The 6 best air fryers of 2024

TikTok star Poppy O’Toole (@poppycooks) discovered air fryers a few years ago, when her mother received one as a gift. Despite not being the bread maker she had wished for, the quick-cooking device soon became a kitchen staple. Intrigued by her mom’s new-found obsession, O’Toole got one herself, and she’s been a fan ever since.

O’Toole’s not alone – air fryers have surged in popularity online, with the hashtag #airfryer amassing billions of views on TikTok. And to keep up with the demand, content creators and recipe developers are coming up with new and clever dishes, as seen in O’Toole’s latest release, Poppy Cooks: The Actually Delicious Air Fryer Cookbook.

Like larger countertop convection ovens, small-space-ready air fryers function by circulating hot air around food, resulting in a crispy texture with only a fraction of the oil used in traditional frying. They also consume less energy and cook dishes substantially faster than ovens while being incredibly user-friendly. “They’re not a scary piece of equipment, and they’re not something that needs a lot of training to use,” O’Toole says.

Tori Wesszer, a B.C.-based registered dietitian and co-author, with cousin Jillian Harris, of Fraiche Food, Fuller Hearts, agrees that simplicity is key. “Some of them can get pretty complicated with multi-functions, and most people don’t want to learn a new gadget,” she says. “[One of] my cousins had one that did all the things, but it didn’t do any one thing great. Sometimes you’re better off getting an air fryer that’s just an air fryer.”

To gauge the air fryer’s performance and prevent overcooking, O’Toole recommends a straightforward test: “Cook frozen fries at the highest temperature and see how long it takes,” she says. Speed is key here – this will give you an idea of how efficient the appliance is, as different models vary. She also suggests looking for an air fryer with adjustable temperature settings to successfully do everything from gentle baking to high-heat frying. “I like the Ninja ones,” she says. “They’re very powerful.”

Though you’ll want to avoid wet battered foods like tempura and anything overly cheesy or saucy, which need extra oil for a crispy coating and make a mess of your machine, there’s a surprising number of dishes that can turn out spectacularly with an air fryer. “I absolutely love doing whole pieces of meat like porchetta,” says O’Toole. “I sometimes struggle to get that crispy crackling skin with pork belly, especially in the oven. But in the air fryer, it hasn’t failed. It’s also very easy to make little bakes like cookies and brownies because you don’t have to use too many pieces of equipment – no baking trays, no mess.”

Smarter Sizzle

Air fryers to crisp, broil, bake and even dehydrate your favourite foods.