We Put an Air Fryer Through 6 Cooking Challenges | Gear Heads
Can an air fryer replace common kitchen appliances? Today, Lisa McManus and Hannah Crowley set out to answer that question by testing an air fryer’s cooking power against a stove, oven, microwave and even a campfire!
Head-to-Head Results:
Air Fryer vs. Oven: Roasts a 4-lb whole chicken in just 45 minutes, half the time of a big oven, with ultra-crispy skin and minimal cleanup.
Air Fryer vs. Deep-Fryer: Easily cooks crispy unbreaded wings using zero oil. However, traditional immersion deep-fryers win for wet-battered foods, which drip and harden oddly in an air fryer.
Air Fryer vs. Microwave: Hands-down winner for reheating leftover pizza, restoring crispiness and cupping pepperonis in minutes. Keep the microwave for liquids and quick-steaming veggies.
Air Fryer vs. Stovetop: Surprisingly sears a juicy, medium-rare steak, though the stovetop skillet still reigns supreme for precise temperature control and a deeper crust.
Air Fryer vs. Dehydrator: The air fryer’s “dehydrate” setting makes tender, chewy beef jerky in 3 hours. A great alternative for small-batch dehydrating.
Air Fryer vs. Campfire: Successfully toasts marshmallows on a foil sling for a perfectly caramelized, non-charred s’more.
The Best Air Fryers:
00:00 Introduction
00:33 Battle 1: Air Fryer vs. Oven
05:36 Battle 2: Air Fryer vs. Deep Fryer
08:18 Battle 3: Air Fryer vs. Microwave
11:02 Battle 4: Air Fryer vs. Stove Top
13:38 Battle 5: Air Fryer vs. Food Dehydrator
16:11 Final Round: Air Fryer
Get exclusive access to every recipe, review, and more via our homepage:
Subscribe to America’s Test Kitchen:
Find more rigorous reviews of equipment and recipes on the America’s Test Kitchen App:
Learn how to shop, save, and cook with insider intel from our newsletter The Well-Equipped Cook:
Watch full episodes of America’s Test Kitchen and Cook’s Country for free on our new YouTube channel:
Buy our cookbook Kitchen Gear
Discover the latest recipes, tips, and tricks from Cook’s Illustrated:
Watch More!
In The Test Kitchen:
The Taste Test:
Techniquely With Lan Lam:
Most Popular:
Follow America’s Test Kitchen:
Instagram:
Pinterest:
TikTok:
Facebook:
Twitter:
At America’s Test Kitchen, we investigate every aspect of cooking—recipes, equipment, ingredients, and techniques—with a goal to empower and inspire home cooks. Since 1992, our team of 50+ cooks, editors, and culinary creatives ask a lot of questions—and do a lot of testing—so that you get dependable, delicious recipes, comprehensive guidance, and thorough and unbiased equipment and ingredient reviews. You can find us in the pages of Cook’s Illustrated magazine, on our television shows America’s Test Kitchen and Cook’s Country, in dozens of best-selling cookbooks, and via the 14,000+ recipes, reviews, and classes available on our website and app. Whether you’re in search of a great weeknight meal or an impressive dinner-party dish, we’ve done the testing to deliver reliable recipes and comprehensive cooking info to your home kitchen. Bring your curiosity, and we’ll make you a better cook.
#AmericasTestKitchen #CookingTutorial #FoodScience
When you choose to purchase our editorial recommendations from the links we provide, we may earn an affiliate commission.
source
Am I the only one who thinks cleaning the air fryer basket is a real pain?
I would like to see the comparison between a convection microwave and a air fryer, particularly with things like pizza and cakes. I have a microwave with a grill but not fan forced and cook almost everything with it, people are trying to convince me that I need an air fryer too, but I might upgrade to a full convection microwave one day
Well done analysis of air fryer vs oven for baking. The one issue that wasn't addressed was electricity consumption. Clearly in a smaller household an air fryer makes sense considering for portions. But, is that benefit enhanced or negated with relative electricity consumption? For a "standard" household it might be irrelevant, but in an empty nest or singular and especially smaller retiree household it is far more important. Frankly, the making jerky aspect, .. to me, .. is the killer app.
I would like a comparison of an air fryer to a Breville counter top convection oven. Will the Breville take the place of an air fryer?
love these ladies
First: I am very shocked that you don't know you can do batter dipped wings in the air fryer.
It would appear you failed right away on your video. Shame.
Second: all N.Y style pizza is sloppy when it's fresh.
You want a real test. Try reheating Canadian pizza and wrap it in foil with one little hole before putting it in the air fryer.
I am surprised at you ladies. You'd think you would have thought of all this.
SHAAAAAAME!
Third: ABSOLUTELY NO ONE, cooks a steak complete in the air fryer or the pan. Using the oven or the air fryer, and a very, very hot pan, you reverse sear.
So ….you failed at the attempt of your first three comparisons due to lack of knowledge. Video is pointless now.
I absolutely love my air fryer
I have a smaller, 4quart, version of this airfryer. An airfryer absolutely can not replace a microwave or stove top completely. I cooked burgers in an air fryer once; terrible, dry, crumbly. Just as not all materials for pans are interchangeable, not all appliances are interchangable.
Okay, but what temperature and time did you use to make the toasty marshmellows to build you S'Mores in the Air Fryer?????
this video is pointless. of course you cant replace your microwave or stovetop
why are you only testing meat? ever heard of vegetables? tofu? esp in these hard economic times you should be promoting healthy, cheaper food. typical ATK, 90% is meat based
No one talks about the incredible stink made by air fryers. All that hot air blasting your food needs to go somewhere. Try cooking salmon! Vast volumes of fish odor are blown into your kitchen. It can be quite strong. In my little apartment kitchen, the air becomes solid with the odor of whatever is being cooked in the airfryer. A toaster oven, a regular oven are nowhere near as stinky.
I cook a lot in the air fryer, including steak and pork chops.
It's a convection oven…… What is wrong with people?
Great tests except for microwaving pizza. That's what toaster ovens are for.
A major issue for me with the air fryer is the PFAS and plastics on all the surfaces, which adds those to any foods that touch the surface of the basket, shelf or the drawer. I read that there are some fryers with a glass drawer, eliminating that source of poisoning our bodies. Has there been testing of any of those?
I'm presently cooking a beef brisket for tomorrow in my air fryer. A little liquid smoke in the rub and it'll fool most people.
Who TF heats up pizza in a microwave?!😂
Cooking raw meats and the mess it makes inside then cooking a tiny cake in there grosses me out. No thanks. Wont the cake taste like chicken😂its too small of an area.
I love my TFaL deep fryer.
I was doing a striploin well watching your video. BBQ is better. I do most cooking in my air fryer. Im a widow and so this is the best fro keto/carnivore for myself
With a Cosori air fryer plus a Breville smart toaster oven, a stovetop and a microwave, plus South Carolina heat, I can cook whatever I want without heating up the kitchen. Huge quality of life improvement.
I love love love my air fryer! Best cooking device for a single guy.
Why no head to head with the dehydrator for the jerky?