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A healthier way to eat all your favorite fried foods? That may have been just a dream a while back but it is now made possible by a new trending kitchen accessory, air fryers. Simply put, an air fryer is deep frying without the oil. These trending kitchen appliances are electric, and fry foods in minutes by blowing hot air around the food, similar to a convection oven, but faster.
Who Should Use An Air Fryer?
Air fryers could be used by anyone who is looking for that amazing crunchy taste of their favorite fried foods, but looking for more convenience. Air fryers are also a great cooking method for anyone who is short on time. These electric kitchen appliances cook quickly, and allow for a short and easy cleanup.
Air fryers are also for those ‘foodies’ out there who love their fried foods, but are looking for a healthier alternative. Because air fryers use air to heat the food, it doesn’t add the extra calories and fat that traditional deep frying adds. Some manufacturers say that it can decrease the amount of fat by 80 percent compared to frying in oil.
What To Look For In An Air Fryer
Like any purchase, knowing the options available in an air fryer is a useful way to make a good purchasing decision. Most air fryers use the same basic technology and therefore have very similar features. All air fryers use a hot air circulation technology to cook food, so there is no difference between air fryers in the designs. However, there are different options available for air fryers. Some air fryers features to consider before purchasing are:
Other Things Before Buying
Before you go out and buy an air fryer, it’s important to just weigh how much of a “fried foodie” you are. Although air fryers are very economical compared to other kitchen appliance, they do get pricey. So before using up your money and counter space, think about how often you cook fried foods!
And for those that do cook fried foods often, this is a more than worth while investment. This purchase will allow you to save tons of time on prep and cleaning, and it also gives you a much healthier alternative. Take a look at our top 5 suggested picks for the best air fryers on the market!
The Reviews Digest Ranking System
We employ a comprehensive ranking system to analyze and measure the full value of products, by looking at the clinical studies, safety, projected effectiveness, return policies, and overall customer satisfaction.
Top 5 Air Fryers of 2022
Bottom Line:
The COSORI air fryer is easy to use, cooks incredibly quickly, and is a great way to cook food that tastes great and is more healthy (vs. a traditional deep fryer). The 11 preset cooking modes are a nice extra and help improve cooking usability. We were surprised at how fast foods cook and also how well they cook. Even cooking something as extreme as a steak was tastier than expected and cooked fast. Cleanup isn’t too bad, as the two pieces separate and are dishwasher safe. A good value kitchen appliance that has a home in most kitchens.
Pros
- Digital interface with 11 presets
- Included recipe book with 100 recipes
- 5.8-quart basket
- Auto shutoff + Keep Warm function
- 2-year warranty
Cons
- Requires a decent amount of counter space
Why We Picked It
We picked Cosori for our top pick because it has all the bells and whistles and offers a generous satisfaction gaurantee. This award winning air fryer gets rave reviews and even comes with recipe book to get you started with over 300+ recipes!
Who It's For
Whether you’re looking for an air fryer for the added convenience, or you would just like a healthier alternative to eating fried foods, this is a great appliance to have!
Bottom Line:
The GoWISE USA air fryer allows you to enjoy your favorite fried snacks and food without the added calories. Rapid air circulation technology cooks food by circulating hot air in all directions, ensuring fast and even cooking.
This XL air fryer has 8 built-in smart programs including fries, pork, shrimp, cake, chicken, steak, fish, and pizza. It offers a wide temperature range from 180-400 degrees farenheit and a cooking timer for up to 30 minutes.
Pro
- Ideal option to cook a lot of food
- Includes a recipe book with purchase
- Removable Parts & Dishwasher safe.
- Built In Timer with Auto Stand By
Cons
- Large & Takes Up More Counter Space
Bottom Line:
The Instant Vortex 6 Quart Air Fryer is easy to use, easy to clean, fast, versatile and convenient. Now you can make all your fried favorites without the oil, mess and hassle of deep frying. Enjoy delicious flavor with the touch of a button. Use the preset Smart Programs to air fry, roast, bake and reheat all your family favorites.
Pro
- Sleek Design
- Easy To Use Control Panel
- 4 Predetermined Program Settings
- 6 Quart Basket for Large Capacity
Cons
- No Slow Cooking Or Pressure Cooking Settings
Bottom Line:
The Ninja unit couldn’t be easier to assemble and setup. Unbox it, wash a few parts and you’re ready to go. It ensures even circulation of hot air around your food for quick, crispy, and golden finishes, every time.
The wide temperature range gives you the ability to roast, bake, air fry, reheat, or dehydrate foods, making it your new go-to appliance for any meal or snack.
Pro
- Wide Temperature Range: 105 degree Fahrenheit to 400 degrees Fahrenheit
- Ceramic Coated Nonstick Basket
- Dishwasher Safe
- Dehydration Mode To Create Chip Like Texture
Cons
- Smaller Size & Capacity
Bottom Line:
Whatever you can deep fry, you can air fry. The BELLA 5. 3 qt touchscreen air convection fryer features 8 digital preset menu options, including: French fry, roast, shrimp, chicken, steak, fish, cheese melt and bacon. The easy Check function pauses cooking so you can check on your meal any time. Ditch the greasy food and unpleasant odors without compromising any crispiness or flavor thanks to the high performance circular heat technology.
Pro
- Slick Stainless Steel Design
- 4.4 Lb. Food Capacity
- Digital Touchscreen Interface
- Dishwasher Safe Basket And Drawer
Cons
- Noisy Appliance when in use
