The best stainless steel air fryer can be a lifesaver in the kitchen. It’s a must-have if you’re always in a hurry and looking for a convenient way to prepare mouthwatering and healthy dishes. The best thing is that it’s versatile. You can use it beyond air frying. For instance, some will double as an air fryer grill combo. Others have built-in cooking functions, like bake, roast, and dehydrate.
Plastic is a common material in air fryers. If you’re looking for an alternative, stainless steel can be a great option. The industrial design is sure to look good on the countertop, apart from the many other benefits it can deliver.
Are you looking for a stainless steel fryer to buy? I did the research, so you don’t have to. Read on, and I’ll share some of the products worth looking at.
In a hurry? Here are the top five models to consider.
Ninja SP101 Air Fryer: The winner of this roundup, it’s a compact and space-efficient air fryer with a 3-quart capacity and 8 cooking functions. The Ninja SP101 is also one of the best air fryer in general in my humble opinion.
Instant Vortex Plus Air Fryer: Equipped with a touchscreen control panel, it allows access to the Instant Pot App with 100s of recipes to try.
Cosori 12-in-1 Air Fryer Toaster Oven: The largest on this list, it has a generous capacity of 26.4 quarts and comes with a mobile app that allows you to use voice control.
Chefman Max XL Air Fryer: It’s an 8-quart air fryer with four cooking presets and a convenient Shake reminder.
Crux 3-quart Digital Air Fryer: Those on a budget might want to consider this air fryer, which is also ideal for small kitchens.
Meanwhile, the table below summarizes the top three stainless steel air fryers in this review.
Comparing The Best Stainless Steel Air Fryers
Benefits of Stainless Steel Air Fryers
One thing I love the most about stainless steel air fryers is their aesthetically-pleasing design. I’ve seen lots of plastic ones, but I think that they don’t compare to the looks of those made with stainless steel. They are sleek and elegant, perfect for spaces with an industrial theme. They stand out in the kitchen, although it depends on the specific model.
The durability of stainless steel is also worth noting. It has a higher tensile strength compared to plastic, so I’m confident it will be long-lasting.
Speaking of durability, stainless steel air fryers will not rust or warp. In contrast, plastic might quickly degrade, especially considering how air fryers use extreme heat. But don’t get me wrong. As far as I know, many plastic air fryers are also made to withstand high temperatures.
In addition, stainless steel is free from toxic compounds that can get in your food. For instance, it does not contain perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which is common in plastics and believed to cause cancer and other health risks. While many of the plastic air fryers today are also PFOA-free, I suggest that you still check to be sure.
Our Top Picks for the Best Stainless Steel Air Fryer
Buckle up! Here are some of the products that you might want to consider when searching for stainless steel air fryers.
Best Stainless Steel Air Fryer Overally in 2023: Ninja SP101 Air Fryer
This air fryer is on the top pick on many of our lists. Not only it has a beautiful stainless steel design, but thanks to its Digital Crips technology it will bring you a perfect result everytime. Also the flip-up feature will save a lot of space in your kitchen but can fit a whole 12″ pizza. For its great design, quality and innovativeness it is the best stainless steel air fryer in our opinion
Compact design for small spaces
Flip-up design
Easily accessible back panel
Presets cook foods accurately
With more than 19,000 reviews on Amazon, the Ninja SP101 is my top choice. Unsurprisingly, I’m not the only one who loves it as it has been rated five stars by many others.
The Ninja SP101 is an air fryer oven, which means it will have a lot more space inside compared to a basket type air fryer. This will give more options for you to cook, like dehydrating fruits or frying a whole pizza in it.
Looking at its features, one of the highlights of this stainless steel air fryer is the Digital Crisp Control Technology. The latter ensures the hot air for a more precise and accurate flow in the air fryer. It will ensure a perfect crispy finish, while the inside of the food is cooked precisely.
More so, it has eight cooking functions, including the following:
- Air fry
- Air broil
- Air roast
- Bake
- Dehydrate
- Toast
- Bagel
- Keep warm
If you have a small kitchen, it might be worth looking at this stainless steel air fryer. It has a low-profile design, making it space-efficient.
One more thing that I love about this air fryer is the flip-up design. It’s easy to store against the backsplash when not used. Even when it’s flipped, the back panel is accessible, which also makes cleaning a breeze.
Although there isn’t a precise measurement for the capacity, which would have been an important information (you hear me Ninja?), but based on the measurements of this air fryer I calculated that it is about a 15 quart air fryer
Best single-basket stainless steel air fryer: Instant Vortex Plus Air Fryer
An elegant air fryer with almost 60,000 reviews (90% of them are 4-5 stars). The instant brand never fail to live up to the expectation. In regards of a standard single basket air fryer this is our top pick. It has an online recipe app, a generous 6 quart capacity, and a very cool design in our opinion.
The fan runs quietly
Requires little to no preheating
Access to the Instant Pot App with tons of recipes
It may not have as many cooking functions as the others on this list, but it does not make this air fryer less functional. You can choose from the following:
- Air Fry
- Roast
- Broil
- Bake
- Reheat
- Dehydrate
The elegant touch control panel of this product reminds me a lot of the Chefman Max XL Air Fryer. They are carefully laid out for easy accessibility. In the middle, however, is a knob, which you can rotate for adjusting other functions. It has a nonstick basket that is dishwasher safe.
If you have used air fryers with loud fans, this is different. Many of its users were raving about how quiet the fan is, which means that it won’t be annoying.
Preheating an air fryer is often a necessary step to ensure the right temperature once you put food in the tray. Nonetheless, this model requires little to no preheating, which adds to its convenience.
Cosori 12-in-1 Air Fryer Toaster Oven
Cosori 12-in-1 Air Fryer Toaster Oven
For a bigger family we recommend the Cosori air fryer oven that has a 26 quart capacity. Cosori is well-known for its smart air fryers that can be integrated with Alexa and can be operated from a smartphone.
Allows hands-free control
Two cooking levels for optimal capacity
If you live in a large household and are looking for a high-capacity air fryer, this is one option you might want to consider. At 26.4 quarts, it’s the biggest on this list.
Another feature many of its users praise is the hands-free control of this stainless steel air fryer. Through the VeSync App, you can easily control its functions through Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa.
With 12 built-in cooking functions, it has the most presets of the five products on this list. You can choose from the following:
- Air Fryer
- Roast
- Broil
- Toast
- Preheat
- Bake
- Pizza
- Dehydrate
- Keep Warm
- Defrost
- Ferment
- Slow Cook
Another main difference from the others in this review is its two cooking levels, which maximize the cooking surface. Plus, there are six heating elements, a specialized fan, and powerful airflow. With all of these, you can expect a powerful performance, especially because of its power rating of 1,800 watts.
While the size can be a good thing, it can also be its shortcoming. Some users note that it’s too large for an average countertop, so make sure you have the luxury of space in the kitchen before buying this stainless steel air fryer. Otherwise, you’re better off with smaller alternatives, such as the Crux 3-quart Air Fryer.
Chefman Max XL Air Fryer
This Chefman air fryer is our budget options. Stainless steel air fryers are generally more expensive for the use of quality materials, but this one has a great price tag!
Has a convenient shake reminder
Great price
The Chefman Max XL has more than 21,000 reviews on Amazon, which shows that a lot of people have tried it. Most of these reviews are positive.
Going through the reviews, one thing many users praise is its digital control panel with touchscreen functionality. It’s similar to the Instant Vortex Plus Air Fryer.
Meanwhile, the cooking presets aren’t as generous as the other stainless air fryers in this review. Even so, you can choose from the following:
- French Fries
- Chicken
- Meat
- Fish
Lastly, I also like how this basket-style stainless steel air fryer comes with a shake reminder. The LED notification lights up to let you know that it’s time to give the basket a shake as it continues cooking.
Crux 3-quart Digital Air Fryer
Crux 3-quart Digital Air Fryer
A small air fryer that fits well in a small kitchen. It is also great for people who are on a budget but still want the quality look of a stainless steel air fryer.
Does not take up a lot of counter space
Patent-pending crisping tray
Wrapping up this review is the cheapest of the five products in this compilation. Even if it’s budget-friendly, that does not mean that it compromises performance.
A 5-in-1 multicooker, you can expect the following functions from this kitchen appliance:
- Air Fry
- Broil
- Bake
- Roast
- Dehydrate
Aside from those cooking functions, it also has presets for the following:
- Chicken
- Steak
- Dessert
- Shrimp
- French fries
This air fryer can be a good option for people who have limited space to spare. Since it is only a 3-quart stainless steel air fryer, it fits well in a small kitchen.
It’s also worth mentioning that it comes with Turbo Crisp, a tray especially designed by the company with a pending patent. The latter helps in giving food a distinct crunch without compromising flavor.
A minor issue, although not necessarily a deal-breaker, is that it can be quite difficult to position the basket in place. Some users share that it needed an extra push before it settles.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Stainless Steel Air Fryer
With too many options for stainless steel air fryers, you must take your time to compare the possibilities. Here are the most important considerations:
- Capacity: If you’re in a large household, go for 26-quart air fryers because they have generous capacity. Otherwise, opt for smaller ones, especially if you live alone and have a small kitchen.
- Cooking Functions: Aside from air frying, it’s good to pick one that comes with multiple cooking functions, making it a versatile addition to your kitchen.
- Design: The aesthetic of stainless steel is top-notch. However, some are designed better than others. Aside from how it looks, consider as well how intuitive the design is.
- Ease of Cleaning: Stainless steel air fryers are generally easy to clean. Nonetheless, look for features that will make care and maintenance easier, such as non-stick cooking surfaces.
Final Verdict
So, what’s the best stainless steel air fryer? It depends on your needs and budget. However, in this review, my favorite is the Ninja SP101. It’s especially suitable for small spaces because of its compact design. The air fryer has a 3-quart capacity and eight cooking functions.
So to quickly summarize our favorite picks for today, here is a simple comparision for you.
| Ninja SP101 | Instant Vortex Plus | Cosori 12-in-1 | |
| Cooking Functions | 8 | 6 | 12 |
| Capacity | 15 quarts (approximately) | 6 quarts | 26.4 quarts |
| Power Rating | 1,750 watts | 1,500 watts | 1,800 watts |
| Why we love it | Digital Crisp Technology, flip-up and compact design | Elegant control panel, access to the Instant Pot app | Voice control, generous cooking capacity |
