If you've reached this stage in your search, you're probably ready to buy an air fryer for your house. You're ready to invest in this kitchen appliance like millions of other Americans because of the convenience and speed they prepare your favorite dishes. You get the great taste - similar to a deep fryer - but without all the excess oil and fat.
And, like many Americans, you like to support businesses that are owned and operated in the United States. So you want to buy an air fryer produced in America, but when it comes to air fryers that can be tough. Almost all the big brands are made in China for better or worse.
Believe Me, We Tried - While We Found Air Fryers Designed in the USA, Most Product Manufacturing Occurs Overseas - Primarily in China
While we have done the legwork for you in locating the best air fryers produced in the United States, there are still many common brands that are not manufactured in the United States. Although you may wind up spending a little more than you would on a cheaper Chinese-made device, purchasing an air fryer from the United States means you are supporting American workers.
Let's take a look at the current condition of air fryer purchases throughout the world. Then, we'll look at the top air fryers produced for sale in the United States.
Philips introduced the first Airfryer at the Internationale Funkausstellung (IFA) in Berlin in 2010. The egg-shaped gadget enabled users to swiftly cook a variety of foods, including French fries, chicken, and pork.
The proprietary Rapid Air technique was employed in the Philips AirFryer. It cooks food rapidly and uses up to 80% less fat than a typical fryer. Because the gadget uses air to cook the dishes, like a more streamlined convection oven, it is often easier to clean than standard fry pan methods and is suitable for daily usage.
You're probably wondering why it's so tough to find air fryers built entirely in the United States. The answer has nothing to do with which countries use the appliances the most and everything to do with who manufactures the interior components of these gadgets.
Production in China is significantly less expensive than everywhere else on earth, making China the world's leader in electronics manufacturing. Making electrical components needs a skilled labor pool, which is difficult to come by for the price.
Even corporations that can afford the initial production expenditures, such as Apple, manufacture their products in China and sell them worldwide. As a result, most of the time, the brand offers value to the client by ensuring product quality and providing good customer service.
Starting with the most popular air fryer brands, we review products from Cosori, GoWISE USA, Instant Vortex, Ninja, NUWAVE, Phillips, and PowerXL.
Specifically, we look into the following products:
All eleven models were made in China, the United States, Canada, and Germany. Appliances can be designed, manufactured, and assembled in three or more locations.
Here are some of the most popular air fryers on the market. As you can see the parts are almost entirely manufactured in China. Some assembly for some air fryers is performed in North America.
Manufacturing location: China
Price: $95.99
The Chefman Digital is designed in the United States and manufactured in China - this according to a reply by Chefman in the customer Questions and Answers section of the Amazon listing. When the timer expires, the 1700 watt appliance automatically turns off. The 6-quart basket is not dishwasher safe, but the ring that forms the pan's base is.
An overview of the Chefman Digital Air Fryer
Users like that the interior of the gadget is BPA-free. They do, however, complain that the electronics require regular monitoring since they fail frequently.
Manufacturing location: China
Price: $119.99
This item is manufactured in China and has Thermo IQ Technology for more accurate temperature control and more hot air when needed.
The air fryer's 5.8-quart square baskets are large enough to hold a complete 5-pound chicken. Because the basket is square instead of round like typical air fryers, there is more surface area for cooking more food.
Users like that the basket is nonstick and dishwasher safe. Some recommend placing a sheet of Reynolds Wrap aluminum foil to prevent food from sticking to the bottom of the basket.
Manufacturing location: China
Price: $119.99
The GoWISE USA air fryer has a misleading label because it was not manufactured in the United States. It is marketed toward US buyers. Producers say the Vibe was “designed in the United States and manufactured in China.”
This model offers many accessories to convert a standard air-fryer into a rotisserie basket and skewer kit. Models choose between 15.5 quarts and 8 quarts of capacity.
Manufacturing location: China
Price: $119.99
The Instant Vortex air fryer from the Instant Appliances brand has over 32k reviews on Amazon.com.
Because of its popularity and quality, this brand has become a major air fryer brand in the United States. This Instant Vortex air fryer, on the other hand, is made in China.
The 6-quart Instant Vortex allows people to fry, bake, roast, and reheat. With a 6-quart capacity, the non-stick air fryer basket can cook 2 pounds of fries or 4 pounds of chicken at once.
Users like the touch-screen menu options. But they also make note that they wish there were replacement parts for the air fryer and the grill cooking tray in the bottom of the basket.
Manufacturing location: China
Price: $139.99
The Instant Pot Double Crisp Air Fryer is made by the same folks that make the Instant Vortex Air Fryer. The difference between the two is in the capacity size and rack number.
The Double Crisp Air Fryer has an 8-quart capacity and performs as a pressure cooker, steamer, saute pan, air fryer, roaster, mini-oven, broiler, and dehydrator.
This device comes with many accessories like a stainless-steel rack, a broiler, a multi-level basket, and a dehydrating tray.
Similar to the Power Air Fryer Pro, this 8-quart air fryer runs at only 1500 watts, while its Vortex 6-quart cousin runs at 1700 watts.
Where the Ninja Foodi Digital Air Fry Oven has issues with cleanup, the Instant Pot Double Crisp Air Fryer has a dishwasher-safe lid and interior pot. Cleanup with this device should prove easier than any of the others listed here.
Manufacturing location: China
Price: $99
The KOIOS air fryer was created in China. It is one of the least expensive options for an air fryer on this list.
This air fryer utilizes higher than average 1500W-1700 watts for more power than competitors. Preheating is unnecessary as it heats up to your desired temperature quickly.
Users say the basket needs a coat of non-stick spray to keep food from sticking. The basket doesn’t have a non-stick coating on it.
Manufacturing location: China
Price: $239.99
This Ninja model demonstrates that they are the market leader in air frying. However, Ninja air fryers are not manufactured in the United States. They are made in China.
This 6-quart air fryer is unique because it uses two large-capacity side-by-side baskets with two separate heaters. People can cook two different foods at once at different temperatures.
The Smart Finish feature allows for both foods to complete cooking simultaneously. When it is tilted down, the air fryer can fit a 13” x 13” sheet pan or six chicken breasts.
Users like that it flips up and stores against kitchen backsplashes, so it takes up less space on kitchen countertops. They aren’t so fond of the higher price point or that it’s difficult to clean.
Bottom heating elements can’t be cleaned, and grease residue persists despite removing metal covers. The interior does not have any non-stick surfaces.
Manufacturing location: China
Price: $188.99
Another well-known company with high-quality items and an excellent customer service team is NuWAVE. The mentioned model has received over 3.2k ratings, demonstrating its popularity and quality.
The product is not from the United States but rather from China.
Unlike competitors, the NUWAVE Brio readily accepts temperature adjustments from users. Instead of starting the cooking process over.
Manufacturing location: China
Price: $349.95
The Phillips Premium Air Fryer is one in a long line of the original air fryers ever created using German design. This most recent iteration of the Phillips air fryer is made in China.
The starfish design helps airflow continuously move around fried food, forcing heated air for faster cooking. Excess fat is separated and captured using fat removal technology.
Users like that they can customize their air frying experience by purchasing additional accessories. This model offers kits for:
Manufacturing location: China
Price: $99.99
Similar to the Instant Vortex Air Fryer, this 6-quart air fryer oven also handles 4 lbs of chicken at once. The rotating rotisserie spit cooks small chickens. It has an oil drip tray and three stainless steel racks for stacking food.
The racks also double as dehydrating trays, although users say the top rack can dehydrate food much faster than the lower racks - so they might be better used for their air-frying capabilities.
They offer a 6 quart at 1700 watts and an 8 quart at 1500 watts, so there is a big difference in the heating capacity for the different size units.
Manufacturing location: China/Canada
Price: $112
The Total Chef Air Fryer distinguishes itself from competitors by being manufactured in Brantford, Ontario, Canada. However, the components are manufactured in China.
Compared to many others on the list, the Total Chef Air Fryer is a 3.8-quart air fryer, making it on the smaller side. However, the lower capacity may be more suited for couples that don't cook a lot at once. Or for dorm rooms with little storage space.
With a cooking output of 1500 watts, this tiny gadget can compete with many larger fryers. Preset choices allow customers to select cooking styles based on whether they are cooking fries, bacon, shellfish, poultry, or beef.
Convection ovens use the same basic principles for cooking food as an air fryer. Air within the oven is heated up and circulated throughout the oven by means of a fan.
By circulating the hot air, the total cooking time is reduced, and convection ovens enhance browning and crispiness - just like an air fryer.
Convection Ovens Use the Same Cooking Method as Air Fryers - and Many Ovens are Manufactured in the United States
This means that you can use those same exact air fryer recipes for chicken tenders, onion rings, and french fries in your oven - you don't have to use an air fyer.
Many ovens are made in the United States. If you're looking for a brand, note that Viking, Frigidaire, Thermador, and Electrolux are manufactured in the United States.
Many toaster ovens have convection cooking just like an air fryer. Unfortunately, after an exhaustive search, we couldn't find a single toaster oven for home use that was manufactured in the United States.
Convection Toaster Ovens Cook Just Like Air Fryers - However, Most Convection Toaster Ovens are For Commercial Use (Not for Your Home Kitchen)
Star Manufacturing is out of Tennesee and makes all of their kitchen products at US based plants. Unfortunately, while they do make toasters, their products are only for commercial, high volume kitchens.
The models mentioned above are among the top small air fryer models available. However, that is not the only thing that people are curious about. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions concerning some of the most popular air fryers, as well as where they're made.
While many air fryers were designed and have company headquarters in the United States, all manufacturing for the brands we looked into was performed in China.
Although the original air fryer was developed in Germany, the Phillips Premium Airfryer XXL is manufactured in China. Philips unveiled the first air fryer kitchen equipment in 2010 during a trade show in Berlin, Germany.
The prototype, designed by Fred van der Weij, was given to German-owned Braun, but the technology was rejected. Van der Weij worked with Chinese financiers to promote the innovation to European marketing teams.
Cuisinart cookware and appliances are mostly produced in China. Cuisinart's French Classic cookware range is made in France. The Cuisinart air fryer is manufactured in China.
