Air Fryers: The Complete Buying Guide
The air fryer to buy depends on what you cook, how much you make and how much counter space you have. Choose a compact basket for small batches, a dual basket for two foods at once, or an oven style if you also want baking, roasting and toast functions.
On this page (8 sections)
- Which air fryer should I buy for the way I cook?
- What size air fryer fits your counter and portions?
- Which controls and cooking functions are worth choosing?
- What should you check for easy cleaning?
- Which four air fryers illustrate the main options?
- What details matter for materials and accessories?
- How should you choose between brands and extras?
- How do you choose the best air fryer to buy?
The air fryer to buy depends on what you cook, how much you make and how much counter space you have. A compact basket can suit small batches, while a dual basket can cook two foods at once and an oven style can cover more cooking tasks.
Start with the appliance type and capacity, then compare controls, cleaning and the features you will use. Measure the counter and nearby cabinets before you choose a large model.
The examples below show different styles and capacities. For the core choice between the two main formats, see our guide to basket air fryer vs air fryer oven.
Which air fryer should I buy for the way I cook?
Choose the air fryer style that matches your regular meals. A single basket handles one batch, a dual basket separates two foods, and an oven style offers a broader cooking space and functions.
| Air fryer type | A good fit when you | Check before buying |
|---|---|---|
| Compact basket | Make smaller batches or have limited counter space | Basket size and outside dimensions |
| Standard basket | Usually cook one main batch at a time | Whether the usable basket fits your portions |
| Dual basket | Often prepare two foods with separate settings | Full footprint and capacity of each zone |
| Oven style | Want air frying alongside oven functions | Interior dimensions, rack positions and door clearance |
If you usually make one food at a time, a basket model may be the most direct choice. If you need two foods to finish together, compare the best dual basket air fryer options.
An oven style can make more sense if you already want countertop baking, roasting or toast functions. Our air fryer vs oven comparison can help you decide whether an air fryer fits your cooking habits.
How to choose an air fryer by capacity
Choose capacity based on the amount you cook in one batch, not just the number of people in your home. Different foods take up different amounts of space, so think about the largest meal or snack you expect to prepare.
A 4 qt basket, for example, may fit a smaller batch than an 8 qt appliance, but capacity does not tell you the food's shape or how loosely it needs to sit. Avoid packing food tightly if the recipe calls for room for air to circulate.
For two separate foods, check the capacity of each zone as well as the total. The Ninja Foodi Air Fryer has an 8 qt total capacity split into two 4 qt zones.
Should I buy a basket air fryer or an oven style?
Buy a basket air fryer for straightforward batches and an oven style if you want a countertop appliance with more cooking functions. The oven format may suit you if you will use its racks and functions beyond air frying.
A basket is generally easier to fit into a small routine: add a batch, set the controls and remove the basket when cooking ends. Check whether the basket and crisper plate are dishwasher safe if cleanup is a priority.
An oven style needs enough room for its door to open and for trays or racks to slide out. Compare its interior and exterior dimensions with your counter before choosing it over a basket.
What size air fryer fits your counter and portions?
The right air fryer needs enough cooking room for your usual batch and enough open counter space for safe placement. Measure the appliance footprint, space around it and any cabinet clearance above it.
Use the dimensions for the exact model you are considering. Two appliances with similar capacity can have different shapes and may not fit the same spot.
| Example | Style | Capacity | Outside dimensions (D x W x H) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ninja AF101 | Basket | 4 qt | 13.6 x 11 x 13.3 in |
| Ninja Foodi Air Fryer | Dual basket | 8 qt total, two 4 qt zones | 13.86 x 15.63 x 12.4 in |
| Chefman Air Fryer 8 Qt | Basket | 8 qt | 12.75 x 13.5 x 10 in |
| Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro | Oven | 1 cu ft | 17.5 x 21.5 x 12.7 in |
These are appliance dimensions, not the complete space needed to use each one. Check the manual for ventilation and placement instructions, and allow room to open a door or pull out a basket.
The Breville's listed interior is 16 x 13.5 x 7 in. Its larger shape can suit trays and oven style cooking, but it takes more counter space than the basket examples.
Which controls and cooking functions are worth choosing?
Choose controls you can use easily and cooking functions you will actually need. Presets can shorten setup, but basic time and temperature controls matter for adjusting meals.
A simple basket model may have only a few core functions. The Ninja AF101 offers air fry, roast, reheat and dehydrate, while the Ninja Foodi adds air broil and bake.
Oven style models can replace or supplement some countertop cooking tasks. The Breville offers 13 functions, including toast, bagel, bake, roast, pizza, slow cook and air fry.
Make a short list of meals you expect to cook, then compare that list with each model's functions. Don't pay for modes that are unlikely to fit your routine.
Is a viewing window useful?
A window can help you check food progress without opening the cooking chamber. It is a helpful extra if you often cook foods that need visual checking, but it should not outweigh capacity, fit or cleanup.
Some oven style models let you view food through the door, while many baskets require you to pull out the drawer. If this feature matters to you, compare the best air fryer with window options and confirm that the window shows the cooking area you care about.
Do dual baskets help with family meals?
Dual baskets help when you want to cook two foods with separate settings. Some models include a feature to coordinate the finish time, which can reduce the need to cook the foods one after another.
The Ninja Foodi Air Fryer has two independent 4 qt zones and Smart Finish and Match Cook functions. That arrangement can suit a main and side, but each zone has less room than the combined 8 qt total suggests.
What should you check for easy cleaning?
Check how the basket, tray and other removable parts are cleaned before you buy. Dishwasher safe parts can reduce hand washing, while a wipe-clean exterior still needs regular care.
Nonstick surfaces need the care described in the appliance manual. Use the recommended utensils and cleaning method to avoid damaging the coating.
The Ninja AF101's basket and crisper plate are dishwasher safe. The Ninja Foodi Air Fryer's baskets can be washed by hand or in a dishwasher, and its crisper plates are dishwasher safe.
If cleanup is a deciding factor, see our guide to the best easy to clean air fryer. For models with ceramic-coated parts and other material questions, read which air fryers are non toxic.
Which four air fryers illustrate the main options?
These four models show how the formats differ, from a compact basket to a larger oven style appliance. Match each one to your cooking needs and available counter space.
Breville BOV900BSS Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro
The Breville is an oven style choice for buyers who want air frying alongside other countertop cooking functions. It has 13 functions, including air fry, roast, bake, toast, pizza and dehydrate.
The 16 x 13.5 x 7 in interior can fit most 9 x 13 in pans and 12 cup muffin trays. The included accessories include two oven racks, a pizza pan, a broil rack and roasting pan, plus a mesh basket rack for dehydrating and air frying.
Consider it if you want one countertop appliance for several cooking jobs. Its outside dimensions are 21.5 in wide and 17.5 in deep, so measure the counter and door clearance carefully.
Ninja Foodi Air Fryer
The Ninja Foodi suits buyers who want two cooking zones in one appliance. Its two 4 qt baskets give you separate spaces for foods that may need different cooking settings.
Its six functions are air fry, air broil, roast, bake, reheat and dehydrate. The baskets can be washed by hand or in a dishwasher, and the crisper plates are dishwasher safe.
Consider it if you often prepare two foods at the same time. Check the 15.63 in width and the room needed to pull out both baskets.
For more models in this style, compare the best ninja air fryer basket options.
Ninja AF101 Air Fryer
The Ninja AF101 is a 4 qt basket model for smaller batches and familiar cooking tasks. Its four functions are air fry, roast, reheat and dehydrate.
The maker says the basket can fit 2 lb of French fries. Its basket and crisper plate have a ceramic nonstick coating and are dishwasher safe.
Consider it if a single basket fits your portions and counter. It has fewer functions and less capacity than the dual basket Ninja Foodi.
For more options from the brand, see our best ninja air fryer guide.
Chefman Air Fryer 8 Qt
The Chefman Air Fryer 8 Qt is a single basket model with a larger stated capacity. It has four presets for fries, chicken, meat and fish, plus adjustable time and temperature controls.
Its temperature range is 200 to 400°F, and the controls use a digital display. The basket and flat frying tray are top rack dishwasher safe.
Consider it if you want one large basket rather than two separate zones. Measure its 13.5 in width and 12.75 in depth, then check space for ventilation and basket removal.
What details matter for materials and accessories?
Check the basket material and coating care instructions for the exact air fryer you plan to buy. Avoid assuming that all nonstick surfaces use the same material or need the same cleaning routine.
Use only accessories that fit the model and leave room for air circulation. Liners can catch food, but they may affect airflow if they cover too much of the basket or are used without food weighing them down.
Read our guides on best air fryer basket liners and how to use silicone air fryer liners before adding a liner to your setup. For a first run, the how to use air fryers for beginners guide covers basic setup and cooking habits.
How should you choose between brands and extras?
Compare brands by the features you need and the model that fits your counter. Brand name alone does not tell you whether a particular capacity, basket shape or control layout will suit your meals.
If you have narrowed your search to two brands, compare the models and functions directly in our Ninja air fryer vs Cosori and Chefman vs Ninja air fryer guides. For an oven combo, grill feature or pressure cooking functions, compare the specific best air fryer oven combo, best air fryer with grill and best ninja air fryer pressure cooker options.
Consider your cleanup plan before buying. If a basket is damaged or you want a different setup, check compatibility with a best air fryer replacement basket guide or the best air fryer accessories before ordering extras.
A sale should not decide the format for you. First select the size and style that suit your kitchen, then compare current offers in the best large air fryer on sale guide if you need a larger model.
How do you choose the best air fryer to buy?
Choose a compact basket if you make smaller batches, a dual basket if two foods often cook together, or an oven style if you will use its broader functions. Then confirm the dimensions, cleaning instructions and accessories fit your kitchen and routine.
A first time buyer who wants a simple basket can start by comparing the Ninja AF101 and Chefman 8 qt based on portion size. Choose the Ninja Foodi for two independent cooking zones, or the Breville if oven functions and interior room matter more than a compact footprint.
For noise, brand, color or size preferences, narrow the shortlist with our best quiet air fryer, best chefman air fryer, best cosori air fryer and best instant vortex air fryers guides. You can also compare a large white air fryer, a best compact air fryer or a best big air fryer according to your available space and batch size.
Before you decide, check the product dimensions and care instructions for the exact model. If you are also choosing containers for gifting or storage, see our best plastic holiday food containers guide.
Frequently asked questions
Which air fryer should I buy for a small kitchen?
Choose a compact basket air fryer if you usually cook one or two portions and have limited counter space. Check the appliance's outside dimensions and the room it needs around it before buying, since capacity alone doesn't show how much counter area it will use.
Is a basket air fryer or an air fryer oven better?
A basket air fryer is usually the simpler fit for batches of fries, vegetables or wings, while an oven style can also handle tasks such as toast, baking and roasting. Choose by the foods you make most and the counter space you can give the appliance.
Should I buy a dual basket air fryer?
A dual basket air fryer can help when you often cook two foods with different settings or want them to finish together. It takes more room than a single basket model, so compare the full footprint and make sure both baskets suit your usual portions.
What features matter most in an air fryer?
Start with usable capacity, appliance dimensions, controls and how the removable parts are cleaned. Add features such as a second basket, dehydration or oven functions only if they match meals you regularly make; more cooking modes do not guarantee better results for your routine.
How do I choose a safe air fryer?
Read the manual for placement, ventilation, electrical and cleaning instructions, then use the appliance on a stable surface with clear space around it. Check the basket and coating care directions, and don't use damaged parts or accessories that aren't approved for your model.
