Best Large Capacity Air Fryer Reviews & Buying Guide 2024
Every time a Superbowl party, backyard cookout or birthday party rolls around, you have that old familiar dilemma. You want to make a big batch of fried chicken, French fries, buffalo wings or popcorn shrimp, but the hassle of heating up a quart of oil is just too tough to justify. It’s messy too – spattering hard-to-clean grease all over the kitchen backsplash.
For a time, there was just nothing you could do about it. You either gritted your teeth and forged ahead with a big, messy pot of oil, or you lived your life without the great joy of fried foods at home.
Then the large capacity air fryer came along. These bold, concise cooking vessels have surged in popularity recently because they finally put that old dilemma to rest. You can have your fried chicken and eat it too. Air fryers work their magic with an internal heating element that circulates ripping-hot air around the food. Occasionally aided by a small amount of oil, this hot air creates that telltale Maillard reaction we come to associate with the best fried food. As a bonus, foods cooked in an air fryer are significantly lower in calories.
But here’s the catch: Not all air fryers are created equally. Space, capacity, ease-of-maintenance, price, warranty, intuitiveness – these factors all vary greatly from air fryer to air fryer. It can be difficult to know which products live up to their marketing, and which ones are just blowing hot air (excuse the pun). Luckily, we here at Fire Food Chefs have written a comprehensive roundup of the best large capacity air fryers.
We scoured the net for the best large capacity air fryer reviews to come up with an authoritative ranking of the best air fryers for your next party or family gathering. Below, you’ll find a quick recap of that research, followed by in-depth reviews of each product.Table of Contents
In a Hurry? This was our Winner:
Ninja Foodi 7-in-1 Pressure, Slow Cooker, Air Fryer and More
Why Is It the Better Large Capacity Air Fryer?
99/100
our score
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Research
QUERIES
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REviews considered
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hours researching
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products compared
Last Updated: January 3, 2024
By William Clay: This article has been updated to reflect the most accurate information regarding large capacity air fryer available. The best 11 available have changed, and information has been added to assist individuals in finding the best large air fryer currently available on the market.
Top 10 Bread Maker Machines
RANK | PICTURE | NAME | RATING | SHOPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
№1 |  | 99% |  | |
№2 |  | 98% |  | |
№3 |  | 96% |  | |
№4 |  | 95% |  | |
№5 |  | 93% |  | |
№6 |  | 92% |  | |
№7 |  | 90% |  | |
№8 |  | 89% |  | |
№9 |  | 88% |  | |
№10 |  | 85% |  | |
№11 |  | 82% |  |
11 Best Large Capacity Air Fryers
Features
- Capacity: 5 Quarts – holds up to 4 pounds of chicken
- Dimensions: 15.94 x 13.9 x 11.69 inches
- Wattage: 1460 Watts
Overview
Ranking the Ninja Foodi 7-in-1 at first almost seems unfair. Not only is it a fully capable air fryer, but it’s also a pressure cooker, slow cooker, yogurt maker, broiler and more. It makes a compelling argument for being the only countertop cooking vessel you’ll need.
To level the playing field, let’s focus specifically on the air fryer – what makes the Ninja Foodi 7-in-1 the best air fryer in 2024? Ninja’s patented TenderCrisp technology combines the quickness of pressure cooking with the satisfying caramelization of traditional frying. Its non-stick, ceramic-coated pot makes cleanup a cinch. And it’s quieter than the competition.
At the end of the day, the Ninja Foodi 7-in-1 wins because it produces consistent, tender, crispy results.
Ease of Use
As mentioned, the ceramic-coated pot and air fryer basket are easy to clean and fit neatly in the dishwasher.
The Ninja Foodi 7-in-1 Pressure, Slow Cooker, Air Fryer and More also comes with a comprehensive guide that lists ideal cooking times, charts and instructions for which buttons to hit. Its control panel is intuitively designed and easy to program.
Standout Features
The TenderCrisp technology is a huge advantage. It allows you to produce tender-yet-crispy roast chicken in a fraction of the time it takes other air fryers. You can make Ninja’s sticky St. Louis ribs in just 34 minutes (that’s 19 minutes of pressure cooking, followed by 15 minutes of air frying).
Also, the fact that it’s a multi-functional item makes it easy to justify its (admittedly bulky) size.
Drawbacks But Not Dealbreakers
The Ninja Foodi 7-in-1 is big. But then again, so are the other devices on this list. That’s the cost of doing business if you’re looking for the best large capacity air fryer. According to some reviews, the pot coating can chip away easily if you repeatedly use metal utensils, so make sure you stick to silicone or wooden utensils. The 24-inch cord may be short for some, but you can always purchase a separate extension cord if that’s the issue.Pros
Cons
Features
- Capacity: 3 pounds of chicken wings, a 12-inch pizza or a 4-pound whole chicken
- Dimensions: 15.5 x 16 x 14 inches
- Wattage: 1800 watts
Overview
An odd-one-out on this list in terms of appearance, the Cuisinart TOA-60 looks more like a toaster oven than a conventional pot-designed air fryer. Don’t let looks fool you. The air fry function on the Cuisinart TOA-60 is precise and powerful. Its ample cooking space makes it easy to whip up family dinners. And its broil, roast and toast functions help justify its size.
Fry a chicken cutlet, toast some garlic bread, then put the whole thing under the broiler with some sauce and cheese for a quick chicken parm sandwich!
Ease of Use
Because it’s designed like a toaster oven, there’s no need to wash a cumbersome pot each time you fry. Just take out the removable drip tray and either hand wash it or throw it in the dishwasher.
The prominent dials make it easy to control the temperature. And it comes with an oven light and clear glass door, which allows you to check the progress of your meal (a handy feature that, sadly, many air fryers on this list are missing).
Standout Features
We love the fact that you can see your food as it cooks in the Cuisinart TOA-60 Convection Toaster Oven Airfryer. Recipe times can produce different results depending on the size, intramuscular fat, dryness, etc. of your meat. Being able to actually see the meat cook gives you the opportunity to use your senses in the kitchen, and pull those chicken wings out when they’re perfectly crisped.
Drawbacks But Not Dealbreakers
Some reviewers will caution you not to trust the built-in timer, citing inaccuracy. But pretty much every cell phone these days comes with a voice-activated timer, so that’s a simple workaround. While the drip tray is removable (a pro), it’s also stainless steel and potentially tricky to clean (a con).
While the Cuisinart TOA-60 isn’t the best large capacity air fryer on the market, it’s a close second. At roughly $30 cheaper (at the time of writing) than the Ninja Foodi, it may well be your top choice.Pros
Cons
Features
- Capacity: 16 Quarts – Large enough to fit a whole turkey
- Dimensions: 16 x 12.5 x 13.5 inches
- Wattage: 1500 Watts
Overview
The Big Boss lives up to its name, and then some. This 16-quart behemoth is large enough to fit an entire turkey, which will make your next thanksgiving all the more delicious.
It also features a two-shelf set, meaning that you can cook two different foods at the same time. Want to make fried chicken and a side of French fries? The Big Boss Oil-less Air Fryer lets you tackle both simultaneously. It has a streamlined control panel consisting of just two dials, a clear pot for easy visuals, and its powerful combination of halogen, infrared and convection heat allows you to crisp food without the addition of oils.
Ease of Use
The glass pot isn’t just great for visual cooking. It’s also ideal for Teflon-skeptic cookers, who’d prefer to fry on a natural material. The Big Boss Oil-less Air Fryer’s simple control panel design is perfect for home cooks who don’t want a steep learning curve with their air fryer. And provided that you let the parts cool after cooking, cleanup by hand should be a breeze.
Standout Features
Upon sifting through the best air fryer reviews online, it’s clear that the feature most people love in the Big Boss Oil-less Air Fryer is size. It can be challenging to find an air fryer (even a large capacity air fryer) that accommodates a large family, but the Big Boss’ 16-quart capacity is up to the challenge.
Drawbacks But Not Dealbreakers
The drawback of such a large device is that you need adequate counter space – and top clearance – to store it. The Big Boss also produces a significant amount of heat, so you may need to find a spot in the kitchen near either a fan or window. Keep kids away while the Big Boss is working, and always use proper oven mitts when dealing directly with the pots, inserts and safety handle.
Pros
Cons
Features
- Capacity: 6 Quarts – fits a whole chicken
- Dimensions: 11.73 x 11.73 x 13.39 inches
- Wattage: 1750 Watts
Overview
A sleek, sophisticated black design and even, high-wattage heating makes the TaoTronics Air Fryer a fantastic combination of style and functionality. It preheats quickly, the non-stick basket fits neatly in the dishwasher, and its relatively slender dimensions (it’s the most compact air fryer on this list) make storage simple.
Ease of Use
We like the 11 preset menus on the TaoTronics Air Fryer. Their precise time and temperature settings allow you to cook great food on autopilot. At the end of a long workday, that’s exactly what you need.
Standout Features
All else being equal, we love the smart look of the TaoTronics Air Fryer, Large XL 6 Quart. Also, TaoTronics as a company offers quality support, so you’ll be taken care of should anything go wrong with your new device.
Drawbacks But Not Dealbreakers
Because of the non-stick coating, you need to keep metal utensils and cleaning brushes away from the pan and basket. Because the basket is sturdily constructed (a pro), it’s also heavy (a potential con).
Pros
Cons
Features
- Capacity: 6 Quarts – fits a 2-pound bag of fries or a 4-pound butterflied chicken
- Dimensions: 14.92 x 12.36 x 12.83 inches
- Wattage: 1500 Watts
Overview
From the undisputed kings of pressure cooking comes this 4-in-1 air fryer. The Instant Pot Vortex has a relatively high capacity (it fits a four-pound bird), short preheating time and safe design (the device never gets blazingly hot, as some others on the list). Still, some reviewers complain of an unpleasant chemical smell from the plastic parts.
Ease of Use
The preheat on the Instant Pot Vortex is brief. The interface is user-friendly, with large text, prominent buttons and a satisfying temperature dial in the middle.
Standout Features
The Instant Pot Vortex 4-in-1 Air Fryer packs a lot of power in its 1500 watts, handily crisping even the most stubborn foods (yam fries, we’re looking at you). It’s also a relatively inexpensive addition to this list.
Drawbacks But Not Dealbreakers
A not-insignificant number of reviewers complain about a “toxic,” plastic-y smell from the device, which occasionally permeates the food. Although simple to use once you get a hang of it, the Vortex comes with a scant instructions packet.
Pros
Cons
Features
- Capacity: 7.8 Quarts – fits a 5-6 pound whole chicken or fish
- Dimensions: 15.7 x 11.59 x 13.40 inches
- Wattage: 1800 Watts
Overview
High wattage, high basket capacity, a one-year manufacturer’s warranty and lifetime support are on the KOIOS’ side. However, due to hot spots, the KOIOS air fryer can be prone to uneven cooking.
Ease of Use
A double-decker tray lets you cook separate items simultaneously. The preset functions are no-nonsense and straightforward, and the parts are dishwasher-safe.
Standout Features
The KOIOS Air Fryer is a powerful tool, capable of crisping fries and chicken faster than the average air fryer. Able to fit a five-to-six-pound whole chicken, capacity in the KOIOS is no slouch either.
Drawbacks But Not Dealbreakers
Despite the generous warranty and promise of lifetime support, some reviewers report their KOIOS air fryer breaking down after a year, a month or (rarely) a week of use. With any product, there’s a risk of receiving a defective item, and the vast majority of users have had no problems with their KOIOS. Still, we like to be forthright here at Fire Food Chef, so we’re throwing up a small red flag.
Pros
Cons
Features
- Capacity: 5.8 Quarts – Holds a max 5-pound whole chicken
- Dimensions: 12.36 x 14.87 x 12.71 inches
- Wattage: 1700 Watts
Overview
The Innsky Upgraded Air Fryer XL is a well-constructed piece of cookery. It looks great, with a generous LED touchscreen, wavy top panel design and stainless-steel base. It’s also built well, featuring solid construction and PFOA-free, BPA-free materials. There’s nothing flimsy or cheap-feeling about the Innsky.
Ease of Use
Like many of the best large capacity air fryers, the relevant components here are dishwasher safe. The seven presets on the LED touchscreen produce startlingly consistent results, and the four “assist” functions (timer, preheat, keep warm and thaw) are convenient for prepping dinner in advance.
Standout Features
This product feels like a contender for the best large capacity air fryer. There’s really no other way to put it. We love its robust construction, quality materials and responsive touchscreen.
Drawbacks But Not Dealbreakers
This is the Goldilocks choice on the list. Not the highest capacity, not the lowest. Not the quickest-cooking, not the slowest. Not the cheapest, not the most expensive. One potential drawback for the noise-sensitive Fire Food Chef reader is that the Innsky Upgraded Air Fryer XL is a louder machine than others on the list.
Pros
Cons
Features
- Capacity: 5.5 Quarts – Takes 3 pounds of french fries or chicken wings
- Dimensions: 14 x 11 x 14.8 inches
- Wattage: 1750 Watts
Overview
Ninja’s second entry on this list, the Max XL Air Fryer doesn’t quite match the overall benefits of the Foodi 7-in-1, but it has individual merits some home cooks may prefer. The Max XL Air Fryer is slightly smaller and less expensive than its sibling. It’s also worth mentioning that some consumers are completely model-loyal to the Max XL Air Fryer, insisting that it produces better, crispier results than any other large capacity air fryer (Foodi included).
Ease of Use
It has all the baseline ease-of-use features you expect from a quality air fryer: dishwasher-safety, handy presets and enough capacity that you don’t have to fire up the oven to complete dinner.
Standout Features
Unlike the Foodi (the benchmark to which we have to compare the Max XL), the Ninja Max XL Air Fryer features “Max Crisp Technology”. That’s Ninja’s fancy way of saying that it delivers 450 degrees of superheated air to cook foods up to 30% faster. With a temperature low of 105 degrees, the Max XL has a very wide temp range.
Drawbacks But Not Dealbreakers
The circular basket can make fitting multiple foods (like chicken fingers or striploin steaks) a hassle. Its high capacity is represented by depth as opposed to width, meaning that, if you want to cook something like fries, which need their own layer, you have less usable space.
Pros
Cons
Features
- Capacity: 17 Quarts – Enough room to feed a whole family
- Dimensions: 15.1 x 15.0 x 15.2 inches
- Wattage: 1800 Watts
Overview
At 17 quarts, the OMMO Air Fryer Oven takes top spot for capacity. Is it a tad unwieldy because of that capacity? Sure. But if you have the counter space or storage for this gargantuan air fryer, you’ll find that its three-rack (or single rotisserie) housing is great for feeding a large family.
Ease of Use
With 17 quarts and three racks to play around with, flipping, turning and arranging food is simpler in the OMMO Air Fryer than in other models.
Standout Features
There’s a lot of value packed into this purchase. In addition to the sizable machine, you also get two wire racks, two skewer racks (with eight skewers), a rotisserie shaft, a rotating mesh basket and a drip tray.
Drawbacks But Not Dealbreakers
With a max temp of 400 degrees, is the OMMO Air Fryer functionally different than a convection oven? Yes and no. Some smart design features and add-ons (like the aforementioned mesh tumbling basket) mean that it’s totally possible to get crispy results from the OMMO. At worst, however, it’s a very compact and powerful toaster oven.
Pros
Cons
Features
- Capacity: 12 Quarts – Fits a large rotisserie for chicken
- Dimensions: 14 x 12 x 15 inches
- Wattage: 1800 Watts
Overview
Like the OMMO above, the Pro Breeze has a large capacity, generous add-ons, three cooking tiers and a walloping 1800 watts behind it. Personally, we prefer its minimalist, slope-edged design. But it suffers from a lack of even cooking, especially of French fries.
Ease of Use
The mesh basket can be tricky to clean, but the other inserts wash up nicely. With all three racks in the Pro Breeze, real estate is tight, so you have to be careful removing the racks when it’s hot.
Standout Features
The generous capacity and ample add-ons, coupled with the low price (at least $20 cheaper than the OMMO above it), make this a good-value purchase.
Drawbacks But Not Dealbreakers
After thoroughly reading the latest best choice air fryer reviews, the one red flag here remains consistency. The Pro Breeze delivers a primarily top-down heat, meaning that your food can cook unevenly without constant flipping.
Pros
Cons
Features
- Capacity: 12 Quarts – Fits a large rotisserie for chicken
- Dimensions: 14 x 12 x 15 inches
- Wattage: 1800 Watts
Overview
Rounding out our list is another large capacity air fryer that operates much like a scaled-down convection oven. The LCD buttons and central knob are intuitive and unfussy – just the way we like it. Like previous entries, the Ultrean Air Fryer doubles as a dehydrator and rotisserie.
Ease of Use
The rotating fry cage that comes with the Ultrean is great for fries. But the hinge on the cage is tiny; manoeuvring it with oven mitts while it’s still hot isn’t easy. It’s best to pick up a pair of BBQ gloves (you can read our roundup of the best), which give you better dexterity than oven mitts.
Standout Features
The dehydrator function works particularly well on the Ultrean Air Fryer. If you plan on making jerky as often as you make air-fried chicken and fries, this device is well-worth its modest price.
Drawbacks But Not Dealbreakers
The crevices at the bottom of the oven can be tricky to clean. The brief manual leaves a lot to be desired (a non-issue if you’re patient enough to play around with your new purchase). And the Ultrean is slower to cook food than the best large air fryer on this list.
Pros
Cons
Large Capacity Air Fryer Buying Guide
You’ve read through the in-depth product summaries above, but now you want to do your own digging. That’s fair – we get it! A large capacity air fryer is a sizable purchase and you want to get it right the first time.
To help you in your research, here’s a quick buying guide for large capacity air fryers. Below, we’ve listed the key features to be mindful of in the best large capacity air fryer, including specs to look for and accessories to consider.
Capacity
Obviously, an essential criterion for large capacity air fryers is right there in the name – capacity.
Capacity is usually expressed in quarts, although some companies opt to take the more informal approach of listing the max weight of chicken that can fit in their device. We prefer our best air fryer reviews to be as quantitative and scientific as possible, so we vastly prefer working in set volumes.
The low end of capacity should be five quarts. Any smaller, and you’ll have trouble fitting enough for a three-person dinner. As important as the number of quarts, however, is how the space is used. Our top pick – the Ninja Foodi 7-in-1 – may only boast five quarts, but its wide base and reversible rack allow you to utilize every bit of the space.
For those having trouble visualizing exactly how much food a quart is, consult a Kitchen Equivalents chart [1].Wattage
Higher wattage is generally associated with higher temperatures and faster cooking times. The operative word being “generally”.
A typical electric oven, like the kind you have in your kitchen, delivers between 2500 and 5000 watts [2]. But that wattage is only relevant in relation to the size of the device. Because air fryers are significantly smaller, the required wattage to reach and hold high temperatures is lower.
This size-to-wattage ratio should also be considered when comparing different air fryers. Some devices using 1400 watts outperform devices using 1800 watts, simply because they are more compact and efficient.
An informal, yet helpful, way to determine if an air fryer’s wattage translates to quick, crisp cooking is to consult the best air fryer reviews you can find. If enough people report quick preheat times and rapid cooking times, you can be relatively assured that the device in question uses its wattage to good advantage.
Easy Maintenance
If you have a dishwasher, you might as well use it, right? Look for large capacity air fryers that advertise dishwasher-safe pots, trays, racks and inserts.
If you’re unsure how to clean your air fryer, just follow these few simple tips:
- To start, unplug the air fryer and allow it to cool completely.
- If the pots, trays, racks and inserts are dishwasher-safe, simply start with a cursory scrub before running them through a cycle. Note that some pots feature a non-stick coating that will rub off with abrasive cleaning tools, which may be more of a nuisance than a health risk [3]. To be safe, use a non-abrasive sponge or kitchen towel.
- If any oil, moisture or food particles have reached the interior of the device, or its control panel, gently wipe them with a microfibre cloth.
- Ensure all parts are thoroughly dried before reassembling.
For more in-depth coverage on how to clean your air fryer, including what to do with stuck on foods and foul odors, consult this comprehensive Allrecipes guide [4].
Accessories and Multifunctionality
The next thing to consider are the bells, whistles and extras. Are you the type of cook who’ll get a lot of mileage from a rotisserie rod – enough that it may sway your overall decision? Do you need an air-fryer that multi-tasks – that pressure cooks, dehydrates, broils or bakes as well?
For some, these special features – the added air fryer accessories and multifunctionalities – inform their overall decision [5]. It’s easier to justify the storage or counter space of a large item when you know it can perform several cooking tasks.
Air fryer accessories may include wire racks and drip trays (common and essential for convection oven-style air fryers), as well as skewer racks, rotisserie spits and rotating mesh baskets (less common and non-essential, though they do add value). One essential tool that none of these large capacity air fryers come with, that you will absolutely need, is a good pair of tongs.
Some air fryers function additionally as dehydrators, pressure cookers, slow cookers, broilers, roasters or toasters (often several of the above). If you already own devices that perform these functions, you may consider selling them to justify the cost of a multifunctional device that includes air frying (as a bonus, you can consolidate counter space).
FAQs About Large Capacity Air Fryers
There is no perfect substitute for deep-frying. As food scientist Harold McGee points out, oil coverage is crucial for getting the surface desiccation needed to produce a crispy, crackly exterior [6]. Still, the best large capacity air fryer will get you 95% of the way there.
Yes. By most measures, air frying cuts calories by 70-80% [7]. That’s a significant reduction. And since most of those calories are from trans or saturated fats, the resulting reduction is much healthier. The best choice air fryer reviews are often written by people pleased with the calorie-reducing benefits of their new purchase.
The best air fryers are safe. Provided that you use proper gloves when touching heated parts, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for proper use, air fryers are as safe as any toaster or convection oven.
Here’s an interesting question that was tested by America’s Test Kitchen in Air Fryer Perfection. They found that the total cook time for food started in a cold air fryer vs. a preheated one was practically the same. That means you can cut the preheating step and still have dinner on the table at a reasonable time.
The best large capacity air fryers come with dishwasher-safe parts. Refer to the section above, entitled “Easy Maintenance” for a brief step-by-step guide for proper air fryer maintenance.
Final Thoughts
A quality air fryer can markedly improve your kitchen game, whether you’re cooking for a crowd or feeding your family a weeknight meal. The best large capacity air fryers strike a balance between ample capacity, quick-cooking capability and multifunctionality.
Thanks for reading our roundup of the best air fryer reviews in 2024. We hope this has helped on your journey toward easier, healthier fried foods at home. Visit us at Fire Food Chef for more detailed reviews and guides on home cooking appliances. Until then, happy frying!References
[1] The Only Kitchen Equivalents Chart You'll Ever Need (Good Housekeeping)
[2] Which is more efficient, a toaster oven or a regular oven? (Now Toronto)
[3] Are Nonstick Pans Safe? (Scientific American)
[4] How to Clean Your Air Fryer (Allrecipes)
[5] Aspects of household appliances considered most important by consumers in the United States, as of May 2017 (Statista)
[6] The Science Behind Frying Food Is Actually Pretty Interesting (HuffPost)
[7] Do Air Fryers Have Health Benefits? (WebMD)