History of the Air Fryer: From ActiFry and the Philips Airfryer to 2026 Models

The air fryer as we know it was developed by Dutch engineer Fred van der Weij and unveiled by Philips at the IFA trade show in Berlin in September 2010. It wasn’t the very first hot-air frying appliance, though: back in 2006, Tefal (Groupe SEB) launched the ActiFry in France, which cooked fries with a single spoonful of oil thanks to a stirring paddle.

This article traces the key milestones of that story, from postwar convection ovens to the dual-zone and smart models of 2026, then explains what this evolution means when you choose an appliance today. It draws on public sources, manufacturer specifications, independent reviews and verified buyer feedback. To compare current models, see our air fryer guide.

Before the air fryer: forced hot air is an old idea

Using a fan to move hot air so food cooks faster and more evenly is nothing new. A first fan-forced oven was designed as early as 1914 but never sold, and the Maxson Whirlwind Oven, launched in 1945 to heat meals on board aircraft, is regarded as the first convection oven in wide use. Convection ovens then became common in home kitchens.

The challenge stayed the same: getting the crisp outside of a deep-fried French fry without the vat of oil. A regular oven is too big, and its air moves too slowly to brown small pieces quickly. The whole point of the air fryer was to concentrate a fast, very hot airflow in a small space, right next to the food.

2006: Tefal’s ActiFry, the first fryer without an oil bath

In 2006, Tefal launched the ActiFry in France. The idea: a round bowl, a lid that blows hot air and a rotating paddle that keeps the food moving. One spoonful of oil is enough for a serving of fries, and you never need to shake anything.

The ActiFry planted the idea of an “oil-free fryer” in the public mind, especially in France and southern Europe. Its strong point, automatic stirring, is still the range’s signature today. Its historical limit: it handles fries, vegetables and stews well, but less so delicate foods that don’t like being stirred.

2010: Fred van der Weij, Philips and Rapid Air technology

In the Netherlands, Fred van der Weij, an engineer who loved fries but not the smell and grease of a deep fryer, was working on his own hot-air cooker. His first prototypes, built from wood, aluminum and chicken wire, produced fries that were burnt outside and still frozen inside. After several years of development he got a convincing result and took his concept to Philips.

Philips turned the idea into a product and unveiled it at IFA Berlin on September 3, 2010 under the name Airfryer. The technology was called Rapid Air: a heating element just above the food combines radiant heat with fan-driven air that circulates at high speed around a perforated basket. Philips holds the patents for this technology.

The first model, the Airfryer HD9220, set the format that became the standard: a compact countertop unit, a drawer with a removable basket, and a mechanical thermostat and timer. It held about 800 g (1¾ lb) of fries, enough for two people. Philips stressed cooking with little or no added oil, a health argument that would carry the whole category.

2010–2019: from novelty to everyday habit

Over the decade, Philips’ drawer format was picked up by many brands, from entry-level to premium. The term air fryer gradually became a generic name, the way “Kleenex” did for tissues. Several changes marked this period:

• The switch to digital: touchscreens, presets and precise temperature control replaced the dials.
• Bigger baskets: in the mid-2010s, Philips launched its Airfryer XXL range, designed to cook about 1.4 kg (3 lb) of fries, a whole chicken or a family meal.
• Dedicated accessories: cake pans, racks and skewers, showing the appliance could do far more than fries.
• The first step toward smart features: recipe apps (NutriU for Philips, VeSync for Cosori, the Xiaomi ecosystem) and, on some models, remote control.

Competition also brought the entry price down. First sold as a premium gadget, the air fryer became an everyday purchase, which largely explains how quickly it caught on.

2020: dual zones and the lockdown effect

In 2020, Ninja (SharkNinja) launched its Foodi Dual Zone, billed as the first air fryer with two independent baskets. Each drawer has its own heating element, fan and settings. A synchronized finish lets you start two different cooks that end at the same time: fries on one side, chicken on the other.

That same year, COVID-19 lockdowns sent millions of people back to their kitchens. Simple, quick and cheap to run compared with a full-size oven, the air fryer made the most of this return to home cooking. Social media did the rest: recipe videos turned the appliance into a cultural phenomenon and widened its use to desserts, roasted vegetables and reheated leftovers. For everyday ideas, read our guide to healthy cooking with an air fryer.

2023–2026: large capacities, hybrid formats and smart features

Since 2023, innovation has focused less on the cooking principle and more on format and ease of use:

• The flexible drawer: in 2023, Ninja launched the 10.4 L (11.0 qt) Foodi FlexDrawer, whose removable divider gives you one large drawer or two 5.2 L zones.
• The air fryer oven: the same year, Philips introduced the 8.3 L (8.8 qt) Airfryer Combi XXL Connected, which brings the air fryer closer to a countertop oven, with a cooking probe and control through the NutriU app.
• Stacking: in 2024, the Ninja Foodi MAX Double Stack XL put two drawers on top of each other to offer 9.5 L (10.0 qt) on the footprint of a standard unit.
• Dual heating elements: models such as the Cosori Dual Blaze heat from above and below, so you don’t need to turn food as often.

Manufacturers also put more emphasis on coatings sold as PFAS-free, dishwasher-safe baskets and viewing windows. These claims vary from model to model, so always check the manufacturer’s specifications rather than the box. Our 2026 smart air fryer comparison explains what the apps really add.

Timeline: key dates in air fryer history

What this history means when choosing in 2026

Fifteen years of evolution have produced very different families of appliances. Before you buy, ask yourself:

• How many people? A 4 to 6 L (4.2 to 6.3 qt) basket is enough for 2 to 4 people. Beyond that, a single large drawer or a dual-zone model is more practical.
• One dish or two at once? Dual zones help if you often cook a main and a side dish. Otherwise, a single large basket is more versatile for a whole chicken or a casserole.
• Paddle or basket? The ActiFry paddle saves you shaking the fries, but it’s less suited to breaded or delicate foods.
• How much counter space? Side-by-side dual-drawer models are wide; stacked models are taller.
• Do you need an app? It’s mainly useful for guided recipes and remote monitoring. If you cook simply, you can do without it.

The heirs of this story: 6 current models

Ninja Foodi FlexDrawer 10.4L Dual Zone

Strengths: the culmination of the dual-zone idea Ninja launched in 2020. With the divider in, you get two independent zones and a synchronized finish; without it, one large 10.4 L (11.0 qt) drawer for a whole chicken or a roast. Limitations: wide and heavy. Best for: families who want two simultaneous cooks and a large capacity.

Philips Airfryer 3000 Series XL - 6.2L

Strengths: the direct heir of the 2010 HD9220. A single 6.2 L (6.6 qt) basket, Rapid Air technology and very simple operation. Limitations: one dish at a time. Best for: households of 2 to 4 who want a classic, dependable air fryer.

Tefal ActiFry Genius XL 2in1 - 1.7kg

Strengths: the descendant of the 2006 ActiFry. The paddle stirs the food on its own, and an upper tray lets you cook on two levels. Automatic programs make everyday dishes easier. Limitations: not well suited to breaded or delicate foods. Best for: people who want fries and stir-fried vegetables without shaking a basket.

Philips Airfryer Combi XXL Connected - 8.3L

Strengths: a large 8.3 L (8.8 qt) capacity, a cooking probe for meat and control through the NutriU app. Limitations: bulky and positioned at the premium end. Best for: anyone who wants a versatile appliance somewhere between an air fryer and a countertop oven.

Ninja Foodi MAX Double Stack XL Air Fryer - 9.5L

Strengths: two stacked drawers, giving 9.5 L (10.0 qt) on a footprint close to that of a single-basket unit. Limitations: taller than average, so check the clearance under your upper cabinets. Best for: families short on counter width.

Cosori Dual Blaze Smart Air Fryer - 6.4L

Strengths: top and bottom heating elements, so you turn food less often, plus the VeSync app for recipes and monitoring. Limitations: a single 6.4 L (6.8 qt) basket. Best for: fans of even cooking who like to control things from their phone.

Comparison table

Mistakes to avoid

• Assuming an air fryer always replaces an oven: for a large family dish or several baking sheets, the oven is still better. See our article on air fryer vs traditional deep fryer to compare uses.
• Overfilling the basket: air needs to circulate. An overloaded basket gives you soggy food.
• Choosing dual zones by default: each zone is smaller than one large basket. If you mostly cook one dish, it may not be the right choice.
• Skipping cleaning: a dirty basket smokes and cooks less well. Clean it after each use, and keep abrasive scrubbers away from the coating.
• Placing the unit against a wall or under a cabinet: the hot-air vent must stay clear, as the manual specifies.

Verdict

The air fryer’s history comes down to two dates: 2006, when Tefal launched the ActiFry, and 2010, when Philips unveiled the Airfryer designed by Fred van der Weij and established the drawer format. Since then the appliance has gained capacity, cooking zones and smart features. For a family that wants all of these advances, the Ninja Foodi FlexDrawer is the most versatile. For simple use for 2 to 4 people, the Philips Airfryer 3000 Series XL remains the most direct heir of the original. And for fries without shaking a basket, the ActiFry Genius XL 2in1 carries on the 2006 idea.