Best Mainstays Air Fryer: Every Model Compared and Ranked

Three Mainstays models are worth a look and each one fits a different kitchen, so we explain the trade-offs rather than invent a star score for each.

Mainstays products are sold at Walmart, and Amazon does not carry the brand, so the buy buttons in this article open an Amazon search and you may need to check Walmart for the actual listing.

Here is how the three models compare on the specs that matter most. Prices move with Walmart sales, so treat them as ballpark figures.

We score every air fryer the way our family uses one. Performance comes first, then size, noise, cleanup, and whether an older kid can run it without help. A fryer that crisps well but needs babysitting does not last long on a Tuesday night.

We ask the same questions as a busy family: does the basket come out easily, is the fan quiet enough to cook near a sleeping child, and does cleanup take a sponge or a scrub? On the 2.2 Qt, for example, fries, wings, and frozen snacks come out crisp with little oil, and residue wipes off the nonstick basket with a sponge.

Alongside those judgments, we check each model against Consumer Reports lab data and the manufacturer's stated specs for wattage, temperature range, and warranty. Where a figure moves, such as price, we say so rather than pin it down.

Pros and Cons

Who It Is For

Buy this one if you feed four or more people and want the lowest price for a big basket. Skip it if you want precise digital controls or have tight counter space. It stands 14 inches tall and weighs 10 pounds.

Pros and Cons

Who It Is For

This is the pick for a dorm room, a studio apartment, or a second fryer for snacks. Consumer Reports puts the running cost at about $3.02 a year for an hour of cooking each week at 350F. If you cook for more than two, move up to the 8 qt.

Pros and Cons

Who It Is For

Pick this if you are replacing a worn-out microwave anyway. It also suits an apartment where one appliance has to do everything. If you only want crisp fries, a basket model costs less.

Mainstays rotates other basket sizes and a few oven-style units through its lineup. Because Walmart changes that lineup often, we stuck to the three models we could verify. The 2.2 Qt comes in black, arctic white, and sage green, and the 8 Qt is black with other colors that vary by store. We could not confirm the colors for the microwave combo, so check the listing before you order.

Capacity

Match the basket to the people you cook for. The 2.2 qt covers one or two servings, and the 8 qt handles a family. Consumer Reports measured the 8 qt at about 7 qt, so plan on slightly less than the label.

Wattage and Performance

The 8 qt runs at 1800W, the 2.2 qt at 1150W, and the combo at 900 W. More watts generally means faster heating, but cheap fryers do not always perform as the wattage suggests.

Features and Controls

Every basket model uses manual dials. That means no presets and no display, but also nothing to learn. The microwave combo is the only one here with digital controls.

Color and Counter Space

Check how much counter you have. The 8 qt is 14 inches high and the 2.2 qt is 11. Color choice is limited and varies by model.

Mainstays wins on price alone. The Cosori TurboBlaze is a little over 6 qt and was rtings' best overall air fryer, and the Ninja Foodi DZ550 is a 10 qt dual-basket model rtings named best large, so both cost more and both come with better controls and a stronger reputation for performance.

If you want to see another house-brand option, read our picks for the best Beautiful air fryer or the best Bella 8 quart air fryer. We also cover the best Big Boss air fryer.