Best Large Air Fryers in 2022- Reviews and Buyer’s Guide

Air fryers have been available for some time now. However, these versatile appliances come in so many different shapes and sizes that it can be challenging to find the right one for you. There are oven-style air fryers that hold several shelves, multifunctional ones that include pressure cookers, and basic bare-bones models.

While it’s great to get an air fryer that can bake, roast, and rehydrate with the best of them, it’s also essential to consider your appliance's size. If you’re in the market for a large-capacity unit, you want to know that it can also withstand the demands of your kitchen.

To help you with your decision, we’ve compiled a list of the best large air fryers of 2022. Here’s what our experts recommend.

Best Large Air Fryers of 2022

COSORI Air Fryer Oven Combo 5.8 Quart Max XL - Best Overall

The Cosori Air Fryer Max XL is a drawer model with a removable cooking area. This allows you to leave any residual juices at the bottom of the drawer once your food is done cooking.

This impressive appliance is made from durable plastic and comes in various vibrant colors. It has grooves on the side for easy handling, and despite its large size, it’s relatively lightweight. However, the exterior does get hot to the touch while the air fryer is in use. You’ll therefore need to be careful when cooking.

Many air fryers come with preset cooking modes, which some might find confusing. It’s not always clear how these modes correspond to the time and temperature indicated in your recipe. However, things are different with the Cosori.

This air fryer comes with a handbook explaining how to use the various modes, complete with a hundred recipes. Therefore, you’ll know which preset to use for chicken wings, roasted vegetables, or bread.

Either way, the device is pretty straightforward to use. You press the control panel to get the desired setting or temperature. It also has a central power button to turn the device on and off.

When you remove the drawer, the air fryer will automatically pause and resume once it’s back in place.

Another notable Cosori feature is that it can be programmed to receive voice commands. So, for example, you can connect it to Google Assistant or Alexa and ask it to set the temperature or extend the cooking time.

The Cosori air fryer is excellent for deep frying various types of food, such as chicken and French fries. It has a set of preset cooking modes that allow you to create evenly-cooked food. One of these has a beep that reminds you to shake the food in the tray for uniform cooking.

The Cosori Smart 5.8-Quart Air Fryer is among our best large air fryers because it’s designed to crisp frozen or fresh food quickly.

Ninja AF161 Max XL Air Fryer 5.5 Quart - Best Value for Money

The Ninja Air Fryer Max XL is an excellent performer for basket-style air frying. In addition, it’s very user-friendly as it comes with intuitive buttons and a simple-to-follow manual.

Its components slide in and out effortlessly. This makes it an easy appliance to handle even when hot. The air fryer’s food tray holds securely to the bottom, so it won’t drop off when you toss items in the basket. The parts are dishwasher-safe, which means that this is an easy appliance to clean.

The Ninja Max XL displays its magic when it comes to cooking performance. It can produce evenly-cooked chicken wings that are moist on the inside and crispy on the outside. In addition, the fries will be crunchy, the lamb will be juicy, and the cheese will be beautifully melted.

This robust machine can prepare your meal in minutes, minimizing the risk of drying it out. It will work just as efficiently on chicken as it will on vegetables.

For example, the Ninja Max XL will turn your frozen mozzarella sticks into nicely browned cheese bombs in six minutes. If you’re a fan of French fries, ten minutes in the air fryer will result in golden brown deliciousness that the family can enjoy. The appliance also works well with foods prepared at lower temperatures.

The various settings allow you to adjust the temperature for each dish quickly. In addition, an auto-timer prevents your food from burning if you forget to check on it in time.

The Ninja has much simpler controls compared to other air fryers. Other than the temperature and timer knobs, there are only four clearly-indicated buttons that you can use to either air-fry, roast, dehydrate or rehydrate.

The Ninja Air Fryer Max XL is one of the best large air fryers. Its versatility means that you will be able to use it to prepare many of your favorite dishes.

Philips Premium Airfryer XXL 7 Qt With Fat Removal Technology - Best for Daily Use

If you don’t mind spending a few extra dollars for the best large air fryers, then the Philips Premium AirFryer XXL is the model for you. It has a large capacity and is built to last. As a result, it’s an excellent appliance to have when feeding a large family.

The Philips XXL features a sizeable barrel-shaped design that allows you to pull individual baskets. In addition, its digital panel has various preset options displayed on the screen using icons representing the dish.

This appliance performs well whether you’re frying chicken or cooking Brussel sprouts. Unlike some air fryers that might have difficulty handling large batches of food, the Philips XXL cooks them easily. It’s also user-friendly and easy to clean.

This model doesn’t have a preheat requirement. However, its one-step process makes it convenient to add more cooking time if that becomes necessary. You can select a preset or input the temperature manually once you press the “on” button.

The Philips XXL doesn’t have a roast setting, but it comes with a recipe book that will instruct you on making the perfect roast chicken. The resulting dish is tender and delicious with crisp skin.

Burger patties will be ready in fifteen minutes, while a 32-ounce bag of crinkle cuts will be golden brown in 33 minutes.

Aside from an outer basket, this air fryer also has a fat reduction component located in the drawer. It extracts excess fat from the food items, making for a healthier meal.

An inner basket with a removable mesh bottom also allows oil to drip through. The handle and exterior remain cool to the touch throughout cooking, reducing the risk of injury.

The removable parts of this air fryer are coated with a nonstick finish, preventing most food debris from getting caught in the mesh. This and the fact that the components are dishwasher-safe makes cleanup easy.

Ninja DZ201 Foodi 6-in-1 8 Quart DualZone 2-Basket Air Fryer - Best with Two Baskets

The Ninja DZ201 has a few design elements that make it stand out from the crowd. These include the rounded edges, the dark gray surfaces, and the metal trim. In addition, the large front handles make it easy to hold and toss the food during cooking. Aside from this, one of its best features is the dual-cooking zone that allows you to make two dishes simultaneously.

Although the controls are simple to use, they can take some time to get used to because of the dual cooking. For instance, it might not be immediately apparent how to stop cooking on one side of the fryer while the other still has some time to go. It would help to familiarize yourself with the manual, which you can skim through quickly.

Next, you’ll see the Smart Finish and Match options that make it easier to use the unit.

With the Smart Finish feature, you can set each basket's temperature and cooking times. The appliance will then determine when to start preparing the dish that takes a shorter time to cook. This method ensures that both meals are ready at the same time.

Meanwhile, the Match option will set the left and right sides of the air fryer to the same time and temperature.

The quick-start guide has a variety of cooking charts and instructions that can help you prepare various food items. Although it doesn’t include every recipe under the sun, you can use it to estimate cooking time.

In addition, you can utilize the air fryer to heat leftovers, cook frozen food, roast a whole chicken, and prepare vegetables. Its versatility makes it an excellent option for making everything from quick snacks to entire family meals.

GoWise USA 1700-Watt 5.8 Quart 8-in-1 Digital Air Fryer - Best Budget

If you’ve been looking for an air fryer that can comfortably fit a whole chicken, you’ll be pleased with this GoWise model. It’s a budget-friendly product that will give you a great bang for your buck.

The GoWise USA 5.8 Qt air fryer is simple and delivers crisp and delicious food. Its large capacity and digital display make it a great addition to any kitchen, especially those that feed large families.

This appliance has eight different cooking presets and can reach an impressive 400°F. Unfortunately, the unit’s cooking time doesn’t exceed 30 minutes. However, its efficient convection technology ensures that this is all the time you need to prepare your meal.

The air fryer is incredibly easy to use. It can quickly and easily reheat leftovers and prepare delicious homemade fries with a nice crunch.

The built-in alarm feature is also helpful in keeping track of when to toss or flip the food. In addition, it has a large 6-quart capacity, which allows you to make dinner for four people comfortably.

Cleaning the GoWise appliance is a breeze. First, there’s the obvious advantage that an air fryer uses very little oil, which means less grease.

Additionally, it has an internal nonstick coating that only requires a quick wipe. The drawer is also removable, allowing you to clear away crumbs quickly.

Finally, equipped with an eject button, you can extract the fryer basket and scrub it in the sink to eliminate tough stains.

The GoWise air fryer tends to be a bit bulky, but you’ll be glad when you decide to cook that delicious roast chicken.

How to Buy the Best Large Air Fryer

A good air fryer allows you to make delicious food in just a few minutes. Because these products are so versatile, they can save money on additional kitchen appliances.

They can be used to deep fry, roast, bake, reheat or dehydrate food. This means you won’t need to get other products to perform these functions.

When selecting the best large air fryer for your home, it would help if you considered a few things Let’s look at them here.

Features

For those who prioritize cooking efficiency, your air fryer’s features will be a vital factor.

For instance, advanced models will have options like rotating and shaking. This is where the appliance has a built-in paddle that automatically rotates the food for you when it’s time to turn it over. Likewise, the shake feature tosses the dish around to ensure even cooking.

Some units have safety features like auto shut-off that prevents overcooking. Other models come with smart controls that adjust your smartphone's fryer settings.

Cooking Capacity

One essential feature when choosing an air fryer is its capacity. If you have a large family, you might want to select a model that’s 5-quarts or larger.

It would help to consider the space available in your kitchen. Those with large kitchens and lots of counter space can easily fit a large air fryer. However, people with smaller kitchens may find that these bulkier units can get in the way.

Functions

If you have limited kitchen space or want to save money on appliances, you’ll probably want to get a multi-function air fryer. You can use these units for baking, grilling, frying, reheating, dehydrating, and roasting your food.

A multi-function air fryer can also be used as a microwave, toaster, or convection oven. So even if you aren’t looking to replace these items, a good air fryer can act as a stand-in when your other appliances are out for repair.

Temperature

Air fryers are typically designed with a 175°-400°F temperature range. However, some models can get to temperatures higher than this, which can help dehydrate fruits and vegetables.

Cooking Presets

If you’re looking to spend less time in the kitchen, you might want to get a fryer with presets. Then, stick your food in the fryer and hit the appropriate button to begin cooking.

The best large air fryers come with cooking presets. Some will even have recipes with directions that incorporate these cooking modes.

Counter Space

The kitchen countertop is prime real estate. There are many appliances, all fighting for limited space.

That’s why selecting an air fryer that can combine several functions is essential. Finding a product that can bake, fry, grill, and reheat food will mean fewer appliances and more space on your kitchen top.

If you have limited space in your kitchen, a small air fryer might be a good choice.

Cleaning

When looking for an air fryer, you should choose one that you can clean easily. An ideal model will have nonstick components that can be removed and placed in the dishwasher. In addition, a regular cleaning of your air fryer will prolong its lifespan.

FAQ

What Are the Downsides of a Large Air Fryer?

Large air fryers tend to be bulky. This means they’ll be challenging to carry from their storage area to the countertop. They also take up considerable space and can be cumbersome in your kitchen.

What Can You Cook in a Large Air Fryer?

A large air fryer is great for dishes like chicken or steak. For example, a 4-pound chicken can comfortably fit in a 5-quart unit and cook about 32 ounces of French fries.

In addition, this appliance is great for reheating frozen foods like pizza, hot pockets, or dumplings. Finally, a large air fryer can prepare more sizeable portions of any meal that can go in a smaller unit.

Is Air Frying Healthier Than Deep-Frying?

Air frying is considered to be a healthier option than deep frying. It uses significantly less oil, resulting in about 80% fewer calories.

Can I Put a Glass Bowl or Baking Dish in an Air Fryer?

Yes, you can place a glass bowl or a baking dish in an air fryer. However, they have to be oven-safe. For the glass bowl, you’ll first have to preheat it in warm water so it doesn’t shatter in the fryer.

Can I Put a Paper Plate in an Air Fryer?

No, putting a paper plate in the air fryer isn't safe. It’s likely to get stuck in the heating element, which could be a fire hazard.

Can I Put a Paper Towel in an Air Fryer?

No, putting a paper towel in an air fryer is not recommended. It could end up in the heating element or block air from circulating properly in the cooking chamber.