Key takeaways

• It's a small convection oven. The USDA describes air fryers as countertop convection ovens that cook faster and use less energy than a full-size oven but hold less food.

• It shines with small, quick jobs. Reheating leftovers without sogginess, crisping frozen snacks, and roasting a couple of portions are its strengths.

• Capacity is the catch for families. Consumer Reports says most models can't cook for a crowd without working in batches, and its lab often measures less usable space than the maker claims.

• It's cheaper to run for small portions. In Energy Saving Trust lab tests, the same chicken breast cost about 30% less to cook in an air fryer than in an electric oven, though the oven wins for batch cooking.

• Use a thermometer and check for recalls. USDA safe internal temperatures apply to air-fried food, and several air fryer models have been recalled for overheating.

An air fryer is a small convection oven

Despite the name, an air fryer doesn't fry anything. The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) calls air fryers countertop convection ovens: hot air circulates quickly around food in a closed basket and crisps the outside without a pot of oil. FSIS says most foods take five to 25 minutes at 350°F to 400°F.

Whether one is worth it for your household comes down to how much food you cook at once. For small portions and reheating, it's faster and cheaper to run than a full oven. For a family dinner cooked in one go, the oven you already own is often the better tool.

What an air fryer does well

Air fryers were introduced in 2010, according to Consumer Reports' air fryer buying guide, and they now do far more than fries and nuggets: reheating leftovers, cooking pizza, roasting vegetables or a whole chicken, dehydrating herbs, and baking. CR says an air fryer can reheat food in a fraction of the time an oven or cooktop takes, and FSIS adds that reheated food doesn't turn soggy.

CR credits the air fryer's crisping to the small, concentrated space the hot air circulates in.

Where an air fryer falls short for a family

Capacity is the biggest limit. FSIS notes that overcrowding the basket blocks the airflow food needs to cook properly, so larger amounts are best done in batches. CR agrees that most models can't feed a crowd without batch cooking. CR treats five quarts and up as a large air fryer, and its lab measurements often find the usable space smaller than the manufacturer's claimed capacity.

In practice, a family meal may come out in more than one round, with the first batch waiting while the next cooks. For families, it earns its place as a second cooking zone, crisping the potatoes while the main dish cooks elsewhere.

Counter space is the second cost. It's one more appliance on the counter, which is why CR points to models with extra modes, such as dehydrating, baking, and rotisserie cooking, that can replace other gadgets. Noise is the third. CR measures each tested model's peak noise with a sound-level meter and publishes a list of the quietest, so it's worth checking before you buy. CR also warns that air fryers can crisp the outside of food before the inside is fully cooked.

Basket or oven-style air fryer

Basket models are the classic shape: a pull-out drawer whose handle locks it in place and turns on the cooking element. Oven-style models are countertop ovens with an air-fry setting, and they're often sold with a dedicated air-fry basket.

Consumer Reports has compared the two. Toaster ovens usually have larger interiors and take larger batches, and you may find it easier to slide in a tray than to handle food in a deep basket. They also cook much like a full-size oven. The tradeoff is crispness: air escapes around an oven door, and CR says air-frying toaster ovens generally can't get food as crisp as a true air fryer. It also notes that toaster ovens with air-fry modes tend to cost much more than most air fryers.

Does an air fryer use less energy than an oven?

For small meals, yes. In lab tests reported by the Energy Saving Trust, a UK energy advice organization, cooking a 600-gram chicken breast (about 1.3 pounds) cost 14 pence in an air fryer and 20 pence in an electric oven at Great Britain's prices, about 30% less. The Trust's explanation is size: an oven's bigger, so it takes more energy to heat up.

The oven comes out ahead when you cook a lot at once. The Trust says its size makes it better for batch cooking or feeding a large group. Those figures use UK electricity prices, so US dollar amounts won't match, but the size logic holds.

Cleaning an air fryer and caring for the nonstick basket

Fat and oil collect in the bottom of the drawer as food cooks, and CR says leaving them can cause odors, excess smoke, or a burned next meal. Its tester's routine: unplug the air fryer, let it cool, and pour out the oil. Wash the removable parts in warm, soapy water with a soft sponge, soaking anything stuck on, then wipe the inside and the heating element with a damp, soapy cloth. Your owner's manual has the steps for your model.

Baskets may carry a PTFE (Teflon) nonstick coating or a ceramic-like coating, or be made of glass. For coated baskets, CR's usual nonstick advice applies: no metal utensils, steel wool, or other abrasives, which can scratch or chip the coating. If the coating is flaking, CR says don't use the air fryer; ask the manufacturer for a new basket or return it to the retailer.

Air fryer safety: food temperatures and recalls

Because air fryers can brown the outside before the inside is done, FSIS says to cook all air-fried food to a safe minimum internal temperature and check it with a food thermometer: 145°F for fish, 145°F with a three-minute rest for whole cuts of beef, pork, veal, and lamb, 160°F for ground meat, and 165°F for all poultry. FSIS also says raw, stuffed, breaded chicken breast products should not be cooked in an air fryer, and that leftovers should go into the fridge within two hours.

It's worth checking the appliance itself, too. In 2023, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a recall of about two million Cosori air fryers because a wire connection could overheat. The company had received 205 reports of units catching fire, burning, melting, overheating, or smoking, including 10 reports of minor burns. In 2024, Best Buy recalled about 187,400 Insignia air fryers and air fryer ovens that could overheat. If you own one, check its model number against the CPSC's recall listings.

Who an air fryer is worth it for

• Small households. The Energy Saving Trust calls the air fryer the best choice for cooking for one or two people.

• Leftover-heavy weeks. It's quick at reheating and keeps food crisp, which suits households that live on leftovers.

• Probably not batch cooks. If most dinners are one big tray for five, the oven is the more efficient tool. More kitchen guides are in our Kitchen section.

Frequently asked questions

What size air fryer does a family need?

Consumer Reports treats five quarts and up as a large air fryer. It also finds that usable space is often smaller than the claimed capacity, so you'll likely still cook in batches for a family, even with a larger model.

Can you cook frozen or packaged foods in an air fryer?

Usually, yes. FSIS says to follow the manufacturer's instructions on the food package and to check meat and poultry with a thermometer. The exception is raw, stuffed, breaded chicken breast products, which FSIS says should not be cooked in an air fryer.

How often should you clean an air fryer?

After each use. Consumer Reports' tester says not to leave crumbs and food in the basket and drawer overnight, and to pour out the oil once it's cooled.