Clocking in at 8.5 quarts, this is one of the largest capacity air fryers on our favorites list, but it’s modern and compact aesthetic are ideal for your countertop. Fry a large batch of perfectly golden French fries or bake an 8-inch round cake and share with your fellow Cosori friends. If you’re looking for cooking buddies that are also air frying enthusiasts then join the 30K+ Facebook community members of Cosori Cooks. Chat with other Cosori owners, get (and share) recipe tips and show off your finished dishes.
Air fryers have been on the market for several years, but now we’re seeing them in such varieties of shapes and sizes (like different makes and models of cars) that it can be difficult to discern a coupe from a clunker. Unlike microwave ovens that may be shaped differently but still retain the same basic functions across various models, air fryers do differ slightly from model-to-model. Some are bare-bones convection ovens, while others come with extra bells and whistles that allow you to dehydrate food or rotate it on a spit!
We tested out several top models to see which ones stood out from the rest of the pack. If you’re in the market for an air fryer, use this guide to figure out which machine is perfect for you to get cooking.
How Do Air Fryers Work?
An air fryer is essentially a countertop convection oven. This compact version of a conventional oven allows you to cook food quickly and evenly in less time than a traditional oven or toaster oven. A heating element and powerful fan is set at the top of the unit. It generates and circulates hot air around the food that is set below in a basket. The basket allows air to flow all over the food, making it extra crispy. In general, most foods are air-fried at a higher temperature than a conventional oven — think around 400 degrees F or more.
Are Air Fryers Healthy?
While an air fryer can certainly be a Healthier alternative to deep-frying foods, simply using an air fryer to make a recipe does not make it healthier. “A major misconception is that pre-fried items (such as bagged frozen chicken nuggets or fish sticks) are somehow made healthier when prepared in an air fryer. Air frying is certainly a great way to prepare these frozen foods to crispy perfection, but these types of foods are no healthier than when prepared in a conventional oven.