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Black Friday deals include more than 50% off the best air fryer we ever tested
This speedy Cuisinart won't heat up your kitchen and it's just $57 at Amazon.
Good news: we found the perfect holiday gift for literally anyone who cooks at home. And since it's more than 30% off for Black Friday, this air fryer is a fun little goodie to gift yourself this year, too. The Cuisinart 2.6-Quart Air Fryer is a compact countertop wonder that'll make it faster, easier and, yes, healthier to get your fix of fried foods and so much more. It's not just any old air fryer, either: we crowned this Cuisinart the winner of our 2024 air fryer road test. And it's just $55 right now.
Anyone who's prepared fried foods at home knows that the mess of oil splatters and the endless cleanup is enough to make you swear off fried foods for life. Since we find such an idea unthinkable, a powerhouse air fryer is the only obvious alternative. It'll get you that same crispy, crunchy result in an easier way — and your food will be healthier, too.
But with so many models on the market, it can be overwhelming to know which one to choose. That's why we embarked on our search of the best air fryers in the first place. And the sold-out Cuisinart 6-Quart Air Fryer was the one that wowed us the most — though it's the slightly smaller yet otherwise identical Cuisinart 2.6-Quart version that's on sale for Black Friday.
(Psst: For even more savings, check out our roundups of the best Amazon Black Friday deals, the best Black Friday kitchen deals and the best Black Friday deals overall.)
We don't "wing" it here at Yahoo: We put 15 models to the test and awarded Cuisinart's version "best air fryer overall."
Why is it a good Black Friday deal? 💰
This winning fryer is currently priced at $57, down from $120. This is the lowest price it's ever been and the Black Friday deal you've been waiting for. Plus, the fact that it came out on top after we tested it alongside brands like Ninja, Breville, Philips — many of which cost more — speaks volumes about its functionality.
Why do I need this? 🤔
According to Yahoo's Home Writer and Product Tester, Kristin Granero, who conducted the air fryer tests, the Cuisinart "boasts substantial cooking room, minimal required maintenance and an easy-to-master learning curve, all while looking non-clunky." She noted that the appliance arrived preassembled (no tools needed, hooray!) and that it came with easy-to-follow instructions and a recipe guide. So far, so good.
The Cuisinart air fryer lets you cook with little no to oil, plus it helps you get dinner on the table lickety-split, which is so important with even more holiday get-togethers on the horizon. Another standout feature was its LED display, which has five cooking functions to choose from — air fry, roast, bake, broil and warm — as well as five preset options for popular foods like fries, wings, frozen snacks and vegetables. Who doesn't love a kitchen gadget that takes the guesswork out of cooking?
As for results, Kristin said, "We assessed the air fry function by making french fries, breaded chicken tenders, chicken wings and crab rangoons ... everything came out right on time in juicy-on-the-inside, crispy-on-the-outside fashion. ... While air-frying was the main focus of our test, we also tried our hands at several other functions: Our roasted chicken breasts, baked salmon and broiled steaks cooked to perfection."
Other cool components include its interior light and see-through doors, which allow you to keep an eye on your food while it cooks, as well as a "toss reminder" that'll alert you when it's time to flip your food in the basket. Oh, and speaking of the basket, this one is conveniently dishwasher-safe.
What reviewers say 💬
Yahoo staffers aren't the only ones who approve of the Cuisinart 4.5-Quart Air Fryer — Amazon customers are eating it up too.
Pros 👍
"Saves me money by not having to use my oven. It won't heat up my kitchen during the hot summer months and looks really expensive, but isn't. I recommend it," raved one happy home cook.
"I was hesitant to join the air fryer club," admitted a convert. "Boy am I happy I did! ... I can get a healthy, delicious dinner on the table in minutes ... Fried chicken without the mess? Yes, please! ... And I love the window to watch the food without having to open the drawer."
"It is so much better than the one we had that died," said a third shopper. "The food has a better taste and is a lot more crisp. We absolutely love the broiler feature and have broiled hamburgers, beef steaks, pork steaks and salmon. They tasted like they had been grilled. The icing on the cake is that we can put the basket and crisper in the dishwasher!"
Cons 👎
"I have used this for about two weeks and it works perfectly," shared a customer. "The only thing is the 'flip-over' reminder doesn’t buzz very loud. But I am happy with the product."
This little dynamo is great for churning out party snacks and small meals.
Want to make cleanup even easier? Check these out:
Air-frying is super convenient until it's time to clean the tray. Take some of the work out by sticking one of these BPA-free silicone liners in before you cook; then, toss them into the dishwasher once you're done. So much easier than trying to scrape off caked-on residue. These fit air fryers with 5-quart capacities or more (they come in a smaller size too).
"We make fries in the air fryer at least once a week," shared a user. "Plain or seasoned fries are easy, but adding other toppings makes a mess in the air fryer and looks sloppy when lifted out with tongs. No more! Cheese fries, chili fries, the silicone liner keeps the air fryer clean and your food looking good."
If you have Amazon Prime, you’ll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $35 or more.)
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
