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 fryer, 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 that evolution means when you shop for one today. It draws on public sources, manufacturer specifications, independent reviews and verified owner 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 went on sale, and the Maxson Whirlwind Oven, launched in 1945 to heat meals aboard aircraft, is regarded as the first widely used convection oven. Convection ovens then became standard in home kitchens.

The challenge never changed: getting the crunchy outside of a deep-fried French fry without the vat of oil. A regular oven is too big, and the air inside moves too slowly to brown small pieces quickly. The whole point of the air fryer was to concentrate a fast stream of very hot air 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 concept: 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 have to shake anything.

The ActiFry planted the idea of an “oil-free fryer” in the public mind, especially in France and southern Europe. Its big selling point, automatic stirring, is still the line’s signature today. Its long-standing weakness: it handles fries, vegetables and stews well, but not 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, turned out fries that were burned outside and still frozen inside. After several years of development he got a convincing result and pitched 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 on 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 1.8 lb (800 g) of fries, which mostly suited two people. Philips stressed cooking with little or no added oil, a health pitch that would carry the whole category.

2010–2019: from novelty to everyday staple

Over the decade, many brands adopted Philips’ drawer format, from entry-level to premium. The term air fryer gradually became a generic name, as ordinary as “fridge” or “vacuum.” 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 line, designed to cook about 3 lb (1.4 kg) of fries, a whole chicken or a family meal.
• Dedicated accessories: cake pans, racks and skewers, proof that 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 entry prices down. First sold as a premium gadget, the air fryer became an everyday purchase, which largely explains how fast it spread across Europe.

2020: dual zones and the pandemic 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 foods that are done at the same time: fries on one side, chicken on the other.

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

2023–2026: big 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 11 qt (10.4 L) Foodi FlexDrawer, whose removable divider gives you one large drawer or two 5.5 qt (5.2 L) zones.
• The air fryer oven: the same year, Philips introduced the 8.8 qt (8.3 L) Airfryer Combi XXL Connected, which brings the air fryer closer to a mini 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 fit 10 qt (9.5 L) on the footprint of a standard unit.
• Dual heating elements: models such as the Cosori Dual Blaze heat from above and below, so you need to flip food less often.

Manufacturers also put more emphasis on coatings marketed as PFAS-free, dishwasher-safe baskets and viewing windows. These claims vary from model to model, so always check the manufacturer’s spec sheet 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 you buy in 2026

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

• How many people? A 4.2 to 6.3 qt (4 to 6 L) 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 dish and a side. Otherwise, one large basket is more versatile for a whole chicken or a casserole.
• Paddle or basket? The ActiFry paddle saves you from shaking the fries, but it’s less suited to breaded or delicate foods.
• How much counter space? Side-by-side dual-basket models are wide; stacked models are taller.
• Do you need an app? It’s mostly 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

Pros: 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 drawer for a whole chicken or a roast. Cons: wide and heavy. Best for: families who want two foods cooking at once and a big capacity.

Philips Airfryer 3000 Series XL - 6.2L

Pros: the direct heir of the 2010 HD9220. A single 6.6 qt (6.2 L) basket, Rapid Air technology and very simple controls. Cons: 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

Pros: the descendant of the 2006 ActiFry. The paddle stirs the food on its own, and an upper rack lets you cook on two levels. Automatic programs make everyday dishes easier. Cons: not a good fit for 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

Pros: a large 8.8 qt (8.3 L) capacity, a cooking probe for meat and control through the NutriU app. Cons: bulky, and it sits at the premium end of the lineup. Best for: anyone who wants a versatile appliance somewhere between an air fryer and a mini oven.

Ninja Foodi MAX Double Stack XL Air Fryer - 9.5L

Pros: two stacked drawers, so you get a large capacity on a footprint close to that of a single-basket unit. Cons: taller than average, so check the clearance under your wall cabinets. Best for: families short on counter width.

Cosori Dual Blaze Smart Air Fryer - 6.4L

Pros: top and bottom heating elements that cut down on flipping, plus the VeSync app for recipes and monitoring. Cons: a single basket. Best for: cooks who want even results and like to control things from their phone.

Comparison table

Mistakes to avoid

• Assuming an air fryer can always replace your oven: for a big family dish or several sheet pans, the oven still wins. See our article on air fryer vs. deep fryer to compare uses.
• Overfilling the basket: air needs room to circulate. An overloaded basket gives you soggy food.
• Defaulting to dual zones: each zone is smaller than one large basket. If you mostly cook one dish at a time, it may not be the right choice.
• Skipping cleanup: a dirty basket smokes and cooks less evenly. Clean it after every use, and keep abrasive scouring pads away from the coating.
• Pushing the unit against a wall or under a cabinet: keep the hot-air vent clear, as the manual specifies.

The bottom line

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 those advances, the Ninja Foodi FlexDrawer is the most versatile. For simple cooking 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.