While it may sound a bit ambitious, all the hype about air fryers being the best kitchen appliance right now may not be far from the truth. In fact, it has become essential cookware replacing other appliances like ovens, grills, toasters, and the like. While they offer many benefits, the most important ones are cooking with less grease and no oil and being put to other uses besides air frying.
If you have a large family or cook for a large gathering, you would want an air fryer with a big basket. This allows you to cook enough food in one batch that can get around. On the other hand, if you were using a small air fryer, you would need to cook in multiple batches to serve everyone, which can be time-consuming.
Today, we will look at which air fryer has the biggest basket. Specifically, we will explore the top five models that offer the biggest cooking space for fast and healthier cooking. This list is coming after a long period of research and testing, and each product offers the best value to specs.
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Which Air Fryer Has the Biggest Basket: Our Top 5 Picks
Here are our favourite selections for the best air fryer with the biggest basket.
Best Overall: Paula Deen Stainless Steel 10 QT Digital Air Fryer
Meet Paula Deen’s largest air fryer, with a whopping capacity of 10 quarts. You will hardly find anything bigger or even prettier.
The new stainless steel finish gives the air fryer a level of sophistication not common with other air fryer models. Having this on your countertop will definitely upgrade the look of your kitchen.
Besides its massive size and gorgeousness, the air fryer is extremely quiet.
Like other bucket-style fryers, it comes with a single basket/canister deep enough to fit a whole chicken. It is the perfect size for a large family and gatherings.
You will be able to cook so much faster and with more ease. And more importantly, stop cooking in multiple batches.
Specifically, the unit can cook enough portions to feed 5-10 people. The basket dimensions are 10″ x 10″ x 5.5″.
To prepare your favourite meal, just push the icon that represents the function. Then, you can walk away and come back when you want to flip or shake the food.
There are about 10 preset functions that fulfil the more common air fryer needs. These include chicken, french fry, pizza, air fry, vegetables, fish, beef, and even reheat. You can either use the preset temperature and time or adjust them to suit what you’re cooking.
In addition to its versatility, the unit is also very easy to use. The control panel features a user-friendly LED display and touch screen. You can easily increase or decrease temperature and time by touching the corresponding”+” or “-” signs with PLAY.
That said, you will need a considerable amount of space to accommodate the fryer in your kitchen. So, if you’re low on counter space, you might want to settle for a smaller unit. The overall dimension is 13″ x 11″ x 13.75″ while the weight is 14 pounds.
Cleaning is also easy – thanks to its ceramic non-stick coating.
The only flaw we see in the fryer is the black rubber plugs which seem to come off easily. While this isn’t necessarily a deal-breaker, it is still something to be aware of, especially when cleaning the fryer, so you don’t wash the rubber pieces down the drain.
Specifications
- Wattage: 1700-watts
- Auto shut-off: Yes
- Dimensions: 13” x 11” x 13.75”
- Weight: 14 pounds
- Control Type: LED touchscreen
- Maximum Temperature: 400oF
- Colour: Blue stainless steel
- Dishwasher Safe: Yes
- Presets: Yes (10)
- Cookbook: Yes
Pros
- Multiple functions
- Very handy to clean
- Comes with a recipe book
- Quiet operation
- Large fry basket with removable bottom
- Built to last
- Easy to use
Cons
- No accessories included
- Rubber plugs seem to come off easily
Best Biggest Basket: WowChef Air Fryer Oven Combo
The WowChef Air Fryer offers a whopping 20-quart capacity, making it an excellent choice for big families and large gatherings. Besides normal air frying function, it can also substitute for a toaster, oven, and dehydrator. Altogether, there are 10 cooking presets in the unit, including a rotisserie function. The fryer has a touchscreen display where you can choose the preset you want. You can also set your own custom time and temperature from here, depending on what you’re cooking.
Speaking about the wattage, the unit uses 1800 watts, which is probably the highest you can get. Thus, it’s one of the fastest models out there. Also, the 20-quart capacity means you will nearly never have to cook in multiple batches no matter the crowd.
The unit also features an automatic power-off system that turns it off at the end of each cycle. So, you don’t have to keep your eyes fixed on the appliance when the food is cooking. A detailed user manual and cookbook are also included so you can start using the fryer right away.
Expectedly, the basic components and stainless steel attachments of the fryer are easy to clean and dishwasher safe. You may get a chemical smell from the fryers the first time you use it. The smell is coming from the heating element. To get rid of it, test the appliance before cooking with it. Set the temperature to 400 degrees and the timer to 20 minutes with no food inside. This should remove the smell.
Besides the main unit, WowChef also includes other accessories such as a rotisserie skewer and cage, a mesh basket, 3 dehydrating baskets, a fetch rack, a chicken fork, and a drip tray. As we said earlier, it’s multiple appliances in one. Interestingly, all the accessories are also dishwasher-safe.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 15.1” x 14.7” x 15.3”
- Weight; 23 pounds
- Dishwasher safe; Yes
- Automatic shutoff: Yes
- Capacity: 20-quarts
- Material: Stainless steel
- Number of presets: 10
- Wattage: 1800 watts
Pros
- Multiple cook functions
- Dishwasher safe accessories
- Touch screen display
- Very large capacity
- Includes many accessories
- Reasonably priced
Cons
- May give off a chemical smell at first
Best Affordable: Ultrean 6 Quart, Large Family Size Air Fryer
For a price under $100, this model gets our vote as the best-priced 6-quart air fryer. So if you’re looking to upgrade to a family-size air fryer on a shoestring budget, this will make an excellent choice.
Despite its surprisingly low price tag, the product still excels in quality. This can be easily seen in the huge number of positive reviews it has gathered on Amazon.
The 6-quart air fryer can be classified as mid-sized, just like the 5.8-quart model, and can cook for 3-5 persons.
You can cook virtually anything, and with or no oil. This means healthier and lighter cooking, which produces food with far less fat compared to those from a deep fryer or conventional oven. More so, the unit is not limited to frying; you can also grill, roast, and even bake. A cookbook with over 50 recipes is included for your perusal.
The fryer also excels in aesthetics, with a sleek white finish that looks wonderful on a countertop. There’s something we noticed that is unique with the appliance, and that’s the position of the touch screen. Unlike other models, this unit has a touchscreen display with soft buttons at eye level. This makes it a lot easier to operate with any one of your hands; you don’t need to bend over as you would normally do with other air fryers.
There are seven preset menus on the screen for different cooking functions. To prepare any dish, all it takes is a few button touches, and before you know it, your food will be ready in minutes.
The fryer also has an auto shut-off function that automatically turns off the unit when a cooking cycle is complete. This helps to prevent overheating and other electronic issues.
We also like that the fry basket is dishwasher safe, which makes cleaning less of a hassle.
The air fryer is available in four different colours – blue (teal), black, red, and white. The current model is white.
Specifications
- Colors: White
- Dishwasher safe: Yes
- Capacity: 6-quarts
- Control Type: Touchscreen display (Digital)
- Wattage: 1700-watts
- Auto shut-off: Yes
- Cookbook: Yes
- Dimensions: 14.92″ x 12.52″ x 14.41″
- Item Weight: 13.95 pounds
Pros
- Easy to operate
- Overheat protection
- Available in different colour options
- Affordable price
- Adjustable temperature and time
- Scratch-free design
- More cooking space
- Lightweight
Cons
- No manual power-off button (only uses automatic turnoff after each cooking cycle)
- Can be a bit loud
GoWISE USA GW22956 7-Quart Electric Air Fryer
If you’re looking for an air fryer that won’t take up much space on your countertop, then consider the GoWISE GW229556 Air Fryer. But don’t be deceived by its small dinky exterior. It actually packs a lot of heat with a 7-quart bucket that can cater for a whole family. Its best feature is probably the built-in dehydrator, which allows you to cook at lower temperatures.
The unit has a dehydrator mode that uses temperatures from 90-170 degrees Fahrenheit and cooks for 2-24 hours. You can use this to prepare certain foods like beef jerky, dried herbs, and fruity snacks.
With a 7-quart bucket, you can cook enough food for six people at a go. If this is not enough or too large, you can choose from the other available sizes – 0-Qt and 5-QT.
The unit is available in different colour options – Black/Silver, Black/Copper, Red/Silver, and Mint/Silver. The Mint/Silver and Red/Silver are more of a retro style, while the other fit more in a modern setup.
The fryer also comes with 3 stackable racks, which allow you to dehydrate different foods at the same time.
Overall, the GoWISE GW229556 is an excellent choice if you need an air fryer with a big basket that can do more. The dehydrator mode is probably the most used function. We also like the racks that are included.
Specifications
- Size (quarts): 7 (2 and 5 also available)
- Temperature Range (°F): 180 to 400
- 8 Cooking Presets
- Colour: Black/Silver (3 other colours available)
- 3 stackable racks
- Dehydrator mode
Pros
- Available in multiple colour options
- Comes with stackable racks
- Large cooking capacity
- Long cooking time (24 hours)
- Comes with dehydrator
- Cooked food looks crispy
Cons
- The display is somewhat difficult to read.
Paula Deen 8.5 QT Large Air Fryer
Having a cooker that doesn’t heat up the kitchen like an oven is great, especially during hotter months. This 8.5-quart Paula Deen air fryer allows you to make crispy, healthy meals while keeping your kitchen cool.
It comes included with an insert and a cookbook that contains up to 50 recipes.
But what we love most about the unit is its big basket and square design. You can easily cook food for 4-6 persons.
The Ruby red colour has an attractive retro appeal and seats beautifully on your counter.
We also like that the unit features simple dial controls instead of a digital panel which often gets damaged from intense heat. You can set temperatures up to 430°F using the larger control knob. This is probably the highest temperature you can get for the size. The small dial at the centre controls the timer and can be set up to 60 minutes.
As earlier indicated, the air fryer is supplied with a handy cooking guide that contains recipes temperature settings and time for 10 common air fryer needs. This includes meat, bake, fish, French fries, vegetables, chicken wings, toast, pizza, keep warm, and even reheat.
Another major highlight is the stainless steel interior which reflects heat for faster and more even cooking. As with other Paula Deen air fryers, the unit uses Rapid Air Circulation Technology.
You can make French fries in 10 minutes and an entire dinner in less than 30.
Cleaning is a breeze. With some air fryers, you have to unscrew the basket for washing. But that’s not the case with this unit. You can get the bottom piece out very easily and put it back in when done.
Overall, we are impressed with the quality and performance of this unit. It’s big, beautiful, and simple to use. For the price, you might not find a better alternative.
Specifications
- Wattage: 1700-watts
- Auto shut-off: Yes
- Color; Ruby Red (Other color options available)
- Dimensions: 17.3” x 16” x 15.2”
- Weight: 15 pounds
- Control Type: Dials
- Maximum Temperature: 430oF
- Timer: 60 minutes
- Dishwasher Safe: Yes
- Presets: No
- Cookbook: Yes
Pros
- Easy to clean
- Nice color selection
- Simple to use
- Delivers crispy meals
- Great for RVs
- Lightweight
Cons
- Very large
Buying Guide: Which Air Fryer Has the Biggest Basket
Here are the key things to look at when shopping for an air fryer with the biggest basket.
Capacity
Capacity is the first thing to look at when choosing an air fryer with the biggest basket.
The capacity of the air fryer is a measure of how much food it can hold. Specifically, it is the size of the fryer basket. Of course, it influences the overall size of the unit.
Ideally, you want to pick an air fryer capacity that will meet your cooking needs. If you have a family of four or more, you will need an air fryer of 4 quarts or more. For instance, a 5-quart air fryer can fit up to a 14-pound turkey. That said, the caveat with using large air fryers is that they take up a lot of counter and storage space.
Medium-sized air fryers typically have a capacity of 3.5-4 quarts. These fryers are suitable for a family of four and are usually compact enough to sit on a countertop or inside a cabinet.
Smaller air fryers with a 3-quart capacity or less are usually the most compact models and are ideal when you have very limited storage space. They are best for singles or at most two persons.
Size
A countertop can feel like a cherished chattel, especially when you have a small kitchen. So deciding what takes up the available space can be a challenge.
While most air fryers are built to sit well on a counter, you should consider the available space before you put out your money for any unit.
There are a lot of compact models for small kitchens and counters. But they often have small capacities. If you have a large family (which we assume you do), then it’s best to go for a model with a large capacity, which translates to a bigger basket. This allows you to cook enough food in one batch that can get to everyone.
Wattage
Wattage is another thing to look at when buying an air fryer.
Air fryer wattage can range from 700-1800 watts or more. Generally, the more wattage the air fryer has, the faster the cooking.
That said, whatever wattage you choose, make sure it’s something your kitchen outlet can support.
Ease of Use
Air fryers are typically not difficult to use, but there are still models that do better in the general scheme of things. Some of the key things to look out for in this area are the addition of cooking presets, a bonus cookbook, and perhaps an instruction manual.
A cookbook with temperature and time settings can come in handy, especially when you’re still trying to master a new air fryer. Likewise, presets take away the guesswork, and allow you to cook certain dishes without any pain. All you have to do is select the function you want, and the machine will take care of the rest.
Features
Besides the basic function, air fryers are capable of doing a lot more. In fact, sometimes it’s better to go for an all-in-one unit. That way, you won’t have to fill your countertop with kitchenware.
Thus an air fryer with extra functions may come with a dehydrator, rotisserie, toaster, grill, and so on. Of course, as more features are added, the price of the fryer tends to increase.
Maintenance
Another thing to take into consideration when choosing an air fryer is the level of maintenance it requires. An air fryer that is hard to maintain can ruin your experience.
Thankfully, all the air fryers reviewed above come with non-stick coating and are dishwasher safe. So, cleaning them is less of a hassle.
That said, air fryers are generally easier to clean compared to a deep fryer or oven. This is because they use little or no oil, so there are usually no smudges or leftover residue to contend with after cooking.
Price Range
Air fryers come in a wide range of prices. Some units cost as low as $50, while some can cost as high as $500. It all depends on the cooking needs and the type of features you want.
However, for large models like the ones above, you should expect to pay around $100 above.
That said, there are affordable air fryers that are just as good as the more expensive ones. It all depends on the brand, features, and size.
Final Words
There you have it- our top selections for which air fryer has the biggest basket.
Purchasing a large air fryer oven is a good move as it allows you to cook enough in one batch enough food that will go around. Another good thing about these units is that they are budget-friendly, easy to clean, and durable.
Of course, the best largest basket air fryer will depend on your budget, preference, family size, and cooking needs. That said, you can go wrong with any of the units above.
So, which of the fryers do you like? Let us know if you have any more questions or suggestions. Till then, happy air frying!
