A review of the features, performance, and value of this popular kitchen appliance.

The Insignia air fryer has become one of the most popular kitchen appliances in recent years, and for good reason. This versatile countertop convection oven uses rapid hot air circulation technology to produce crispy, delicious “fried” food using little to no oil. From frozen foods to fresh veggies and meats, the Insignia air fryer can do it all. In this comprehensive review, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the Insignia air fryer including its features, performance, cost, and how it compares to similar models from other top brands.

Where to Buy the Insignia Air Fryer

The Insignia air fryer is manufactured under Best Buy’s private label brand, so it’s exclusively available from Best Buy stores and on BestBuy.com. With over 1,000 locations across the U.S., it’s easy to find a local Best Buy store that carries the Insignia air fryer line. You can also order the air fryer for convenient delivery straight to your door via the Best Buy website. Best Buy frequently offers special promotional pricing and discounts on the Insignia air fryer, so it pays to keep an eye out for sales if you’re looking to get the best deal.

Pricing and Value of Insignia Air Fryers

One of the most appealing aspects of the Insignia air fryer is its affordable price point compared to many competitor brands. The entry-level 2.5 quart manual Insignia air fryer starts at around $50, making it one of the most budget-friendly models on the market. The mid-range 5.5 quart digital Insignia air fryer costs approximately $100. For larger families and batch cooking needs, the 10 quart Insignia air fryer ranges from $150-200.

These prices are significantly lower than comparable air fryer models from brands like Philips, Cuisinart, and Cosori that can cost $250 or more. When you factor in the Insignia air fryer’s solid performance and features, it delivers excellent value for money. While the construction may not feel quite as premium as pricier brands, it performs the core function of air frying foods exceptionally well at a fraction of the investment.

Overview of Insignia Air Fryer Sizes and Capacities

One of the first things to consider when purchasing an Insignia air fryer is what size and capacity you need for your household. As mentioned above, there are three main size options to choose from:

• 2.5 Quart: The compact 2.5 quart air fryer is ideal for 1-2 person households. Its small basket is best for cooking smaller portions of foods.
• 5.5 Quart: The mid-size 5.5 quart air fryer can cook for 3-4 people. Its larger basket gives you the flexibility to cook larger portions or multiple ingredients in batches.
• 10 Quart: The family-sized 10 quart air fryer is spacious enough to cook full meals for 4-6+ people. The big, oval-shaped basket can accommodate large ingredients like whole chickens.

When in doubt, it’s better to go a size up to have extra capacity as opposed to not having enough room to cook the recipes you want. Keep in mind that the actual food typically takes up less than the full basket capacity.

How Air Frying Works

The Insignia air fryer uses a rapid air circulation system to cook food to crispy, fried perfection without all the oil and grease of deep frying. Here’s an overview of how it works:

• Superheated air up to 400°F is rapidly circulated by a powerful fan around the food in the fryer basket.
• The high velocity hot air quickly cooks the exterior of foods to achieve a crispy, browned outside similar to deep frying.
• The food cooks from the outside in while remaining tender and moist on the inside.
• Little to no oil is required since the rapid air flow creates a crispy texture and browning. Just a small spray or drizzle of oil gives air fried foods a delicious flavor.
• The combination of high heat and air circulation cooks foods 25-30% faster than a conventional oven.
• Basket meshes and non-stick coatings prevent food from sticking as it air fries.
• Most models feature adjustable settings for temperature and cook times to customize results.

Thanks to this fast, hot circulating air technology, the Insignia air fryer can produce amazingly tender and crispy foods from frozen foods to fresh meats, veggies, and more.

Helpful Features of the Insignia Air Fryer

Here are some of the useful features and design elements of the Insignia air fryer line:

• Digital touchscreen interface (on 5.5 and 10 quart models): Allows easy selection of air frying temperatures and cook times.
• Manual knob controls (on 2.5 quart model): Lets you adjust temperature and timer settings with the turn of a dial.
• Preset cooking programs: Take the guesswork out of air frying with preset settings for commonly cooked foods.
• Rotisserie spit: Included with some models to let you slowly rotate and evenly cook rotisserie chicken and other meats.
• Warmer function: Keeps freshly cooked foods piping hot and ready to serve.
• Automatic shut-off: Turns the fryer off automatically for safety after cooking is complete.
• Cool-touch exterior: Lets you safely handle the air fryer even when it’s hot inside.
• Non-stick air fry basket: Has a BPA-free non-stick coating for easy release of foods and quick cleanup.
• Dishwasher-safe parts: Detachable basket and other pieces can be cleaned in the dishwasher for convenience.

These helpful design features make using the Insignia air fryer as simple and fool-proof as possible for great results.

How Customers Rate the Insignia Air Fryer

Based on thousands of customer reviews, the overall consensus is that the Insignia Air Fryer delivers very good performance and value for the affordable price. Owners praise how easy the air fryer is to use right out of the box, even for beginners. It consistently produces crispy, crunchy food with less fat and fewer calories compared to deep frying.

Many reviewers mention they were able to ditch their deep fryers after getting the Insignia air fryer. They love the ability to cook their favorite fried foods like french fries, chicken wings, and veggies with little to no oil. Most people are pleased with the evenness of cooking and find that following the recommended cooking times gives the best results.

There are some complaints about plastic pieces breaking after a year or two of use. A few customers report quality control issues with their particular unit malfunctioning. However, Insignia provides a 1-year limited warranty which makes it easy to replace a defective unit.

Overall, the thousands of positive reviews confirm that the Insignia air fryer delivers deliciously crispy fried food at an exceptional value. For a budget-friendly price, you can air fry healthier versions of your fried favorites with minimal mess and hassle.

Simple Cleaning and Maintenance

One commonly raised question about any air fryer is how easy it is to clean after cooking. Fortunately, cleaning the Insignia air fryer is quick and painless. Here are some tips for keeping it clean:

• The non-stick air fry basket and crisping tray can be washed safely in the dishwasher or hand washed.
• Wipe down the exterior with a soft cloth and mild detergent. Never immerse the base in water.
• Clean the inside heating chamber by wiping away any food debris after each use.
• Avoid abrasive scouring pads that could damage the non-stick coatings.
• For stubborn grease, use a degreasing spray and rinse thoroughly.
• Empty and wipe out excess oil from the bottom of the basket after each use.

By cleaning your Insignia air fryer promptly after cooking, you can keep oil and food bits from building up. It’s also a good idea to periodically wash all parts with hot, soapy water for a deeper clean. With just basic care and cleaning, your Insignia air fryer will provide years of service.

Helpful Digital Display on Models

Select Insignia air fryer models, like the 5.5 quart and 10 quart size, come with a digital touchscreen display. This helpful digital interface makes using your air fryer even more straightforward. Here’s what it allows you to do:

• Easily view cooking temperature settings from 170° to 400°F.
• Set precise air frying times up to 30 minutes.
• Select pre-programmed cooking settings for one-touch convenience.
• Activate the warming mode to keep food crisp after cooking.
• Use a built-in cooking timer with an alarm when done.
• Switch between Fahrenheit and Celsius temperatures.

The touchscreen buttons provide a satisfying click when pressed. Icons light up to clearly indicate what setting is active. Having both the temperature and cook times displayed makes it easy to monitor the air frying progress. It takes the guesswork out of determining when your food will be perfectly cooked.

While the manual knob models rely on your own timing, the digital display gives you precision control right from your fingertips. It’s a nice upgrade that enhances the overall user experience.

Air Frying Frozen Foods to Perfection

One of the handiest uses for the Insignia air fryer is cooking frozen foods from fries to nuggets with delicious results. The powerful hot air circulation system rapidly thaws and crisps frozen foods better than a conventional oven. Here are some air frying tips for frozen foods:

• Use a light coating of oil spray to prevent sticking.
• Increase cook time by 2-3 minutes over package instructions.
• Separate any items that are stuck together before air frying.
• Flip or shake basket midway for even cooking and crisping.
• Bake frozen potato products at 400°F, lowering to 350°F when almost done.
• Cook frozen proteins like chicken or fish at 350-370°F until browned and 165°F.
• For mixed frozen meals, preheat at 370-400°F then lower temp as needed.

With a little trial and error, you’ll get the timing down for amazing air-fried frozen foods. The Insignia air fryer handles everything from frozen french fries to chicken nuggets, fish sticks, and more.

Included Recipe Book for Inspiration

To get started with recipe ideas for your new air fryer, most Insignia models come with a handy recipe book included. This cookbook contains over 100 recipes tailored specifically for the Insignia air fryer. It’s filled with delicious ways to cook appetizers, main dishes, sides, and even desserts in your air fryer.

Some of the mouth-watering recipes found in the Insignia air fryer recipe book include:

• Air Fried Hot Wings
• Southwest Beef Fajitas
• Crispy Coconut Shrimp
• Parmesan Asparagus Fries
• Classic French Fries
• Garlic Knots
• Homemade Potato Chips
• Fried Banana S’mores

The recipes specify the optimized temperature and cook times for that model of Insignia air fryer. There are plenty of tasty recipes to give you inspiration for easy weekday meals as well as fabulous snacks and sides. This included recipe book takes the guesswork out of how long and what temperature to use.

1-Year Limited Warranty for Peace of Mind

Insignia provides a 1-year limited warranty on all air fryer models. This gives you confidence that your air fryer is backed by a guaranteed replacement period in case of defect. Under this warranty coverage, a replacement Insignia air fryer will be provided if your unit has a failure due to:

• Manufacturing defects in materials or workmanship
• Electrical failures during normal use
• Mechanical failures like damaged or faulty components

To take advantage of the 1-year warranty, you simply need to provide proof of purchase to Best Buy along with details of the issue you’re experiencing. Make sure to register your Insignia air fryer online to have your purchase on file. Then reach out to Best Buy customer service for prompt help troubleshooting or arranging a replacement unit as applicable.

It’s reassuring to know Best Buy stands behind the Insignia air fryer with a full year of warranty protection. This gives you peace of mind that your purchase is covered even with frequent use.

A Step-by-Step Guide for Using It the First Time

It’s normal to have questions about how to use your new Insignia air fryer the first time. Here is a simple step-by-step walkthrough to get started:

1. Unbox all parts and remove any plastic film or stickers. Wash the air fry basket and crisping tray in hot, soapy water.
2. Pat the basket and tray dry fully with clean towels.
3. Place the crisping tray in the bottom of the air fryer chamber. Set the air fry basket on top, fully seated.
4. Plug in the air fryer and use the digital display or manual knobs to preheat it to 400°F.
5. Add your prepared ingredients to the basket and lightly coat or spray with oil if needed.
6. Set the desired cook time and cooking temperature as specified in your recipe.
7. The air fryer will beep when fully preheated – then carefully slide the filled basket back into the chamber.
8. The cooking countdown will begin automatically once the basket is replaced.
9. When the timer goes off, use oven mitts to remove the hot basket and check your food.
10. Let excess oil/grease drain before removing food. Enjoy your first home air fried meal!

Refer to the included manual for full instructions specific to your model. But these general steps give you an easy Insignia air fryer tutorial to get started cooking.

Even Heating with a Non-Stick Fry Basket

A key component that enables the Insignia air fryer to cook food evenly is its well-designed fry basket. The basket has an all-over non-stick coating that prevents food from sticking while air frying. This allows the superheated air to circulate completely around each piece of food inside the basket.

The non-stick basket also makes it effortless to release finished foods when they’re done cooking. Food slides right out of the Insignia basket so you don’t have to scrape and struggle to remove it. After air frying, the basket cleans up easily by simply wiping away any excess oil and food debris.

In addition to the non-stick layer, the basket features small holes along the sides and bottom. This perforated design allows the hot air to flow into the basket and surround the food for rapid, even heating. The Insignia air fryer basket delivers foolproof cooking performance every time thanks to its thoughtful design.

Adjustable Temperature and Timer Controls

Having the ability to adjust both the cooking temperature and times is essential for an air fryer. The Insignia air fryer models each give you this control but in slightly different ways depending on the size.

The compact 2.5 quart manual Insignia air fryer uses old-school knobs to set the temperature from 170° to 400°F and the timer up to 30 minutes. You simply turn the knobs to your desired settings. There are no presets for common foods, so you’ll need to refer to cooking charts or recipes for guidance on recommended temperatures and times.

The 5.5 and 10 quart digital models make it even easier with convenient touch buttons and presets for one-touch cooking. You can use the touch buttons to directly input any temperature or time. And there are handy presets to air fry favorites like fries, chicken, fish, and more at the ideal settings.

Regardless of the interface, all Insignia air fryers give you full control to fine-tune the air frying process. You’re not limited by presets and can customize the temperature and cook time for perfect results.

An Ideal Appliance for Healthy Eating

Transitioning to healthier home cooking is a breeze with the Insignia air fryer. Its ability to make traditionally fried foods with 70-80% less oil contributes to a healthier diet. Meals air fried in the Insignia have significantly fewer calories, fat, and cholesterol compared to their deep fried counterparts.

Beyond fried foods, the Insignia air fryer lets you effortlessly cook all kinds of healthy dishes from scratch. Meats, seafood, and vegetables air fry up with a light crispiness outside while maintaining nutrients and moisture inside. There’s minimal added fat needed when air frying.

The included recipe book provides lots of delicious and good-for-you meal ideas. You can whip up veggie-packed sides, crisp tofu without breading, and baked chicken breasts in your air fryer. It gives you an easy way to eliminate oil-laden takeout and keep home cooking wholesome.

Preheating the Insignia Air Fryer

To get the very best results using your Insignia air fryer, it’s important to preheat it fully before cooking. Here are some preheating tips:

• Preheat your air fryer for 3-5 minutes at your recipe’s set temperature before adding food.
• The air fryer will beep when the preheat is complete and the set temperature is reached.
• For foods like frozen items or meats, preheat at 370-400°F to ensure the interior heats through.
• Vegetables, fresh foods and leftovers can be preheated at 300-350°F.
• The preheat time lets the superheated air start circulating to create even cooking.

Starting on a fully preheated air fryer gives you the crispiest exterior and most evenly cooked interior. It only takes a few minutes for your Insignia model to preheat before you add your ingredients.

Available in Contemporary Color Options

Insignia air fryers come in several stylish color options to suit any modern kitchen’s aesthetics. The digital touchscreen models are available in contemporary black stainless steel or white finishes. These colors give off an elegant, high-end look.

The compact manual knob air fryer comes in fun color options like red, white, black, or stainless steel. The pop of color acts as a cheerful accent piece on your countertop.

You can choose whichever Insignia air fryer color best matches your current small appliances and kitchen décor. Or opt for a bold color to make the air fryer a statement piece. Regardless of which color you select, you’ll still get the same great performance.

How Insignia Compares to Other Leading Brands

The Insignia air fryer holds its own quite well when compared to more expensive models from brands like Philips, Ninja, Instant Pot, or Cuisinart. It delivers very similar air frying performance and capabilities at a much lower price point.

When testing head-to-head, the Insignia air fryer produces equally crispy, delicious air fried foods as the pricier models. Many owners comment that it works just as well as the name brand air fryers they’ve previously used.

The biggest differences come down to more premium build construction and some added features in higher end models. But when comparing core air frying function for the dollar, the Insignia is unmatched. It can cook all the same foods with the same customizable settings and results.

For shoppers who want excellent air frying performance without paying extra for luxury features and branding, the Insignia clearly leads in value. It focuses on high functionality for an affordable investment that gets impressive user ratings.

Baking, Roasting and More Functions

While air frying may be the headline feature, you can cook much more than just crispy “fried” foods in your Insignia. This versatile appliance lets you bake, roast, grill, dehydrate and reheat all kinds of dishes.

• Bake cakes, cookies, casseroles up to 400°F for even browning and perfect doneness.
• Roast vegetables, potatoes or meat for full flavor at high heat.
• Grill burgers, seafood, sandwiches to give a charred, smoky taste.
• Dehydrate fruits, veggies, jerky with low, consistent heat.
• Reheat leftovers without drying them out like a microwave.

With the Insignia’s wide temperature range, rapid air circulation and compact footprint, you have an oven, dehydrator and more all in one appliance. It opens up endless cooking possibilities beyond just air fried dishes.

An Endless Variety of Air Fried Favorites

One of the most fun parts of owning an Insignia air fryer is experimenting with all the delicious foods you can make! Here is just a sampling of what you can whip up:

• Perfectly crispy french fries, tater tots and hash browns
• Chicken nuggets and boneless wings with crispy breading
• Brussel sprouts and asparagus with light charring
• Eggrolls, wontons and dumplings with less oil
• Falafel, empanadas or samosas for global flavor
• Chicken or beef kabobs with veggies
• Fried shrimp, scallops, fish fillets or calamari
• Homemade potato or veggie chips
• Bacon for breakfast sandwiches
• Donuts, apple fritters and fried desserts
• Garlicky bread knots or cheese sticks

Your air fryer can handle an incredible variety, from snacks to mains. Browse the recipe book and experiment to find new favorite foods to air fry at home.

Conclusion

The Insignia air fryer earns its popularity by being an appliance that can be used almost daily for healthier meals. It cooks with a fraction of the oil to create your fried favorites along with baked dishes, roasted veggies, and so much more. Choosing between manual knob or digital touchscreen models, multiple sizes and fun colors, there’s an Insignia air fryer suited to any home. With outstanding performance ratings and value, the Insignia air fryer line makes it easy and affordable to start air frying fabulously crispy foods in your own kitchen.