Extra-Large Air Fryers
Looking for air fryer recipes? Check out our cookbook Air Fryer Perfection.
How we tested
In our original testing, we found that most air fryers were best suited to those who frequently cook for two. However, we recently learned that the manufacturers of our two highest-rated air fryers also make larger-capacity models for those who cook for a crowd. We tried the Philips Avance Collection Airfryer XL and the GoWISE USA 8-in-1 XL 5.8QT Air Fryer, using them to cook frozen French fries and to prepare four recipes from our cookbook, Air Fryer Perfection: crispy French fries, chipotle chile–glazed salmon, chicken Parmesan, and prosciutto-wrapped pork tenderloin.
While these two larger air fryers certainly took up more counter space, their usable cooking spaces weren’t much larger than those of their smaller siblings. The basket of the Philips XL air fryer measured about 8 inches wide—only about 1 inch larger than the basket of our winning regular-size Philips air fryer—and the GoWISE XL’s cooking basket was only about ½ inch wider than its smaller counterpart. Both XL baskets were a bit deeper than those of the regular-size models, but the extra headroom wasn’t all that useful since food cooks best in an air fryer when it’s in a single layer. There wasn’t enough room to cook double batches of our recipes for salmon, chicken, and pork, and when we tried making two bags of frozen French fries, they turned out inedible, with the fries toward the center being flabby and raw—even though we frequently tossed them throughout cooking.
We also found some usability issues with the Philips XL. It has a different interface than the smaller Philips—instead of a dial-operated menu like our winner, the XL had buttons that were tough to press, and the temperature could be adjusted only in 30-degree increments, meaning we often couldn’t dial in the exact temperature a recipe called for.
Ultimately, we don’t recommend the extra-large versions of our top-rated air fryers. Instead, stick with the traditional-size air fryers and cook in batches if you need to make more than a few portions.
Methodology
We tested the extra-large size versions of our winning and best buy air fryers. We used each to prepare frozen French fries and four recipes from four recipes from our cookbook, Air Fryer Perfection: crispy French fries, chipotle chile–glazed salmon, chicken Parmesan, and prosciutto-wrapped pork tenderloin. Testers also measured each air fryer’s height and footprint and evaluated how easy and safe it was to load with food, to set time and temperature, to remove food, and to clean. Products are listed in order of preference.
COOKING: Products were awarded full stars for food that, with tweaks to time and temperature, ultimately emerged crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with no off-flavors.
CAPACITY: We compared the usable capacity of the cooking baskets and awarded top points to products that could fit enough food to feed four people.
EASE OF USE: We evaluated how easy it was to load food into each air fryer, set the time and temperature, and remove food. We awarded top scores to products with intuitive digital displays.