8 Best Air Fryer For Keto – Recommended By Experts [2023]
Eating a keto diet does not mean subsisting on boring meals. With the best air fryer for keto diet, you can enjoy the most delicious keto recipes.
The keto diet focuses on proteins and healthy fats, while the carbohydrate intake remains minimal. Preparing a ketogenic diet is often a challenge.
You cannot add large quantities of oil like in deep fryers. Therefore, air fryers are hailed as more suitable cooking gadgets for preparing a weight-loss diet.
But which is the best air fryer for keto among all the options in the market, plus it is worth spending money on, is an important concern for buyers. Don’t miss our recommendations for the best non-toxic air fryers with Teflon and the best ceramic air fryers.
How We Curated This List
We cooked and tested different functions of more than 30 appliances. It took us more than 96 hours to compile a final list of top air fryers for making a low-carbohydrate diet.
8 Best Air Fryer For Keto – Recommended By Experts [2023]
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1. PowerXL Maxx Classic Air Fryer – Our Top Pick
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2. COSORI Pro LE Air Fryer – Best Value For Money
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3. DASH Tasti-Crisp – Air Fryer Cooker Combo
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4. PowerXL Air Fryer Vortex – Best For Baking
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5. Instant Pot Vortex Mini – Best Under $100
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6. Dash Aircrisp – Best Air Fryer Oven Combo
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7. Elite Gourmet EAF1121BG Compact Air Fryer
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8. Elite Gourmet EAF4617 Low-Wattage Air Fryer
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1. PowerXL Maxx Air Fryer: Best For Family of 4
Power XL air fryer comes with seven cooking presets and an auto-shutoff that shuts the unit when not working for some time. Hence saves your electricity bills. The Rapid air technology promotes 360-degree air circulation and never lets your keto recipes cook unevenly.
We prepared fresh salmon filets with a spray of olive oil. Next, we tried tuna steaks with spices and a few teaspoons of oil. Both of these food items were cooked evenly.
Its 7 QT XL capacity can accommodate a lot of ingredients in one batch. Plus, the basket is deep enough to allow you to keep an additional cooking rack for cooking more food.
The high gloss finish makes cleanup incredibly easier. The accessories, air fryer basket, and crisper tray are non-stick. If you are short on time, put the air fryer accessories in a dishwasher for easier and quick cleaning.
When the food is ready, the unit makes a loud beeping sound. The loud noise bothered us a lot during testing. However, you will have to make a compromise with the beeping sound.
You cannot turn off this sound permanently unless you open the air fryer and remove the connections with speakers— not recommended, though! The unit has a well-explained recipe book to help you experiment with your cooking skills.
Key Specs:
- Capacity: 7 Quarts
- Cooking modes: Air Fry, Crisp, Broil, Roast, Bake
- Temperature Range: 90°F to 400°F
- Dimensions: 14″D x 13″W x 14.5″H
- Weight: 3 pounds
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2. Cosori Pro LE: Best Quiet Air Fryer
The five-quart capacity can fit 12 wings or two medium-sized steaks in one go. Overall, it can cook enough for two people at a time. The nine one-touch cooking functions with 450F max temperature help you swiftly cook many keto and healthy food recipes with a single tap.
Power XL mentioned above and this Cosori air fryer comes at the same price. However, the above unit has a bigger capacity and more presets options.
One superior feature of this air fryer is its quietness—our team members loved this feature. If the noise of a working appliance irritates you, then this quiet air fryer is perfect for you.
This unit does not have a shake-reminder feature to nudge you, so you must watch the timer to shake food midway. One of its impressive features is a dedicated on/off button. You don’t need to unplug the unit to switch it off because it has a dedicated on/off button.
The unit’s exterior does not get unbearably hot even when you cook at the maximum temperature. But still, avoid the exhaust port as it exhales the hot air and gasses.
Key Specs:
- Capacity: 5 Quarts
- Cooking modes: Air fry, steak, preheating, keep warm, frozen food, chicken, veggies, seafood.
- Temperature Range: 77°F to 450°F
- Dimensions: 10.7″D x 10.8″W x 11.9″H
- Weight: 10 pounds
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3. DASH Tasti-Crisp Air Fryer: Best With Cooker Combo
If you are on an expedition for a good air fryer for preparing your ketogenic diet recipes but want to stay within your budget, you must learn more about the DASH Tasti-Crisp air fryer.
It is a 6 Quart, perfect for the needs of 3 to 5 people. It/s compactness reduces the overall footprint and can be placed anywhere on the kitchen counter. Besides the attractive price of under $100, the unit comes in gorgeous colors that go great with most kitchens.
We cooked chicken breast; the chicken was tender and juicy. But it takes a bit longer to cook chicken in the DASH Tasti-Crisp air fryer than other air fryers, such as the Ninja and the Cosori mentioned above.
Therefore, we recommend you stick with the recipes in the cooking guide for better results. The unit is easy-to-use and clean, and the cooking results are also good.
Our only gripe with this air fryer is that there is no way to manually stop the timer without unplugging the air fryer.
- Capacity: 6 Quarts
- Cooking modes: None
- Temperature Range: 200°F to 400°F
- Dimensions: 10.8″D x 13.5″W x 12.9″H
- Weight: 13.6 pounds
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4. PowerXL Vortex Air Fryer: Best With Multi Cooker
PowerXL Air Fryer Vortex is perfect for people searching for a compact unit.
This air fryer is 1 quart small and slightly more expensive than the DASH Tasti-Crisp at number three. But most people are ready to pay more for the higher performance of their favorite brand.
It packs a punch with its 10 preset cooking options. These are by far the most among the units we have already mentioned.
We tried fitting it inside the kitchen cabinet to see if it fits people with limited kitchen space. And we found you can store it in the kitchen cabinet without slab partitioning.
As for the color, this unit’s black color will surely make your kitchen look more elegant and pep up your mood.
The multi-cooker won’t accommodate a full chicken or turkey. Nonetheless, you can easily accommodate 8-10 chicken wings and non-starchy veggies, such as small florets of broccoli and cauliflower and pieces of cucumbers.
With 1500 watts of power, the cooking chamber heats up quickly and helps make keto recipes within minutes. A good air fryer for keto diet followers.
- Capacity: 5 Quarts
- Cooking modes: Ai Fry, Multi Cooker, Roast, Bake, Food Dehydrator, Reheat
- Temperature Range: 90°F to 400°F
- Dimensions: 15.2″D x 11.3″W x 13.5″H
- Weight: 11.2 pounds
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5. Instant Vortex Mini: Best Compact Air Fryer
Here comes an option for the Instant Vortex fans. If you habitually forget your time and temperature combinations while cooking in batches, this unit remembers your last used setting to give similar results every time.
Its nine-inch wide body can fit into a reasonably sized kitchen cabinet. So, no need to crowd your limited counter space.
It is not a particularly loud air fryer, but you will still know when it is running.
One somewhat unnecessary aspect of this air fryer is that the control panel remains lit up even when the unit is not in use. We feel it is a little unnecessary from a power-usage point of view.
One of the best features of this air fryer is that it lets you increase the temperature in degree increments as opposed to five-degree incremental settings in most air fryers. This way, you can configure precise temperature settings.
Salmon is keto-friendly and rich in B vitamins, selenium, and potassium. So, we tested its roast function for roasting asparagus and salmon. There is enough space in the basket to accommodate two servings of food.
The asparagus was perfectly cooked and crisp within ten minutes, but the salmon was a little overdone. So, we recommend cooking delicate foods separately.
Key Specs:
- Capacity: 2 Quarts
- Cooking modes: Air fry, broil, roast and reheat
- Temperature Range: 120°F to 400°F
- Dimensions: 9″D x 11″W x 12″H
- Weight: 7.2 pounds
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6. Dash Aircrisp Pro: Best Air Fryer Oven Combo
Dash DMAF360GBAQ02 is slightly bigger than the above-mentioned smaller air fryers. Its 8 preset options make it a perfect air fryer for picky eaters on keto. You can make fish, veggies, keto air fryer desserts, chicken, steak, and whatnot.
We liked its digital display. It is very clear, intuitive, and user-friendly. The minimalist design and build of the air fryer make it extremely easy to clean from the outside. As for the basket, practice caution while cleaning.
Our experience says that hard cleaning can chip off the coating. We will update you soon as one test is insufficient to tell when the coating will wear off. We cooked chicken thighs; it can accommodate two chicken thighs, though with some space spared around it.
Slapping the skin side down with the surface covered in spice, we did not add a drop of oil to the air fryer. Chicken’s fat was enough to oil the meat and add perfect taste and crispiness.
Initially, we set the temperature to medium and later increased it to crisp the skin. Thighs were tender, juicy, and crispy. The unit ports a lot of hot air from the rear, so don’t put anything sensitive behind it when it’s working.
- Capacity: 3 Quarts
- Cooking modes: Chicken, steak, fries, fish, shrimp, pizza, baked goods
- Temperature Range: 150°F to 400°F
- Dimensions: 12.6″D x 10.4″W x 13″H
- Weight: 11.3 pounds
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7. Elite Gourmet EAF1121BG Air Fryer: Best For One Person
This 1.1 QT unit is perfect for making a single-serving keto air fryer breakfast. Make vegetable egg cups and have a filling protein-filled breakfast to kick-start your day.
It is also a toxic-free air fryer with PFOA/PTFE Free removable parts. So, even if you cook your meals at the highest temperature, worry less about leaching toxins into your food.
You can easily accommodate two egg rolls without overlapping them. If you want to cook more, cooking in batches is the only way to do that.
This air fryer is small and compact, undoubtedly, the best air fryer under $50 with these abilities. So, it is not a big investment if you want to prepare a keto diet for beginners.
Cleaning the air fryer is hassle-free, but putting a silicone mat reduces the mess, making cleaning even easier. We smelled plastic at first use, but as mentioned in the air fryer manual, we washed the accessories and cleaned the interior with warm water.
Also, we ran the air fryer empty for thirty minutes to burn off the heating element coating. These steps took care of the plastic smell.
The issue we found in this air fryer is that it cooked really slowly compared to other units. Overall perfect for one-person meals, but you will need to spare a little longer cooking time.
Key Specs:
- Capacity: 1.1 Quarts
- Cooking modes: Fries, Poultry, Cheese, Seafood, Baked, Meat
- Temperature Range: 176°F to 395°F
- Dimensions: 6.5″D x 6.5″W x 9.8″H
- Weight: 4.44 pounds
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8. Elite Gourmet EAF-3218R: Best Air Fryer for 2 People
Elite Gourmet EAF-3218R is similar to the Elite Gourmet EAF1121BG unit in many ways. Both are PFOA Teflon-free air fryers, has a small footprint, and there is not much difference in the price range.
The difference lies in their shape, wattage, and temperature range. EAF-3218R is a 1350 Watt air fryer, while EAF1121BG is a 1000W air fryer. If keeping electricity consumption and utility bill low is your priority, go with EAF1121BG.
The Max temperature in EAF-3218R is 390F compared to EAF1121BG’s 396F, though not a big difference.
It can only accommodate 3 medium-sized chicken breasts and a pack of rutabagas keto air fryer chips at a time.
EAF-3218R has an integrated air filtration system that blocks all food odors. It keeps your kitchen odor-free during and after cooking.
Two features that increase this unit’s value manifold are its auto-shutoff feature and indicator bell. Usually, you find these features in expensive air fryers.
Everything about this air fryer is great except for the time calibration. The calibration is not precise, so we cannot know if the unit is set at 3 minutes or five minutes.
Key Specs:
- Capacity: 4 Quarts
- Cooking modes: Fries, Poultry, Cheese, Seafood, Baked, Meat
- Temperature Range: 180°F to 390°F
- Dimensions: 11.75″D x 12.48″W x 11.42″H
- Weight: 8.9 pounds
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Things to Consider Before Buying
Below are some factors you must consider when looking for the best keto diet air fryer. You will find many similar air fryers but focus on the ones that fulfil your health and diet needs.
Capacity
The capacity of your air fryer depends on the quantity of food you want to cook. Since you are buying it for making a ketogenic diet, therefore, purchasing a small air fryer is more suitable. You will find many 2 to 3 quarts air fryers for keto diet recipes. They are easier to store in a kitchen cabinet.
But if you want an air fryer for a ketogenic, vegan diet and regular food, then going with a smaller one is not worth it. Because you can make less quantity in a bigger unit but cannot prepare meals for a family in a small air fryer.
We recommend you get a large air fryer as it will help you cook food for a big family to feed or entertain house guests and make a ketogenic diet too.
Budget Consciousness
Budget is an important concern when buying an air fryer, especially when it is for a particular purpose. You won’t want to spend much on an appliance that cooks only a small quantity and for a few people in the house. Try to find the air fryer for keto, which is light in your pocket.
Cooking Function
Since your goal is to eat a low-carb diet, your air fryer must have cooking functions that help make a keto-friendly diet. Adding grilled meat, baked low-carb desserts, and vegetables to your diet plan is a good option. So, choose an air fryer with good grilling, roasting, and baking functions so that you can cook grilled fish, roast veggie-loaded sides, and so on.
Easier to Clean
Being on a diet plan means you will prepare your recommended diet a few times during the day. Since you are making food in an air fryer, make sure it is easier to clean so that you don’t spend hours scouring the unit after each cooking. An air fryer with a non-stick coating is a good choice for this reason.
Air Fryer Accessories
Air fryer accessories increase the functionality of your unit. Accessories such as an air fryer wire rack allow you to cook various ingredients simultaneously. So get an air fryer that comes with a single or double-layer air fryer rack. This way, you can cook meat and veggies together and prepare an all-inclusive ketogenic meal.
Ease of Use
The process of preparing a keto diet meal should be simple and uncomplicated. Therefore, buy an air fryer that does not come with complicated settings and controls, making you reach for the instruction booklet every time you cook. This is a waste of time, especially when you make different keto air fryer breakfasts, lunches, snacks, and dinners every day. Go for an air fryer with an intuitive well-lit control panel with a range of time and temperature settings for preparing all kinds of food.
FAQs
Is the air fryer good for keto diet?
Yes, using an air fryer is an excellent option for cooking low-carb food if you are on a keto diet. You can also cook food without oil in an air fryer. Therefore, it does not add extra fat and calories to your diet.
Is air fryer good for weight loss?
When you use an air fryer compared to a deep fryer, your oil intake reduces by up to 90%. Therefore, an air fryer is good for weight loss as it helps you consume food with less fat.
What is the healthiest thing to put in an Air Fryer?
When making healthy recipes in an air fryer, you get a pretty long list of options with your air fryer and online too. You can make roasted vegetables, honey-garlic salmon, cauliflower steaks, and much more.
Are french fries cooked in an air fryer healthy?
Yes, French Fries cooked in an air fryer are considered healthy. First, they require approximately 70-80% less oil than a deep fryer. Secondly, due to the hot circulating air, even the oil inside the fries drips down into the air fryer drawer below the basket.
Wrapping Up!
Weight loss, healthy living, and eating a keto diet is a journey that requires effort. One of those efforts is ensuring you have the cooking tools for following the best keto recipes. An air fryer is an excellent gadget that helps you cook all kinds of low-carb and healthy-fat recipes. Finding the quality and right size air fryer is a hassle. We have solved this problem by providing you with a list of the best air fryer for keto. Before purchasing the unit, read the buying guide to know what qualities a suitable air fryer for keto must have.
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