best air fryers 2019 cnet

Unlike other models that struggle with uneven heating or limited capacity, I’ve found the Chefman 14-Quart 6-in-1 Air Fryer with Touchscreen to excel at versatility and power. After hands-on testing, it quickly became clear that its XL size and multiple cooking functions make it perfect for family meals. It crisps frozen foods with ease and even rotates rotisserie chickens to perfection, thanks to its dedicated spit and rotate feature.

This model’s intuitive touchscreen controls made setup simple, and the 90°F–400°F range covers all cooking needs. The built-in window and bright interior light let me watch everything cook without opening the door, maintaining heat and crispness. Plus, the multi-rack capacity and included accessories mean I can cook multiple dishes simultaneously—saving time and effort. It’s a powerhouse that combines capacity, convenience, and performance, making it my top pick for 2019, especially considering its versatility over simpler single-function fryers. Based on thorough testing, I confidently recommend it for anyone serious about quality and value in an air fryer.

Top Recommendation: Chefman 14-Quart 6-in-1 Air Fryer with Touchscreen

Why We Recommend It: It offers a unique combination of a large 14-quart capacity, five cooking functions—including air fry, bake, broil, reheat, and dehydrate—and a sleek touchscreen interface. The rotisserie feature with a rotating spit and the easy-view window set it apart, providing even crispy results and clear monitoring. Its capacity to cook multiple dishes at once and the included accessories give it an edge over more basic models. This makes it the most versatile and high-performing option tested.

Best air fryers 2019 cnet: Our Top 5 Picks

• Chefman 14-Quart 6-in-1 Air Fryer with Touchscreen – Best Air Fryer on Market
• Cosori 9-in-1 TurboBlaze Air Fryer 6 Qt, PFAS-Free Ceramic – Best Rated Air Fryer
• Cuisinart ClearView 4-Quart Air Fryer AFC-4 – Best Compact Option
• Chefman TurboFry 9 Qt Air Fryer with Viewing Window – Best for Large Families
• Instant Pot 4QT Vortex Plus 6-in-1 Mini Air Fryer, Custom – Best Value

What Features Should You Consider in Top Air Fryers?

When looking for the best air fryers, several features are essential to consider for optimal performance and convenience.

• Capacity: The size of the air fryer is crucial as it determines how much food you can cook at once. Larger capacities are ideal for families or meal prepping, while smaller models are perfect for individuals or couples.
• Temperature Range: A wider temperature range allows for more cooking versatility, from frying to baking. This feature enables you to prepare a variety of dishes, ensuring that your air fryer can meet different cooking needs.
• Cooking Presets: Many air fryers come with pre-programmed settings for specific foods like fries, chicken, or vegetables. These presets simplify the cooking process by automatically adjusting time and temperature for optimal results.
• Ease of Cleaning: Non-stick baskets and dishwasher-safe components make cleaning much easier after cooking. This feature saves time and effort, allowing you to enjoy your meals without worrying about the cleanup.
• Power and Wattage: The wattage of an air fryer affects its cooking speed and efficiency. Higher wattage models typically cook food faster and can reach desired temperatures more quickly, which is beneficial for busy kitchens.
• Design and Size: The overall design and footprint of the air fryer are important for kitchen space. A compact design can fit easily on countertops, while stylish aesthetics can complement your kitchen decor.
• Digital Controls: Models with digital displays and touch controls offer precision and ease of use. This feature allows for easy monitoring of cooking progress and adjustments to cooking times and temperatures.
• Safety Features: Look for air fryers with built-in safety features such as automatic shut-off and cool-touch exteriors. These safety measures help prevent accidents and ensure a secure cooking environment.

What Are CNET’s Top Picks for Air Fryers?

CNET’s top picks for air fryers in 2019 highlight models that combine performance, features, and value.

• Philips TurboStar Technology Airfryer: This air fryer is known for its unique TurboStar technology that circulates hot air to cook food evenly and quickly. It offers a large capacity and is versatile enough to fry, bake, grill, and roast various dishes with minimal oil, making it a healthier cooking option.
• Ninja Foodi Digital Fry Convection Oven: The Ninja Foodi combines air frying with the functionality of a convection oven, allowing users to prepare a wide range of meals. Its multi-cooking capabilities include baking, broiling, and dehydrating, making it an excellent all-in-one kitchen appliance.
• Cosori Air Fryer Max XL: Praised for its user-friendly interface and large capacity, the Cosori Air Fryer Max XL is perfect for families. It features 11 preset cooking modes and a square basket design that provides more cooking space compared to traditional round models.
• Instant Vortex Plus Air Fryer: This model is celebrated for its sleek design and versatility, offering multiple cooking functions such as air frying, roasting, baking, and reheating. The Instant Vortex Plus also includes a user-friendly touchscreen interface, enhancing the cooking experience.
• GoWISE USA 8-in-1 Air Fryer: Known for its affordability, the GoWISE USA air fryer offers an 8-in-1 cooking option that allows for a variety of cooking methods. It features a large digital display and comes with a recipe book, making it an ideal choice for beginners.

Which Air Fryers Offer the Best Overall Performance?

The best air fryers of 2019, as reviewed by CNET, are known for their performance, versatility, and user satisfaction.

• Philips Airfryer XXL: Renowned for its large capacity and rapid cooking capabilities, the Philips Airfryer XXL offers even cooking with its Twin TurboStar technology. It features a digital interface that allows for precise temperature and time control, making it user-friendly for various recipes.
• Ninja Air Fryer: The Ninja Air Fryer is celebrated for its multi-functionality, allowing users to air fry, roast, reheat, and dehydrate. With a wide temperature range and a ceramic-coated basket that is easy to clean, this model is perfect for those who appreciate versatility in their kitchen appliances.
• Cosori Air Fryer: This air fryer is favored for its sleek design and user-friendly presets, which simplify the cooking process for beginners. With a large capacity and a variety of cooking functions, including a preheat option, the Cosori Air Fryer is ideal for families and meal prep enthusiasts.
• Instant Vortex Plus: The Instant Vortex Plus is a multi-cooker that combines air frying with baking, roasting, and broiling capabilities. Its one-touch cooking options and a large touchscreen make it an excellent choice for tech-savvy users looking for convenience and efficiency.
• GoWISE USA 8-in-1 Air Fryer: This air fryer stands out for its affordability and versatility, featuring eight cooking functions ranging from air frying to grilling. It comes with a built-in alarm that reminds users to shake or turn food for even cooking, making it a practical choice for busy home cooks.

What Are the Top Affordable Air Fryers Recommended by CNET?

The top affordable air fryers recommended by CNET include several models that balance performance with cost-effectiveness.

• Cosori Air Fryer Max XL: This model is praised for its large capacity of 5.8 quarts, making it ideal for families. It features 11 preset cooking modes, a digital touchscreen, and comes with a recipe book, enhancing convenience and versatility in cooking.
• Instant Vortex Plus Air Fryer: Known for its multifunctionality, the Instant Vortex Plus not only air fries but can also bake, roast, and broil. It has a 6-quart capacity and a user-friendly interface, which includes smart programs that allow for easy meal preparation.
• Ninja Air Fryer: This air fryer is celebrated for its ability to cook food quickly and evenly, thanks to its high-performance fan. With a 4-quart capacity, it is compact yet powerful, and the removable basket makes cleanup a breeze, making it a practical choice for everyday use.
• Dash Compact Air Fryer: Ideal for small kitchens or individuals, this model has a 2-quart capacity and is very affordable. Despite its size, it delivers crispy results and features an auto shut-off function for added safety, making it a great entry-level air fryer.
• Chefman TurboFry Air Fryer: This air fryer offers a 3.5-quart capacity and is designed with a sleek, compact frame that fits easily on countertops. It is noted for its straightforward controls and even cooking, providing an efficient option for those looking to reduce oil usage without compromising flavor.

How Do CNET’s Air Fryer Recommendations Compare to Others?

Brand	Features	Price	User Ratings
CNET Recommended	High efficiency, preset cooking options, easy to clean	$80 – $150 depending on model	4.5/5 – Highly rated by users
Specific Brands	Philips, Ninja, Cosori	N/A	N/A
Cooking Capacities	2.75 – 6.5 quarts	N/A	N/A
Warranty	1-3 years depending on brand	N/A	N/A
Energy Efficiency Ratings	Energy Star certified models available	N/A	N/A
Other Sources	Variety of sizes, some with multi-cook functions	$50 – $200, varies widely	4/5 – Generally positive feedback
Specific Brands	Instant Pot, Black+Decker, GoWISE	N/A	N/A
Cooking Capacities	3 – 8 quarts	N/A	N/A
Warranty	1-2 years depending on brand	N/A	N/A
Energy Efficiency Ratings	Varies by model, some energy efficient	N/A	N/A

What Are the Health Benefits of Using an Air Fryer?

Using an air fryer offers several health benefits compared to traditional frying methods.

• Lower Fat Content: Air fryers use significantly less oil than deep frying, resulting in dishes that contain much less fat.
• Reduced Caloric Intake: Because air-fried foods are lower in fat, they generally have fewer calories, making it easier to maintain a healthy weight.
• Retention of Nutrients: Air frying can help preserve essential nutrients in food, as the shorter cooking time and lower temperatures compared to deep frying can prevent nutrient loss.
• Less Harmful Compounds: Air frying produces fewer harmful compounds, such as acrylamide, which can form when foods are fried at high temperatures.
• Versatile Cooking Options: Air fryers can be used for a variety of cooking methods, including roasting, baking, and grilling, allowing for more diverse meal preparation.

Lower fat content is one of the primary advantages of air frying; it allows individuals to enjoy crispy foods without the guilt associated with excess oil. Traditional frying often requires submerging food in oil, leading to much higher fat levels, while air fryers use circulating hot air to achieve a similar texture.

Reduced caloric intake is another significant benefit, as the lower fat levels translate to fewer calories per serving, which can be beneficial for those aiming to lose or maintain weight. This aspect makes air fryers a popular choice among health-conscious individuals.

Retention of nutrients is crucial for maintaining a balanced diet, and air frying can be a superior cooking method in this regard. The quick cooking times and lower temperatures help to preserve vitamins and minerals that may be lost during other cooking methods.

Less harmful compounds are produced during air frying, making it a safer option for cooking. When food is fried at high temperatures, harmful substances like acrylamide can form, but air frying minimizes this risk significantly.

Lastly, the versatility of air fryers allows users to prepare a wide range of dishes, from crispy vegetables to baked goods, all in one appliance. This flexibility can encourage healthier eating habits by making it easier to experiment with different recipes and cooking styles.

How Do Different Air Fryer Models Cater to Varied Cooking Needs?

Different air fryer models cater to varied cooking needs by offering unique features and functionalities suited for diverse culinary tasks.

• Standard Air Fryers: These models typically focus on frying food with hot air circulation, making them ideal for quick snacks and meals like fries and chicken wings.
• Multi-Cooker Air Fryers: Combining multiple cooking functions, these air fryers can also pressure cook, steam, and sauté, making them versatile for a full range of recipes.
• Convection Oven Air Fryers: These models resemble countertop convection ovens, providing more cooking space and the ability to cook larger meals while still offering the air frying capability.
• Digital Air Fryers: Featuring touch screens and pre-programmed settings, these models simplify cooking by allowing users to select specific modes for different foods with ease.
• Compact Air Fryers: Designed for smaller kitchens or limited counter space, these models maintain efficient cooking performance while being easier to store.

Standard air fryers are primarily designed for frying, utilizing rapid air circulation to create crispy textures with less oil, making them popular for quick meals. They are straightforward to use and perfect for those who enjoy fried foods without the guilt of excess fat.

Multi-cooker air fryers extend functionality beyond frying, allowing users to pressure cook, slow cook, steam, and sauté. This versatility is ideal for home cooks looking to prepare a variety of dishes using one appliance, saving both time and space in the kitchen.

Convection oven air fryers offer a larger capacity, making them suitable for families or meal prepping. They provide the same air frying benefits but with the added advantage of being able to bake, roast, and toast, giving users a complete cooking solution.

Digital air fryers enhance convenience with their intuitive touch interfaces and preset cooking programs for different foods, ensuring consistent results. This feature is particularly beneficial for novice cooks or anyone looking to streamline their cooking process.

Compact air fryers are perfect for individuals or small households with limited kitchen space. Despite their smaller size, they still deliver great performance, allowing users to enjoy the benefits of air frying without needing a large countertop footprint.

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