Cuisinart TOA-70

As of August 2026, I’d focus on Ninja, Cosori, Instant, and — for budget picks — Gourmia/Chefman. Those are the brands that show up repeatedly in lab tests, retailer sales charts, and real-user discussions. The safest “normal household” choice is usually a 5–6 quart basket-style air fryer; tiny 2–3 qt models are fine for one person, while 8–10 qt dual-basket models are better for families or meal prep.

Best air fryers to buy

My short recommendation

If you want the best overall: Ninja AF161 Max XL or Ninja Air Fryer Pro AF141.
If you want the best value: Cosori TurboBlaze 6-Qt.
If you want the easiest first air fryer: Instant Vortex Plus 6-Qt ClearCook.
If you cook for 4+ people: Ninja Foodi DualZone 8-Qt or 10-Qt.
If you want glass instead of a coated basket: Ninja Crispi.

One safety note: if buying a used Cosori, avoid older recalled models. The CPSC recall involved about two million Cosori air fryers, including models such as CP158-AF, CP137-AF, CO158-AF, and several CAF-P581 variants; affected units should not be used. (cpsc.gov)

The best air fryer depends on your budget, kitchen space, and how many people you’re cooking for. Based on what people actually buy and review well, here are the top brands and models that consistently come up:

🏆 Overall Best: Cosori Pro LE / Cosori TurboBlaze

• Why people love it: intuitive controls, preheat function, wide temperature range, dishwasher-safe basket, and reliable cooking results.
• Best for: most households.
• Sizes: 4–6 qt.

👑 Top Competitor / Splurge: Ninja Foodi (Dual Basket or Combi)

• Why people love it: crisps and cooks fast, has dual-zone baskets so you can cook two different foods at once, plus models that air fry and roast/steam/broil.
• Best for: families, people who cook full meals in one appliance.
• Popular models: Ninja Foodi 6-in-1, Ninja Foodi DualZone.

💰 Best Budget: Instant Pot Vortex (4/6 qt)

• Why people love it: inexpensive, simple buttons, easy to clean, cooks frozen food great.
• Best for: first-time air fryer buyers, small kitchens, college students.
• Popular models: Vortex Plus 6-in-1, Vortex 2-Basket.

🍟 Best for Crispy Results: Philips Airfryer

• Why people love it: patented rapid air technology, very even crisping, less oily texture.
• Best for: fries, chicken wings, and anyone who wants the "original" air fryer brand.
• Models: Philips Airfryer XXL, Philips Essential HD9200.

👨👩👧👦 Best for Large Families: Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer

• Why people love it: it’s not just an air fryer—it’s a convection oven, dehydrator, slow cooker, and toaster oven. Huge capacity.
• Best for: people who already use toaster ovens and want one countertop appliance to replace many.

⚠️ Honorable Mentions

• GoWISE USA — cheap, popular on Amazon, basic but works.
• Chefman — budget-friendly with big baskets.
• Cuisinart TOA-65 — another great air fryer / toaster oven hybrid.

Quick Buying Tips:

• Basket size: 3–4 qt = 1–2 people; 5–6 qt = family of 4; 8+ qt or toaster-oven style = big family / meal prep.
• Look for: dishwasher-safe parts, non-stick basket, preheat settings, and easy-to-read controls.
• What people actually say: most buyers say they use their air fryer more than their oven, so don't overcomplicate it—just pick a top-rated model from a trusted brand.

My personal recommendation for most people: the Cosori Pro LE or Ninja Foodi DualZone. Both are proven, widely loved, and you won’t outgrow them quickly.

Ninja, Cosori, and Instant (Vortex series) dominate expert tests and real-world popularity, with strong showings from Breville (for oven-style), Philips, and others depending on needs. These brands appear consistently in lab tests from Wirecutter, RTINGS, Serious Eats, Food & Wine, Good Housekeeping, and Consumer Reports, as well as Amazon bestsellers and Reddit discussions.

Air fryers excel at quick, crispy results with little oil via powerful convection fans. Basket-style models are compact and fast for everyday use (fries, wings, veggies, leftovers); dual-basket versions suit families or cooking two items at once; toaster oven hybrids offer more versatility and capacity but take more space and may crisp slightly less aggressively. Key factors include capacity (4–6 qt for 1–4 people; larger or dual for families), power (higher watts for better heat retention), fan speeds/versatility, ease of cleaning (dishwasher-safe parts preferred; ceramic or glass coatings for those avoiding traditional nonstick/PFAS concerns), and controls.

Top Recommendations

Here are standout products based on testing performance (crispiness, evenness, speed), usability, value, and popularity:

Best Overall / All-Around Basket-Style: Ninja Air Fryer Pro (or similar Ninja Pro/Max XL models, around 5–6.5 qt)
Wirecutter’s top pick for fast heating, excellent crisping (most “fried-like” results), simple physical buttons, and reliable performance across fries, nuggets, and wings. Good Housekeeping and others frequently crown Ninja models best overall for consistent golden results and features like Max Crisp. Replacement parts are available. Popular everyday choice.

Excellent Runner-Up / Best Value & Popular Seller: Cosori TurboBlaze (6 qt)
Frequently #1 or near-top on Amazon bestsellers, Wirecutter runner-up, Good Housekeeping best value, Bon Appétit overall, Food & Wine runner-up, and RTINGS strong budget/mid performer. Adjustable fan speeds (great for baking vs. max crisping), wide temperature range (often to 450°F), multiple presets (air fry, roast, bake, broil, dehydrate, etc.), square basket for good surface area, and often ceramic-coated options. Quiet, easy to use/clean, and punches above its price (frequently ~$100 or less on sale). Highly recommended by users for everyday reliability.

Strong Contender / Reliable Performer: Instant Vortex Plus (6 qt, including ClearCook window versions)
Serious Eats and Food & Wine best overall; Food Network pick. Excellent crisping and even cooking in a user-friendly square basket, intuitive controls (touchscreen + knob on some), and solid value. Windowed ClearCook models let you monitor without opening. Instant models are widely owned and praised for consistency.

Best Dual-Basket (for families or multi-item cooking): Ninja Foodi DualZone series (e.g., DZ550 10 qt or convertible models like DZ071)
RTINGS’ top overall tested pick for strong performance, large capacity, independent zones with Smart Finish (sync end times), and versatility (including probes on some). Cook a main + side simultaneously. Baskets are smaller individually than a single large one, so better for variety than max volume of one item. Very popular on Reddit and among multi-person households.

Best Toaster Oven-Style Hybrid: Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro
Premium pick from Serious Eats, Food & Wine, and user favorites (including Reddit). Far more versatile (toast, bake, broil, roast, dehydrate + excellent air fry) with better evenness/capacity for larger items or batches, smarter sensors, and durable build. Takes more counter space and costs more (~$300–400 range), but many call it a “set it and forget it” workhorse that can replace multiple appliances. Cuisinart TOA-70 is a strong, often more affordable alternative.

Best Glass/Non-Toxic Option: Ninja Crispi (or Crispi Pro)
CNET best overall in recent tests; Food & Wine top non-toxic pick. Uses a glass chamber (dishwasher-safe, no traditional nonstick gunk buildup) with a portable heating lid. Great for watching food, easy cleaning/storage (nesting containers), and PFAS concerns. Smaller capacity suits 1–2 people or quick sides; crisps very well. Higher price for the size.

Budget Pick: Gourmia GAF486 (4 qt) or similar affordable Cosori/Chefman/Bella models
Wirecutter budget winner for solid heating/temperature hold and crisping relative to price (~$60 or less). Chefman models score well at Consumer Reports and rank high on Amazon. Fine for singles or light use; expect fewer features and potentially less longevity/evenness than premium options.

Other Notes on Popular Brands and What People Use

• Ninja — Ubiquitous in homes for performance and features (duals especially loved for convenience).
• Cosori — Best-seller darling for value/features; TurboBlaze and similar get heavy real-user praise.
• Instant — Trusted extension of Instant Pot brand; reliable daily drivers.
• Philips — Pioneer brand; high-quality (often dual-basket) options, though pricier.
• Premium/niche: Typhur Dome (smart/large, strong in some tests), Our Place Wonder Oven, or stainless Cosori Iconic for plastic-free vibes.

Consumer Reports highlights models from Chefman, Cosori, Dash, and Instant in top spots (lab-tested for performance metrics).

Buying Tips

• Size your needs — Measure counter/storage space. 4 qt for 1–2 people; 6 qt standard for most; dual or 8+ qt/oven-style for families. Usable surface area matters more than claimed quarts.
• Coating & cleaning — Prefer ceramic, glass, or stainless where possible. Hand-wash nonstick to prolong life; many baskets are dishwasher-safe but coatings can wear.
• Features — Adjustable fans, windows/lights, probes, or apps add convenience but aren’t essential. Presets are starting points only—monitor food.
• Power & performance — Higher wattage (1500W+) and good fan control help even, crispy results. Shake/toss food mid-cook.
• Price range — Solid options $60–150; premium/dual/oven $150–400+. Watch for sales.
• Drawbacks of air fryers — Limited capacity vs. full oven, potential noise, temperature overshoot on some models, and basket cleaning. Oven-style or a good convection toaster oven can be more versatile long-term.

Check recent prices/reviews on Amazon or retailer sites, as models update frequently, and verify current specs (e.g., exact capacity, coating). For the absolute latest lab data, consult Wirecutter, RTINGS, or Consumer Reports directly. Match to your household size, counter space, and whether you want pure air-frying speed or multi-function versatility—most people are very happy with a mid-size Ninja or Cosori.