Best air fryer deals for early Black Friday

This story is part of Holiday Gift Guide 2021, our list of ideas, by topic, by recipient and by price, to help you discover the perfect gift.

Good news for those hunting air fryers on the cheap: Black Friday-style deals are on and we’ve already seen all-time low prices on air fryers of all sizes, including large, versatile countertop convection ovens with air fryer functions and small air fry-only machines. If you want a deal on an air fryer, this is a great time of year to be looking. Retailers are jockeying for attention — and that means big price drops on all sorts of kitchen gear, including the trendy air fryer oven. 

We’ve scoured the web for the best early Black Friday deals on air fryers. Find our picks below and check back as we update this story regularly.

Read more: Best air fryer to buy in 2021: Ninja, Dash, Gourmia and more

But first a little air fryer 101.

What does an air fryer do?

Air fryer ovens make crispy snacks that taste like they’ve been fried, but the not-so-dirty secret is that there’s no frying involved. Instead, air fryers lean on super-hot, fast-circulating air to replicate the effects of oil-frying but with none of the unwanted calories and fat. I love mine and use it nearly every day. For me, the only thing better than an air fryer is a cheap air fryer, and that’s exactly what you’ll find during this sprawling early Black Friday flash sale.

What are the different types of air fryers?

When choosing an air fryer you have one big decision to make: Certain models air fry only, and they’re generally cheaper but you will be limited in what you can do. Then there are larger hybrid countertop convection ovens with an air fry function. With this type, you can generally bake, broil, toast, reheat, defrost and warm in addition to air frying — although sometimes the air fryer function is not quite as strong as the solo air fryer. Both versions are great and it really comes down to what you plan to cook, the counter space you can give up, and how much you want to spend.

How much should an air fryer cost?

Like anything else, this all depends on how fancy you want to get. But the good news is you won’t have to spend much if you don’t want to, especially if you snap up one of these air fryer deals. Basic single-function air fryers from generic brands start at around $30 and I’ve found they work well, even if they lack some of the features that the more expensive ovens have. 

There are also hybrid ovens that are more like countertop toaster ovens but with air fryer functions. Those range from $150 to $300, but with these early Black Friday deals, you can nab one for less.

Emerald

This 1400-watt Emerald air fryer has plenty of power and an easy nonstick basket for excellent food release.

Instant

If you want to go a step-up, the makers of Instant Pot have an ultrapowerful 4-quart electric air fryer and it’s down to $64. Two more of Instant’s hybrid convection ovens with air fry are also on sale. Pay just $111 for Vortex Pro and $200 for the Omni Pro (normally $300) with its 14 cooking functions and ample room for a whole chicken or holiday roast.

Bella

The top-rated Bella 2-quart digital air fryer is down to $30. That’s half off the normal price and a solid deal on a digital air fryer with computerized cooking presets and programs. 

NInja

In a comprehensive test we ran of countertop ovens with air-fry function, this Ninja took the top spot, making insanely crispy wings and fries, and broiling salmon to perfection. Plus, it flips up to be no more than 8 inches deep, so it’s perfect for saving space. This highly versatile oven is down $30 right now and about as low as we’ve seen it to date.

This is easily one of the most versatile countertop ovens on the market. It can do more than many full-sized ovens and it does all of it well. I tested this bad boy earlier in the year and loved it for its powerful air-fry function, precise bake and roast settings and easy interface. It’s big too and can help out come holiday hosting time. You could get a whole chicken in this thing, easy.

It’s definitely a splurge and perhaps not totally worth the normal $400 tag, but down to $280, as it is now at Sur La Table, this is a ton of oven for the price.

One of the best prices you’ll find on an air fryer of this size. It’s large enough to cook crispy fries, wings and calamari for a group and costs less than ordering in. 

KitchenAid

This versatile oven is a nice compact size and did well in a series of tests we ran. You can bag it for $40 off right now at Best Buy.

Best Buy

This is about as cheap as you’ll find any air fryer and if you’re not entirely sold on the idea but are a little air-fry curious, this is a low-risk way to dip your toe into the waters. Prefer a digital interface? See the top deal.

Cosori

The big draw of this 5.8-quart Cosori air fryer is that it’s fitted with Wi-Fi capability so it can be controlled via your phone or smart device, including both Alexa and Google. It also has 11 presets to cook all your favorite foods perfectly without any guesswork. 

This is a higher-end brand with a sturdy build and powerful performance to prove it.

Ninja

This Ninja Foodi almost makes the Instant Pot look lazy. It does about as much as you can expect a kitchen appliance to do including air fry, pressure cook, slow cook, steam, sear, roast, broil and more. It also scores extremely high marks in over 20,000 Amazon reviews and is marked down to one of its all-time lowest prices ever. 

Instant Pot

This lid turns your 6-quart Instant Pot into a powerful air fryer. I’ve tested dozens of air fryers and this unit blasts food into crispy goodness as well as any of them. Plus, it’s a big space saver if you already have an Instant Pot.

It’s currently down to the lowest price we’ve ever seen on Williams Sonoma.

source: cnet.com