Unlike a lot of models, such as our budget pick, the Cosori Pro Air Fryer, which has 11 different preprogrammed settings for commonly cooked food (plus settings for preheating and keeping food warm), the Philips has just four: frozen fries, chicken, fish, and meat, all of which you access through a single dial on the control panel. The Philips is one of the best-designed pod-shaped air fryers we’ve tested due to its small footprint, streamlined interface, and sleek looks.
We also tested seven other pod-shaped air fryers for our 2021 update. In 2021 we tested the newer version of that model, the Philips Premium HD9741/96, which we now recommend in its place the newer model produced results that were consistent with those of the discontinued model. We also conducted all of the same tests in the now-discontinued Philips Avance HD9641/96-the pod-shaped air fryer that in our 2017 tests performed the best-so that we could compare the results. After eliminating several models, we baked a yellow cake (from a box mix) and roasted whole chickens in the finalists. We also made batches of frozen french fries and tasted them to see whether any pieces ended up under- or overcooked in addition, we baked frozen breaded chicken tenders and fish sticks to see whether they browned evenly or ended up with soggy bottoms. We filled each model with as many slices of white sandwich bread as they would allow and used the toasted results as a heat map: Uneven browning alerted us to any hot spots in each oven. For our 2019 update, we decided to begin testing the toaster-oven air fryers as we would regular toaster ovens.
We also have general advice on how to adjust air-fryer recipes for your convection toaster oven.įor our original guide in 2017, we ran the air fryers through a series of tests: We cooked frozen and hand-cut french fries, frozen finger foods, and pork chops. If you’re not sure whether you want a convection toaster oven or an air fryer, we’ve written a helpful checklist so you can better understand the trade-offs for each appliance. In 2021, we tested more lower-cost models to determine a budget pick: the Cosori Pro Air Fryer. If you don’t plan to bake, and if you intend to make only one or two portions of food at a time, the Philips Premium Airfryer HD9741/96 may align better with your needs than a convection toaster oven, and it’s the best pod-shaped model we’ve tested.
With that in mind, we’ve allowed our stance on air fryers to evolve. They used the same technology as convection baking under the guise of a trendy new term: “air frying.” Since then, to stay on trend, some manufacturers have started calling their convection toaster ovens and electric ranges “air fryer ovens.” The Cuisinart Chef’s Convection Toaster Oven TOB-260N1 predates the air-fryer craze (so you won’t see that buzzword on the box), but we think it yields better results than any pod-shaped air fryer we’ve tested.Īlthough we think the Cuisinart toaster oven strikes the best balance of value, size, and versatility in this category, we’ve learned from commenters, customer reviews, and air fryer owners that many people prefer something more compact than a toaster oven or want a dedicated machine for cooking frozen snacks, meat, or vegetables.
When we first tested air fryers in 2017, most models were pod-shaped appliances that looked more at home in a sci-fi movie than on a kitchen counter.