The 7 Best Hamilton Beach Air Fryers, Ranked for Every Kitchen

This is the model we would buy again, since the 5.8 qt basket is roomy enough that food is not cramped and it does not heat up the kitchen the way a range does. It fits a whole 5 lb chicken, and the 8 one-touch presets (steak, chicken, shrimp, fish, pizza, fries, baked goods, veggies) make the first week painless.

The back of the hot basket pan can scorch a countertop, so put down a trivet before pulling it out. Expect a few days to get used to the controls: press the button to start and hold it briefly to stop.

When dinner outgrows the 35075 basket, we turn to the 31390 oven. It fits a 5 lb chicken, two 12 in pizzas, 2 lb of fries, or two 9x13 pans, and it can replace a full-size oven for a household of one or two.

It runs hot, so trim temperatures and times, as a pizza finished in 15 minutes at 325F instead of 22 minutes at 400F. The glass door gets very hot and the 26 in power cord is short, so measure your outlet before buying.

The 35050 is the compact starter next to the roomier 35075, and it earned its keep on leftovers. We reheated okra, poppers, and nuggets in it and all three came out well, with easy cleanup and no preheating needed.

The worry is longevity, because the nonstick coating can peel with sustained use and some units stop working after a while. For that reason we treat it as a starter fryer rather than a decade-long workhorse.

Stepping down from baskets to a Hamilton Beach air fryer toaster oven, the 4 slice 31403 suits one or two people and holds a 9 in pizza or 3 lb of chicken in an 8x8 pan. In our kitchen the exterior got very hot, which matters most with kids around, and the oven can fail to hold temperature consistently, so keep it clear of cabinets and small hands.

Unlike the 31403, the 31523 cannot do its headline trick well: the air fry mode is weak and times run longer than the box suggests. The manual timer knob will not start the oven under 10 minutes, which is annoying for toast, and one unit died within 3 months of near-daily use.

The Easy Reach roll-up glass door earns this oven its spot: it opens upward off the countertop and keeps your hands clear. The oven also bakes and toasts well, with room for a standard frozen pizza. We rate it as a good toaster oven that also air fries a little.

We would not pick the 31395 for a quiet kitchen, because the beeper is loud and temperatures drift, so cooking can take longer than expected. In return it is the most versatile oven on the list, since it cooks well, heats up nicely, toasts six slices, and grills six 4 oz burgers in under 10 minutes.

Availability is also patchy, as the maker's page marks it out of stock, so check before you plan around it. If it is gone, the 6-in-1 XL French Door Oven 31191 (1700W, 0.9 cu ft, 8 lb chicken) is the nearest alternative.

Where the 31395 is fussy, the 35073 gave us even results, and for big batches nothing else here compares. The 11.6 qt oven has five rack positions, fits a 5 lb chicken or a 9 in pizza, and never gave us tough or overcooked food across wings, corn, pork chops, and steak. The wire mesh lets fat drain away.

It runs at a conversational level (54.4 dB), and the lit window lets you watch food without opening the door. Handling takes care: the unit can tilt slightly forward when the door is opened empty, and hot food on the wire shelves needs a steady hand. A 6 lb bird rubs the top and bottom of the cavity, and the glossy touch panel scratches easily. Toast needs flipping, and crumbs catch in the drop-down door. Cleanup is soapy water plus a wipe of the interior, and the drip tray catches spills.