5 Air Fryer Brands That Rival Ninja's Features

With their current ubiquity, it's hard to imagine that air fryers first appeared on retailer shelves in the 2010s. The appliance employs a simple yet effective technique, circulating hot air through a compact area, thereby crisping foods without using much oil. It's a convenient cooking method now well-established in popular culture, accompanied by many marketable strengths and an equal number of air fryer myths.

Among the many brands, Ninja specifically has become especially known for the appliance. The consumer tech maker produces dozens of models, including air fryers that resemble countertop ovens, employ basket designs, and feature a transparent glass vessel — an innovative build pioneered with the Crispi. Ninja produces many air fryer types, but it's by no means the only manufacturer on the market.

So when picking out the best air fryer for your needs, make sure to look into Ninja's rivals, too. From unique basket configurations to slow-cooking compatibility and even a unique motor design, the competitors pack in a wide array of features. Crowning a superior maker is impossible — but to best satisfy your air fryer needs, it's handy to consider Ninja's competition.

Compare various air fryer models, and you'll quickly notice that the wattage sets them apart. Energy delivery is a crucial part of the appliance, influencing both the fan speed and the amount of food that can be prepared at once. Cosori air fryer models innovate on the energy delivery system, using a motor that's DC (Direct Current) rather than the industry standard, AC (Alternating Current). 

Such a motor setup enables unique operational features. DC-powered Cosori air fryers lend more fine-tuned control, letting you alter the speed of the convective flow in addition to temperature. Models like the Cosori Turbo-Blaze and Iconic lines both feature five fan speeds, letting you air fry with an intensity ranging from soft circulation (food for things you want to gently warm, like pastry) to crisp-inducing intensity (perfect for, say, air-fried chicken).

Unlike standard air fryers, you can set a gentle air circulation, thereby helping ingredients retain moisture. Such cooking control is ideal for delicate applications like fluffy air fryer scones and roasted meats. Cosori Air Fryers with a DC motor also offer unique features like proofing dough, a rotisserie setting, as well as heating that replicates an indoor grill. Ideal for tailoring food texture, such customization makes Cosori a unique air fryer brand.

Instant Pots pack in lots of functions, including slow-cooking, pressure-cooking, and even yogurt-making. Buy a standard model, though, and air-frying is not on the table — the device relies on a heated underside electrical element rather than convective airflow. With the Instant Pot Duo Crisp, you can converge the two appliance trends into one.

The Instant Pot air fryer offers 11 cooking features, spanning everything from roasting vegetables to cooking rice, setting up a sous vide, and even sterilizing kitchen items. The appliance transitions from an air fryer to a slow cooker via a lid attachment, which covers the convective heating element with the mechanisms necessary for slow-cooking. The brand also sells a larger 8-quart combo appliance, which can switch between the two cooking styles using an entirely new lid altogether.

Strictly air-frying-wise, these two models perform similarly to a Ninja. Yet being able to switch from slow-cooking to convective heating does lend added functionality. When making slow-cooker proteins like brisket, pulled pork, or braised chicken, you can easily transition from braising into searing, crisping up proteins for a satisfying bite. And don't rule out employing the technique with vegetables, too — making a batch of tender yet crunchy potatoes or cauliflower. One of Costco's must-have kitchen appliances, the Instant Pot Duo Crisp condenses two hands-off cooking techniques into one.

Founded in the 19th century, Philips has introduced many products to the world, ranging from rotary electric razors to the first compact cassette player. Even the first commercially sold air fryer belongs to the brand– Philips debuted the appliance in 2010. With the company's subsequent departure from consumer products, the compact convection ovens are now made by brand licensee Versuni, but continue to be sold under the Philips name.

Nevertheless, Philips air fryers continue to uphold the company's pioneering legacy. The Philips Premium air fryer line comes with an innovative fat removal technology, which uses heat and draining to make foods extra crisp. In addition to requiring less initial fat to begin with, these appliances even collect the accumulated grease during cooking; failing to do so is a common air fryer mistake.

Furthermore, in models like the Philips 5000 Series, you'll even find steaming capabilities, which can be utilized in conjunction with air frying. You can use the setting like other countertop steamers, preparing meats and vegetables with hot vapor, or even air-fry and steam simultaneously, enhancing convective heating with more moisture. Ideal for applications like browned yet moist fish, baking, or even cooking a whole chicken, it's another air fryer feature that sets Philips apart.

Breville is perhaps best known for its coffee machines and blenders; the brand's air fryers come with some nifty features, too. Sold under the name Smart Oven® Air Fryer, the appliance resembles a countertop toaster oven — a task that it can indeed carry out. Yet this snug countertop oven also air fries and performs tasks like broiling, roasting, and even slow-cooking. Functional on a wide temperature range, you can use the appliance for everything from proofing dough to roasting an entire chicken.

French door air fryers are not unique to Breville. Other brands, including Ninja, also produce similarly designed appliances. However, Breville stands out with both its scope of offerings, as well as unique appliance configuration. Firstly, the maker places its fans on the sides — rather than the top — which circulates air in a more measured fashion, all while occupying less space. Run the broil setting, and you can still get delectably crisp foods. Set the appliance to the air fry setting, though, and the heating is consistent across the surface area.

Breville also enhances the air frying process with digital sensors, which fine-tune the level of heat during the cooking process. Coupled with an adjustable rack height and even electronic recipes designed for the appliance, Breville lets you fine-tune the air fryer experience, all in a toaster configuration.

An air fryer's traditionally small size is often a selling point — but such compactness comes with limitations, too. Compared to an oven, such a capacity makes it hard to squeeze in larger quantities of food, whether that's crispy air fryer fries for a party or a large pizza. The Typhur aims to tackle such an issue, increasing both the size and mechanics of the device.

Inspired by a pizza oven, models like the Typhur Dome 2 hold just under six quarts, yet can accommodate a pie some 12 inches in diameter. Designed to be wide and shallow as opposed to deep, it's a configuration unusual in the air fryer market. Accompanied by heating elements both above and below the food, the appliance can delicately crisp up items without layered overcrowding. Such an orientation is powered by a gentler fan — which requires more preheat time – but prepares food with less noise. This Typhur design even comes with a self-clean function, a rarity among air fryers.

And if shallow air-frying doesn't align with your cooking needs, look into the brand's Sync line. A wide yet extra-deep orientation, this appliance uniquely comes with a digital temperature probe. The thermometer can be programmed to a designated temperature, with the appliance automatically concluding air-frying once the threshold is achieved. It's another small, yet practical feature that distinguishes the brand from Ninja.