Who says that an air fryer has to be expensive? If you are looking for affordable deals, you’ve come to the right place.
This article will review the best air fryers under $100 and what to consider when buying an air fryer.
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How to Choose the Best Air Fryer
Air fryers are amazing devices. They can reduce fat by up to 75% compared to “regular” frying.
Not only do you use a minimal amount of oil per mail, but the food is even tastier. On top of that, these products won’t heat the kitchen while operating.
If that sounds like a good deal, let’s see how to choose the best air fryer. Check out the factors you should consider during the selection process.
Size and Capacity
You will often find that the same unit comes in different capacities. Those can vary from as little to two quarts to ten quarts or more.
According to experts, the standard size of an air fryer is six quarts. It should allow you to prepare food for two or three persons in a single pass.
If you often prepare food for large parties, you might want to go with the ten-quart variation.
Capacity and size go hand in hand. That means a unit with more capacity with also be bigger and (probably) heavier.
It is something to consider if your kitchen is small because it is imperative that the air fryer can fit in the designated position.
Available Functions
The standard function of an air fryer should be “air frying.”
However, many of these appliances offer additional cooking options. Some allow you to reheat food that is cold or frozen, and others come with a dehydration function. That can be great if you like making homemade snacks.
Other functions can be broil, bake, roast, etc. Some devices go with a different approach, and they allow you to pick preset programs based on the food you are preparing.
Air fryers are versatile, and you can use them to prepare chicken, fries, fish, etc.
Is It Easy to Use?
Air fryers come with preset settings, and that is perfect for beginners.
They allow you to adjust everything with a single click. However, many air fryers also have the option to set the desired time and temperature.
You usually do this via the control panel. The panel should be conveniently positioned, which is why it is usually at the front.
As for the buttons, they can be touch-sensitive or classic. It is useful when the product has a display that reads the current adjustments.
Other Factors to Consider
Here are some other things that can help to pick the best air fryer:
- Temperature range – the maximum heat should be up to 400F, and you should be able to adjust the desired temperature setting.
- Motor – a strong and reliable motor ensures optimal cooking time. The motor strength should be at least 1500W.
- Cleaning process – the number of dishwasher-friendly components and the overall ease of cleaning process can save you a lot of time and effort.
- Design – you want the product to look attractive, too. That is why many manufacturers deliver air fryers in multiple color combinations.
- Sound level – these appliances can be loud, so make sure to pick a quiet one if that is a problem.
Top Air Fryer Brands Under $100 Comparison
[wptb id=4649]Best Air Fryer Brands Under $100
Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid 6 in 1
You could say that this product connects the best of both worlds. By allowing you to convert an instant pot into an air fryer, it unlocks new cooking methods and increases versatility.
The product comes with six different functions, including Air Fry, Dehydrate, Reheat, Roast, Bake, and Broil. All these are preset programs, which eliminates the guessing work when choosing the adjustments.
You can change the temperature and cooking time manually. The maximum heat is 400F, which is enough for all the desired operations.
The display will show you the current settings and time left until the cooking completion.
The air fryer lid is incredibly simple to use. All that you need to do is to mount it on the instant pot and choose the desired settings. It is also simple to clean and easy to handle.
You can store it in a limited space, which is convenient if you have small kitchens. It is a shame that the cord is not long since it might limit you when deciding where to place the instant pot.
The manufacturer included all the required accessories, including an air-fryer basket with multiple levels. That is convenient since it enables users to cook more food at once.
The appliance won’t heat up the kitchen while working, but be careful when releasing steam. You don’t want your face or hands anywhere close to the top of the unit during the process.
If you are a newbie, you might appreciate the app that gives you access to hundreds of recipes.
Pros
- Increases the versatility of an instant pot
- It won’t heat up the kitchen while you are preparing food
- The delay start feature is very convenient
- Extremely fast in preparing meals
Cons
- The cord is a little shorter than usual
- Make sure not to lean your head over the top when releasing the steam
Ninja Air Fryer
Ninja Air Fryer is a popular product in the industry, and for good reasons.
For starters, the appliance is compact-sized and light. It also features a modern design that will fit any area well.
You immediately notice the limited capacity of four quarts, but that should be enough to cook food for small parties. If you are making lunch for an entire family, you might need to cook in batches.
The good news is that this air fryer is both fast and reliable. It comes with four different functions, which include Air Fry, Air Roast, Dehydrate, and Reheat.
The appliance does all these operations flawlessly, and users love the dehydration options for making snacks. You use a mixture of low heat and a slow fan to dehydrate the food.
As for temperature settings, they can go from 105F to 400F. You can adjust the heat and the time manually if necessary.
The motor is powerful, and the fan can be quite loud. That means this air fryer is not the quietest one out there, but you can trust it when it comes to performance.
The cleaning process is not that difficult. While the basket is easy to clean, it is also dishwasher-safe. You can place the rack and the crisper plate in the dishwasher, too.
Overall, Ninja Air Fryer does a great job at this price range. The manufacturer made sure to pick high-quality components when constructing the appliance.
Thanks to that, this device can deliver plenty of bang for the buck.
Pros
- Plenty of options to choose the desired temperature
- The available functions maximize the product’s versatility
- Numerous dishwasher-safe components for easier cleaning
- The appliance will preheat quickly, which is a huge timesaver
Cons
- The air fryer is not the quietest out there
- Limited device capacity
GoWISE USA 1700-Watt 5.8-QT 8-in-1 Digital Air Fryer
GoWise USA Digital Air Fryer is surprisingly strong since it comes with a 1700W motor. That is a bit more powerful than what we are used to in this price range, which is commendable.
The manufacturer went with touchscreen controls, which are sensitive and easy to adjust to your preference. You can choose between heat levels from 180F to 400f, and change them in ten-degree increments.
That gives plenty of room to pick the perfect temperature setting. As for the time adjustments, you can pick five, ten, and 15-minute increments with the maximum timer settings being 30 minutes.
You can choose between eight different food settings. It is interesting to note that the manufacturer picked them based on the food that you are preparing.
The presets include pizza, fish, cake, shrimp, steak, chicken, pork, and fries.
The pan is free from PFOA elements, and it was certified by the FDA.
The basket is detachable, and its handle remains cool to the touch. It means there is no danger of burning your hands while taking out the basket.
However, you don’t have any windows to see what’s happening inside the air fryer. That is a shame because you can only hope that you picked the right settings.
It is worth noting that the design is attractive and modern. The device will look great on a kitchen counter, and you can pick the desired color combination from the three available options.
Pros
- A decent capacity, especially when compared to the price
- It comes with a surprisingly strong motor at this cost range
- The attractive design ensures it looks great on the counter
- It doesn’t take a lot of effort to clean
Cons
- It might have a distinctive smell of a new appliance once it arrives
- No windows to see what’s happening on the inside
Ultrean Air Fryer
Ultrean Air Fryer is a real bargain deal and an entry-level appliance that beginners will love. The product utilizes the 360-degree air circulation to ensure even heat delivery and cook food optimally.
It delivers consistent performance, and the only flaw is that the fan might blow loose ingredients into the heating element. If you use spices like oregano, they might be subject to this problem.
The device has different temperature ranges, with the lowest being 180F and the highest 400F. You can adjust these and other settings by using the buttons at the front of the appliance.
The display will display the current adjustments to ensure you pick the right option. Apart from the heat, you can adjust the timer for up to 30 minutes.
As for the motor, it features the classic 1500W strength, which should be enough to get your food ready quickly. The sounds are so loud that there is no chance you won’t hear them even if you are in another room.
The aesthetic side of the Ultrean Air Fryer is impressive. Not only the product is compact and lightweight, but it is also available in different color variations.
Pick between black, white, red, and blue to ensure you find the one that perfectly fits your kitchen décor. It is worth noting that you will also receive a recipe book with the appliance.
Pros
- A compact-sized and lightweight air fryer
- Available in four different color combinations
- A highly-effective air circulation system ensures even food cooking
- The flat basket design gives you more space for the ingredients
Cons
- The convection fan might blow loose spices around the inner part of the unit and even into the heating element
- The sounds are quite loud and can be annoying if you are close to the unit
Instant Vortex Plus Air Fryer
Instant Vortex Plus Air Fryer comes in different capacities, but it seems that the ten-quart one is sufficient for all your needs. Whether you want to cook multiple meals or prepare a dish for an entire family, this appliance will be there for you.
Apart from the generous capacity, you will appreciate the unit’s versatility. It comes with seven different programs, including basics like broil, toasts, roast, and bake. You can also choose rotisserie or reheat your food.
The reheating option is useful, and it ensures your dish is both hot and delicious.
The controls are at the front of the unit, and they are touch-sensitive. You can adjust both the time and the desired temperature. The highest heat available is 400F, which should cover all your needs.
Once you are ready, hit start, and the appliance will start getting heated for the desired operation. It doesn’t take more than a couple of minutes to achieve the desired temperature, which is impressive.
You should be careful when closing the door since the hinges are not that intuitive to use. It might take a bit of effort to close them correctly.
Instant Vortex Plus Air Fryer comes with a rotisserie basket, cooking trays, drip pan, as well as spit and forks. All these components are dishwasher-friendly, which simplifies the cleaning process.
Unfortunately, the inside walls are difficult to clean, and it will take a bit of effort to get the residue off.
Despite minor flaws, Instant Vortex designed a decent unit that is reliable and provides consistent performance.
Pros
- Easy to figure out how to control the unit
- Versatile and capable of cooking different foods
- Filled with accessories that are dishwasher-friendly
- Large capacity allows you to cook plenty of food at once
Cons
- You need to be a bit careful to close the door properly
- It can be difficult to clean the inside walls
Summary
The market is filled with excellent air fryer options under $100.
If you have an instant pot, you can add the air frying function with a special lid. Alternatively, you can find an independent appliance filled with different fast and healthy cooking options.
Always remember – aim to choose the product that meets your expectations. That is the only guarantee you will pick the best air fryer out there!