A “hot air cooker” is usually called an air fryer: a compact appliance that circulates hot air to cook and crisp food. It is not conventional deep frying, and the result is not necessarily identical to food cooked in oil. The best choice depends on the cooking space you can use, how much you make at once, and which features you will actually use.
How to choose an air fryer
Start with your usual meals and kitchen layout rather than the largest capacity label or longest feature list. Compare the appliance’s usable cooking surface, controls, cleanup, footprint, noise, functions and warranty. Consumer Reports’ guide, updated November 20, 2025, describes air frying as convection-like cooking in a compact space and considers several of these factors in its ratings: Consumer Reports’ air fryer buying guide.
- Choose a form: Decide between a basket/drawer, a tray/rack design, or a countertop oven with an air-fry setting.
- Check usable space: Consider the footprint and shape of the cooking surface as well as the stated capacity.
- Assess everyday use: Look at control readability, preset options, noise and how removable parts and interior surfaces are cleaned.
- Pay for functions you need: Baking, dehydration, rotisserie, keep-warm or multiple cooking zones are worthwhile only if they suit meals you plan to make.
- Verify the details: Read the specific model’s warranty and manual, including placement, clearance and cleaning instructions.
Basket air fryer or air-fryer countertop oven?
Basket or drawer models
A basket-style air fryer is the established dedicated format. It can suit cooks who want a contained cooking area and a simple way to load and remove food. Check the basket’s usable base and shape: the printed quart or liter figure alone does not show how much food can fit in a practical layer.
Tray-and-rack designs and countertop ovens
Tray/rack air fryers and countertop ovens with an air-fry mode may suit kitchens or cooking routines that favor shelves, trays, or a broader set of cooking functions. Compare their usable cooking area and overall footprint with the basket models you are considering; an air-fry label does not establish equivalent capacity or cooking results.
#1 Best Overall
- 𝘼𝙞𝙧 𝙁𝙧𝙮𝙚𝙧 𝙐𝙥𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙚: Innovative TurboBlaze Technology delivers a powerful 3600 rpm fan speed and temperatures up to 450℉, achieving crispy, juicy results every time
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What size air fryer do you need?
Choose by the quantity and shape of food you typically cook in a batch, not by household size alone. A manufacturer’s stated capacity can be greater than usable capacity measured in a lab, so look for information about the actual cooking surface and whether food can be arranged without crowding.
Consumer Reports uses 5 quarts as the boundary in its 2025 large- and small-air-fryer roundups: its large category is 5 quarts or larger, while its small category is 5 quarts or less. This is an editorial category boundary, not a universal recommendation for a particular household. The same guide says its rated air fryers “sell for $30 to $350” and most cost $100 or less; those are guide-era US market figures, not a current price survey.
Rank #2
- FAST AND EASY: This compact air fryer handles any culinary challenge. Customize cooking time and temperature with the digital touch screen display or use one of four preset functions for quick, one-touch meals. Perfect for serving 2-4 people
- 450°F HI-FRY TECHNOLOGY: Achieve the perfect finishing crunch on your air-fried favorites. Increase the heat to 450°F during the final two minutes of cooking: perfect for extra crispy chicken tenders and French fries.
- STYLISH AND COMPACT: The sleek, narrow design of this air fryers maximizes its 4-quart capacity while minimizing its countertop footprint. Its compact size makes it a great space saver, fitting perfectly on your counter or in your cabinets
- HEALTHY COOKING: Enjoy delicious meals with little-to-no oil. This Chefman small air fryer lets you cook healthier, low-fat meals that still taste amazing
- SHAKE NOTIFICATIONS: Get notified with an audible alarm halfway through cooking, reminding you to shake your food for the crispiest results possible
What features are worth comparing?
| Factor | What to check |
|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Cooking-surface area and shape, plus how much food you can arrange for a typical batch. |
| Controls | Whether the time and temperature settings are easy to read and adjust; presets may help with routine meals. |
| Cleaning | Which parts come out and how accessible the interior and exterior are for cleaning. |
| Noise | Fan noise can matter in an open-plan kitchen. Consumer Reports includes noise in its testing. |
| Footprint and ventilation | Measure the counter space and check the model’s manual for required clearance around vents. |
| Extra functions | Consider baking, dehydration, rotisserie, keep-warm or multiple cooking zones only if they fit your intended use. |
| Warranty | Check the particular model’s coverage and duration; terms vary across products. |
Examples of current Philips models
Philips’ US catalog illustrates how capacity and features vary within one manufacturer’s current range. These are examples, not performance rankings; the available information here does not compare their cooking outcomes.
| Model listed by Philips US | Stated capacity or feature |
|---|---|
| 2000 Series Airfryer (NA220/00) | 4.2 L |
| 2000 Series Airfryer (NA231/00) | 6.2 L |
| 3000 Series dual-basket model (NA351/00) | Dual basket |
| 5000 Series dual-basket model with steam (NA555/00) | Dual basket with steam |
The Philips listing displays a two-year warranty statement. Check the listing and warranty terms for the exact model and market before buying: Philips US air fryer listings.
The Tool Desk
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- AIR CRISP TECHNOLOGY: 400℉ superheated air surrounds food for hot, crispy results with little to no oil.
- 4-IN-1 FUNCTIONALITY: Features 4 customizable cooking functions—Air Fry, Roast, Reheat, and Dehydrate for maximum versatility. A powerful1750-watt air fryer that’s built for everyday use.
- LARGE CAPACITY: The 5-QT nonstick basket and crisper plate fit up to 4 lbs of French fries or 5 lbs of chicken wings.
- GUILT-FREE FRIED FOODS: Up to 75% less fat than traditional air frying methods. Tested against hand-cut, deep-fried French fries.
- FROZEN TO CRISPY: Cook frozen foods in just minutes for an extra-crispy finish.
Placement, use and cleaning safety
Follow the manual for your exact appliance; clearance and cleaning directions are not necessarily identical across models. Philips’ safety leaflet for its applicable model family instructs users to place the appliance on a dry, stable, level surface and not to cover the air inlet or outlet while it is operating. It warns that accessible surfaces, accessories and exhaust steam can be hot, and says to let the appliance cool before handling or cleaning. The leaflet also says not to fill the pan with oil because it may cause a fire hazard. Consult the leaflet and your product’s manual for the instructions that apply to your model: Philips safety leaflet.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- FRY UP YOUR FAVORITES: Enjoy faster, healthier cooking for popular deep fryer foods like French fries, corn dogs, chicken wings, Brussels sprouts, and more! This stainless steel air fryer produces extra-crispy meals with a fraction of the calories compared to oily, messy deep fryers.
- FOUR-IN-ONE COOKING: This touchscreen air fryer features four functions, including Air Fry, Bake, and Reheat. Our new Frozen function defrosts and then crisps for an added crunch on fries or mozzarella sticks.
- INTUITIVE CONTROLS: Set up your cooking with the easy-to-use touch control UI. TurboFry air fryers let you program your perfect cooking time and temperature up to an impressive 400°F.
- BRING THE HEAT: The Chefman air fryer cranks up the temperature to 450°F for the final two minutes of cooking. Our HI-FRY button puts a beautiful golden-brown crisp on air fried potatoes and chicken.
- SHAKE NOTIFICATIONS: Get automatic alerts halfway through cooking to shake the air fryer basket, guaranteeing evenly crisped French fries without having to set an extra timer.
Rank #4
- SMART FINISH & MATCH COOK: DualZone Technology allows you to choose between the Smart Finish feature, which unlocks cooking 2 foods 2 ways that finish at the same time, and the and a Match Cook button to easily copy settings across zones for full 8-qt capacity.
- 6-IN-1 FUNCTIONALITY: Includes 6 versatile cooking programs: Air Fry, Air Broil, Roast, Bake, Reheat, and Dehydrate. The baskets can be washed in the dishwasher or by hand.
- XL CAPACITY: The 8-quart air fryer capacity lets you fit mains and sides at the same time for making quick family meals, or up to 4 lbs. of French fries or chicken wings.
- SEPARATE HEATING ZONES: 2 independent 4-quart zones have their own cooking baskets, cyclonic fans, and rapid heaters.
- EASY CLEANING: Easy-to-clean baskets and dishwasher-safe crisper plates.
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