Side-by-side comparison based on expert reviews and community consensus.
Cosori Small Air Fryer (2.1-Quart)
Best BudgetInstant Vortex Mini Air Fryer (2-Quart)
Best for BeginnersPrice
$50-$60
$50-$60
Summary
At around $50, this 2.1-quart Cosori delivers evenly crispy wings and fries without needing to flip — a rare feat at this price. The hidden-button panel looks sleek and the square basket maximizes usable space.
Serious Eats' top pick for small air fryers after testing six models head-to-head. It produced the crispiest fries in the fastest time (14 minutes) thanks to a shallow basket that puts food closer to the heat source.
Pros
- 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
- 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
Cons
- 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
- 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
Our take
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.
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.
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