How We Research
Every guide on SmootherDay starts with one question: will this product work for the person who is shopping for it? For our air fryer guides, that means the size of your household, the meals you cook and how much cleanup you want to do.
Here is how we answer it.
1. We start with your household and your kitchen
A family of five needs more basket space than a couple, and a dual basket model takes more counter room than a single basket.
We check the capacity in quarts, the number of baskets and the size of the machine. When your kitchen limits the choice, like a small counter or low cabinets, we say what to measure.
2. We compare specs and features
We look at wattage, cooking functions, presets, basket coatings, whether the maker says the baskets are dishwasher safe and the accessories in the box.
We also note the warranty terms the maker lists. When a detail comes from the maker, we say so.
3. We look at buyer feedback
We read through what buyers report after using an air fryer. We look for patterns, like uneven cooking, noisy fans, baskets that are hard to clean or coatings that wear.
One angry review doesn't sink a product. A pattern does.
4. We score each product
Our score weighs specs, features and buyer feedback against what you're shopping for. A product that's great for one buyer may score lower in a guide written for another.
Scores spread out on purpose. A 10 is rare.
5. We keep pages up to date
Products change, and some disappear from stores. Ninja, Cosori and Chefman release new models often, and similar names can mean different sizes, so we check each model name and code before we write about it.
When we update a guide, the "Updated on" date at the top changes with it.
What our picks are not
Our picks are research, not lab tests. We don't claim to have cooked with every air fryer we cover.
Our guides don't replace the maker's manual. For heat limits, liners, foil and cleaning, follow the maker's steps, and check the maker's recall page before you buy.
We make no health promises about air-fried food. When a maker calls a coating PFOA-free or non-toxic, we label it as the maker's claim.