This Ninja Air Fryer Makes Perfectly Moist Chicken Wings

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If you're still wondering what an air fryer is and how it differs from convection baking, think of a small oven that can crisp up wings, fries and veggies with little (or no!) oil — in barely any time.

In the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Culinary Innovation Lab, we have tested more than 40 air fryers over the years, cooking at least one pound of chicken wings in each, as well as one half pound of frozen fries and one half pound of fresh, homemade fries. Our top performers air fried food to a crispy texture with a moist interior and were a cinch to use with large, easy-to-read controls that barely required the owner’s manual.

Our top air fryer picks:

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Air fryers come in several different styles, including what we like to call basket-style, great for large batches of foods like fries and vegetables that benefit from shaking; oven-style, ideal for cooking food on numerous shelves and often including rotisserie accessories; and toaster oven-style, which can toast, bake, broil and more in addition to air fry. No matter the style, they require minimal cleanup, which is one of the main reasons we like using them. (When the time comes, check out our tips on how to clean an air fryer.)

At the end of this guide, you can read more about how we evaluate air fryers in our Lab as well as everything you need to know to shop for an air fryer. As you peruse air fryers and other small kitchen appliances, keep tabs on Amazon Prime Day sales to upgrade your cooking routine while sticking to a budget. Once you find the best air fryer for your needs, check out our round-up of the best air fryer cookbooks for some meal inspiration.

This 5.5-quart basket-style Ninja Air Fryer Max XL was the top performer in our air fryer test. It scored the highest marks across the board for ease of use, thanks to its intuitive, easy-to-read buttons and clear and useful owner’s manual. During our tests, the air fryer basket slid in and out easily, which made handling a breeze. We’re fans of the basket’s removable tray and slick, ceramic interior, which makes it nonstick. The tray also fits snugly and securely on the bottom of the basket so you don’t have to worry about it falling out when you turn the food out onto a plate. Both basket and tray are dishwasher safe and easy to clean, even if you choose to hand wash.

In addition to being easy to use, the Ninja Air Fryer Max XL scored the highest in performance. It produced crispy and evenly cooked frozen fries and homemade fries as well as chicken wings that were moist on the inside. The model we tested comes with a broiling rack for even quicker and juicier results — and a fast way to create melty cheese. It also features several cook settings, which are programmed with unique maximum and minimum temperatures — including Max Crisp and Air Broil (which reach 450°F) and dehydrate (which reaches a low of 105°F) — so you can achieve different cooking results. Another unique feature is the timer, which counts down to the second. For a larger capacity, consider the Ninja Foodi 6-in-1 2-Basket Air Fryer. It performs just as well as the Air Fryer Max XL with even more versatility. It's the one we turn to the most for one-person meals since each individual basket is smaller and takes up less room in the dishwasher.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW: Ninja Max XL Air Fryer Review: Easy to Use with Great Results

Though it's not the least expensive air fryer on our list, this Cosori Air Fryer is a great value: It's straightforward, easy to use and can feed an entire family without costing a fortune. It has a 5.8-quart square basket, which offers a lot of cooking space, especially compared with its round competitors. The basket is removable and lightweight, with many vents for optimal air circulation. The control panel is loaded with presets that are programmed with recommended cooking temperatures and times, including a preheat option. The Cosori Air Fryer can also be used in a manual setting if none of the presets are the perfect fit.

In our tests, the Cosori scored high for ease of use — and more than 27,700 five-star reviewers on Amazon agree. It also made good fresh fries and wings quickly. Our tester did note, however, that while the air fryer made juicy chicken wings, the chicken breasts came out a bit dry on the outside. There was still good color and no charring, though.

Be aware: In February 2023, Cosori voluntarily recalled 21 air fryer models in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Health Canada and Mexico Procuraduría Federal del Consumidor (Profeco). While the model included on our list is not part of the recall, the affected models "are responsible for establishing electrical connections between certain wires [that] can overheat, posing fire and burn hazards," according to the brand. For more information, read the full CPSC announcement and visit the Cosori website.

The Dash Compact is a good air fryer for people who cook only for themselves or for someone who's new to air frying and wants to try it out. At 2 quarts, it can quickly cook one portion of food. The smaller footprint means it takes up less room on your counter, and its compact basket means easier cleaning. This model has a dial timer, which makes it a little tricky to program to the exact minute. The temperature is also set via a dial and doesn’t offer many options, but we found the Dash was still a good pick since we use the max 400°F temperature to air fry most foods. We love that it comes in an assortment of colors that pop, unlike most air fryers on the market. The aqua, pictured here, is a fave.

Cuisinart was one of the first brands to introduce a toaster oven air fryer that allows you to toast, bake, air fry and convection bake. We tested this digital version, which not only made the crispiest air-fried food in the shortest amount of time out of all the air fryers we tested, but also some of the most evenly-colored toast in our toaster oven test. The rectangular 15.5- by 16-inch air fry rack offers a large cooking surface (especially compared with basket-style air fryers) and sits atop a drip/crumb tray for easy cleanup. Since launching the toaster oven air fryer, Cuisinart also introduced a smaller, non-digital version with the same features and quality performance as well as a same-sized model with a grill pan that we're eager to test.

RELATED: 7 Best Air Fryer Toaster Ovens

Air fryers from Instant, the same brand that makes Instant Pot multicookers, have been on our list of best air fryers since we started testing them. The ones we tested, including this one, are easy to program and high-performing. This one particularly stands out for its see-through window design, which allows you to peer inside without pulling out the basket. It also has a light that can be turned on manually and that turns on automatically right before the timer goes off.

In our tests, chicken wings cooked in this 6-quart ClearCook model came out crispy, golden and juicy in just 20 minutes, and frozen fries were moist but crisp and evenly cooked without shaking midway. This air fryer has a preheat function built into it, which takes about 3 1/2 minutes to reach 400ºF and chirps when ready to cook. It does not require you to press Start again after it preheats, should you want to put your food in from the beginning and walk away. It also alerts you halfway through cooking in case you want to shake or turn the food.

The digital control panel is highly responsive, and the knob makes it easy to program the temperature and time quickly. It has six settings that are preset with recommended (but adjustable) cooking temperatures and times, including Air Fry, Bake, Roast, Reheat, Broil and Dehydrate. The square basket maximizes cooking space, is easy to slide out and maneuver and fits comfortably in the dishwasher. It has a removable tray (like the Ninja, Dash and GoWise air fryers) versus a separate basket that sits inside a drawer (like the Cosori and the Philips), and we find the tray easier to wash.

The Ninja Speedi Rapid Cooker and Air Fryer is one of the newest air fryers we've tested. While it looks different — and is somewhat larger — than most air fryers on the market, it's worth making room for on your counter. The 12-in-1 appliance not only air fries well and quickly, but it works similarly to a multicooker (without the pressure!), and can be used to sear, sauté, bake, roast, broil, steam, slow cook, proof, cook sous vide and even dehydrate. It can also steam and bake/air fry at the same time for the juiciest and most flavorful results.

One of the most impressive things it can do is cook quick one-pot meals by cooking the base — like pasta, rice or quinoa — on the bottom of the square basket and the toppings — like chicken, shrimp or meatballs — on the top level. It doesn't require any additional accessories, just the included perforated tray, which is used for air frying and steaming in the lower position and crisping/broiling in the upper position. The tray and six-quart basket are ceramic coated, like the other Ninja air fryers, and they're easy to clean by hand or in the dishwasher. We found the Speedi simple to program and liked the clear control panel, and the user guide is loaded with helpful instructions, tips and colorful recipes.