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The air fryer arrived on the scene in 2010, but it seems it didn’t become an It kitchen item until the peak of the pandemic. Since then, the momentum has continued with new technology and on-trend colorways (like the powder blue beauty from Drew Barrymore‘s appliance line featured below) that appeal to a younger generation of cooks. In a survey from Chef Lola’s Kitchen that polled 1,155 Americans, 64 percent of millennials favor air fryers over the ever-popular Instant Pot. And for Gen-Z, it’s not even a debate: Almost 90 percent use the tool weekly.
So why is it all the rage among young people? To start, you can fry things with a fraction of the oil that traditional fryers require and your food still holds onto its taste. It’s also “express diner” friendly. The air fryer will divide your average cooking time by two. (If you don’t believe us, peep this frozen salmon recipe.) Plus it’s a two-in-one tool: The air fryer bakes and grills your food simultaneously and you don’t even need to change the settings.
These smart appliances aren’t just for new cooks; even the most seasoned chefs can enjoy the ease of air frying, and there’s a style to suit everyone. Snag one of our favorite models:
Drew Barrymore Beautiful 6QT Touchscreen Air Fryer
COSORI Dual Blaze 6.8-Quart Air Fryer
Galanz 4.8 qt. Red Electric Air Fryer Retro
Café Couture Matte White Air Fryer Toaster Oven
DASH Tasti-Crisp Digital Air Fryer with AirCrisp Technology