Then, I looked up the NuWave Bravo Air Fryer
A 1 cubic foot capacity air fryer that can make adjustments on-the-fly – Want hotter temperature or need to cook it longer? No problem. Simply adjust on-the-fly any time. It comes with 12 preset cooking functions and has a powerful 1800 watt heating element. One of the standout features of this air fryer is its ability to cook food evenly and quickly.
- INTEGRATED DIGITAL TEMPERATURE PROBE – Once the desired doneness temperature is set, Bravo air fryer toaster oven constantly monitors the internal temperature of your food and automatically ends the cooking process when the desired internal temperature is reached. You will never undercook or overcook your food again
- 112 PRESETS AND CONVENIENCES BUILT-IN – Bravo air fryer has 4 different rack positions and is programmed with includes 12 preset cooking functions for grilling, air frying, baking, broiling, roasting, dehydrating, reheating, defrosting, toasting and more. It also has additional 100 pre-programmed recipe presets in addition to 50 slots where you can save and recall your own favorite recipes
- LINEAR THERMAL (LINEAR T) TECHNOLOGY – Set cooking temperatures from 50°F and 500°F adjustable in precise 5°F increments. Patented Linear T Technology executes the set temperature accurately throughout the entire cooking process by continuously monitoring temperature fluctuations and making constant power adjustments every second to maintain the set temperature to ensure perfect results. Unlike the primitive methods of turning the heater on and off, our heater never turns off while cooking
- HIGH-QUALITY CONSTRUCTION – From the heat-resistant and shatter-proof tempered glass door to the heavy-duty cooking racks, to the non-stick enamel baking pan with broiler rack, crumb tray, and air fry basket, everything that comes with the NuWave Bravo XL toaster oven air fryer combo is made with quality in mind
To complete my comparison, I examined the Emeril Lagasse Air Fryer
The ”Big Daddy” of all air fryers, the Emeril Lagasse Air Fryer is a mid-range air fryer that offers a 5.3 quart capacity, a sleek design and 12 different cooking functions, making it incredibly versatile. It also comes with a range of accessories, including a baking tray and a rotisserie spit. However, this air fryer may be a bit more expensive than other models in the mid-range category.
- Cook 2 Foods 2 Different Ways Two Temperature Zones for cooking. Custom settings in each zone let you cook your main dish and sides exactly how you want them.
- Eliminate Back-to-Back Cooking QuickSync Technology matches cooking times and settings in each zone so your entire meal finishes at the same time.
- Family-Size Meals Up To 60% Faster** Delicious, family-sized meals are made fast in the XL 25-Qt. capacity oven. Just remove the divider for extra-large, full zone cooking.
- 10 Minutes Frozen to Finish Cook straight out of the freezer! Go from frozen shrimp to sizzling scampi without having to defrost first.
So, which air fryer should you choose? It really depends on your own needs and personal preferences. If you have a larger family or often cook for guests, you may want to opt for a larger air fryer such as the Aria All-in-One or the NuWave Bravo Air Fryer. If you want a more versatile appliance that can replace multiple appliances, the Cuisinart Air Fryer Toaster Oven may be a good choice. And if you’re looking for a more affordable option, the Kalorik Maxx or Oster Air XL may be worth considering. If you are looking for an appliance that can do it all, Emeril Lagasse is a great choice!
Regardless of which air fryer you choose, you can’t go wrong with any of the options on this list. Air fryers are a great way to cook healthier meals without sacrificing taste, and any of these models will be a great addition to your kitchen. Happy cooking!
UPDATE … UPDATE … UPDATE … UPDATE …
I have purchased the Kalorik Maxx! I had the best meal with my dear friend Pam the other night. She cooked delicious pork chops in her new Kalorik air fryer and I was SOLD!!