6 Best Air Fryers of 2026, Lab-Tested and Reviewed
These models from Chefman, Cosori, Dash, and Instant claim top spots in Consumer Reports' air fryer ratings
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Despite the name, air fryers don’t fry food at all; they’re actually small convection ovens. A fan circulates hot air to quickly cook food from the outside in. While some high-end toaster ovens come with convection fans and even an air fryer setting, true air fryers are tough to beat. That’s because rapidly circulating hot air is concentrated in a smaller space and makes for quick cooking.
Most of the more than 80 air fryers in Consumer Reports’ ratings allow you to automatically set a temperature and cooking time for foods like french fries, wings, vegetables, and more. Some can even dehydrate food, allowing you to dry out herbs and fruit, or make veggie chips on low heat. An air fryer is also great if you simply want to cook or reheat food more quickly.
The first consideration when choosing an air fryer is its size, which depends on how much space you have on your countertop and how much food you want to cook at once. The air fryers in our ratings range from about 2 to 10 quarts. But our testers have found that their actual capacity is often smaller than claimed.
“The real difference among air fryers comes down to convenience, so we designed our tests around that,” says Breann Chai, the engineer who oversees our air fryer tests. She and her team evaluate capacity, how easy the controls are to read and use, noise levels, and the amount of effort required to clean them.
Take a look at our air fryer buying guide for guidance on selecting the right one for you. Consumer Reports members have the added benefit of exploring our comprehensive air fryer ratings, which can be filtered according to price, size, and other criteria.
If you’re not yet a CR member, click below to become one and gain access to this list of top air fryers, plus ratings and reviews of all the products we buy and test, including many other home appliances, electronics, and cars.
The Chefman RJ38-2T is a smaller air fryer, with a measured capacity of about 1.8 quarts. It’s a basic model that performs excellently in our noise and cleaning tests, and scores near the top for its straightforward controls. It has a digital display and a dishwasher-safe basket, but it doesn’t have any programmed settings, and it doesn’t come with any accessories. The RJ38-2T has a one-year warranty.
The Cosori Dual Blaze CAF-P583S-KUS Smart has WiFi integration that allows you to control and monitor your cooking progress remotely, and it shows strong performance in all the areas we test. The squarish exterior might not be to everyone’s taste, but the machine is easy to clean. And “blaze” sounds about right. When we set this model to 350° F, we measured a temperature of 363° F, which is something to keep in mind when cooking. This model comes with a two-year warranty, a year longer than many other air fryer warranties.
The Cosori Lite CAF-LI211 is great for college students, solo dwellers, or anybody who’s a tad tight on counter space. This 1.7-quart air fryer is packed with appealing features, including a dishwasher-safe basket, programmed settings, and a digital display. And it comes in a small package, with a footprint that’s just 9 inches wide and 10 inches deep. What’s more, this model is a standout in our tests, earning high marks for being easy to use and clean; it’s also exceptionally quiet. The Cosori Lite comes with a two-year warranty.
The Dash Tasti-Crisp DCAF260 has a measured capacity of 2.4 quarts and an overall footprint of less than a square foot, making it one of the most compact air fryers in our ratings. This no-frills model doesn’t come with any accessories, but it’s the highest-rated air fryer we’ve tested. It earns high marks for its controls and ease of cleaning, and it excels in our noise test. It weighs just 6 pounds.
The Instant Vortex Plus 140-3079-01 is a solid pick all-around, with intuitive controls and an easy-to-clean interior and exterior. Plus, it operates quietly. Its measured 3-quart basket is smaller than the 4 quarts the manufacturer claims, but its square design makes it easy to fit a small dish or baking pan inside. It comes with programmed settings, reminders to add and turn food, auto-shutoff, and a one-year warranty.
This Instant Vortex Plus 140-3089-01 features a clear cooking window, making it easy to monitor your food without having to pull out the basket. Its capacity is 5.2 quarts, according to our measurements. It earns a top-notch rating for its controls and comes with customizable cooking programs and a digital display. In addition to being easy to use, this fryer also delivered a strong performance in our noise and cleaning tests. Plus, its parts are dishwasher-safe.
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