Tillie Doyle
Air fryers are a great addition to your kitchen, especially if you're short on space. They're compact, don't need preheating, and cook food quickly and evenly. Here's a list of the best small air fryers in the market:
- Ninja 4-Quart Air Fryer: This air fryer has an illuminated digital display that makes it very easy to set the time, temperature, and more. It also has a wide temperature range and additional functions like reheating, roasting, and dehydrating.
- Instant Pot Air Fryer: This 4-quart air fryer has six preset modes, fast preheating, and clear touchscreen controls. The real winner, though, is its dishwasher-safe air fry basket and tray for effortless cleanup.
- Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer: This stunning 4.4-quart smart oven has 11 cooking functions and a range of gorgeous exterior hues to choose from. It performed well in our tests, producing even and golden toast and perfectly baked chocolate chip cookies.
- Dash Compact Air Fryer: Available in a range of retro-inspired shades, this 2-quart fryer is perfect for solo cooks. It only has one function (air fry), but it does that quite well, producing crispy and evenly fried results. Its small footprint makes it ideal for apartments or tiny kitchens.
- Ninja Air Fry Countertop Oven: This air fryer toaster oven can fit a 13-inch pizza, up to nine slices of toast, or six chicken breasts at once. It has eight different functionalities, ranging from air frying to dehydrating, and a glass door that lets you keep an eye on your food.
What You'll Learn
Best Overall Small Air Fryer
Ninja 4-Quart Air Fryer
The Ninja 4-Quart Air Fryer is our top choice because of its small capacity, user-friendly illuminated display, and versatility. It has a wide temperature range that can handle everything from crispy french fries to golden-brown wings and has additional functions like reheating, roasting, and dehydrating. The illuminated display is easy to operate with simple buttons and large lettering. The only drawback is that it does not have a programmed preheat function, so you have to wait about three minutes to preheat before you can begin. It comes with a recipe booklet, and all components other than the central unit are dishwasher-safe.
Key Features
- Capacity: 4 quarts
- Power: 1,550 watts
- Dimensions: 8.5 x 12.1 x 11 inches
Instant Vortex Plus 140-3079-01
This Instant Vortex Plus has a typical look and shape for an air fryer, with a stainless steel and black exterior that’ll match any kitchen. With a measured capacity of 3 quarts and a footprint that’s right around a cubic foot, it’s not our tiniest air fryer, but it’s still relatively low-profile. Our testers found its digital display and controls especially intuitive, and it’s also an easy model to clean. Plus, on the noise front, it operates more quietly than many air fryers. It comes with a range of programmed settings for particular foods and customizable programs, auto-shutoff, a reminder to flip or shake your food, and a one-year warranty.
Key Features
- Measured capacity: 3 quarts
- Dimensions: 11x10x13 inches
Dreo Pro DR-KAF002
The Dreo Pro DR-KAF002 air fryer is a little unusual-looking, with its digital controls on the top, which may allow you to avoid bending down to operate the controls or check on the time remaining while it cooks. It’s a strong performer all-around in our tests, and with a measured capacity of 2.5 quarts, it can fit enough food for two (or for leftovers). It comes with programmed settings, a recipe book, and a one-year warranty.
Key Features
- Measured capacity: 2.5 quarts
- Dimensions: 12x10x14 inches
Gourmia GAF414
The Gourmia GAF414 is a strong performer in our assessments for ease of use and noise, and it’s an especially easy model to clean. It’s over a foot in depth, but at 12 inches high and 10 inches wide, it won’t take up a huge amount of space on your countertop, befitting an air fryer with a measured capacity of 2.8 quarts. It has programmed settings and a reminder to turn or shake your food, and it comes with a recipe booklet and a one-year warranty.
Key Features
- Measured capacity: 2.8 quarts
- Dimensions: 12x10x14 inches
Cosori Lite CAF-LI211
The Cosori Lite CAF-LI211 is packed with appealing features such as a dishwasher-safe basket, programmed settings, and a digital display. But with a footprint of just 9x10 inches, it comes in a small, 5-pound package (and at a fairly small price, too). It was a standout in our tests, receiving high marks for being easy to use and clean, and remaining at low volume while cooking. The Cosori Lite comes with a two-year warranty.
Key Features
- Measured capacity: 1.7 quarts
- Dimensions: 11x9x10 inches
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Best Value Small Air Fryer
Small air fryers are a great way to cook food for one or two people without taking up too much counter space. Here are some of the best value options currently on the market:
Ninja 4-Quart Air Fryer
This air fryer is a great choice for those looking for a compact yet versatile appliance. It has a wide temperature range, allowing you to cook anything from crispy french fries to golden-brown wings. It also comes with additional functions like reheating, roasting, and dehydrating. The illuminated display is user-friendly, with simple buttons and large lettering. The only downside is that it does not have a preheat function, so you'll have to wait a few minutes for it to warm up before cooking. It has a capacity of 4 quarts, power of 1,550 watts, and dimensions of 8.5 x 12.1 x 11 inches.
Instant Vortex Plus
The Instant Vortex Plus is a great value option, especially when on sale. It has a 4-quart capacity, making it perfect for a family of four. It comes with a range of programmed settings for different foods, as well as customizable programs. The digital display and controls are intuitive and easy to use. It operates quietly and is easy to clean, with a one-year warranty. Its dimensions are 11 x 10 x 13 inches.
Dash Compact Air Fryer
If you're looking for a budget-friendly option, the Dash Compact Air Fryer is a great choice. It has a capacity of 2 quarts, making it ideal for solo or duo cooking. It has a sleek, retro look and comes in five different colours. The controls are basic, with analog dials for temperature and time. It also has an automatic shut-off function and a cool-touch exterior. However, it lacks pre-programmed settings, so you may need to use trial and error to find the best cooking methods. It has a power of 1,000 watts and dimensions of 10.2 x 8.1 x 11.4 inches.
GoWise USA 3.7-Quart Programmable Air Fryer
The GoWise USA air fryer is an affordable option that comes with eight presets for different types of food. You can also set the time and temperature manually. It has a capacity of 3.7 quarts, making it suitable for cooking for three people. It has a cool-touch handle, overheat protection, and an automatic shut-off feature. The basket and holder are dishwasher-safe. Its power is 1,400 watts, and its dimensions are 14 x 11.5 x 12.25 inches.
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Best Splurge Small Air Fryer
If you're looking for a small air fryer that's worth the splurge, the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer is a stunning and powerful machine. It's a combination toaster oven/air fryer with a huge capacity and smart sensors and heating elements for perfect cooking every time. It's a big investment, but it's a two-in-one machine that's truly the best of both worlds.
The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer scored top marks in tests of not only air fryers but also toaster ovens and combination toaster oven/air fryers. It can air fry, toast, bake, roast, warm, pizza, reheat, cook cookies, and slow cook. It produced juicy pork tenderloin and (mostly) crispy-skinned salmon in testing, and it's been consistent across other tests of baking, roasting, toasting, and non-air fry functions.
The problem? The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer is a big investment. It's double to triple the cost of some other air fryers that work just as well. But those don't have the added abilities of a toaster oven. It also takes up a lot of counter space, but it kind of has to in order to hold as much food as it can.
Other Options
The Typhur Dome is another splurge option. It's a unique, bubble-shaped machine with a fan directly over the heating element, suspended over the food. This makes it quieter and faster than comparable machines, and it enables a unique auto-cleaning mode. It also has Wi-Fi capability, so you can select any of its 10 cooking modes from your phone. In testing, salmon and bok choy cooked very nicely, but it left pork a bit dry. It's a great option for beginners or those who want to air fry a wide variety of foods, but it's extremely expensive, especially given its average capacity.
The Philips Premium Air Fryer is another pricier option. It's our former top pick, but the competition has caught up with Philips in recent years. It still has an intuitive control panel and excellent performance in terms of even crispiness with minimal shaking or stirring required. But it's quite a bit heavier than most models, has a smaller fry basket, and is kind of loud.
The Instant Vortex Plus 4-Quart Air Fryer is another option. It's our former budget pick, and it's still an admirable choice if you're looking for a model with a smaller capacity, a sleek, shorter profile, and a more rectangular basket that better accommodates food in a single layer than round designs.
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Best Dishwasher-Safe Small Air Fryer
If you're looking for a dishwasher-safe small air fryer, the Ninja AF101 Air Fryer is a great option. It's one of the best small air fryers on the market and offers a 4-quart capacity, so you don't have to compromise on cooking performance. The basket is non-stick and dishwasher-safe, making it easy to clean. It's also easy to program and use, with simple controls and a removable cooking tray.
Another top option for a small air fryer is the Instant Vortex Mini 2-Qt Mini Air Fryer. With a 2-quart capacity, it's perfect for cooking for one person and takes up minimal space on your countertop or in storage. The digital interface and knob make it easy to adjust the time and temperature, and the basket is dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning.
The Cosori Lite CAF-LI211 is another excellent choice for a small air fryer that's dishwasher-safe. It has a 1.7-quart capacity, ideal for those with limited counter space, and it comes with a dishwasher-safe basket. It also features programmed settings and a digital display, making it easy to use.
The Dash Express Tasti-Crisp DCAF120 is a compact air fryer with a 1.9-quart capacity and an analog design. It's lightweight and easy to clean, and it's one of the quietest air fryers on the market. The basket is dishwasher-safe, making cleanup a breeze.
Lastly, the Dash Tasti-Crisp DCAF260 is a digital version of the Dash Express. It has a 1.9-quart capacity and simple-to-use controls. It also has a digital display and three presets for your favourite settings. The basket is dishwasher-safe, making it convenient to maintain.
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Best Small Air Fryer Toaster Oven
If you're looking for a small air fryer toaster oven, the Cuisinart Air Fryer + Convection Toaster Oven TOA-70 is a great option. It was rated the best air fryer toaster oven by Good Housekeeping, and was also recommended by users on Reddit. It has a 15.5" by 16" air fry rack, which is a large cooking surface compared to basket-style air fryers. It also has a drip/crumb tray for easy cleanup.
Another option is the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer, which was recommended by Food and Wine and The New York Times. It has a two-rack oven capacity and comes with several accessories, including a pizza pan, air fry basket, roasting pan, and separate racks for baking and broiling.
If you're looking for something more budget-friendly, the Hamilton Beach Air Fry Toaster Oven is a good option. It performed well in Food and Wine's air fry and broil tests and is very easy to clean. However, it has limited analog controls and a smaller capacity than other options.
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Frequently asked questions
The Dash Compact Air Fryer is a great budget option. It has a 2-quart capacity, a sleek, retro look, and comes in five colours. It's lightweight and easy to store, and perfect for solo or duo cooking.
Another good budget option is the Instant Vortex Mini 4-in-1. It's one of the smallest and cheapest models on the market. It has a 2-quart capacity and is lightweight with a diminutive footprint, making it ideal for small kitchens or dorm rooms.
The Cosori Lite CAF-LI211 is another good, affordable option. It has a 1.7-quart capacity, a digital display, and programmed settings. It's also very quiet.
The Ninja 4-Quart Air Fryer is a good option for a family of four. It has a 4-quart capacity, an illuminated display, and is easy to use and clean. It also has a dehydrate function.
The Instant Vortex Plus ClearCook is another good option for a family of four. It has a 6-quart capacity, a see-through window, and a square basket that maximises cooking space. It's also quiet, according to user reviews.
The Ninja Foodi 6-in-1 8-qt. 2-Basket Air Fryer is another good option for a family of four. It has two 4-quart baskets that can be used separately or together, offering more cooking versatility.
The Instant Vortex Mini 4-in-1 is a good option for a single person. It has a 2-quart capacity and is small, powerful, and one of the cheapest models on the market.
The Cosori Lite CAF-LI211 is another good option for a single person. It has a 1.7-quart capacity, a digital display, and programmed settings. It's also very quiet.
The Dash Compact Air Fryer is a great budget option for a single person. It has a 2-quart capacity, a sleek, retro look, and comes in five colours. It's lightweight and easy to store.
The Ninja 4-Quart Air Fryer is a good option for a couple. It has a 4-quart capacity, an illuminated display, and is easy to use and clean. It also has a dehydrate function.
The Instant Vortex Plus ClearCook is another good option for a couple. It has a 6-quart capacity, a see-through window, and a square basket that maximises cooking space. It's also quiet, according to user reviews.
The Cosori Lite CAF-LI211 is a good, affordable option for a couple. It has a 1.7-quart capacity, a digital display, and programmed settings. It's also very quiet.
