You've been thinking about buying your first air fryer, or upgrading your old one, but always talk yourself out of taking the plunge. Is the food that much tastier? And healthier? Are newer air fryers really any better than older ones?

　　We’ve been testing air fryers for years, and we’re here to tell you that you don’t know what you’re missing. The best air fryers on the market today deliver crispy, juicy foods, without the extra calories or trans fats. On top of that, they cook food quickly, are easy to use, and they’re a breeze to clean.

　　Gone are the days when an air fryer only “fried” food. Many of our picks are multifunctional wonders that can steam, bake pizza, or grill a steak—in addition to making delicious french fries and crisping up chicken nuggets in minutes.

　　In fact, our favorite air fryer, the Ninja Speedi Rapid Cooker & Air Fryer

　　, not only excels at frying food, but it also has nine other additional functions, so it might not ever leave your countertop.

　　Whether you’re looking for a traditional air fryer, an air fryer toaster oven, or a multicooker that counts air frying among its options, we've got top picks that just might become your new favorite way to cook.

　　For starters, it's not actually a fryer, but rather a convection oven that includes a heating element and a high-speed fan that circulates hot air around foods in a basket. Using at most a half-tablespoon of cooking oil, the appliance will brown and crisp up food. However, it doesn't always deliver the same combination of all-over crunchiness and perfect tenderness as frying in oil. These appliances don't require more than a few minutes to preheat, so they deliver the goods faster than deep-frying.

　　These devices are easy to use and often easy to clean. Always check the manufacturer's instructions, but most will follow these basic procedures:

　　1. Preheat before cooking.

　　Many air fryers need time to come to temperature before cooking. In general, preheat for 3-5 minutes, depending on the size of the fryer.

　　2. Lay food flat and don't overcrowd the food.

　　Just like conventional frying, overloading your air fryer—especially with frozen foods—could produce soggy or uneven results. Plus, it could also increase the cooking time.

　　3. Flip while frying.

　　Don't forget to batter and/or bread items properly before dropping them into the air fryer, and be sure to flip your food halfway through the cooking process. Also, keep an eye on your food while it cooks. This will let you adjust timing as necessary and help get you used to your new appliance.

　　4. Clean the air fryer when you're done.

　　Don’t forget to clean the appliance after you finish cooking and the device has cooled down. Food particles can build up over time and cause issues down the line.

　　There’s not a simple answer to that question. Yes, cooking food with less oil and by convection is healthier than deep frying something. However, another determining factor is what food you’re preparing. Chicken nuggets and french fries are great in an air fryer, but they’ll never be as good for you as baked chicken and Brussels sprouts.

　　There are so many great air fryer recipes (especially for families)! Air fryers can do everything from bake, broil, and roast, to reheating casseroles, or even baking desserts.

　　They are, of course, limited by their size. But if you need an extra oven or don’t want to heat the kitchen with a traditional oven, these countertop appliances are helpful.

　　Some popular air fryer uses include:

　　Roasting vegetables like potatoes, Brussels sprouts, carrots, and squash

　　Meat dishes, such as crispy chicken, bacon, burgers, and hot dogs

　　Frozen foods like chicken nuggets, french fries, tater tots, mozzarella sticks, and onion rings

　　Baked goods such as donuts, fritters, and funnel cake

　　You might be tempted to cover the inside of your air fryer basket with aluminum foil before placing your food in to avoid the annoying post-cook washing process. But you're probably better off nixing any sort of lining.

　　Technically, you can line your air fryer with aluminum foil (or parchment paper) safely without worrying about the concerns associated with microwaving similar materials. But we still caution against it for gustatory reasons.

　　Air fryer baskets are designed with openings throughout for optimal airflow. It's the reason that frozen fries and chicken thighs don't come out crispy on top and soggy on the bottom. Covering those holes with a lining of any kind can inhibit that airflow, and result in a meh texture.

　　Thankfully, most air fryers feature a nonstick basket, and many are even dishwasher safe, to make cleanup so much easier. In our opinion, you're better off ditching the foil and giving your basket a good wash after each use. (Plus, less waste! A win-win.)

　　To find the best air fryers, we rated these kitchen appliances on how well they cooked fresh (from scratch) and frozen french fries and chicken nuggets, as well as how well each model grilled hamburgers.

　　Since each air fryer is unique and there are all types on the market now, you’ll be relying on the manual to get started. We checked to see if each explained how to use the product thoroughly, provided guidelines for cooking specific foods, and included recipes.

　　We also considered how easy it was to use the controls (for both manual and digital air fryers), slide the basket in and out, and clean up.

　　As you may not use this kitchen gadget daily, we also considered how easy it would be to store and stash away.

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