When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn moreThe Beautiful by Drew Barrymore 6-quart air fryer turns in an impressive performance, and looks great on a countertop.James Brains; Jennifer Zyman/Business InsiderTop budget pick: The Beautiful by Drew Barrymore air fryer cooks fast and looks cool for under $70.Honest performance: Excels at veggies and wings, but frozen fries can turn out slightly dry.Tested & verified: Beat out 60+ models to win best budget air fryer in our best air fryers guide.I'm wary of any kitchen appliance a celebrity is hawking, especially when it's tied to the air fryer trend. Yet, I was pleasantly surprised to find the Beautiful 6-quart Touchscreen Air Fryer by Drew Barrymore not only lived up to its name, but it's also one of the best air fryers I've tested, sporting an affordable $70 price tag. Editor's NoteAfter testing over 60 air fryers — including our latest round of testing in May 2026 — the Beautiful 6-quart air fryer by Drew Barrymore continues to hold the title of best budget pick in our comprehensive guide to the best air fryers. It held its top spot because it successfully bridges a massive gap in the market: delivering fast, even cooking at a sub-$100 price point, without sacrificing countertop aesthetics. The Business Insider Reviews team has put over 60 units through several objective tests. The Beautiful Air Fryer earned a spot in our best air fryers guide because it cooks evenly and quickly, is easy to clean and use, and is available in seven color options, so you're sure to find a hue that matches your kitchen decor. Below are the details of my Beautiful Air Fryer testing.Getting startedThe Beautiful Air Fryer is ridiculously easy to set up: just remove the packaging and plug it in. I didn't need any instructions to get going. It might be unclear when you first look at the air fryer because you can't see the buttons. Yet, when you plug it in, the power button lights up and pulses.Once you press the power button, you can choose from four cooking modes: air fry, roast, reheat, and dehydrate. After you select, the time and temperature adjustment buttons illuminate, and the start/pause button pulses to show you how to start your cook. Easy peasy.Cooking performanceFrozen friesThe fries came out golden brown and evenly cooked after 13 minutes, about average.James Brains/Business InsiderIn every air fryer we test, we cook a pound of Ore-Ida french fries at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. After eight minutes, we check to see if the fries are done, and we continue to add more time until the fryer achieves golden-brown fries. Few air fryers are done in eight minutes, and the Beautiful air fryer was no different. It ranked average with 13 minutes cook time. The fries were evenly cooked and crispy, though a little dry.Hand-cut friesWe also make fries from scratch in each air fryer. After 15 minutes at 350 degrees, we check the fries and give them more time if they're not crisp yet. This is a difficult test for most air fryers, and while the Beautiful wasn't perfect, it was among the best. The fries were ready in 15 minutes and about as evenly done as an air fryer gets. The texture and flavor were on point: crisp and not dried out.BroccoliAir fryers generally struggle with broccoli, but the Beautiful Air Fryer was among the best.James Brains/Business InsiderWe put a pound of broccoli florets in the air fryer basket, spray them with olive oil, and cook them at 375 degrees until the broccoli is tender. After eight minutes, we check for doneness and add more time if needed. The Beautiful Air Fryer made excellent broccoli in just 10 minutes, while most models take at least 12. Before the stems can get tender enough, air fryers usually burn the florets. This was not the case with the Beautiful. Instead, the broccoli was pretty even, with tender stems and lightly crispy florets, and it wasn't too dry.Chicken wingsThe Beautiful Air Fryer makes juicy, evenly cooked wings, though I wished they were a little crisper.James Brains/Business InsiderWe've found that air fryer chicken wings are always great. We test this by cooking a pound of wings at 400 degrees for 16 minutes, turning them over halfway through. When time is up, we evaluate how evenly cooked, crispy, and juicy the wings are.The Beautiful Air Fryer passed with flying colors. The wings were up to temp after 16 minutes. While I could see some were more done than others, they were pretty evenly cooked. They were incredibly juicy and mildly crispy, though not as crispy as I prefer. CleaningThe crisper plate and basket of the Beautiful Air Fryer are dishwasher-safe, and I found the dishwasher gets them clean. However, with the handle jutting out, the basket takes up a lot of space in the dishwasher. I prefer to wash everything by hand because it's easy to clean, thanks to the nonstick surfaces. Plus, washing nonstick items by hand will extend the lifespan of the non
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