Air Fryers
The 5 Best Air Fryers of 2026 — Tested & Ranked by Our Kitchen Expert
We purchased and tested 14 air fryers over 30 days each to find the very best. Our picks are chosen based on cooking performance, build quality, ease of use, noise, and long-term value — not brand deals or paid placements.
In This Article
🏆 Our Top Picks at a Glance
🏆 Best Overall
Prime Eligible
Ninja Foodi DZ201 DualZone Air Fryer
8-Quart · Two Independent Cooking Zones · 6 Programs
9.4
Our
Score
Score
4.9 / 5 · 2,430 ratings
Performance
9.6
Durability
9.0
Ease of Use
9.3
Value
8.8
Capacity
8-Quart
Wattage
1,690W
Temp Range
105°–450°F
Programs
6 Functions
Pros
Cook 2 foods simultaneously
IQ Boost syncs cooking times
Dishwasher-safe baskets
Cons
Requires larger counter space
Premium price point
View on Amazon
$199.99
Was $249.99
#2 Daily Pick
Prime Eligible
Instant Vortex Plus 6-in-1 Air Fryer
6-Quart · 6 One-Touch Programs · EvenCrisp Technology
8.9
Our
Score
Score
4.8 / 5 · 3,812 ratings
Performance
8.9
Durability
8.7
Ease of Use
9.4
Value
9.2
Capacity
6-Quart
Wattage
1,500W
Temp Range
95°–400°F
Programs
6 Functions
Pros
Intuitive one-touch controls
Very easy to clean
Quiet operation
Cons
Smaller than dual-zone models
No Wi-Fi connectivity
View on Amazon
$149.95
💰 Best Value
Prime Eligible
Cosori Pro II Smart Air Fryer
5.8-Quart · 13-in-1 Functions · App & Voice Control
8.6
Our
Score
Score
4.7 / 5 · 5,119 ratings
Performance
8.5
Durability
8.2
Ease of Use
8.8
Value
9.7
Capacity
5.8-Quart
Wattage
1,750W
Temp Range
170°–450°F
Programs
13 Functions
Pros
App + Alexa/Google control
100+ built-in recipes
Best price-to-features ratio
Cons
Fan is noticeably loud
App can be slow at times
View on Amazon
$119.00
How We Test
Each air fryer is tested in our dedicated kitchen lab over 30 consecutive days. We measure cooking speed, crispiness consistency, temperature accuracy (±5°F), noise level, cleaning time, and durability under daily use. No manufacturer sends us products — we buy everything with our own budget so our reviews stay completely unbiased.
📊 Side-by-Side Comparison
All three models ranked by overall score, capacity, and value.
💡 Pro Kitchen Hacks
Tested tips from Chef Alex that actually make a difference.
Stop Smoke Before It Starts
Add a tablespoon of water to the bottom drawer when cooking fatty meats. It traps grease and eliminates smoke completely.
Self-Sharpen Your Blender
Run ice cubes with coarse salt for 30 seconds weekly. No disassembly needed — blades stay sharp and residue-free.
Restaurant-Quality Rice
Rinse rice under cold water for exactly 2 minutes before cooking to remove excess starch and get perfectly fluffy, separated grains.
Preheat for Better Crunch
Always preheat your air fryer 3 minutes at full temp. Cold-start cooking loses up to 20% of crispiness compared to a preheated basket.
Our Head Reviewer
Chef Alex Morgan
With 15 years in professional kitchens — from Michelin-starred restaurants to home cooking labs — Alex leads every product test personally. Nothing is published without passing his 30-day stress evaluation.
Certified Culinary Professional (CCP)
200+ Kitchen Appliances Tested
50,000+ YouTube Subscribers
Featured in Food & Wine Magazine
Affiliate Disclosure: 5BestDeals participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. When you purchase through our links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This never influences our rankings or editorial decisions — all picks are based solely on independent testing.