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The Best Large Air Fryers, Tested and Reviewed

Large-capacity air fryers can cook family-size dinners and crisp up crowd-pleasing appetizers with ease.

By
VerifiedReviewed by Kitchen Appliances Lab Director
VerifiedTested by Contributing Writer and Analyst
best large air fryers

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The air fryer has become as much of a mainstay kitchen appliance as the toaster oven, multi-cooker and slow cooker. It offers a faster, healthier way to prepare your favorite meals, whether you’re crisping up chicken fingers for the kids or salmon for yourself.

But if you’re cooking for a larger family or like to make appetizers for a crowd, a standard 6-quart air fryer may not cut it. That's where larger models with a capacity of 8 quarts or more come into play. These can cook up full meals — even a whole rotisserie chicken — for multiple people. It can also crisp up a big batch of wings or veggies for a party.

We’ve tested more than 50 air fryers in the Good Housekeeping Institute's Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, and only a handful of large-capacity air fryers excelled in our evaluations for cooking performance, ease of use and cleanliness. (If you’re searching for a smaller appliance to cook for one or two people, check out our picks for the best small air fryers.)

    1
    Best Overall

    Ninja Foodi 8-qt. DualZone Air Fryer

    On Sale
    Foodi 8-qt. DualZone Air Fryer

    Pros

    • Dual baskets for versatile cooking
    • Consistent results
    • Dishwasher-safe parts

    Cons

    • Slight learning curve for dual-basket operation

    Capacity: 8 qts. | Dimensions: 13.9" x 15.6" x 12.4" | Temperature range: 105°F to 450°F | Functions: Air fry, broil, roast, bake, reheat, dehydrate

    Sometimes you just need two baskets. Whether you're cooking two different foods at once or smaller portions, the Ninja Foodi 8-Quart DualZone gives you flexibility. It’s one of our top-tested models. Each basket works independently, allowing you to air fry half the basket, sync the two sides so they finish at the same time or use the full 8-quart capacity for a family meal.

    During our Lab tests, wings and fries came out perfectly crispy, with consistent results on both sides, regardless of whether the baskets were operated together or individually.

    The dual design takes some getting used to, especially when switching between the baskets, but it’s a minor adjustment. Unlike most models, this air fryer doesn’t pause when you remove the basket to check the food, which is a handy feature. Plus, the baskets are smaller than most 6-quart air fryers, making them easier to clean and dishwasher-friendly.

    RELATED: The Best Air Fryers, According to Our Testing

    2
    Best Value

    Instant Pot Vortex Plus 10-Quart Air Fryer

    Vortex Plus 10-Quart Air Fryer

    Pros

    • Under $100 when on sale
    • Crisped wings and fries well during Lab tests
    • Variety of functions

    Cons

    • Did not excel at making moist wings or evenly browned fries

    Capacity: 10 qts. | Dimensions: 13.23" x 13.23" x 14.37" | Temperature range: 95°F to 400°F | Functions: Air fry, broil, bake, roast, dehydrate, reheat, rotisserie, toast, warm, convection oven

    Similar to our previous best value pick from Instant Pot (the Vortex Pro, currently not available across online retailers), the Vortex Plus has the same 10-quart capacity and budget-friendly price — especially when on sale. While this model has slightly fewer functions, it still offers solid versatility and performance.

    During Lab testing, this model excelled at crisping wings and received an almost perfect score. We weren't as impressed with how moist the wings came out, but it still earned a commendable score of four out of five. The air fryer was also able to make crispy French fries, but we observed that the batch of fries wasn't evenly browned.

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    3
    Best Air Fryer Toaster Oven

    Cuisinart TOA-70 Air Fryer + Convection Toaster Oven

    On Sale
    TOA-70 Air Fryer + Convection Toaster Oven

    Pros

    • Large rack for big batches
    • Versatile cooking options
    • Produces crispy, evenly cooked food

    Cons

    • Needs temperature adjustment to prevent overcooking

    Capacity: 11.5 qts. | Dimensions: 12.3" x 15.8" x 13.8" | Temperature range: Up to 450°F | Functions: Toast, broil, bake, warm, air fry, grill, convection bake, convection broil

    Cuisinart’s TOA-70 is a versatile machine that can air fry, toast, bake and more — in one appliance. Among all the air fryer toaster ovens we tested, this model consistently produced the crispiest air-fried foods in the shortest amount of time, as well as evenly browned toast.

    Its air fry rack provides a large cooking surface (especially compared to basket-style air fryers), making it ideal for big batches. However, this fast-acting air fryer requires you to lower the temperature and keep a close eye on your food to avoid burning. The easy cleanup with the drip/crumb tray makes this toaster oven a great choice for those who want a multi-functional kitchen tool.

    READ OUR FULL REVIEW: Cuisinart Air Fryer Toaster Oven

    4
    Most Versatile

    Instant Vortex VersaZone 9-qt. Air Fryer

    Vortex VersaZone 9-qt. Air Fryer

    Pros

    • Single or dual-zone cooking
    • Sync cook time for multiple items
    • Easy to clean

    Cons

    • Only one basket

    Capacity: 9 qts. | Dimensions: 15.9" x 15.1" x 12.3" | Temperature range: 95°F to 450°F | Functions: Air fry, bake, roast, broil, reheat, dehydrate

    For ultimate flexibility, the Instant Vortex 9-Quart with VersaZone technology allows you to switch between a single large zone or two separate cooking zones using an easy-to-add divider. The touch-screen controls are easy to navigate and Lab testers loved the hooks on the crisping tray for easier handling. The wings came out crispy, golden and evenly cooked, though they required five extra minutes compared to other models.

    The ability to sync cooking times makes this model stand out, especially if you're cooking different items simultaneously in the basket. The parts are easy to clean but like most air fryers, cooking will pause on both zones when you pull it out to check on food.

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    Others large air fryers we tested

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    • Ninja Foodi FlexBasket Air Fryer with 7-qt. MegaZone: This air fryer shines when making fries and mozzarella sticks, but its performance with chicken wings fell flat, resulting in under-crisped results. It’s versatile with two cooking zones and easy-to-use controls, but some items may need extra cooking time.
    • Phillips 3000 Series Dual Basket Air Fryer: The sleek design is appealing and the larger basket cooks well, but the smaller one struggles, leaving food undercooked and under-crisped. While the controls are intuitive, the smaller basket's performance falls short, requiring additional time for optimal results.
    • Midea Dual Basket Air Fryer Oven: This air fryer is a solid choice for cooking multiple dishes at once. It excels at even cooking and produces golden, moist food. However, the dim interior light makes it hard to check progress and the smaller secondary basket didn’t deliver the best results.
    • Ninja DoubleStack XL 10-qt. Air Fryer: While this model is great for cooking two dishes at once, the food in the bottom basket didn’t brown or crisp as well as in the top. It’s loud, but the design is space-efficient and easy to use, although cooking both baskets simultaneously may require tweaking times and temperatures.
    • Breville Joule: A versatile, large-capacity air fryer with an intuitive display, the Joule cooks evenly and preheats quickly but smokes when air frying certain foods. It’s ideal for families, offering plenty of space, but cleaning the basket can be a chore.

    How we test large air fryers

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    In our Kitchen Appliances Lab, we've put over 50 air fryers through their paces, testing them with foods you'd actually cook at home. For this roundup, we considered models larger than 6 quarts and put three new large air fryers to the test.

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    large air fryer with wings
    Raena Loper/Good Housekeeping

    We throw in chicken wings and frozen fries to see how fast and evenly they cook, while keeping a close eye on how crispy they get and whether they stay juicy or dry out.

    large air fryer with fries
    Reana Loper/Good Housekeeping

    But we don't stop there!

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    large air fryer with grilled cheese
    Raena Loper/Good Housekeeping

    Grilled cheese and frozen mozzarella sticks are our go-tos for checking the fan’s strength. (A too-powerful fan can send your food flying or make the cheese spill out everywhere.)

    large air fryer testing
    Good Housekeeping

    We also thoroughly assess the control panel (because no one wants to deal with a confusing setup) and see how easy it is to clean those baskets and trays after all that cooking.

    Finally, we survey our consumer testers and correspond with our Test Kitchen editors, who use these appliances to develop delicious air fryer recipes.

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    What to look for when shopping

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    Type:

    • Basket style: Most common and compact, but limited in size. Great for smaller kitchens or single meals.
    • Oven style: These larger air fryers resemble convection ovens and often come with multiple shelves for batch cooking. There are also microwave air fryer combos available now.
    • Toaster oven style: The Cuisinart TOA-70 and others like it offer multifunctionality with the ability to air fry, toast and bake, replacing multiple appliances.

    Capacity: Look for air fryers with a 7- to 8-quart capacity for family-sized meals or batch cooking. You can find some that go up to 10 or 12 quarts too but many of these extra-large air fryers double as toaster ovens or ovens.

    Drawer style:

    • Single-drawer air fryers have a more straightforward design that’s easy to manage and clean but limits your ability to cook multiple foods simultaneously.
    • Dual-drawer air fryers offer flexibility with separate cooking zones but can be more challenging to clean and manage. Some drawers have equal size compartments while some have one larger and one smaller compartment.

    Accessories: Some air fryers have extras like rotisserie spits, multiple shelves or crisping trays.

    What size air fryer do I need for a family?

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    A large air fryer of at least 8 quarts should suffice for a family of five or six, allowing you to cook in bigger batches or prepare different items at once. You should also factor in the dimensions of the air fryer to ensure your countertop can accommodate the appliance.

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    Can I cook two different foods at once in an air fryer?

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    Many dual-drawer air fryers, like the Ninja Foodi, allow you to cook two different foods simultaneously in separate compartments, each with its own temperature and timer settings.

    How do I clean my air fryer?

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    It's important to clean your air fryer after every use. After serving your food and once all parts are cool, carefully empty the grease into the trash and wash the basket and/or tray. Most air fryer baskets and accessories are dishwasher-safe but always follow manufacturer instructions. You can also wash the pieces by hand with warm, soapy water. A bottle brush works great for getting into the nooks and crannies. You can also follow our tips for a deeper clean.

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    Why trust Good Housekeeping?

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    Perry Santanachote is a contributing writer for Good Housekeeping. She has been testing and writing about the best kitchen appliances and cookware — from toaster ovens and air fryers to handheld mixers and nonstick pans — for over 10 years.

    Nicole Papantoniou is the director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances Lab. She has worked at kitchen appliance companies, where she helped develop some popular air fryers as well as many recipes for them. Since joining Good Housekeeping, she has had her hands on all of the new air fryers that come through the Lab (whether testing herself or overseeing testing) and has tasted food that was made in almost all of them. She's an avid air fryer user at home, too, where she has at least three to choose from on any given day.

    Raena Loper is a freelance writer and product analyst at Good Housekeeping. In addition to testing air fryers, she has conducted tests for pressure cookers, aprons, and more.

    Headshot of Perry Santanachote
    Perry Santanachote
    Contributing Writer

    Perry Santanachote (she/her) has more than 15 years of experience in service journalism, specializing in food and consumer goods. She tests and reports on kitchen appliances and cooking tools. She also evaluates food products and cleaning supplies. She’s an experienced writer, product tester and recipe developer who has worked in labs, test kitchens and media organizations, including Thrillist and Consumer Reports.

    Headshot of Nicole Papantoniou
    Reviewed byNicole Papantoniou
    Kitchen Appliances Lab Director

    Nicole (she/her) is the director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, where she has overseen content and testing related to kitchen and cooking appliances, tools and gear since 2019. She’s an experienced product tester and recipe creator, trained in classic culinary arts and culinary nutrition. She has worked in test kitchens for small kitchen appliance brands and national magazines, including Family Circle and Ladies’ Home Journal.

    Headshot of Raena Loper
    Tested byRaena Loper
    Contributing Writer and Analyst

    Raena Loper (she/her) is a fashion journalist and product analyst based in New Jersey whose work has appeared in Forbes, Good Housekeeping and O, The Oprah Magazine. Raena is a graduate from Montclair State University where she earned a degree in fashion studies as well as gender, sexuality and women's studies. In her free time, she enjoys sewing, cooking BBQ and spending time with family. 

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