Let’s take a look at the best air fryer for a family of 4.
Busy family life and cooking tasty meals at home don’t always come easy. When your schedule is full, it can be hard to get dinner together for everyone. Even when you do have the time, you likely are exhausted, and the last thing you want to do is cook. Hello, drive-thru (again).
Cooking delicious and healthy meals for a family of four isn’t as out-of-reach as you might think.
Adding an air-fryer to your kitchen can be a great way to make mealtimes more manageable and more filling. An air fryer with a minimum 4-quart capacity works for a family of four, but 5 to 6 quarts gives you more options.
However, you need to know what you’re looking for when deciding which air fryer is suitable for your family. You’ll find many sizes and styles to choose from, along with a variety of special features.
It’s essential not to get more than you need, but you also don’t want to skimp and get something you won’t end up using.
What to Look for When Shopping for an Air Fryer
Some people think air fryers are just glorified toaster ovens or another name for a fancy pressure cooker. But this is not the case. Air fryers can deliver the look and taste of deep frying minus all of the oil splatter. It cooks the food by circulating hot air around it, resulting in foods like fried chicken, wings, and so much more.
You still get that soul-satisfying, crispy bite without all the extra fat content. Plus, they use a lot less energy than your standard oven, typically 1,000 to 1,7000 watts depending on the model.
In many ways, air fryers work similarly to convection ovens, with a heating element at the top that heats up relatively quickly. The main difference is an air fryer also has a fan that keeps air circulating around your food.
You need to consider several factors when it comes to choosing an air fryer, including capacity, type, budget, and special features. It also helps to find a model with removable accessories, so clean-up isn’t a drag.
Air Fryer Sizes
Air fryers come in multiple sizes ranging from small to extra-large. A small air fryer is one to three quarts. One or two quarts are ideal for a single person or for making snacks for two people. A three-quart fryer is better suited if you’re making meals for two.
Medium air fryers are three to four quarts and can be suitable for families of three to four. However, you might need to do some extra prep work to prepare a meal for four, like cutting up a whole chicken. Larger air fryers are closer to five to six quarts, while extra-large fryers can go beyond 10 quarts.
Look for an air fryer with at least a 4 to 5-quart capacity for a family of four, although 5 to 6 quarts is ideal. The extra capacity that the larger air fryer allows typically accommodates more oversized items and large-batch cooking. The latter is especially helpful when you have kids.
Of course, the larger the capacity, the larger the air fryer. So, make sure you have the counter space to accommodate your new appliance. If you don’t plan to leave the air fryer out on display, make sure you have adequate storage space for it between uses.
Air Fryer Style
There are two main types of air fryers, an air fryer oven, and a basket-style air fryer. The oven-front air fryer styles typically offer more features and more space.
A large oven-style air fryer will typically fit a whole chicken (although some basket styles will as well). However, basket-style fryers usually have a more compact design, so they take up less space.
Your Budget
You can find air fryers from roughly $70 to over $500, but you need to match the price to your needs and your budget. For example, consider these two scenarios if you have a family of four.
It won’t do you any good to save money on a $60 air fryer if it’s only two quarts. On the other hand, do you really need to spend $500 on an air fryer to make simple meals?
But if you adore cooking and want to experiment with all the bells and whistles, the higher price tag could be worth it. The point is to carefully think about how you will use the air fryer and how much time you actually spend in the kitchen.
Air Fryer Special Features
First and foremost, safety matters. Ensure your air fryer has non-slip feet and handles that are cool to the touch. Other safety features include a locking lid, heat indicator light, ready alarm, and automatic shut-off.
You also need to decide which extra features you desire, like dehydration, removable drawers, grill rack, tongs, and programming functions. With the right accessories, you can cook different types of food at once, making it super convenient.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Check the instructions for the various air fryers to determine how you need to clean them. It’s essential to clean your air fryer after every use to keep it in tip-top shape. Therefore, you want to find one that is easy to clean and doesn’t require a ton of extra work. (After all, you’re trying to save time, right?)
Best Air Fryers for a Family of Four
When you’re ready to add an air fryer to the list of your kitchen appliances, take some time to research. Doing a little more digging on the front end can ensure you find the best one for your family.
Here’s a look at some of the best air fryers for a family of four.
COSORI Air Fryer Oven Combo
This Cosori large air fryer offers a 5.8-quart basket that can handle a whole chicken. The square design allows more space for food, and you can make enough for five people.
One-touch cooking features enable you to start cooking at the touch of a button, and an NTC sensor keeps the temperature range in check.
The baskets have a non-stick coating, are removable, and are dishwasher-safe, making clean-up a breeze.
The Cosori cooks food up to 50% faster than a regular oven and keeps meals healthy. You’ll also get 100 recipes to try, so you can start cooking faster than you can say, “Who’s hungry?”
Ninja AF101 4 QT Air Fryer
If you have a small kitchen, you might prefer an air fryer that’s less than 5 quarts.
So we’ve made sure to include a Ninja 4-quart air fryer that can handle a family of four. For example, this Ninja air fryer can cook 6 frozen fish fillets at once. It comes with a basket, crisper tray, and a multi-layer rack for multiple cooking options.
It also has a temperature range of 105 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and removable accessories that are non-stick and dishwasher-safe. You can choose from several programmable functions, including roast, reheat, and dehydrate.
Breville Smart Oven Air
The stainless steel Breville Smart Air may look like just another countertop oven, but don’t let it fool you.
This handy all-in-one kitchen appliance can dehydrate food, air fry, roast, and more. It features 13 cooking functions and reduces your cooking time by about 30%.
The extra-large capacity ensures you can make enough food for the entire family. For example, it can handle a 14-pound turkey or fit a 9 x 13 pan or most 12-cup muffin pans. The interior light lets you keep an eye on what’s happening inside and shuts off automatically after the cooking time.
The clear LCD screen makes it easy to track progress and make changes. The Breville Smart Oven is a bit on the pricier side at approximately $450, but it makes cooking for the family a breeze. It’s also like getting multiple appliances in one, which also saves on space.
Philips Premium Air Fryer XXL
It’s okay to give your kids their favorite chicken strips and french fries, especially when you can do it with less oil.
The Philips Premium Air Fryer has a 4-quart/3-pound capacity that can handle a whole chicken or two bags of frozen fries. And it features fat-reducing technology that removes and captures excess fat while you cook.
There’s no need to wait for it to preheat, and you can cook food four times faster than a traditional oven. You’ll have dinnertime ready for the whole family in no time at all, and you can choose from multiple cooking functions.
The Philips Premium lets you air fry, bake, roast, dehydrate, grill, toast, and reheat food.
The quick-clean basket and removable, dishwasher-safe parts are every cook’s dream when it comes to cleaning. Plus, a non-stick coating makes it easy to get the food onto your plate without leaving anything behind.
Instant Vortex 5.7 Quart Air Fryer Oven Combo
With customizable cooking features, you can bake, air fry, roast, or reheat your favorite foods in this convenient air fryer.
You won’t waste any time waiting for the unit to preheat. Create simple programs to make all your go-to dishes at the touch of a button. And the easy-to-read touchscreen lets you keep track of your cooking progress.
The 5.7-quart capacity means you can whip up a meal for the whole family in one go. And if things get busy in the kitchen, you don’t have to worry about a thing, thanks to the auto-shutoff feature. The nonstick cooking surfaces mean an easy clean, and the removable basket and tray are dishwasher safe.
Cuisinart Air Fryer Convection Toaster Oven
This Cuisinart air fryer and oven combo has an impressive temperature range of 80 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit and tons of cooking functions.
You can reheat, broil, roast, bake, air fry, and more in this 1800-watt, large-capacity oven. It also has the ability to dehydrate foods and includes a proofing feature for your favorite bread and pastry recipes.
An interior oven light makes it simple to keep an eye on your food. Plus, a low-temperature setting means you can use it for warming, slow cooking, and more. The baking pan is dishwasher safe, and the nonstick air fryer basket is easy to clean.
Budget-Friendly Air Fryers for a Family of Four (Under $100)
You can find some great air fryer options at affordable prices. But if you’re really on a shoestring budget, no worries. If you’re willing to forego some fancier features, several air fryers on the market deliver excellent performance at a super-affordable price.
Ultrean 6 Quart Air Fryer
You’ll have no trouble cooking a meal for your family of four in this sleek Ultrean air fryer with a 6-quart capacity. It features rapid air technology that fries food from all sides for 360-degrees of crispiness. You can fry up some frozen chicken wings in just 20 minutes.
Easy to use controls, 7 preset options, and a clear LCD screen make mealtimes a snap. You’ll also get important safety features like an auto-shutoff and overheating protection.
The dishwasher-safe accessories make cleaning just as convenient as cooking. And it’s all less than $65 and comes with a one-year warranty.
Sakuchi 5.8 Quart Air Fryer
Here’s another option if you’re looking for a quality air fryer that won’t break the bank.
For under $80, the Sakuchi air fryer is a 10-in-1 digital air fryer oven with 5.8 quarts of cooking capacity. It can roast, grill, fry, dehydrate, and more and has a temperature range of 160-400 degrees Fahrenheit.
It features 10 cooking presets and a clear LED panel to keep tabs on your cooking progress. Enjoy crispy, delicious meals in 30 minutes or less. The compact design makes it easy to store or fit on your countertop, and non-stick detachable baskets mean easy cleaning.
GoWISE Digital Air Fryer
With a discount price of under $75, this 8-in-1 digital air fryer is a bargain in the kitchen.
The GoWise air fryer comes in fun colors, including plum, white, and red. The temperature settings range from 180 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, and a start/stop button allows you to make changes mid-cycle.
It has a 5.8-quart capacity and 8 cooking presets, including pork, chicken, fries and chips, shrimp, cake, steak, pizza, and fish. It even has a built-in alarm that reminds you to shake your food at 5, 10, and 15-minute increments. You’ll also get a recipe book that contains 50 recipes specifically for GoWISE air fryers.
The Best Air Fryer for Family of 4
After considering the different sizes, additional features, cooking time, price, and other factors, here’s our top pick for the best air fryer for family of 4.
Ninja Max AF161
Ninja Max XL Highlights
- 105 to 450-degree Fahrenheit temperature range
- Multiple presets: Dehydrate, air fry, max crisp, air broil, air bake, air roast, and reheat
- 5.5 quart (3-pound) capacity
- Up to 75% less fat than typical frying methods
- Start/Stop feature
- Sleek, high-gloss finish
- Non-stick ceramic fryer basket
- Easy clean-up
- Included 20-recipe cookbook
- Weighs 11 pounds
- Product Dimensions: 14 inches x 11 inches x 14.75 inches
- Manufacturer’s warranty available upon request
- Has an 8-inch crisper plate
The hotter temperature and rapid speed of the Ninja Max deliver food crisped to perfection 30% faster than similar fryers.
You can get dinnertime underway in no time, thanks to the 7 different presents. Plus, the accessories are dishwasher-safe, so you can spend more time with your family and less time cleaning the kitchen.
You can slide the basket out to check your progress, and the time will stop until you slide it back in. You can also use the handy start/stop feature to make any necessary adjustments while things are cooking.
The Ninja XL non-stick lining is super durable, and the overall appliance is very sturdy. The heating tray lets you make double portions, and it features a relatively quiet operation compared to other air fryers.
Many of these features are similar to other excellent air fryers. But this one gets the best overall pick because it delivers all of these features and optimal performance for only about $129.
Wrapping It Up
With so many options for air fryers on the market today, it can get overwhelming trying to find the right match for your family. But, with this convenient round-up of the top air fryers for a family of four, it’s easy. You can stop wondering and searching and start enjoying family dinner time.
Will you opt for a top-of-the-line option like the Breville Smart Oven Air or go with the best overall pick, the Ninja Max XL?
If you’re cooking on a budget, affordable, top-performing options like the Sakuchi 5.8 quart air fryer or Ultrean’s 6-quart model, don’t disappoint.
No matter which one you choose for your family, it’s sure to make mealtimes less of a hassle. You’ll save lots of time, which means more time to do the things that matter most to you.
Now that you’ve seen some of the best air fryers for a family of four, which one gets your vote? Share in the comments!
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