An affordable air fryer is a dream come true. A kitchen appliance out there can imitate a deep fryer with very little oil and very quickly? All of this without breaking the bank too?
There are great air fryers out there, but there are a lot of things to consider before getting one. To start, here are our picks for best air fryers under $100.
Our Favorite Picks Summary :
Our Favorite Picks Comparison:
The 8 Best Air Fryers Under $100
1. COSORI Air Fryer – Best Overall
At a capacity of 5.8 quarts, this air fryer’s square basket can fit food most air fryers can’t, such as a whole chicken, steaks, and cuts of fish. Its capacity can feed a family of five or more.
It is 1700 watts, which makes it really powerful. Its high wattage helps it cook faster than most and save energy. Thus, this bad boy will save you a lot of electricity bills. It can also be used between 140 to 400 °F.
One of the best things about it is how easy it is to clean. The basket is stainless steel, nonstick and removable; it is also free from FOA and BPA. This makes it dishwasher-safe.
Its whooping 11 presets for steak, poultry, seafood, shrimp, frozen foods, and much more saves you time and effort your ancestors would kill to save—no more undercooking or overcooking. Its preheating feature takes from 2 to 5 minutes and gives the food the best texture.
The shake reminder helps you cook food evenly. The Keep Warm feature keeps your food warm while you do something else.
Pros:
- Fast cooking
- 11 presets
- Easy to use interface
- Easy to clean
- 100 recipe cookbook
- Free 2-year warranty
- Sleek design
- Feeds a family
Cons:
- Takes a lot of counter space
Final Verdict
The COSORI air fryer is one of the best ones on the market right now thanks to its huge capacity, robust power and speed.
2. GoWISE USA GW22731 – Runner Up
Like its COSORI sister, it has a capacity of 5.8 quarts. If you have a family of four to six people, this inexpensive air fryer will work for you.
Similar to the COSORI one, it is 1700 watts. It is powerful enough to cook anything in 30 minutes or much less.
It is not dishwasher-safe. However, it is still very easy to clean; no pre-soaking is needed. It has a removable and nonstick coated basket and pan. They are free of PFOA as well.
Coming with 8 presets for steak, shrimp, cake, fish, pizza, and more, this air fryer does all the hard work for you. The Start/Stop button allows you to adjust the cooking process mid-cycle. The alarm function reminds you to flip your food.
An amazing safety feature is its cool-touch handle to avoid accidental burns. Another safety feature is the button guard on the removable basket to avoid accidental detachment.
Pros:
- Easy to clean
- Quiet
- 30-day money-back guarantee and 1-year warranty
- Comes in 4 colors
- 8 presets
- 50 recipes cookbook
- Cool-touch handle
- Alarm function
- Start/Stop button
Cons:
- Only 30-days warranty on the baskets, handles, and pans
- Material is not sturdy or durable
Final Verdict
It is versatile with amazing features. However, you can prolong the basket’s life by cleaning with non-abrasive sponges, and soft detergents. Using parchment paper can be helpful.
3. Ninja Air Fryer – Durable Ceramic Coating
This one has a smaller capacity than its COSORI and GoWISE counterparts. It has a capacity of 4 quarts, which is perfect for a family from three to five. It can fit 2 lbs of fries easily.
It is 1550 watts, which means it is pretty powerful.
In addition, Ninja Air Fryer is durable; the basket and the crisper plate are ceramic-coated. Ceramic coatings can withstand extremely high temperatures ranging from 105 to 400°F. This means that you can kiss goodbye toxic coatings that have you worried about the health and safety of your family in the long run.
Ceramic coatings also don’t scratch (yay!), but they can break, so be careful.
The cleanup is easy as it is dishwasher-safe. This is thanks to its nonstick ceramic-coated basket, pan, crisper plate, and multi-layer rack.
Ninja Air Fryer air fryer has 4 preset cooking modes (Air Fryer, Roast, Dehydrate, and Reheat). Yes, this confirms that it doubles as a dehydrator. Imagine the versatility that offers you chicken nuggets, roasted veggies, and dried fruits.
With this air fryer, you can also reheat your leftovers, so no food goes to waste. You can have all of this while staying on budget.
Pros:
- Durable ceramic coating
- 4 preset cooking modes
- Easy to clean
- User-friendly
- Limited 1-year warranty
Cons:
- No cookbook, only 12 recipes guide
- No automatic pause for when you pull the basket out without pausing the machine yourself
Final Verdict
This budget air fryer is impressively versatile. If you need one appliance to use on a daily basis and to help with every meal, this one is it.
The downside is that you will have to look for recipes yourself to benefit from its versatility. Some users complain about a plastic smell, but there is a solution for that.
4. Secura Air Fryer
Its capacity is 4.2 quarts; this means it can feed a whole family in one take, whether we’re talking about snacks or main dishes.
With its 1500 watts, Secura Air Fryer is among the powerful and energy-efficient air fryers. High wattage also makes sure the food is cooked evenly. So, this one does a good job making good quality meals in a short time.
As it is usually with analog air fryers (and old phones), they are made with very durable material that can handle heavy-duty use.
Its exterior design makes it easy to wipe it clean. Its nonstick and removable basket and parts deem it dishwasher-safe as well.
As an analog air fryer, it only has two dials to set the temperature and time for cooking. It also has heating and power indicator lights. These features make its use simple and straightforward, although fans of presets might not enjoy it as much.
The fact that it comes with an 8-recipe guidebook, a pan, a toaster rack, and skewers diversifies the cooking experience in ways many air fryers can’t.
Pros:
- Durable
- Easy to clean
- Easy to use and straightforward
- Accessories
- Long cord that reaches outlets easily
- Quiet
- 2-year warranty
- Doesn’t take much counter space
Cons:
- Analog dials are not precise
Final Verdict
Anyone who doesn’t like analog air fryers can skip this one. Otherwise, it is amazing.
5. Avalon Bay Air Fryer – Best Air Fryer For Small Amount of Food
It has a capacity of 3.7 quarts, which means it can fit 2.2 pounds of food in one batch. This air fryer is for cooking a main dish for two people or a snack for more. To clarify, if you’re cooking a main dish for more than two people, you will have to do it in batches.
Its relatively small capacity helps in it being compact. It also has a top handle that facilitates carrying it around and storing it. The design is, overall, very elegant.
Avalon Bay Air Fryer is 1400 watts, which is more than enough for an air fryer of its size.
Its removable, BPA-free, and nonstick parts facilitate its cleanup. Even though it is dishwasher-safe, it is so easy to hand wash that you won’t need the dishwasher.
It is an analog air fryer that comes with two straightforward dials for time and temperature. The 30-minute timer comes with automatic shutoff to prevent overcooking and ensure safety.
It also has cool-touch pan handles to prevent accidental burns. Its non-slip feet make sure it stays in place. In addition, it comes with accessories such as a nonstick baking dish, multi-use rack, and a 52-page cookbook for all kinds of recipes.
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Easy to clean
- Compact
- BPA free
- Accessories
- 90 days returns and a 1-year limited warranty
- Stainless steel 304 heating element
- 30-minute timer with automatic shutoff
- Cool-touch pan handles
- non-slip feet
Cons:
- Not suitable for large batches
Final Verdict
If you’re only cooking a main dish for two or snacks for more, this one is perfect. If not, maybe skip this one.
6. Black+Decker TO3265XSSD – Large Capacity
This air fry toaster oven comes at an extra-large capacity. It can fit 8 slices of bread, 12″ Pizza, 9” x 13” pan with handles without overcrowding or needing lots of batches. It has enough room for three separate racks at different positions.
What’s interesting is that for its large capacity, it doesn’t take up much counter space.
This combo appliance is 1500 watts. It is powerful, which is necessary for its many applications.
Although its parts are dishwasher-safe and it comes with an external crumb tray, the cleanup is probably the hardest on the list. A nonstick pan is definitely needed.
Black+Decker TO3265XSSD is analog. It comes with 5 cooking functions: bake, broil, toast, Keep Warm, and air fry. It also has a 60-minute timer to match all its cooking functions.
It comes with a bake/broil rack and a pan.
Pros:
- Easy-to-use dials
- Accessories
- Quiet
- External crumb tray
- 60-minute timer
- Extra-large capacity
- Doesn’t take much counter space
- 5 cooking functions
Cons:
- No instructions or recipes like with air fryers
- Not so easy to clean
Final Verdict
If you have a small kitchen and a combo appliance would save you space and money, get this one; it is definitely an investment. If you don’t have a problem with space, get any other air fryer on the list.
7. NuWave 36011 – Digital LED Controls
It has a capacity of 3 quarts, making it fall in the small to medium category. It can fit 2 chicken breasts or 1.5 pounds French fries. This capacity is perfect for couples and singles. Families of three or more should skip this one.
Showing off its impressive customization, NuWave 36011has three wattage control settings: 600/900/1300. NuWave prides itself on being green and energy-efficient with its products.
Its basket and base tray is PFOA-free and nonstick-coated. This ensures easy cleanup whether you wash it in the sink or the dishwasher.
This baby has 6 presets that include fries, frozen fries, nuggets, steak, poultry, and fish. The most popular foods to fry are one click away.
Not impressed? NuWave 30611 also has reheat and preheat functions. Anyone can tell you that reheating food with this air fryer is way better than in a microwave. Its basket is a patented one with meshed design to hot air to circulate around the food from all sides and directions.
Pros:
- Digital LED controls for maximum accuracy
- 3 wattage control settings: 600/900/1300
- Recipes available on an application
- Preheat and reheat functions
- Quiet
- 1-year warranty
- 6 presets include: Fries, Frozen Fries, Nuggets, Steak, Poultry, Fish
Cons:
- Accessories bought separately
Final Verdict
Kinda like its Avalon counterpart, it will do great for small batches. It is perfect for one or two people, but not more.
8. Elite Platinum EAF-1506D – Easy To Clean
At a capacity of 3.5 quarts, it can cater to singles and families from two to three people. At its price point and other features, this is a great investment for small households.
Like its Avalon sister, Elite Platinum EAF-1506D is 1400 watts.
Its cleanup couldn’t be easier, thanks to its removable PFOA/PTFE free nonstick coated fryer basket and pan. You can wash them with soap and sponges or a dishwasher.
This air fryer definitely has some “elite” features. It comes with 6 different menu functions: bake, meat, fish, cheese, veggies, and fries. It also has a 60-minute timer.
Furthermore, it has a cool-touch handle and overheating protection to ensure the safety of its users and the quality of the cooking. Also, the 60-minute timer has an automatic shutoff once it finishes its cycle.
The air fryer comes with a fryer Base, removable Pan, removable Basket, instruction manual, and colored recipe booklet. This air fryer really wants to be as convenient as possible.
Pros:
- 60-minute timer with automatic shutoff
- cool-touch handle and overheating protection
- 1-year warranty
- 6 menu functions
- 26 recipe cookbook (colored)
- Easy-to-use interface
- Easy to clean
Cons:
- Not suitable for large batches
- Noisy
Final Verdict
This is one of those “if you can afford it, go get it,” kind of air fryers.