Having crispy, delicious treats is probably out of the question if you don’t have a kitchen. The flavor of fried food cannot be replicated by microwaves, popular small appliances in break rooms, kitchenettes, and dormitories. Air fryers are ideal for preparing mouthwatering, golden-brown food without taking up much space, and they produce mouthwatering results quickly.
Multi-expert interviews have been conducted in order to develop the best air fryer and best nuwave air fryers guides. These are the best small air fryers I tested for this guide since they cook perfect fries and wings quickly, are easy to clean, and have convenient preset settings. Check out the best small air fryers below, and you’ll be able to earn back some of your valuable time after work.
1. Ninja AF101 4 Quart Capacity Air Fryer
The Ninja AF101 4-quart Air Fryer won top honors in rigorous tests of the best air fryers, offering intuitive controls and consistent results every time. Aside from the crisp results (especially for popcorn shrimp, biscuits, and fries) and the comfortable handle that stayed cool to the touch, we also noted that the basket’s handle was comfortable to hold and shake. A mild soap and water solution is all it takes to clean the basket’s nonstick interior, which holds a 4-quart capacity that is perfect for a pair.
There was no comparison between this Ninja air fryer and larger capacity air fryers with more presets in terms of performance. The compact size of the appliance makes it easy to store, makes it nonstick for cleanup, and makes it quiet while operating.
2. CHEFMAN Small Compact Air Fryer
The Chefman Turbofry air fryer is a good option for air frying at a reasonable price. For those with a tight budget, this small airfryer toaster oven is a good option. As a result of its compact design, you can place it anywhere on your kitchen countertop. Depending on its model, it cooks at a temperature ranging from 200°F to 400°F. Using rapid-air technology, this appliance warms up hot air and circulates it at high speeds, producing a crispy fried texture and little or no oil use while cooking your favorite dish.
Various dishes were prepared in the TurboFry, including crunchy fries and succulent chicken wings. This system combines a 1000-watt heating unit with rapid air technology to consistently deliver delicious results using the least amount of oil. It always turns out perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, just what I like.
It is a delight to clean the TurboFry since it poses no challenges. The dishwasher is the ideal way to keep everything clean and ready to use with a quick rinse.
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3. Ninja SP101 Digital Air Fry Countertop Oven
In the best air fryer toaster ovens guide, I selected the Ninja SP101 as the best small air fryer toaster oven. Ninja Digital Air Fry Countertop Oven fits into tight spaces and can even be stored vertically to save counter space. Although the interior is small, pizzas with a diameter up to 13 inches can still be accommodated. All eight presets can be used to bake without convection, toast, and dehydrate, features that aren’t often found in pod air fryers.
Among all the small air fryers I tested, both toaster ovens cooked the slowest. As a result, both broccoli and wings were cooked evenly on the Ninja. Despite the fact that the fries were not evenly cooked – the periphery of the fries were done more than the interior, they still tasted great.
The controls are clearly labeled and intuitive, and setup took less than five minutes. The interior light makes monitoring your food progress easier, which I think is a nice design feature. An easy-to-clean crumbs tray is included, as well as a dishwasher-safe air fry basket and baking tray.
4. Instant Vortex Plus 6-in-1 Functions Air Fryer
This Instant Vortex Plus Air Fryer Oven has a 6-quart capacity, but you may not have the space for it. There is a smaller air fryer by this brand that finished second in the compact air fryer category.
Every cooking test found the $70-per-quart Instant Pot Vortex Plus to be among the top three performers. Served with frozen fries and wings, the fries and wings came out crisp, delicious, and evenly cooked. Even though the broccoli didn’t cook evenly or taste as great as others, it was still one of the best.
There were no instructions needed for the setup, and it was seamless. Several buttons are clearly labelled, and there are presets for baking without convection and dehydrating without convection. It’s easy to use, but it lacks two features I like in the 6-quart version: a window in the drawer to monitor your food and an air filter to contain smells.
Using the dishwasher will make cleaning the drawer and crisper tray simple because the nonstick coating makes it easy to remove food. In order to allow adequate airflow when cooking, Instant recommends leaving a 5 inch space above the flat surface.
5. Chefman 2 Qt Nonstick Compact Air Fryer
Chefman’s Small Compact Air Fryer performed better than other sub-$50 units. As a result, crisp, evenly cooked, and flavorful wings were produced when it was used to cook chicken. There were some overdone fries among the fries, but they were done quickly. As far as taste and speed are concerned, broccoli was in the middle of the pack.
With the Chefman compact air fryer, using the appliance could not be simpler. A temperature dial and a time dial are the only dials on the device. Two minutes were all it took for me to get it running. The nonstick surfaces of the Chefman’s drawer and crisping tray make them easy to clean by hand, though the drawer is dishwasher-safe.
Its small footprint makes it the best air fryer for small spaces because it delivers a decent amount of food for its size – it was the second-smallest device. Nevertheless, since it is so small, it is most suitable for people who eat alone and only eat one serving at a time.
6. GoWISE USA Electric Mini Air Fryer
The GoWISE USA Electric Mini Air Fryer with Digital Touchscreen (2 Qt) grabbed my attention right away. It’s been a while since I’ve used it, so I thought I would share my honest opinion.
With a capacity of two quarts, this is the perfect size for my small kitchen. Despite my limited space, it does not take up much space on my counter. I enjoy using it for cooking for one or two people, and as a single person, that’s a big plus.
User-friendliness is one of the best things about the digital touchscreen. After setting the timer (up to 30 minutes) and temperature (between 170°F and 400°F), I was able to adjust it quickly. There are plenty of preset cooking options, which make it a breeze to prepare different dishes.
When I cook fried chicken wings with it, they come out tender on the inside and crunchy on the outside. In spite of the wide temperature range (180°F to 400°F), it only adjusts in 5°F increments, which may make it less accurate for certain recipes.
7. Elite Gourmet EAF-0201BL Personal Compact Air Fryer
There’s no better choice for you than the Elite Gourmet EAF-0201. An air fryer such as this is best suited to a small family with one or two members. There are, however, some users who have been able to fit enough food for a family of 4. This is a great cooking tool for french fries, kale chips, or even steak. You don’t have to worry about a fragmenting non-stick surface since the unit has a stainless basket design.
Air fryers such as Elite Gourmet’s EAF-0201 are inexpensive entry-level models. With the help of an analog dial, it is possible to control a 30-minute timer. Depending on the model, you can set the temperature from 180°F to 395°F. Despite its simplicity, it is capable of cooking a healthy meal at a very affordable cost and one of the best air fryers for small kitchens.
8. Dreo 9-in-1 Digital Air Fryer
Dreo Aircrisp Pro Air Fryer impressed in all cooking tests when it came to speed and quality. While all units had trouble cooking fresh broccoli evenly, the Dreo came closest to making florets crispy but not burned and stems tender. There was no overcooking or overcrisping on the wings or fries.
It is easy to adjust the temperature and time by pressing the appropriate buttons. This can be confusing because the presets are labeled only with symbols. Dehydrate mode, for instance, is represented by an orange. In spite of that, not all air fryers are equipped with the dehydrating feature.
Both the basket and tray are dishwasher-safe, but debris easily comes off when hand-washed. A slight annoyance is the rubber feet that keep the tray in place while washing, preventing scratches to the nonstick coating of the basket.
Dreo was the most efficient pod air fryer I tested in terms of exterior size to food capacity, meaning that it takes up very little space. Air fryers can be kept with items when they are not in use, but items must be removed when used. As one of the best small air fryers for two people, the 3.6-quart capacity suits most needs.
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9. DASH Tasti-Crisp Digital Air Fryer
With its small footprint, this item can be kept on your counter if you prefer, but if you do not, there is a handle so that you can store it easily. It is ideal for single-serving meals since it has a 2.2-quart capacity. Most units do not produce crisp and even wings and fries as fast as this one. There was no time for watering the broccoli, so the stems were hard and the florets were burnt.
Setting up the Dash air fryer took less than two minutes, and no instructions were required. It didn’t occur to me that I needed to press the time and temperature buttons to change the settings. As well, the basket doesn’t fit smoothly – you’ll need to wiggle it in before it fits properly.
Three custom presets can be added to the appliance for items you cook often, but there are no preprogrammed presets. Dash Digital Air Fryer was easy to clean. Nonstick coating makes hand washing the basket and crisping tray easy, and the basket and crisping tray are dishwasher-safe.
10. Cosori 2.1 Qt Mini Air Fryer
One of the best no-nonsense air fryers available, the Cosori Lite surprise us with its performance. A basic control panel features four settings, including air fry, bake, roast, and reheat, with digitally displayed numbers that are easy to read. In addition to time and temperature adjustments, the temperature can be increased or decreased in increments of 5°, which allowed us more control over the cooking process.
A great feature of this small air fryer is its ability to heat up quickly. We tested the Cosori and found that it reached 400°F in under 3 minutes (2:52 to be exact). Twelve minutes is enough time to cook fries thoroughly and evenly. For an individual, apartment dweller, or RV camper, the 2.1-quart basket size was a bit too small, making this pick best suited for frozen foods like fries. Although it is a small device, it is surprisingly powerful and quiet.
11. BELLA 2.9 Qt Touchscreen Air Fryer Oven
The BELLA 2.9QT Touchscreen Air Fryer is easy to use and I’m impressed with its performance. There are eight presets on the digital touchscreen, making it easy for users to cook various foods quickly and easily. This cooker’s 1400-watt heating element allows it to cook food without preheating.
Air fryers are the perfect size for smaller kitchens, dorm rooms, and office spaces. While it may be small, it can still cook up to 2.5 pounds of food in just minutes, so you can feed 2-4 people with it. The lack of capacity, however, may make it less suitable for families with larger meals or those who cook more.
Cooking pans and crisping trays had a tendency to peel off nonstick coating after some use. Furthermore, the food tasted fine despite a mild chemical smell during the first few uses. Air fryers are convenient and easy to clean since the pan and tray are dishwasher-safe.
Factors to Consider
Choose an air fryer that you can easily use, does not take up much space, and has only the features you need. Before choosing the small air fryer model to buy, here are a few essential considerations you should make.
Capacity
In spite of the fact that all of the air fryers on our list measure less than 4 quarts, they still offer a range of quart capacities. It’s important to keep in mind what you’ll be using it most frequently when choosing your perfect pick. It may just be a matter of getting a smaller device to simplify your weeknight dinners.
Versatility
Air fryers are perfect for people who want to reduce their fat intake with their weekly French fry habit. There are so many air fryers on the market that you can find one that does everything you need-or nothing at all. It is important to keep in mind, however, that they may not perform all functions well so you may be better off investing in a good dehydrator, for example.
Ease of Use
Several of the options we’ve chosen won’t disappoint, with preprogrammed settings that make getting dinner on the table as simple as pushing a button. Because air fryers aim to streamline the cooking process, you’ll want to choose a model that simplifies your life, not complicates it. Make sure the digital displays and time settings are intuitive, and that there are just enough bells and whistles for your purposes.
Cleaning
The air fryer is naturally nonstick, which makes cleaning a breeze. Although they’re not all dishwasher-safe, so if that’s something you’re looking for, take that into account when shopping. Furthermore, some models come with additional equipment (like a pizza pan or roasting tray) that should also be considered when calculating your cleaning time.
FAQs
How big should an air fryer be for one person?
It is recommended to use a small air fryer that holds between 1-2 quarts of food for one person. This size of convection oven should easily accommodate a decent dinner serving. Moreover, if a friend is coming around, you can use the air fryer to make two snack-sized or appetizer portions.
How healthy are air fryers?
Because air fryers use significantly less oil than many other cooking methods, they are often considered healthy. Food that has not been processed and is fresh often contains a small amount of oil, as it helps brown and add flavor. Overall, air fryers can be used to cook healthier dishes, particularly if you air fry whole foods, vegetables, and lean proteins.
In addition to potatoes and sweet potatoes we love using them to cook broccoli, Brussels sprouts, chicken, pork chops, salmon, and more. There are even desserts you can make using them, such as apple crisp.
Is it worth it to invest in a compact air fryer?
In short, yes. It takes much less energy for a small air fryer to heat food than a conventional fan-assisted oven. Furthermore, many of these appliances do not require time to pre-heat, so you can toss in some fries without having to wait.