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10 Best Small Air Fryer For Your Kitchen
Modified: December 6, 2023
Enjoy fried food without the guilt with an air fryer! Check out the 10 best air fryers available and make healthier versions of your favorite food.
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Move your microwave, toaster oven, and pastel kitchen storage containers, and make space for the new must-have kitchen piece: the air fryer! Since its launch, air fryers have been making a lot of noise in the kitchen, and it’s about time to listen. But, what does it exactly do? What can it cook? Is it safe? Will it make your chicken nuggets just how you like them? If you’re still unsure about buying an air fryer, you have come to the right place! In this article, we’ll go through the best air fryers and see whether they live to its hype or if it’s all hot air.
What Is An Air Fryer?
Don’t be fooled by its name because an air fryer doesn’t actually fry anything. Instead, it works like a convection oven that utilizes rapid hot air to cook your food. The main difference between a convection oven and an air fryer is that the latter circulates the hot air faster and mimics the result of deep-frying. An air fryer is also more compact and can sit on your countertop easily.
Air fryers usually sport a basket-style drawer with a perforated rack that allows the hot air to hit the food on all fronts. So, you get everything air-fried just like you would in a deep fryer. The basket design lets you shake and handle your food conveniently without the worry of the violent bubbling oil every time you try to fry something. Plus, you only need little to no oil to get that glistening fried finish, which means you’ll have healthier meals — and more fried chicken!
Read more: How Long To Cook Dumplings In Air Fryer
What to Look for in an Air Fryer
We know you’re already excited to up your fried chicken intake in the healthiest possible way, but here are some factors you need to consider before buying an air fryer.
Basket Capacity
Before buying an air fryer, you must think about the amount of food you plan to cook in it. The basket can only take so much, and we know overcrowding is never a good idea. Air fryers come in a variety of sizes and can carry between two to seven quarts. So, consider how many you’re cooking for as well.
Preset Options
Just like any kitchen appliance, some air fryers have built-in preset options. If you’re looking to air fry a whole batch of french fries every Wednesday, get an air fryer with a french fry preset. Preset options add more convenience to the process and even help you cook your food better.
Power Consumption
Air fryers are electric appliances and therefore require a certain amount of power to cook your french fries to perfection. Make sure your kitchen outlets can support 800 to 1500 watts because that’s how much a standard unit uses.
Read more: How Much Is An Air Fryer
Additional Features
If you want to do more with the super convection power of the air fryer, look for one that has additional features. Some units have double-decker racks so you can cook different food together in one go. And some with advanced features like a dehydrator, broiler, and even a rotisserie!
Safety
Safety is crucial, especially in the kitchen. So, make sure your air fryer has passed all safety certifications before buying one. You should buy one that has non-slip feet to prevent any mishaps on a slippery countertop and a cool-to-touch handle or grip, so you don’t burn yourself when you open the basket drawer. An automatic power-off is also something you should look for to avoid burnt food and other accidents.
Best Small Air Fryers For Your Kitchen
One of the marks of a great air fryer is its preset cooking modes. And if you don’t want to be bothered with adjusting your temperatures every time you cook chicken wings, the Gourmia GAF716 FRY FORCE 360° has the perfect chicken wings preset mode for you. This nifty unit doesn’t only have wings down, but 11 more different presets you can just click on to get perfectly cooked food. It also features a smart turn reminder, so you don’t have to worry about forgetting to flip your food.
Key Features
- RadiVection 360° Technology
- LED display
- 12 one-touch preset cooking modes
Specifications
- Product dimensions: 16.75 x 16.5 x 13.2 inches
- 7-quart basket capacity
- Non-stick basket and rack
- Dishwasher-safe
Pros
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Spacious basket
- Comes with an air fryer recipe book
- Doesn’t take up too much space
- Includes a smart turn reminder
- Preset modes make setting up temperatures easy
Cons
- The fan is too powerful in some preset modes.
- The bacon preset mode is not the best for bacon.
Who knew you can broil, bake, roast, and dehydrate food in your air fryer? Well, everything is possible in the Instant Vortex Plus 4 Quart Air Fryer! It features six cooking functions that you can easily access with one touch. If you don’t want to preheat the oven for your small batch of cinnamon rolls, put them in the Instant Vortex basket and let air frying magic happen.
Key Features
- 6-in-1 functionality
- One-touch smart cooking modes
- Touchscreen digital display
Specifications
- Product dimensions: 13.03 x 10.2 x 11.02 inches
- 4-quart basket capacity
- Non-stick cooking tray
- Dishwasher-safe
Pros
- Compact size
- Easy to clean
- Easy to use control panel
- Has a spacious square-shaped basket
- Cooks food fast
Cons
- Has a strong plastic smell
- Cooking tray unstable inside the basket
The Ultrean Air Fryer is one of the best sellers in the air frying game. It features no-frill, easy-to-use buttons that let you control the timer and the temperature just how you like it. You can fit meals for two people or more with its flat basket design, giving you more room for food. This unit comes in different colors too! So, you can match your kitchen aesthetic with your new favorite kitchen appliance.
Key Features
- LCD digital display
- Flat basket design
- Advanced rapid air technology
- Scratch-free modern exterior
Specifications
- Product dimensions: 14.25 x 13.25 x 13 inches
- 4.2-quart basket capacity
- Dishwasher-safe
Pros
- Includes an air fryer recipe book
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Lightweight, yet sturdy
- Comes in different colors
- Basket holds a lot of food
Cons
- The non-stick coating on the cooking tray peels off
- Can present an error code E1, which keeps it from working
- A fire-hazard
If you’re on the lookout for an air-fryer that can multitask, the Ninja DZ201 Foodi will fit right into your kitchen tool belt. This absolute unit has two baskets that enable you to cook two different kinds of food at different temperatures at the same time! It features DualZone technology, which has two options: Smart Finish and the Match Cook option. The latter allows you to match all the settings from the first basket to the second one, while the Smart Finish lets both of the baskets finish cooking at the same time despite having different temperatures.
Key Features
- 2 4-quart independent baskets
- 6-in-1 functionality
- DualZone Technology
Specifications
- Product dimensions: 15.63 x 13.86 x 12.4 inches
- 8-quart overall basket capacity
- Dishwasher-safe
Pros
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Allows you to cook two different food at the same time
- Easy to understand controls
- Comes with an air fryer recipe book and cooking manual
Cons
- Too narrow baskets
- Takes up too much space
If you’re on the lookout for an air fryer that will go with your retro fridge, look no further than the cute DASH Tasti Crisp Electric Air Fryer! It features a nostalgic dial that allows you to adjust the temperature and timer, just like the old times. This unit is perfect for a single or a two-person household that wants to turn soulful meals healthier without sacrificing that fried goodness.
Key Features
- Automatic shut-off timer
- AirCrisp Technology
- Cool-touch handle
Specifications
- Product dimensions: 12.36 x 12.17 x 10.08 inches
- 2.6-quart basket capacity
- Non-stick finish
- Dishwasher-safe
Pros
- Compact and lightweight
- Easy to use and clean
- Operates quietly
- Has a cute retro look
Cons
- The print for numbers on the dial fades.
It’s fun to experiment in the kitchen, but cleaning after — not so much. Well, you don’t have to worry about the mess when you experiment with the Dreo Air Fryer. Its 9-in-1 cooking modes let you bake, roast, reheat, and many more without the hassle because you can do them all in its basket drawer, containing the mess inside. The basket has a non-stick coating that makes scraping off bits and pieces effortless. Plus, it’s completely dishwasher-safe! You can just put it inside your machine and prepare another batch of chicken wings.
Key Features
- 9 preset cooking modes
- Healthy air fryer recipe book curated by culinary chefs
- Smart control panel
Specifications
- Product dimensions: 11.6 x 9.4 x 9.4 inches
- 4-quart basket capacity
- Dishwasher-safe
- PFOA-free and BPA-free
Pros
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Comes with a recipe book
- Sleek and compact
- Spacious basket
- Easy to understand smart controls
Cons
- Weird noise from the fan
- Doesn’t go up to 450 degrees as advertised
Make your own snacks with the GoWISE USA 7-Quart Electric Air Fryer. It features a superior dehydrating preset that will allow you to make your own variety of chips, jerky, and many more! There’s a lot in store with this unit, and you can unlock all the possibilities with its air fryer recipe book and app that features both classic and innovative recipes.
Key Features
- Extra-large basket capacity
- 8 preset cooking functions
- 100 air fryer recipe book
- 3 stackable dehydrating racks
Specifications
- Product dimensions: 11.75 x 11.75 x 14 inches
- PFOA-free non-stick material
- 7-quart basket capacity
Pros
- Very spacious basket
- Has an easy to understand digital interface
- Cooks food fast
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Dehydrating preset works perfectly
Cons
- The non-stick coating wears off over time.
- The detachable trays are not non-stick.
Do you want to get into the air fryer bandwagon but don’t have the counter space to spare? The Instant Vortex 4-in-1 Air Fry is the unit for you. You don’t have to worry about your kitchen tables not being able to support your air frying endeavor because this unit is compact and lightweight! It features 4-in-1 cooking functions, so you can broil, roast, air fry, and reheat all you want in your tiny kitchen.
Key Features
- 4-in-1 functionality
- One-touch smart programs
- EvenCrisp Technology
Specifications
- Product dimensions: 12.8 x 12.8 x 10.9 inches
- 2-quart basket capacity
- Non-stick cooking tray
Pros
- Comes in different vivid colors
- Compact and sleek build
- Easy to clean
- Well-lit and intuitive control panel
- Operates silently
Cons
- There is a chemical smell from the basket.
- It’s not suitable for cooking for a lot of people./li>
If air fryer chefs had to point out a flaw in their air frying journey, it’s that the basket can’t hold a lot of food. It can be time-consuming and even annoying to be cooking in multiple batches when you have a big family. Well, you can consider that resolved when you get the CHEFMAN Large Air Fryer Max! It features an 8-quart basket capacity, which can accommodate food good for at least five people. Say goodbye to back-to-back cooking and hello to more saved time and energy.
Key Features
- LED shake reminder
- Advanced digital controls
- Automatic shut-off
Specifications
- Product dimensions: 12.75 x 13.5 x 10 inches
- 8-quart basket capacity
- Non-stick basket
- Dishwasher-safe
Pros
- Has a modern stainless finish
- Very spacious basket
- Easy to clean
- Can cook family size portions
Cons
- The tray is not secured to the basket.
- The touchscreen control panel is not very sensitive.
- It takes up a lot of space.
The COSORI Air Fryer Max XL is the best-selling air fryer on Amazon, and you won’t be surprised why. This beast of a unit features 13 cooking presets, which allows you to cook in almost every possible way. Do you need to bake mini lava cakes? Air fry it! Do you want perfectly roasted vegetables? Air fry it! How about a crispy, gooey grilled cheese sandwich? The COSORI Air Fryer can do that for you, easy. It also has a large-capacity basket that can fit a whole chicken and so much more!
Key Features
- 13 cooking preset modes
- Easy one-tap controls
- COSORI 100 chef-curated recipe book
Specifications
- Product dimensions: 11.8 x 14.3 x 12.7 inches
- 5.8-quart basket capacity
- Dishwasher-safe
- PFOA free and BPA free
Pros
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Compact and lightweight
- Available in other colors
- Comes with a recipe book
- Has a spacious basket
Cons
- Has a strong plastic smell
- Screws on the basket fall out
Pros and Cons of Using an Air Fryer
Air fryers might seem like manna from kitchen heaven, but just like anything inside your home, there’s an upside and downside to every appliance. So, here are the pros and cons of an air fryer to help you decide whether getting one is the right choice for you.
Pros
- Can cook food fast
- Makes fried food healthier without compromising flavor
- Safer compared to deep fryers
- Does more than air fry food
- All-in-one kitchen appliance
- Doesn’t take up too much space
- Easy to clean and maintain
Cons
- Not ideal for food with wet batter
- Food tends to dry out faster
- Not suitable to cook for large families
- Most air fryers have a short power cord
- Produces a lot of noise
Air Fryer FAQs
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Read more: How Long Do I Cook Bacon In An Air Fryer
How does an air fryer work?
It works just like a convection oven but is faster and more efficient. Air fryers use a heat source on top with a large fan that circulates hot air to cook the food. Air fried food looks like traditional fried food because the hot air penetrates food faster. It cooks the outside quickly, which forms a crust that’s akin to the texture of fried food.
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Is air frying healthy?
Yes, air frying is definitely a much healthier cooking method. You use little to no oil when you air fry, so it means fewer calories and fat. However, air-frying doesn’t instantly make any food healthy.
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What can you cook in an air fryer?
You can cook different kinds of food in an air fryer. It’s not limited to fried food at all. You can bake a cake, pizza, cook a steak to perfect medium rare, and many more — the possibilities are endless! There are vast air fryer recipes you can check out now.
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Do you need to use oil in an air fryer?
The short answer is no. You don’t need oil to air fry, but some food like vegetables could cook better with a light spray of oil because they tend to dry out.
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Read more: How Long To Cook Sweet Potato In Air Fryer
How do you clean an air fryer?
The main thing you have to clean in an air fryer is its basket. Most units have dishwasher-safe baskets, so it’s not too hard to keep them spotless. The tray or the rack is detachable, too, so you can wash it by hand to remove the pieces that got stuck or just put them in the dishwasher directly.
Air Fryer, the Answered Prayer
The kitchen can be an intimidating place, but having an air fryer can help alleviate the pressures of preparing a good and healthy meal. You may not be a certified chef, baker, or griller, but with a simple press of a button, you can be! Choose the best air fryer for you above and embrace the healthier lifestyle and healthier chicken nuggets!
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