Cuisinart CompactMax 8-Qt Basket Air Fryer AIR-210

This air fryer is the perfect size for anything you want to cook. Read more

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This air fryer is well built and thoughtfully designed, offering more versatility than the name alone suggests. Beyond standard air frying, it includes baking and other functions that make it a practical alternative to using a full-size oven for everyday meals. The setup process is straightforward, with clear instructions and an interface that’s easy to understand without feeling overly simplified. The controls are responsive and intuitive, making it easy to get started right away while still allowing room to fine-tune cooking as needed. Preset times are a helpful starting point, though checking food early is recommended since items tend to brown quickly. Cooking performance has been consistently solid across a variety of foods, producing evenly cooked results without excessive noise. Operation is impressively quiet, which makes it comfortable to use at any time of day without being disruptive. Cleanup is simple and hassle-free. The ceramic non-stick surface performs well, preventing food from sticking and wiping clean easily. For those concerned about traditional nonstick coatings, this feels like a more reassuring option for regular use. In terms of size, the footprint is relatively narrow while still offering enough capacity for larger portions, making it a good fit for most countertops. Like any kitchen appliance, there’s a short adjustment period to learn optimal cook times, but once dialed in, it becomes a reliable and efficient tool. Value for money is still so-so. At least the MSRP is. Air Fryers get discounted heavily throughout the year so when you're reading this, it may be a lot cheaper than MSRP. However this fryer's X-factor is its slim form factor, so if counter space is at a premium, this one may be worth investing in, even at msrp. Overall, this air fryer focuses on practicality, ease of use, and quality rather than unnecessary features. It’s a well-balanced option for anyone looking for a dependable, no-fuss appliance that delivers consistent results. Read more

Fits nicely on my counter and has better usable capacity than my previous round model. I really love that it warms up right away and doesn’t have a delay before you can put the food in. Includes a wire rack inside that’s super easy to clean and I use wax paper inserts for more messy projects. We use this a lot to cook all different types of food and it is faster than using the oven. I like that in the summer we can cook without making the house hot. Works great for veggies, frozen items like rolled tacos, broccoli, reheating pizza…. Cooks most things in about 10 minutes and includes a great user booklet. Read more

I was specifically looking for a small, compact, simple-to-use air fryer that would be generationally friendly, meaning no cluttered controls, no learning curve, and no unnecessary bells and whistles. This one fits the bill perfectly. The size is ideal. It has a narrow footprint that takes up less counter space, yet it’s still large enough to cook family-sized portions. It strikes that rare balance of being compact without feeling limiting. What really sold me is the simplicity of the interface. The touchscreen is intuitive and straightforward, with just the right number of presets. This is an air fryer anyone (from any generation) can use confidently without constantly referencing a manual. Most importantly, I trust Cuisinart’s ceramic non-stick coating. With so much concern around PFAS and traditional nonstick surfaces, this was a deciding factor for me. It feels like a safer, more thoughtful choice, especially for everyday use. If you want an air fryer that’s practical, easy, and thoughtfully designed rather than over-engineered, this is an excellent option. We love and trust the Cuisinart brand! <3 Read more

We have an "oven style" air fryer, and while its great as a toaster oven, its only an ok air fryer - seems like you really need the basket design to get high-crispiness air frying. But the upside of the oven style is that they hold a lot - to cook for a family of 3 or 4 in the regular tub style fryers usually means soggy food because you overcrowded it, or you have to cook in batches so the first batch always gets cold. Enter this product. The only Cuisinart air-fryers I've ever seen have also been of the oven style, so when this one popped up and was not only a basket-style oven, but also a huge 8.5 qt capacity, I jumped at it. And its pretty darn good. The UI is very clean and easy to use. The basket is super easy to clean (again, unlike the oven style ones), and it seems to crisp up food really well. Its got a few preset buttons on it (for things like frozen fries) which is nice, and the reminder to "shake" is a useful feature. Took a star off for a couple of minor things. First off, the tray that fits inside the basket wouldn't fit in my unit until I went in an bent the little rubber edges in a bit (see the third pic). Shouldn't have to do that in a $120 product. Second, it claims it will go up to 450 degrees, but when I air-fryed it only goes up to 400. Maybe the 450 is in a different mode, so that's a little deceiving. And lastly, just be aware that if you want 8.5 qts of frying goodness, the unit is big. Its not wider than a conventional basket style fryer, but its a lot deeper (see the second pic). Just make sure you have room for it on your counter. Otherwise would heartily recommend. Read more