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Air fryers have become a popular kitchen countertop appliance for many people and families. Don’t know what it is? An air fryer is a little convection oven that can be used to prepare a range of delicious yet healthier foods. It can swiftly and easily cook crispy or grilled meals without using oil by projecting hot air over your ingredients.
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Loved for its versatility, convenience and flavour, a quality air fryer allows you to quickly cook your food in less time, with less effort, and, most importantly, less oil. Deep-fried foods can carry trans fats associated with an increased risk of many diseases, including heart disease, cancer, diabetes and obesity. They can also cause health issues such as high blood pressure and clogged arteries.
So, cutting down on high-calorie foods and oil can lead to better health. Air fryers help you do that. You can get the texture and flavour of your favourite fried foods without all the calories. There are a variety of recipes that you can use in an air fryer, whether it’s roasting a chicken or broiling a burger. In some, you can even bake a pizza or make a dessert. An air fryer can take the pressure off the mom or dad who wants to make a quick meal for the kids in time for dinner or the single condo dweller or busy couple who works out after work and is too tired for multi-pan cooking.
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In this guide, we’ll discuss key features to which to pay attention, whether capacity and size, pre-set options, and other versatile factors that make air fryers desirable. Here are some of the best air fryers available to order in Canada.
Summary of the best air fryers
Best overall: COSORI 5 QT, 9-in-1 Air Fryer
Best family size: Ninja Foodi 6-in-1 8QT 2-Basket Air Fryer
Also consider: Ninja Air Fryer, 3.8L
Best splurge option: Philips Premium XXL 7QT Air Fryer
Best budget pick: Ultrean Air Fryer, 4.2 Quart
Best large capacity: Instant Pot Vortex 10 QT Air Fryer
Best compact air fryer: GoWISE USA Electric Mini Air Fryer
Best air fryer/oven: Our Place Wonder Oven
Best air fryers in Canada explained
COSORI 5 QT, 9-in-1 Air Fryer
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Key Specs:
- Capacity: 5 quart
- Best feature: Quiet, dishwasher-safe basket
- Size: 27.2D x 27.5W x 30.3H cm
Why buy: It’s straightforward and super easy to use. With seven pre-sets designed to cook a whole gamut of ingredients, the Cosori air fryer also offers enough cooking space for two to four people. The basket is removable and lightweight but spacious and deep. It can hold three pounds of fries. And it has Air Crisp Technology, which produces 85 per cent less fat than traditional frying methods. On those long days at work, you can start cooking your pre-prepared ingredients when you get home with the press of a button.
Great for steak, chicken, french fries, vegetables and more, this air fryer ensures you can do it all. Moreover, it comes with a 100-recipe book so that even beginner chefs can walk away feeling inspired. Easy to clean and dishwasher-safe, it’s one of the more popular air fryers on the market.
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Fine print: It can feed up four people, if you’re looking for a larger option, see below
Price: $150
Where to buy: Amazon
Ninja Foodi 6-in-1 8QT 2-Basket Air Fryer

Key Specs:
- Capacity: 8 quarts
- Recommended for: Roast, broil, bake, reheat, dehydrate
- Size: 35.2D x 39.6W x 31.5H cm
- Material: Stainless steel
Why buy: Also known as a top performer among enthusiasts is the Ninja Foodi 6-in-1, eight-quart air fryer. It’s a close rival to the No. 1 choice if you want to spend a little more, and it has two independent baskets you can use to cook different types of food. That means you can cook your ingredients in two ways if you’re cooking meat and vegetables separately; its DualZone technology comes clutch. Likewise, you can easily match the settings across each zone for both baskets if you’re cooking the same ingredients. There’s no back-to-back cooking with this little Ninja.
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For your salmon, steak, chicken, burgers or vegetables, you can air fry, broil, roast, reheat or dehydrate them to your liking. And with eight quarts of space to work with, it’s perfect for the whole family at dinner time or for preparing quick meals for large gatherings on weekends.
Fine print: Two non-stick crisper plates. 15 chef-inspired recipes and other cooking charts.
Price: $190
Where to buy: Amazon | Best Buy
Ninja Air Fryer, 3.8L

Key Specs:
- Capacity: 3.8/4 quart
- Recommended for: Roast, air fry, dehydrate, reheat
- Size: 34.54D x 27.94W x 33.78H cm
- Material: Plastic
Why buy: Able to air fry, roast, dehydrate and reheat with up to 75 per cent less oil than conventional frying methods, the Ninja is also a solid choice for individuals or couples. It has a multi-layer rack for dehydrating and a wide temperature range of 105°F to 400°F. Its simple interface is easy to use, and its compact size is perfect for keeping on your countertop if you have the space.
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What’s great about this bestselling air fryer is spacious basket size, which can hold up to two pounds of french fries or chicken wings at once. It’s also easy to clean, since the entire basket and crisper is dishwasher-safe.
Fine print: Easy-to-clean basket, crisper plate, and multi-layer rack.
Price: $105
Where to buy: Amazon
Philips Premium XXL 7QT Air Fryer

Key Specs:
- Capacity: 5.8 quarts
- Recommended for: Roast, broil, bake, reheat, dehydrate
- Size: 30D x 30W x 36.8H cm
- Material: Plastic
Why buy: While it may be a little more expensive than some other models, it’s not hard to see why. The Phillip Premium XXL air fryer has fat removal technology that captures excess fat from meats. The model also comes with access to the Philips Kitchen+ app, which includes hundreds of recipes. You can bake, fry, grill or roast a meal for six, and its digital touch screen is easy to use. It’s even simpler to transition between pre-set functions, and you can purchase additional accessory kits for grilling, baking, and making pizza.
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That said, a standout feature about this Phillips air fryer is the monthly virtual cooking classes offered with its purchase. Users will get virtual invitations to cook with celebrity chef Donatella Arpaia and attend classes featuring seasonal recipes and cooking tips and tricks.
Fine print: Includes a one-year warranty with the manufacturer for quality-related issues.
Price: $249.98
Where to buy: Amazon
Ultrean Air Fryer, 4.2 Quart

Key Specs:
- Capacity: 4.2 quart/4L
- Recommended for: Air fry, grill, roast, and bake
- Size: 28.6D x 33.55W x 31.55H cm
- Material: Plastic
Why buy: You don’t have to pay $600 to eat healthily. Comparative to other air fryers, the Ultrean air fryer is one of the better budget picks. It has many of the same functions as some of the models above; however, it’s made of plastic. Additionally, the door can be hard to close at times. But overall, its compact design makes it functional for condo dwellers with little counter space. And at 4.2 quarts, it’s big enough to make meals for one to three people at a time.
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With it comes a free cookbook, an LCD display, a non-stick pan, and an auto switch off timer (0-30mins). This air fryer can cook everything from cake to toast, shrimp to fish, and much more. Plus, it comes in three colours: turquoise, black and white.
Fine print: Includes a one-year warranty with the manufacturer for quality-related issues.
Price: $100
Where to buy: Amazon | Walmart
Instant Pot Vortex 10 QT Air Fryer

Key Specs:
- Capacity: 10 quarts
- Recommended for: Roast, broil, bake, reheat, dehydrate, rotisserie
- Size: 33.6D x 33.6W x 36.5H cm
- Material: Stainless steel
Why buy: The Instant Pot Vortex Plus air fryer tops this list as the best large-capacity model. Why? With 10 quarts of space, it can cook food for Sunday dinners. It’s the only air fryer on the list that doubles as a convection oven and a rotisserie. It has seven built-in programs that easily allow you to air fry, bake, roast, toast, broil and dehydrate ingredients. Furthermore, it has EvenCrisp technology, which uses sensors to cook food evenly.
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Everything from baked cinnamon rolls to crispy kale chips belongs in this air fryer. You can even make beef jerky. If you have the space to let it lay on your countertop, it could be a useful tool for dinners that demand a quick turnaround time with minimal effort. You can make various meals with temperatures ranging as low as 95F and high as 400F.
Fine print: App available for iOS and Android devices with more than 1,500+ recipes
Price: $200
Where to buy: Amazon | Best Buy
GoWISE USA Electric Mini Air Fryer

Key Specs:
- Capacity: 2 quarts
- Recommended for: Single portions, air fry, bake
- Size: 41.91H x 20.32D x 27.94W cm
- Material: Plastic
Why buy: This compact air fryer from GoWISE USA is a bit of a sleeper pick. With just two quarts of cooking space in a non-stick basket, it’s an ideal choice for cooking one to two servings of food at a time. Whether you’re in a dorm, RV or compact kitchen, this tiny air fryer doesn’t sacrifice on performance.
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Its digital touchscreen makes it easy to set timers and control temperatures when cooking various meat and vegetables and baking. Great for dehydrating beef jerky, fruits, veggies, and herbs, it’s equally as good when air frying french fries, roasting chicken, baking cake and cooking chicken wings. One thing of note: For best results, it’s important to shake this air fryer’s basket every five minutes to ensure all sides are cooked evenly.
Fine print: A one-year warranty with the manufacturer with options to extend
Price: $181
Where to buy: Amazon
Our Place Wonder Oven

Key Specs:
- Capacity: 12L
- Recommended for: Roast, broil, bake, reheat, air fry
- Size: 29.5H x, 26.9D x 29.2W cm
- Material: Stainless steel
Why buy: This air fryer is a stylish pick for those looking for a multifunctional kitchen appliance — it can air fry, bake, roast, toast, reheat and broil with steam infusion technology for crispy exteriors and soft, moist interiors. This air fryer preheats in two and a half minutes and cooks up to 30 per cent faster than traditional ovens, so you can get cooking quickly. Plus, it has a compact, multilevel design that does more with less, saving you time, space and energy.
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Available in two sizes (standard and large) and four colours, you can choose the right size and shade for your lifestyle.
Fine print: A one-year warranty and a 100-day trial period
Price: $240
Where to buy: Our Place | Amazon
Tips for buying an air fryer
So, you’ve discovered the possibilities and unlocked the potential. Where do you go from here? Buying the right air fryer comes down to size and space. How much of it do you have? Is there enough room to store it where you live? It’s important to consider the dimensions before buying. Some models are bigger than they appear and can take up space in areas where you stay busy in the kitchen. Make sure you have somewhere to stash it — on the top of your fridge (like me) or underneath the kitchen cabinet.
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Here are some other factors to consider:
- Basket size: Different air fryers come with varying quart-sized baskets. A smaller basket will likely work better for you if you live alone. Additionally, if you plan to use it often, a smaller one might be better to buy because it’s easier to clean.
- Pre-sets: Cooking functions make pushing a button and doing something else easier for a while, so consider a model with pre-set tasks for most of the food you eat. Not only can you take the guesswork out of it, but you can also easily discover new recipes.
- Accompanying cookbooks and apps: If you’re beginning to eat healthier, it can be hard to find recipes that still taste as good as some of the oily foods you’re used to eating. Don’t stress. Many air fryers come with recipe books and access to apps that offer virtual cooking classes and other content about healthy eating. Look for models with ideas for 30 or more and free app service.
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Bottom Line
An air fryer isn’t just a convenient appliance to have in the kitchen. It’s also a quick and easy tool for making a healthy meal. From dehydrated fruits and meats to burgers and steaks: an air fryer can do it all. As always, do your research, measure your counter/storage space, and buy one with a cooking basket that can cook the portions you need.
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