Should You Get an Air Fryer?

Should You Get an Air Fryer?

What is an air fryer and why are they popping up everywhere? Wirecutter kitchen writers Lesley Stockton and Michael Sullivan walk you through what these machines actually do and whether they are worth the money.

Read more about how we tested air fryers: https://wrctr.co/2FRRGNH

Read about our pick for best convection toaster oven: https://wrctr.co/2uKRwTl

And our runner-up pick for best convection toaster oven: https://wrctr.co/2UhMIEf

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50 Comments

  1. jim wortham on May 20, 2021 at 5:05 am

    Pretty simple Ford Chevrolet Harley-Davidson Honda whatever suits your needs personally I prefer my air fryer



  2. lowingmazter on May 20, 2021 at 5:06 am

    oil in air fryer??? wtf, genius bro



  3. D. C. on May 20, 2021 at 5:09 am

    They are not relatively recent



  4. arthur tully on May 20, 2021 at 5:12 am

    Glad I watched, cheers



  5. adrianmxmx on May 20, 2021 at 5:14 am

    So marketing just spun a new oven and called it ‘Air’ even though the conventional oven has greater crisp?



  6. Archangel on May 20, 2021 at 5:15 am

    For a single person an air fryer is a good choice. Yes, it’s just a a convection oven. But it’s very portable, it’s less expensive, and it’s easier to maintain.



  7. Raymond Petit on May 20, 2021 at 5:16 am

    Very helpful review!



  8. Svante on May 20, 2021 at 5:17 am

    So basically if you don’t have any space for an oven, Its a grate, relatively cheap option.



  9. Earl Lee on May 20, 2021 at 5:17 am

    So its just a oven?



  10. Sunday Erhonmose on May 20, 2021 at 5:19 am

    Bought my Ninja airfryer and it has served me well. This reviewer doesn’t know how to use it properly. This stupid review is going to dissuade people from buying this wonderful appliance. A very bias review. Thumbs for you.



  11. Yer Da on May 20, 2021 at 5:22 am

    So: air ‘Fryer’ if you’re single, and convection oven if you have family/housemates. Glad I bought an air fryer then **SOB**



  12. g quin on May 20, 2021 at 5:23 am

    Dumb and Dumber



  13. Idon'tevenknow on May 20, 2021 at 5:25 am

    My little toaster oven has never failed me. It literally cooks almost anything I want in minutes. Waffles, bagels, toast, etc. An oven does the job just fine too for a lot of stuff. I don’t really get the air-fryer thing. It just seems like another gadget you’ll use once.



  14. ohdavee on May 20, 2021 at 5:26 am

    I always wanted to know how what the eff an “aIr fRiAr” was. Like how can you fry without oil. So turns out its just a fricken oven eith a fan. God. Marketting is stupid.



  15. John Patrick Fay on May 20, 2021 at 5:27 am

    Way over priced next to traditional and cheap deep fryer..



  16. Toby Herro on May 20, 2021 at 5:28 am

    For one person, it’s perfect!!



  17. El Guero Benja on May 20, 2021 at 5:30 am

    I just desuaded my fam from wasting cash on an it fryer. We already have a oven and counter convection oven. These dang trend really have people spending money a lo menso.



  18. M Burns on May 20, 2021 at 5:30 am

    Um… Let’s see. If I have a crap-load of fries, or shrimp, or any breaded food like Mushrooms, or even Chicken drummies or wings, etc, I wonder if I could shake the basket halfway through cooking? Duh…
    The reason you don’t like an Air Fryer is that you don’t know how to cook with it.



  19. Denny C on May 20, 2021 at 5:32 am

    they forgot 1 important thing.. its smaller footprint!
    if you fry fries, won’t leave so much oil and left over. If you fries chicken, of course it will be oily etc.. convection oven will do the same
    good that you show what’s similar between these two, but not so fair



  20. Chris Ashcroft on May 20, 2021 at 5:33 am

    I used a Turbowave halogen oven for years. Loved it! Then the bulb went. I then bought 2 air fryers, love them even more!



  21. Julio Morales on May 20, 2021 at 5:34 am

    So if I don’t own an oven what so ever…air fryer worth it?



  22. Paget Vido on May 20, 2021 at 5:34 am

    You have to buy custom made pans for the air fryer? Eww. The toaster oven is much better.



  23. Keb Lee on May 20, 2021 at 5:35 am

    Hmmm well… some rich people have two ovens in their house… I suppose its not entirely irrational to have a convection oven already for the main course and an air fryer for the sides or something. 🤷🏼‍♀️ I mean… I guess it is all psychology isnt it, but somehow smaller seems easier.



  24. Topsy Kretz on May 20, 2021 at 5:39 am

    Air fryers cook quicker than convection ovens and don’t require heating a large appliance, like your full-sized oven. Their perforated racks also allow fat to drip onto the drip pan so your food doesn’t absorb excess oil, which minimizes calories and becomes crispier since it is more dry.



  25. KEOAGILE MOGOROSI on May 20, 2021 at 5:41 am

    Informative



  26. Team JustDuet on May 20, 2021 at 5:41 am

    That’s awesome!



  27. Jerry Boby on May 20, 2021 at 5:42 am

    So air fryer is just a marketting gimmick.



  28. Sorantis on May 20, 2021 at 5:42 am

    Well that’s 200$ saved



  29. wjatevrr on May 20, 2021 at 5:43 am

    I think people just love the concept and the novel, compact form factor, but eventually air friers will fad away like many other cooking devices of the past.



  30. Magic World on May 20, 2021 at 5:43 am

    Great advice.. Thanks



  31. Jeremy C Barnhart on May 20, 2021 at 5:44 am

    Bar none, best review and comparison I have seen.
    And I’ve seen roughly 4.8 hours the last few days, looking at air fryers.



  32. Sudz Jay on May 20, 2021 at 5:44 am

    wrong info. Air Fryer much better than oven. Everything is crispy when we use it.



  33. I'm George on May 20, 2021 at 5:46 am

    I have a $50 air fryer and a ~$130 convection toaster oven. Using it properly, my air fryer cooks everything evenly and crispy (oven quality crispy). Also finishes cooking a meal before the toaster can finish preheating. It even finishes cooking in about 50-70% of the time of what certain directions say . Compared to the toaster, air fryer cooks evenly because the heating element literally covers everywhere towards the direction on the food. The toaster (just like an electric oven), the heating element is in some odd shape that doesn’t completely cover the food. So, this is going to create hotter spots and more uneven cooking. The fan helps, but can’t fix that uneven heating element. So him saying you can cook a pie in that toaster, sure but it’s going to have parts turning dark brown, so you’ll need to constantly rotate and move it around.

    For 2 people, the air fryer is perfect. He tried to sound smart by acknowledging that it’s convection heating, but clearly doesn’t understand the physics on why the air fryer is better from a purely cooking aspect.



  34. Domee894 on May 20, 2021 at 5:48 am

    My flatmate got one and she barely uses it. Now I know why.



  35. Native2458 on May 20, 2021 at 5:51 am

    But an air fyrer seems cooler



  36. JakeTopia on May 20, 2021 at 5:52 am

    ok waaay handier than a convection oven, cooks food to perfection. super crispy and tasty food



  37. FFOGHORN on May 20, 2021 at 5:52 am

    Good job, guys. Thanks!



  38. Ana Ortiz on May 20, 2021 at 5:52 am

    Were a family of 8 and we love our air fryer and instantpot, it cooks our food super quickly !(:



  39. TheBoguspokus on May 20, 2021 at 5:52 am

    Haha. The look on her face is "OMG you are stupid if you buy one." I bought a $39 Air fryer and it is awesome compared to upgrading my oven to a convection oven. So I suppose I am stupid…………but very happy with my quiet as a mouse air fryer. This channel is not the place to come to for good advice.



  40. LoveFromDrey on May 20, 2021 at 5:54 am

    An air fryer is faster than your oven.



  41. alex reilly on May 20, 2021 at 5:55 am

    Air fryers are blowing up because us Europeans don’t use convection toaster ovens. They’re faster and result in a crispier end product than our conventional ovens



  42. Shibby120 on May 20, 2021 at 5:55 am

    OK why does this dude hate the air fryer so much



  43. Carlos Mencia TT on May 20, 2021 at 5:56 am

    I saved money



  44. JakeTopia on May 20, 2021 at 5:56 am

    lol professional cook cant use an air
    fryer properly



  45. lettner on May 20, 2021 at 5:57 am

    i have a toaster oven that can air fry as well. that thing is a miracle. i have such delicious filling dinners every night now.



  46. Joe RicciardI on May 20, 2021 at 5:57 am

    This cemented my decision. I won’t be buying an air fryer. I already own a convection oven!



  47. M Burns on May 20, 2021 at 6:02 am

    A totally biased "review".



  48. Anita it is Anita on May 20, 2021 at 6:02 am

    morons



  49. FermiGBM1 on May 20, 2021 at 6:03 am

    Lol this cheap one my family bought has the same cook times as an oven



  50. LoveFromDrey on May 20, 2021 at 6:03 am

    This man cannot cook!!!!!!