6 Smallest Air Fryers for Your Kitchen (Compact & Portable)

There are some great choices for compact, mini, and even travel-sized air fryers which will let you take advantage of the cooking prowess of an air fryer, without having to give up all your counter space.

With many people looking to change to healthier lifestyles, air fryers have become one of the most useful tools to have in your kitchen. An air fryer is the perfect addition to any kitchen because it allows you to quickly cook just about anything without ever turning on the oven.

However, air fryers are generally known for taking up quite a bit of counter space. If this is the only thing holding you back, then this post will help you discover small air fryers so you can give it a try.

You can still cook many things in a small-sized air fryer, like chicken burgers and hashbrowns, you just won’t be able to cook for everything at once for a large family or make larger foods, like a whole chicken. I think it’s absolutely worth it, and I know you will too once you try it.

» Check out Air Fryer vs Instant Pot: Which is Better?

Choosing a Small Air Fryer

There are a few things you’ll want to consider before choosing one of these small appliances, such as how much space you have in your kitchen or where you plan to store it. It’s also important to consider how many people you’ll generally be cooking for and what types of foods you want to cook in your air fryer.

Versatility is another consideration. Some of the small air fryers don’t have a lot of functionality, while other small air fryers offer several cooking functions.

The choice is ultimately up to you and your needs. You might find that you want a few of those extra functions, of you want to cook something a little bigger – and then the space needed for a 5-quart air fryer will seem worth it.

What Sizes Do Air Fryers Come In?

The most typical or average size of an air fryer is 5 to 6 quarts, like the Ninja Max XL 5.5 qt. Most of the popular air fryers fall into this size range. This is enough space to cook a full chicken, or a bag of French fries, or to make a meal for 3-4 people, depending on what you’re cooking.

The next most popular size is a smaller 3.8 to 4 quart size. These small air fryers take up less space on the counter and are perfect for small things like chicken wings. They allow you to make food for 1-2 people.

Finally, there is a very large size of air fryer – from 10 to 11 quarts, like the Instant Vortex – that look more like a toaster oven, and can cook an entire meal for a 4-6 person family. Of course, these beasts take up a ton of space.

There’s an even smaller size air fryer, like the Dash 2.6-quart. We’ll look into some small air fryers below. These are great for 1 person, or for carrying with you on the road, or for a very small compact kitchen.

6 Small Air Fryer Models You Can Buy

Dash Air Fryer

* A Retro-Style Mini Air Fryer

Size: 2.6-quart | 10.7 x 8.7 x 11.3″

This simple air fryer mini has an adorable design. It also comes in a range of colors, so it’s guaranteed to look good on your kitchen counter. With a 2.6 QT-sized basket (which can hold around 1 LB of fries), it’s the perfect size for couples or a family of four.

The Dash air fryer has a built-in, 30-minute auto-shut-off function that prevents your food from being overcooked. This little air fryer also has a cool-touch handle, so it’s kid-friendly too.

If you’re concerned about cleaning this bad boy, don’t worry – the interior has a non-stick coating. So there will be no hassles when you’re cooking items like chicken wings.

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The Chefman

* A Simple, Compact Air Fryer Under $40

Size: 2-quart | 11.5″ x 7.5″

To get an air fryer, or not to get an air fryer? That is the question. Well, if you’ve found yourself going back and forth with this decision, here’s the perfect air fryer for you.

Not only is this air fryer small and compact, but it also won’t break the bank. This makes it the ideal choice for those wanting to test this kitchen appliance out. It also comes with a one-year warranty, giving you that extra peace of mind.

This manually controlled air fryer has a temperature range of 200°F – 400°F and an integrated timer of 60 minutes. The BPA-Free basket has two quarts of space, so you can easily cook two large chicken thighs in it. This makes it an ideal small air fryer for singles and couples.

And did we mention that the fryer basket is non-stick, removable, and dishwasher safe? So you definitely won’t have any hassles when it comes to cleaning up.

There’s a slightly larger 3.7-quart size capacity version available too with a footprint of 12 x 12 x 10″.

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Instant Vortex 4-in-1 Air Fryer

* A Small Air Fryer With All the Bells & Whistles 

Size: 2-quart | 9.2 x 11.75 x 11.26″

The Instant Vortex 4-in-1 is a great small air fryer for those looking to have more functionality, like the one-touch smart programs that allow you to cook your favorite things with a touch of a button.

• Air fry
• broil
• roast
• reheating

Another plus is that the air fryer basket and tray are non-stick and can safely be washed in the dishwasher. Who doesn’t love that?!

This small air fryer is just 2-quarts, with a footprint of 9.2 x 11.75 x 11.26″. It can hold up to a pound of French fries. It’s a pretty small amount of space, so you won’t be able to do a lot of cooking for more than 1 person.

However, there is a 4-quart Instant Vortex Plus that has 4-quarts of space available, and its dimensions are only 13.03 x 10.2 x 11.02 inches. So you’ll get a lot more internal space without having to give up much extra counter space.

Note: previous customers have complained about a plastic smell. However, many have said that you simply must ensure you remove the plastic, silicone rubber shipping legs that hold the tray and basket and place them during shipping.

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Cosori: A Sleek, Small Portable Air Fryer

Size: 3.7-quarts | 10.75 x 10.9 x 12.25″

A lot of people who are just starting out with an air fryer buy the Cosori brand of air fryers. It has 11 presets, a preheat setting, and a shake reminder, all of which offer convenience and ease of use for first timers. The “shake” function is particularly useful because it lets you know it’s time to give your food a little shack midway through cooking.

While it’s only 3.7 quarts, it’s a powerful small air fryer with a high wattage. The removable baskets are also PFOA-free and BPA-free, so there’s no need to worry about my harmful chemicals.

With a touch screen pane and a digital LED display, this is the ideal modern, sleek-looking appliance to add to your kitchen.

There’s a larger 5.8-quart size available that is 11.8 x 11.8 x 12.6″. For less than an inch all around, you can have quite a bit more internal cooking space.

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Ninja AF101 Air Fryer

Size: 4-quart | 8.5 x 12 x 11″

The Ninja brand of air fryers are some of our favorites, because they’re very reliable and have all the features you really need for air frying. This 4-quart size is perfect for 2-4 people and it has one of the smallest bases of an air fryer of this capacity.

This air fryer is a top choice if you’re looking for a multifunctional appliance. With its rapid air technology, this small air fryer can fry, grill, and even bake your food – think air-fried egg rolls and delicious ribs. Its 105°F-400°F temperature range gives you plenty of cooking options.

The parts are all dishwasher safe and it has a ceramic coated non-stick basket which makes cooking and cleaning so much easier.

The Ninja also comes in a 5.5-quart size if you need one that’s a little bit bigger.

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GoWise 1.7-Quart Mini Air Fryer

Size: 2-quart | 12.4 x 9.6 x 9.6“

This tiny air fryer is only 2-quarts. The non-stick basket cooking space is 4” x 6.5” allowing you to cook from 1.7-quarts to 2-quarts of food – perfect for 1 to 2 people.

You might think that this small of an appliance would have a low wattage, but this one has 1000 watts of power and a maximum temperature of 400°F, which is quite impressive. It’s great for cooking frozen food such as crab cakes or chicken tenders.

The air fryer accessories are also dishwasher safe, so you can easily clean the air fryer after use. The basket is also cool to the touch, ensuring you don’t accidentally burn yourself while cooking.

A Few Air Fryer Recipes to Try

• Air Fryer Frozen Hash Brown Patties
• Air Fryer Broccoli
• Air Fryer Steak Bites & Potatoes
• Easy Air Fryer S’mores

Final Thoughts on Small Air Fryers

Whether you’re a lover of fried snacks or simply want to find a more straightforward method of cooking your favorite meals, an air fryer is the kitchen appliance for you.

While some may be chunky, these compact, mini air fryer ovens are the ideal solution. So get ready to make and enjoy the most delicious, crunchy snacks.

Before You Go

Since you made it to the end of this article, you’re probably pretty interested in the air fryer. Here are a few more articles we think you might enjoy.

• What you Shouldn’t Put in an Air Fryer: Keep You Food and Appliance Safe
• Reheating Food in the Air Fryer: Why Its the Best Method
• 25 Best Air Fryer Tips and Tricks
• Can You Put Water in an Air Fryer?

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