With rising demands for healthier meals even when eating out, many restaurant chains are moving towards healthier ways to prepare food. Reducing the amount of oil used in cooking is one of those ways. Air frying makes it possible to achieve the crispiness of fried food, but with using little to no oil. This not only makes the food healthier, but also reduces the amount of cleanup required.

Commercial air fryers come in a variety of sizes and styles. Some are small enough to fit on a countertop, while others are large enough to be a stand-alone appliance.

Yes, there are commercial air fryers, and they’ve become quite popular in recent years. In fact, there is a variety of commercial air fryers, from units that are similar to the ones used in homes, only bigger, to the huge industrial air fryers that have a basket capacity of a gallon.

Our Top Choice

Phillips Premium Air Fryer XXL

Large capacity, innovative fat removal and smart sensing technologies combined with versatile cooking options.

Best Value

ninja foodi xl air fryer

Ninja Foodi XL Air Fryer

Stands out for its dual-basket design, large capacity, multiple cooking functions, and advanced technological features.

Budget Pick

Toshiba 7.7QT Air Fryer

Toshiba 7.7 Qt Family Size Air Fryer

Large capacity with precise temperature control and convenient preset menus for more efficient cooking experience.

How we picked the best commercial air fryers

In our quest to find the best commercial air fryers for food truck operations, we at Miho Gastrotruck focused on several essential factors:

  1. Capacity and Size: Given the limited space in food trucks, we looked for air fryers that were compact yet offered sufficient cooking capacity. It was important for us to find models that could efficiently handle high-volume orders without taking up too much space.
  2. Cooking Efficiency and Speed: We needed air fryers that could cook quickly and efficiently, as speed is crucial in the fast-paced food truck environment. We prioritized models with powerful heating elements and rapid air circulation technology to ensure quick and even cooking.
  3. Temperature Control and Consistency: Consistent cooking results were non-negotiable for us. We sought air fryers with precise temperature controls and reliable performance to ensure that every dish met our high standards.
  4. Ease of Use and Cleaning: In the confined space of a food truck, ease of use and cleaning are paramount. We favored air fryers with simple, intuitive controls and easy-to-clean designs, including non-stick interiors and dishwasher-safe components.
  5. Durability and Build Quality: The durability of the air fryers was a major consideration. We needed equipment that could withstand the rigors of daily use in a mobile kitchen, so we focused on models built with high-quality, robust materials.
  6. Energy Efficiency: Since food trucks often operate with limited energy resources, we looked for air fryers that were energy-efficient, reducing operational costs and environmental impact.
  7. Versatility in Cooking: We valued air fryers that offered versatility, such as multiple cooking functions and the ability to handle a variety of dishes, from appetizers to main courses.

By focusing on these criteria, we aimed to select commercial air fryers that would not only fit into the unique constraints of a food truck but also enhance our cooking capabilities and overall efficiency.

Philips Premium Air Fryer XXL

An air fryer uses hot air to cook food. It is similar to a convection oven, but it has a special basket or tray that holds the food while it cooks. The hot air circulates around the food, cooking it evenly on all sides.

The Philips XXL is a big air fryer that is perfect for larger kitchens. It has a basket capacity of 1 gallon, which is enough to cook several portions at once. The unit comes with a variety of pre-programmed settings, including fries, chicken, steak, and fish. It also has a manual mode so you can control the temperature and cooking time.

This model does not require pre-heating, so it’s ready to cook as soon as you turn it on and you won’t keep the customers waiting. It also comes with a bunch of accessories, including a wire rack, a roasting pan, and a baking tray.

philips xxl airfryer

There are two versions of this model – the Viva 9630 is the analog that has a little larger basket (9″x9″) and it requires you to set time/temp yourself, and the Avance 9650, the digital model with the basket size of 8.5″x8.5″.

The Philips Premium XXL is also equipped with the “fat removal” technology, though we are not sure what it actually means. Apparently, it extracts and captures excess fat from the food itself during cooking, making it healthier.

Features:

  • Power: 2225W
  • Temperature range: 175-400°F
  • 7qt capacity – can cook up to 3lb of food at once
  • Pre-programmed settings for a variety of foods
  • No pre-heating required
  • Accessories included
  • Fat removal technology
  • All removable parts are dishwasher safe

Where can Philips Air Fryer XXL be used?

The Philips XXL can be used in smaller commercial kitchens, commissary kitchens, or catering businesses. It’s perfect for cooking large quantities of food at once, so it would be a great addition to any concession stand, café or a food truck that serves fried foods.

Pros:

  • Preparing food quickly
  • Easy to clean
  • Even cooking

Cons:

  • Some customers have complained about the smoke coming out of the machine.

Ninja Foodi XL 10 Quart 2-Basket

The Ninja Foodi XL 6-in-1 10qt. 2-Basket Air Fryer is a versatile unit that can be used for a variety of cooking tasks. This unit can be used as an air fryer, a convection oven, a toaster oven, and a dehydrator. It has two baskets that can be used simultaneously, so you can cook multiple items at once. While there are two of them, the baskets are fairly small for commercial purposes, so don’t expect to be able to cook an insane amount of food in them.

ninja foodi xl dz401

The Ninja Foodi DZ401 has a temperature range of 105-400°F, which makes it perfect for air frying, roasting, and dehydrating. It comes with a dehydrating rack and two baking sheets. It has 6 functions, including air fry, convection bake, toaster oven, dehydrate, roast, and slow cook. The digital timer can be set for up to 60 minutes, so you can cook your food exactly how you want it. The unit also has a built-in alarm that will sound when the cooking time is done.

Our favorite feature on this unit is the Smart Finish feature. This allows you to cook two different foods, two different ways, and finish at the same time. The controls are very simple, there is a central dial to choose the cooking method and the time and temperature controls, with a display, on both sides. It is easy to see why the Ninja Foodi 6-in-1 is the favorite air fryer of many large homes and more and more small businesses.

Features:

  • Power: 1690W
  • Capacity: 10qt (5qt each basket)
  • Temperature range: 105°F–450°F
  • 6 functions
  • 2 separate baskets for separate cooking
  • Smart Finish feature
  • Digital timer
ninja foodi xl air fryer

Where can Ninja Foodi XL DZ401 be used?

As it cooks somewhat slower than other air fryers on our list, Ninja Foodi XL is may not be suitable for foodservice establishments that need to cook copious amounts of food in a short time. On the other hand, this unit is professional-quality and versatile so it can be a great addition to your commercial kitchen.

Pros:

  • 6 functions
  • Can be used as an air fryer, a convection oven, a toaster oven, and a dehydrator
  • Dual baskets for cooking two foods at the same time
  • Digital timer with alarm
  • Smart Finish feature

Cons:

  • Not as fast and has to be preheated

COSORI 6.8qt Smart Air-Fryer

The COSORI Smart Air-Fryer is a compact air fryer that is perfect for smaller kitchens. It has a 6.8qt capacity, which is enough to cook food for up to 4 portions. The unit comes with 11 pre-programmed settings, so you can cook a variety of foods with the push of a button. It also has a manual mode so you can control the temperature and cooking time. The basket is large, square-shaped (9.4″x9.4″) so it can fit over 15 chicken wings at once. It can even fit long stakes and fish fillets, which is not the case with round baskets.

Thanks to the 360 ThermioIQ Technology, the COSORI air fryer cooks the food very quickly. For example, it only takes up to 15 minutes to cook a batch of chicken wings, compared to the over 20 minutes of usual cooking time.

This air fryer is one of the easiest ones to use. All you need to do is to insert the food into the basket, choose the pre-programmed setting or set the temperature/time manually, and press start. The unit will do the rest. When the cooking cycle is done, it will automatically shut off.

What makes this fryer a ‘smart’ unit is the accompanying app. The app has a variety of recipes that you can access, as well as cooking tips and tricks. You can also use the app to control the fryer’s temperature and cooking time. It also works with Alexa, so you can voice control it. The COSORI air fryer is dishwasher safe, which makes cleaning a breeze.

Features:

  • Power: 1750W
  • Temperature range: 175-400°F
  • 6.8qt capacity – can cook up to 4 portions at once
  • 11 pre-programmed settings
  • Manual mode
  • Digital display
  • Dishwasher safe
  • Voice control with Alexa
cosori air fryer

Where can COSORI 6.8qt Air-Fryer be used?

The COSORI Air-Fryer is a great option for small businesses, such as catering businesses and food trucks. It is cheaper than Philips, and many other commercial options, so it can be a good investment for new business, though it is on the smaller side.

Pros:

  • Easy to use
  • App and voice controls are very helpful
  • Quick and even cooking
  • Cheaper than most commercial units

Cons:

  • There are some complaints that the unit doesn’t get hot enough.

Schloß 24Qt Air Fryer/Toaster Oven

The oven/air fryer combos are very popular in commercial kitchens. They offer the convenience of an air fryer, as well as the versatility of an oven. The Schloß 24Qt Air Fryer Oven is a great option for businesses that want to invest in this type of equipment.

The oven has a capacity of 24qt, which means it can cook a large amount of food at once. The large cooking space can fit a whole chicken or up to 12 cups of french fries. The unit also has 7 pre-programmed settings including French fries, pizza, barbecue, roasting, and defrost. It also has a manual mode so you can control the temperature and cooking time.

achloss gto-23

Schloß 24Qt has two speeds of air circulation, which gives you more control over the cooking process. The fast speed is perfect for frying and the slow speed is ideal for baking and roasting.

The oven comes with a removable crumb tray and a wire rack, which makes it easy to clean. It also has a tempered glass door so you can keep an eye on your food while it’s cooking, which you cannot do with classic basket-style air fryers.

Be aware that this is a Chinese-made product, despite what the name might lead you to believe. This means that it’s cheaper than some brands, but it features lower quality parts. Overall, we think that the performance is good, and the build quality is satisfactory.

Features:

  • Power: 1700W
  • Capacity: 24qt
  • Temperature range: 200-400°F
  • 7 pre-programmed settings
  • 2 speeds of air circulation
  • Removable crumb tray
  • Tempered glass door
schloss oven airfryer combo

Where can Schloß 24Qt Oven/Fryer be used?

The Schloß 24Qt Air Fryer is a great option for businesses that want the versatility of an oven/air fryer combo. This is a toaster oven, a convection oven, and an air fryer, all for the price of one.

Pros:

  • Inexpensive
  • Large capacity
  • Can be used as an oven as well
  • 7 pre-programmed settings
  • 2 speeds of air circulation

Cons:

  • Build quality is not as good as some other brands

VEVOR 13QT Air Fryer Oven

The VEVOR Air Fryer Oven is a sleek and modern unit that will look great in any commercial kitchen. This unit can be used as an air fryer, convection oven, rotisserie, and toaster oven. It has a large capacity, so you can cook a lot of food at once. The digital display makes it easy to set the cooking time and temperature. The unit also comes with a rotisserie kit so you can cook chicken, pork, or beef.

The advantage of VEVOR Air Fryer is that is not deceitful when it comes to its size. The unit is 13 quarts, which is one of the larger air fryers on our list, but it is still compact when you look at the external dimensions. So, if you need to cook large quantities of food, but also need an appliance that will fit your countertop, this is the unit for you.

Features:

  • Power: 1800W
  • Capacity: 13qt
  • Temperature range: 176-392°F
  • 5 pre-programmed settings
  • Convection oven, air fryer, rotisserie, toaster oven
  • Digital timer and temperature control
  • Rotisserie kit included
vevor 13qt fryer oven

Where can VEVOR Air Fryer Oven be used?

The VEVOR Air Fryer Oven is a great option for small businesses who want a compact air fryer with a large capacity. The rotisserie rack is also a nice feature that not many air fryers have, so you can even serve your customers rotisserie chicken from time to time. If you like this model, take a look at our top picks for air fryers that have a rotisserie function.

Pros:

  • 11 cooking presets
  • Large capacity
  • Convection oven, air fryer, rotisserie, and toaster oven all in one
  • Digital timer and temperature control
  • Rotisserie kit included

Cons:

  • It’s a low-cost item, which reflects in the quality

GoWISE 14.7QT Rotisserie Oven Fryer

If you are looking for an air fryer with a rotisserie function, then the GoWISE 14.7QT Rotisserie Oven Fryer is another great option. This unit is cheaper than most of the other air fryers on our list, but it has a lot of great features. The digital timer can be set for up to 60 minutes, so you can cook your food exactly how you want it.

This unit is large enough to cook a whole chicken, a rack of ribs, or dozen drumsticks, so it is perfect for catering or food service businesses. The GoWISE 14.7QT Rotisserie Oven Fryer also comes with a removable drip tray and a wire rack, so you can easily clean it after use. It is lined in stainless steel, which some people might prefer to the non-stick Teflon coating. You can use multiple racks at the same time, but be aware that the food won’t cook evenly in that case.

Features:

  • Power: 1800W
  • Temperature range: 120°F – 450°F
  • Capacity: 14.7 quarts
  • 7 functions – air fry, roast, broil, bake, dehydrate, reheat, and rotisserie
  • Has a rotisserie function
  • Digital timer with alarm
  • Removable drip tray and wire rack included
gowise air fryer toaster oven

Where can GoWISE 14.7QT be used?

This is a great option for small kitchens: it is compact, can replace several appliances, and cooks the food quickly. It is not good for very heavy use though.

Pros:

  • 7 functions
  • Large capacity
  • Has a rotisserie function
  • Digital timer
  • Double heating elements

Cons:

  • Items take longer to cook than the preset times.
  • There are a lot of plastic parts that might not stand up to heavy use.
  • The exterior gets very hot.

Industrial Air Fryers

Since this article is mainly focused on smaller kitchens, food trucks, and other small businesses, the units we have recommended are somewhere between small commercial fryers and large residential models. However, if you’re in need of an industrial-sized air fryer for your business, there are not many companies that make them, but there are a couple worth mentioning.

Quik’n’Crispy Greaseless Fryer

Quik n’ Crispy Greaseless Fryers are commercial models of basket-type hot air fryers. They run very hot and cook very fast.  They are made of stainless steel and have a capacity of 20 pounds.

quik'n'crispy industrial fryer

Lightfry

Lightfry is a UK-based company that makes industrial-sized air fryers. They have models with a capacity of up to 50 pounds. The machines are made of stainless steel and have a number of pre-programmed settings.

lightfry industrial air fryer

What to look for in a commercial air fryer

When choosing a commercial air fryer for your restaurant, there are a few things you should keep in mind.

  • Size: The size of the unit is important, both in terms of the physical dimensions and the capacity. You need to make sure that the unit will fit in the space you have available and that it has enough capacity to meet your needs.
  • Temperature Range: The temperature range is also important, as you need to make sure that the air fryer can handle the types of food you want to cook.
  • Ease of Use: You need to make sure that the air fryer is easy to use, as you don’t want your employees to waste time trying to figure out how to operate the machine.
  • Cleaning: Another important consideration, as you need to make sure that the air fryer is easy to clean and that it doesn’t require any special cleaning solutions or tools.
  • Price: As a responsible business owner, you need to make sure that the air fryer is within your budget. There are a number of different factors that will affect the price, such as the size, features, and brand.
  • Warranties and Service: Finally, you should also make sure that the air fryer comes with a good warranty and that there is a company that can provide service and support if you need it.

What are the benefits of using an air fryer?

There are many benefits to using a commercial air fryer. They are much faster than traditional frying methods, and they use less oil, which is not only healthier, but it can save on costs. They also create less of a mess than deep fryers, and there is no risk of hot oil splattering on skin or clothing. Compared to home air fryers, commercial units tend to be more durable, so they can withstand heavy use.

Is air-frying the same as convection cooking?

While an air fry oven works just like a convection oven with the use of fans distributing heat throughout the oven, one of the key differences is that the fan moves the air around much more rapidly in an air fryer. Because air fryers are smaller, the food is closer to the convection fan, meaning that the crisping effect is closer to that of deep frying. Convection ovens have more space, and therefore it’s harder to duplicate the crispiness of a deep fryer.

How big should a professional air fryer be?

The size of the commercial air fryer you need will depend on the volume of food you need to cook. If you’re only cooking for a few people at a time, a small unit will suffice. However, if you’re cooking for large crowds, you’ll need a larger unit. The minimum capacity that you need to look for if you need an air fryer for your business is about 8 or 10 quarts. However, as your food service grows, you will soon realize that you need an over 20qt unit.

We always recommend going bigger when it comes to commercial kitchen appliances, but if you are on a tight budget, or you just want to test out the idea of offering air-fried food, you can do with a smaller model

Which is the biggest commercial air fryer?

Most of the large air fryers look more like an oven than a classic air fryer with a basket. The largest basket-style air fryer we could find is the Quick’n’Crispy Model GF5, with a basket capacity of 14qt. Air Fryer Ovens run at over 30qt capacity.

How to clean an AirFryer?

Cleaning an air fryer is easy and only requires a few simple steps. Unplug the air fryer and allow it to cool completely before cleaning. Wipe down the exterior with a clean, damp cloth. Remove the cooking basket and wash it in warm, soapy water. Rinse and dry thoroughly. The cooking pan can be washed in the same way or placed in the dishwasher. Be sure to remove any build-up of food from the filters and clean them every few weeks with a brush or a vacuum cleaner attachment.

Picking the best commercial air fryer for your business can be a daunting task, but we hope that this article has helped to make the decision easier. There are many things to consider when choosing an air fryer, such as the size, capacity, price, and features. However, the most important thing to consider is how it will fit into your business. Once you’ve decided on that, the rest will fall into place.

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