When it comes to choosing air fryers, most people look out for wattage, size, presets, noise, and how easy it is to clean—and the TaoTronics air fryer scores A’s in pretty much all of these categories in my book. It’s compact enough not to crowd the countertop of my small kitchen, the 1,750-wattage specs and deep 6-quart basket cook a whole chicken in less than half an hour, and the basket is even dishwasher-safe, so cleanup is a total breeze. My first test meal took place under the perfect circumstances: I was exhausted, and the idea of whipping up a meal from scratch was out of the question. So I tossed in a piece of sous vide-cooked chicken breast with some pesto, a few cherry tomatoes, and broccoli with a drizzle of lemon juice and olive oil at 360 degrees for five minutes. The TaoTronics air fryer worked so quietly that I was able to talk to my family on the phone without earphones, and there was no odor at all. Before I knew it, my meal was done—and cooked to perfection. My chicken came out crispy on the outside and tender in the middle, my broccoli was cooked through but not charred, and my tomatoes remained juicy. I was blown away by the results and eager to try again, so the next night, I threw in a piece of miso-glazed salmon with asparagus at 390 degrees for 10 minutes. It turned out just as good as if I had cooked it in a pan, which undoubtedly would’ve required much more oil, constant checking, and maybe even a splatter guard to prevent oil from getting everywhere. To buy: $104.99 with coupon (was $114.99); amazon.com. See what else I swear by.
