Been learning about & wanting an AF for several years. Made the plunge and got the $50. Gourmia 8 Qt, 1700 watts, Costco model. It appears to be similar to the Instant brand, and has a window in the drawer (9.5”X9.5”).Have used it a dozen times and find it lives up to the reps all AF users rave about. Not Going Back! I really like using it, and perfect results. Thanks, ATK, for helping me learn how to choose & use this great kitchen appliance. 🍴
You guys are the best! Never steered me wrong yet! This summer i purchased the Instant Air Fryer and it has been revolutionary. First off, I don’t have AC so in the summer it was amazing to be able to cook so many things without heating up the house. So fast to heat up frozen rolls without waiting for the big oven to get to temperature. Best grill cheese sandwiches I have ever made. No burning. I actually did not bother using my propane grill because the temp was so controlled the summer hamburgers were perfect every time without needing to run outside checking only to find I crisped them too much. I was so impressed I have since bought three more of these units for family members and everyone is as pleased as I have been. Thanks for the new extra tips.
They're amazing if you need to keep the temp down. You don't have to preheat and the fryer turns off on its own, too. They're a miracle especially if you're AuDHD like me or my sister. She kept leaving the stove on at like 450°f for 24+ hours and I just wouldn't bake anything at all because it took too long to heat up
I got a ninja foodi oven and bake all kinds of stuff in it, muffins, biscuits, cookies, tons of pizzas. Plus we use it for typical air fryer stuff like fries and vegan chicken all the time
Everything I've cooked in this unit has come out great ru-vid.comUgkxD4Qeo-HRLxMfom_PDinM_SBfes00qJsB ! Everything tastes so good. Some of the recipes I've changed a little to improve the taste. For instance, for french fries which call for no oil, I spray them with olive oil and season them with salt and pepper. They come out great! It makes the best toast I have ever eaten. The recipe I use calls for lightly buttering both sides of the bread. It calls for cooking at 400 degrees for 5 minutes on one side and then 2 minutes on the other side. This time has a lot to do with the kind of bread you are using...so keep an eye on it. Also, the fans in this Ninja are a lot stronger than other air fryers. So lay a metal spoon or something on the bread to keep it from flying around. It's a little extra work to use your Ninja as a toaster but it is worth it!
I have the winner, from the makers of Instant Pot, and I love it. 5 slices of thick-cut bacon at 350 degrees F for 9 minutes is perfectly crisp and the extra grease is contained underneath the basket grating. No need to pre-heat or turn the bacon. Just put it in cold and go. Easy clean up, too.
I watched a LOT of you tube videos about air fryers to help me decide what brand was best. In the end, I decided why do I really need one. Messy and takes up real estate in the kitchen. But this video has set me back on the trail. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Hi, great segment. One suggestion about digital controls…I have a blind friend who likes to cook but helping her shop for appliances that have controls she can operate is frustrating. We apply labels when we can, but analog controls make her life a lot easier. If you could keep her needs in your criteria list as an option, it would be so appreciated.
@@lizgander9172 Thank you. My friend uses voice activated instructions/controls where she can. HOWEVER, all the instructions available via phone and Alexa apps don't help if the appliances have only visual (ie., digital) controls. She gets around town (ordering rideshare), reads her mail (paper as well as electronic) and for many years has taught visually impaired how to navigate efficiently in their lives. All that being said, if she buys a new appliance, the are a big issue and not all have voice activated through Alexa or iPhone. It's time America's Test Kitchen thinks a bit more broadly when they're doing their tests.
It would be super helpful to have an audio option seeing as it is digital. I think audio should be a standard option in most appliances seeing most are digital. A lot of people are hard of hearing and hearing often "decrease" with age (trying to be sensitive 😊).
Airfryer is great for making onsen eggs, set a low temperature 80 degrees celsius and then 17-20 mins and you have eggs that you can keep for later. You can always adjust the temps and timings to your own liking, no messing with hot and cold water baths and less variables with more eggs.
❤ I bought your recommended Instant pot model last year and love it. A big benefit is that my kids are learning to cook because of it. The intuitive controls and safety features are key. Easy cleaning is also a bonus. Great advice. Thanks.
I was going to get the instant model you recommended, but they had a sale for 30% off $150 or more! So I ended up getting the upgraded model with lighted window for about the same price
I love to put our philips airfryer basket in the washer, the whole thing. Been doing it for many years. It will discolour slightly over time. Also cook with it placed on our cook top, so smoke is sucked out directly with the ventilation.
I totally agree with your choice! I have owned three other models of air fryers and the Cosori Dual Blaze is the best! No more turning food over halfway through the cooking time and it reheats food like a charm. I have two silicone ridged bottom pans that I use so clean up is even easier. I waited until the price dropped by $60.00 during Black Friday sales on Amazon.
Wish I'd watched your original review before I bought the Cuisinart (I forget the name but it looks like an industrial version of an EZ Bake Oven, which made me happy). That thing is a PITA to clean! Especially when you have teenagers who like to cook but occasionally aren't so good with the cleanup. I think I'll send it off with them when they move out and buy myself one of these.
Excellent information. I have been using an air fryer ever since they first came out and I learned something new. One question I have wondered for years and which you never addressed is this... Should you preheat your air fryer... I have always preheat for 5 minutes but wondered if it is really necessary. Also, I would have appreciated hearing how much of a cost saving on electricity using this appliance rather than a conventional oven really is.
We just got the Instant at the holiday sales at a decent price. We had a 2.6 quart for years which worked fine for what we used it for but I wanted to expand. Plus the other one was hard to get clean. Once I got the smell to go away I loved it. I wish I’d seen this video about the liners before I bought a ton lol.
A buddy of mine gave me his old air fryer because he just got a bigger one. Used an air fryer for the first time the other night and it’s excellent. I’m always warming up small portions of food and muffins, biscuits and bread, and this made things so much easier. It sucks I haven’t thought about buying one in the past. And I like how even the best ones, are super inexpensive.. I would’ve thought these would be 300$ or more for the best top rated one but these are extremely affordable.
Love the gear heads series. I'd like to see how air fryers that are combined with other appliances (microwave, oven, etc.) stack up against the standalone products. Something like the Blackstone griddle with air fryer combo. I'd imagine they're probably not as good, but it'd still be a helpful comparison.
I own the Breville smart oven air with all the functions. I use a thin disposable aluminum flat tray and I put parchment paper on top put my food to air fry I don’t use the basket, and my food comes out perfect
I have been resistant to air fryers, but as a singleton, I am looking more and more for appliances that can cook smaller meals. I have no use for a big oven and want something that cooks meals of no more than two servings. After watching this, I feel like an air fryer might be in my near future. Thanks for the tips, Ladies!
They shade on the oven style air fryers but I really like mine. Its like a big toaster oven that airfries and even has a dehydrator function. It has a way larger capacity I can cook multiple things at once. A pod style air fryer might be cool to have for cooking messier stuff but if I could only choose one id keep the large oven style.
After checking RU-vid for help deciding which one to buy, all the information and consideration has my head spinning. Since you've been at the air fryer game for years and have tried so many of them I was wondering which one you would buy out of the three air fryers I've narrowed my choices down to: 1. 0:26 Philips Essential Air Fryer XL 6.2qt model HD9270/91, 2. Instant Pot Vortex Plus 6qt Air Fryer model # 140-3088-01, or Cosori Pro II 5.8qt Air Fryer model #CP358-AF? Your videos are so relatable and easy to understand that I thought you'd be able to steer me in the right direction. Thanks
I bought my first air fryer this week, a Cosori 5qt. It's drawer is similar to your #1 pick's. It fits my countertop better. I live alone so size wise it's more than big enough. Right from the start I was getting great results, from frozen yam fries, to breaded chicken breast, veggies, hamburger, hamburger buns, bacon. The icing on the cake is that it's almost 1/2 the price of your #1 pick.
I've been using a 5.8 quart Cosori air fryer for almost 3 years now. It can handle a whole chicken just over 5 pounds. Advice, with tongs and a long handle fork, flip it over after 20 or so minutes so to get good cooking on the back side, for about 15 minutes, then flip it back over, breast side up for crisping the breast skin and take the temp. As far as clean up with other meals, there are wire racks with 1 inch legs. Just crimp some aluminum foil with edges underneath for a 'drip pan'. Easier clean-up.
I got the instant pot air fryer free on Facebook market place. The handle was broken off. I brought it home and used super glue and you can’t see it. Have been using it for about a year. I love it.
1st time buyers, you'll want the air fryer with the lighted window! And DON'T get the oven-style for all their stated reasons. When shopping, I start with the ATK Amazon link and looked around from there for size and feature upgrades that might work better in my situation. Found the 6qt Instant Vortex (DRAWER) model with the window and lighted interior. Added bonus, they had it on a Prime members sale for $129 ($30 off, it was Christmas time 2021) Window and light makes all the difference! The light is bright enough so you get full illumination of the food for accurate judging color and texture in doness and browning. Also saves from constantly opening and closing the drawer to check it when you are trying something new and unsure of how long to cook it before the next step (such as stirring or turning.) or before its done. We've had it for over a year and surprise!, found it the go-to cooking appliance when cooking for two. Fast cooking, easy cleanup, foods cook crispy, juicy while containing any splatter inside the drawer and not all over the stovetop. Its bigger than the appliances you are used to having on the counter but if you have an L- shaped counter like we do, it fits nicely in that otherwise unused deep corner countertop space, facing out for easy access and pushed back out of the main countertop traffic when not in use.
Very informative. Wanted to mention on the silicone liner that for me I do like the fact that it might help with cleanup but I would mostly want to use it to keep my food from touching teflon.
Cleaning tip for the Instant Brands Vortex drawer models - on my 6 quart model the tip of the handle is deeper than the depth of the drawer, so if I put the drawer in the sink to scrub out the bottom of the drawer, any pressure applied to the base of the drawer is carried by the tip of the handle which may cause it to break. Work around: put a folded sponge under the edge of the drawer closest to the handle so any pressure applied to the drawer is carried by the drawer and not the tip of the handle.
We love our Power XL Vortex. My wife kept pushing the purchase, I kept saying we didn't need another appliance. I use it more than she. The 5qt suits us,perfectly.
I would be super interested in your top air fryer that doesn’t have a non-stick coating. Please consider letting us know!! Thanks so much for all your research! ❤
Thank God for ATK. I was about to buy a cheap air fryer to save money but the reviews were terrible and the recommended air fryers in this video actually fit what I'm looking for much better!
I have gone through 5 airfryers and have your winner (for at least 2 years!) I love it. Does so much more then just air frying. I had a similar model to your runner up and had to stop using it as the handle is actually attached to the inside basket, so when removing to just shake a bit half way through the bottom basket would detach at fall off. DANGEROUS!!!
If I use any liner, it’s disposable only,I soak my air fryer pan in hot soapy water when cooled,dump water out wash liner pan with dish cloth , no elbow great at all, as for my top element I have a very good method, develop your own cleaning top cleaning method thru your personal method.
I bought a 6qt Kalorik with very similar controls and the same size basket, but half the cost of the listed favorite. Mine also holds time remaining when paused and shuts off when timer goes off. I like it so much, I got rid of my microwave.
Thank you, thank you, thank you 🙏. Another detailed, thorough and pertinent review. This air fryer is absolutely on my must have kitchen gadgets list 🎉. Idea for the test kitchen, Air fryer cook book!!!❤❤❤
I purchased the Ninja foodie grill and love it. I never had an issue with the top element being a burn risk, I have plenty if room to flip food. I cook steak, burgers, chicken on the grill setting. Basically its my winter grill. My son eats gluten free and I can make copycat chicken sandwiches whenever he wants one in the time it takes to heat my big oven.
We got your recommended Instant Pot air fryer in 2022 and we could never get rid of the heinous chemical stench the thing filled our house with whenever we used it. We tried everything including setting it on high outside in order to “cook off” the stank this thing regularly produced. We finally (and gleefully) tossed it in the garbage.
Thank you for this review. I am happy that the recommendations did not change because, as you pointed out, it makes them stronger ❤. I absolutely appreciated the tips! And I am thrilled that you have a team dedicated to air frying. Where, or how, do we access your recipes please? I would love a cooking channel (or at least a series that is added to when new recipes are created) dedicated to air frying ❤. Thank you
I’m glad your test is over time. I had to return to Gourmia Air fryers to Costco because they sparked. I researched air, fryers, and a number of them have caused fires. I reported my air fryers to the consumer products commission. It looks like Cosari was replaced as the top one to buy
As someone that lives alone, a small air fryer has saved me a lot of electricity. My apartment gets very hot, so turning the oven on is just not something I want to do, especially in the some. I could survive in a tiny place with a rice cooker, air dryer, and kettle. Of course I cook larger meals and use the big appliances too, but day-to-day the more efficient, mini appliances are perfect.
I love my air fryer, I have the instant pot vortex, and the Cosori,dual Blaze, I prefer the Corsori,window is nice but the 2 elements withe the corsori dual blaze super great.
I am a huge Instant fan. My very, very small is filled with them (including those that are set on the storage shelving unit over there), including one Instand air fryer. The problem I have with most of the videos, including this one, is that the device is very much NOT designed for a one-person family. I don't eat much, so having a 6-quart device is not suitable. Almost nobody addresses the 'mini' variety. I have the Instant Vortex Mini. I have not found recipes or even optional cookware designed for that very small device. I wish and hope that would change.
Thanks again, ladies. I am looking forward to trying your suggestions when I am finally in my new home and open up my Christmas gift (late, I know!). My first air fryer was a 2.5 qt. Cosori, and I loved it, but it was too small, even for just me & my hubby. So I got a 5.5 qt. Cosori, and am anxiously awaiting both my new home and using my new, larger air fryer. I don’t believe I’ve seen you review the Cosori model, but I like the brand just fine. I am hopeful the basket will be significantly large enough to do meals for two in it. I am looking forward to ATK’s recipe book for air fryers, too.
I'd like more advice on using an oven based air fryer. Our new stove has an air fryer option, but we find that the rules are different and there's almost no information out there to help guide us.
If someone comes out with a good rice cooking, air frying pizza oven, I'm in. Until then, although it looks great, I just don't have the cupboard or counter space for yet another appliance.
Do you not already have a toaster oven? If so, a counter top air-fryer and toaster oven is great. The Ninja flip 9-in-1 goes up to 450F which is okay for pizza but you would have to find a smaller pizza steel/stone to fit. As for cooking rice, just cook it in a pot, steamer, or pressure cooker...
I think some people are missing the joke here. Pressure/rice cookers, air fryers and pizza ovens are all the rage. So I made a joke about combining them because very few people have the space for all of them. I am perfectly capable of making things in other appliances which I do have (oven with a stone for pizza, zojirushi for rice).
@@jtsholtod.79 people have been making rice in an ordinary pot for tens of thousand of years… a rice cooker is an unnecessary device, maybe if you learned how to cook it in an ordinary pot like the rest of civilization then you’d have the counter space for an air fryer
Please do an ATK Gear Heads review of food mills. Hopefully you might be able to finish a food mill review before berry picking season this coming summer. Thank you.
Sorry, but I like my Ninja Foodi Digital Air Fry/Oven/Toaster. It replaced a toaster oven, since counter space is limited. There was a learning curve, but it is great.
Would be nice to see you test full size ranges and ovens that have an air-fry setting. I don't understand why I would need to buy another kitchen gadget if my oven already has this ability.
I use the oxo good grip non stick wire rack over a large sheet pan lined with foil.. the trick is to load and season off the sheet pan. Shake just a bit to knock of any loose crumbs. Organize tots , fries.. what ever. Then sit rack on sheet pan. It’s the crumbs that smoke up the place. Yes, I have to clean up crumbs . But I am not getting a broom to turn off smoke detector 😊 if I am air frying something saucy.. I add a little water to sheet pan. My Samsung air fryer works great. Just took a min to figure out.
They are basically just a smaller, easier-to-clean, convection oven that (may) use less power. If you already have a convection oven, you don't really need an air fryer.
Did you test any Cosori models? A lot of RU-vidrs love them. One of them has the InstantPot model and she loves it, but I don't like the design--I like the full inner removeable basket style. I want to dump food without the grease or crumblies (or metal tray) coming with it onto my plate.
I am not so sure that non-stick is safe at any degree. Hopefully eventually there will be be a non-teflon pull-out drawer style air fryer. The oven style are a pain to clean.
I’ve used three air fryers and have owned two. I use mine nearly every day. My current one was highly rated and more expensive than typical. Now what I’ve learned….my cheapo was better because it had a basket within a basket ….just like an oil fryer. Not sure why most models forgo the basket you can detach by the handle and use to pour the food out just like an oil fryer….I will not buy another model unless it has this function because it makes it easier and more convenient to use and easier to clean
I thought that you shouldn’t use canned cooking sprays on an air fryer because the the aerosols can harm the non stick surface. As a result I use an oil non aerosol hand pump
Hey David! Great question. I went back and talked to our cookbook team and they said they use cooking spray sparingly in our recipes when the items have a high potential for sticking (breaded things, delicate things, sugary things). He said they haven't seen any damage to the machines--that said you are right! Most machines do not recommend this (including our winner). The lecithin in the nonstick spray can bond to the nonstick surface and create an invisible layer that makes the nonstick surface sticky going forward. This is also why we say to never use nonstick on a nonstick surface. In sum, you're right! It's fine sparingly but not as a regular practice.
We were looking at liners not to help with the clean up, but to save the wear and tear on the metal tray that the food sits on. Ours has had the coating come off in a lot of spots, which is really disappointing. We thought we'd buy a new tray and then buy a liner to protect it.
Please bear in mind for someone who is visually impaired the smart phone controls can be useful. This is because a lot of the digital models have a touch screen which is really not accessible. Writing something off, just because it’s not great for the majority is just exclusive
I'll bite on granola vs trail mix. Granola is usually oats or another grain with associated nuts, fruit and seasoning, often baked. Without the grain base I don't think you could call something granola and you can almost always eat granola with milk. On the other hand trail mix can contain any mixture of dry food items. You don't typically see rolled oats or other loose grains in trail mix but they aren't contraindicated. You would never see someone eat trail mix with milk.
Did you test the philips xxl? It has a tray that holds the shelf which is nice if you don't wanna put the superhot shelf on the counter somewhere. I tried a bunch and I stuck with the more expensive Philips ones. The bigger, the better, even for smaller portions.
I have the Ninja DZ401 10qt 2-basket model. Only had it about a month now, but it works really well for us. With the two baskets, we can cook two different things at the same time (chicken thighs in one basket, brussels sprouts in the other). The downside is that we can't do one really big thing like a whole chicken. Overall, it's really convenient that I can cook something like chicken thighs in the air fryer while preparing pasta on the stove.
