rabbit.reviews

The Best Air Fryers Small

Updated April 2026·Experts: Good Housekeeping, seriouseats, CNET, Epicurious · Community: airfryer, HomeApplianceHelp

Best Overall

Ninja AF101 Air Fryer (4-Quart)

$90-$120

If you only want to buy one air fryer and never think about it again, this is the one. Good Housekeeping's lab director has used it daily for over a year in an apartment kitchen, that's the endorsement that matters.

What holds up

  • 4 cooking modes: air fry, roast, reheat, dehydrate
  • Dishwasher-safe basket fits without taking up too much room
  • Responsive, easy-to-read control panel
  • Heats quickly, crispy wings and fries consistently

What to know

  • Slightly larger footprint than other 'small' air fryers on the market
  • Doesn't pause when you open the basket, timer and heat keep running
  • No window to check food without pulling the basket
Expert verdict
Nicole especially loves that the drawer fits in her dishwasher without taking up too much room, and the machine is the right size for her apartment kitchen.
Good HousekeepingView source
Expert verdict
Another Great Air Fryer: Ninja AF101 4-Quart Air Fryer, it cooks quickly and efficiently and has a touchscreen display with a knob for quickly changing the temperature and time.
Serious EatsView source
From the community
I highly recommend Cosori. I don't know what their smallest size is, but it has a rectangular rather than circular footprint, which I find easier to work with/around.
r/airfryerView source
View at Amazon
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Best Budget

Cosori Small Air Fryer (2.1-Quart)

$50-$60

For solo cooking on a budget, this is the one to beat. Wings crispy on the bottom without flipping is a legitimately impressive result that pricier models can't always match.

What holds up

  • 2.1-quart square basket maximizes interior space for a compact unit
  • Wings came out crispy on the bottom without flipping in GH testing
  • Intuitive control panel with hidden buttons when off for clean look
  • Significantly cheaper than most competitors at ~$50

What to know

  • Nonstick basket prone to scratching over time, avoid metal utensils
  • 2.1-quart capacity limits batch size even for one person with larger meals
  • No dehydrate function unlike the Ninja AF101
Expert verdict
The wings, in particular, were very juicy and even crisp on the bottom without needing to be flipped (we can't say the same for several other air fryers we tested).
Good HousekeepingView source
Expert verdict
Best small air fryer: Cosori Lite 2.1-Quart Mini Air Fryer
EpicuriousView source
From the community
I highly recommend Cosori. I don't know what their smallest size is, but it has a rectangular rather than circular footprint, which I find easier to work with/around.
r/airfryerView source
View at Amazon
Read the full breakdown →
Best for Beginners

Instant Vortex Mini Air Fryer (2-Quart)

$50-$60

Serious Eats doesn't hand out top picks lightly, and this one earned it by cooking faster than everything else tested. The flip reminder and simple dial make it genuinely foolproof for first-time air fryer owners.

What holds up

  • Fastest cook times tested, crispy fries in 14 minutes, wings in 30
  • Shallow basket puts food closer to heat for better crisping
  • Flip reminder feature prevents overcooking without babysitting
  • Dishwasher-safe basket for easy cleanup

What to know

  • 2-quart capacity is tight, limited to smaller single-serving portions
  • Only 4 cooking settings, less versatile than larger models
  • Bulkier design than the Cosori despite similar capacity
Expert verdict
This smaller version cooked food the fastest, producing crispy fries after just 14 minutes and golden wings in 30 minutes. The petite two-quart basket was shallower than some other models, putting the food closer to the heat source.
Serious EatsView source
Expert verdict
The Best Small Air Fryer: Instant Vortex Mini Air Fryer, it cooks quickly and efficiently.
Serious Eats (full air fryer review)View source
From the community
On the other hand, products like the Instant Vortex Mini offer a larger capacity but have a bulkier design that takes up more space.
r/HomeApplianceHelpView source
View at Amazon
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Most Versatile

Cuisinart TOA-26 Compact Air Fryer Toaster Oven

$100-$150

If you're replacing both a toaster and an air fryer, this is the move. It does both jobs well enough that you won't miss having separate appliances, and it's significantly cheaper than Cuisinart's full-sized version.

What holds up

  • 6 cooking modes: air fry, toast, convection bake, convection broil, pizza, warm
  • Fits 1 lb of wings with room to spare plus 1 lb of fries in a single layer
  • Mechanical dials are intuitive and durable
  • Salmon came out tender and flaky with crisped skin in testing

What to know

  • No built-in timer, you have to track cooking time yourself
  • Larger footprint (18"W) than basket-style air fryers
  • Fries came out slightly drier than preferred in GH testing
  • More expensive than standalone mini air fryers
Expert verdict
It cooks quickly and is one of the only air fryer toaster ovens we tested that can compete with both a standalone air fryer and toaster oven.
Good HousekeepingView source
Expert verdict
At 400ºF, wings turned golden and juicy in 20 minutes, and fries were deeply browned in 15 minutes. A two-inch piece of salmon came out tender and flaky with crisped skin.
Good Housekeeping (detail)View source
View at Amazon
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Best Ultra-Compact

Dash Compact Air Fryer (2-Quart)

$40-$50

Reddit users literally call this the air fryer 'made for New York apartments.' If counter space is your primary constraint and you're cooking for one, the Dash gets out of your way when you're done with it.

What holds up

  • Lightest and most portable of all small air fryers, easy to move and store
  • Good cooking power despite compact 2-quart size
  • Available in 5 colors with a fun retro aesthetic
  • ~$50 price point, lowest barrier to entry

What to know

  • 2-quart capacity is the smallest on this list, tight for anything beyond snacks
  • Fewer cooking presets than Ninja or Cosori competitors
  • Not ideal if you want to cook full meals regularly
Expert verdict
Light and easy to move around the kitchen. Good power despite a compact 2-quart size. Comes in 5 colors. Has a fun retro look.
CNETView source
From the community
DASH - made for New York apartments.
r/airfryerView source
From the community
Compared to similar air fryers like the Dash Compact Air Fryer, the Chefman stands out for its digital controls and shake reminder feature.
r/HomeApplianceHelpView source
View at Amazon
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