If you are a single person or living in a small family, you may be wondering about the perfect air fryer for you. In this article, I am going to help you find the best air fryer for one person or a small family of 2 members. Each individual is different. Therefore, I will not limit myself to one best product. Rather, I will review the top 10 air fryers that will be the best solutions for different individuals. I will extensively discuss the pros and cons of each of the best air fryers. Therefore, it will help you decide the perfect solution for a single individual or a small family having 2 members.
Top 10 Air Fryer For One Person And Small Family
| Model | Size | Dimension (inches) | Weight | Power | Temperature Range |
| Dash Compact Air Fryer | 2 qt | 10.2 x 8.1 x 11.4 | 5.7 lbs | Not Found | 170F to 400F |
| GoWISE USA 2.75-Quart | 2.75 qt | 11 x 8 x 6 | 10.91 lbs | Not Found | 175F to 400F |
| Philips TurboStar HD9641/96 | 2.75 qt | 14.37 x 10.47 x 11.29 | 15.08 lbs | 1425 W | 90F to 400F |
| BELLA Air Fryer 14538 | 2.6 qt | 14.17 x 11.42 x 13.19 | 9.73 lbs | 1500W | 175F to 400F |
| Avalon Bay Air Fryer 100B | 3.7 qt | 13.5 x 11 x 12.75 | 12.23 lbs | 1400 W | 180F to 400F |
| Ninja AF101 Air Fryer | 4 qt | 13.6 x 11 x 13.3 | 9.7 lbs | 1500 W | 105F to 400F |
| Willsence Air Fryer 3.7 QT | 3.7 qt | 14.6 x 12.3 x 12.2 | 9.68 lbs | Not Found | 140F to 400F |
| Chefman 6.3 Quart Air Fryer | 6.3 qt | 11 x 10.5 x 14.75 | 19.61 lbs | 1700 W | 90F to 400F |
| Instant Vortex Pro 9-in-1 Air Fryer | 10 qt | 18 x 16.2 x 15.8 | 21.9 lbs | Not found | up to 450F |
| PowerXL Air Fryer Pro | 6 qt | 14.96 x 13.4 x 14.56 | 19.1 lbs | 1700 W | up to 400 |
Best for portability – Dash Air Fryer
If you are a single person who needs to travel a lot or move too often then Dash compact air fryer is going to be the best for you. Let’s discuss the reason why did I choose this Dash air fryer for smaller families. The first reason is weight and compactness. It is one of the lightest air fryers in the market. Therefore, considering the situation of a single person or a small family that needs mobility too often, I have selected this one. The basket size of this Dash air fryer is 2-quart. Therefore, it is suitable for cooking 2 persons at most in a single batch.
What are the other advantages of this Dash air fryer? The price of this unit is quite reasonable. It is one of the best air fryers under $50. The temperature range of this unit is 170°F to 400°F which is quite sufficient for a single person to cook any air fryer recipes. At 170°F temperature, you can prepare jerky if you wish. The cooking basket is good enough to cook a dozen chicken wings or 1 pound of French fries in a few minutes. It is also capable of preparing baked goods.
Dash compact air fryer comes with five different colors. I liked the glossy design of this unit. The manual control panel has two separate control knobs for temperature and time. You can set the time for up to 30 minutes. Although the timer limit is sufficient, I would love more if it had an extended timer limit of 60 minutes.
Air fryer for smaller kitchen – GoWise USA
This GoWISE USA 2.75-quart air fryer is suitable for you if you are a single person living in a small place with a small countertop. In this situation, you need an air fryer with the least dimension and volume. The reason I have placed this GoWise USA air fryer in my list is the reputation of this supplier and the overall dimension that is only 11 x 8 x 6 inches. The weight of this unit is around 11 pounds. Therefore, although it is compact, it will not be the best for portability.
Other advantages of GoWISE USA 2.75-quart air fryer for a small family includes the FDA certification and PFOA free property. Therefore, the nonstick food basket is free from the risk of food contamination. The temperature range of this unit is 175°F to 400°F which is quite enough for cooking steak, chicken fry, French fry, grilled vegetables, jerky, baking foods, and so on. Although it is small, the control panel of this unit has a digital display. You need to set the temperature and time with separate manual buttons.
GoWISE USA 2.75-quart air fryer is included with rapid air circulation technology. Therefore, it circulates heat from all around the food to ensure uniform and crispy cooking. Among all these positive attributes, I could find the only drawback of this popular air fryer. You can set the timer no more than 30 minutes. Although it is a common problem to many of the good quality small and compact air fryers, still 60 minutes timer option is not rare.
Premium air fryer for one person – Philips TurboStar
Some people prefer premium products. Philips TurboStar 2.75-quart air fryer is the best option for persons who are living in a small family or looking for a premium air fryer that will cook for him only. The basket capacity of this Philips air fryer is 2.75 quarts. Therefore, it is quite good enough for cooking up to 2 persons in a single batch.
Why this Philips air fryer is premium? It has some unique features that no other air fryers for a single person have. For example, the temperature range of this unit is 90°F to 400°F. Therefore, apart from regular air frying functions such as roasting, grilling, and baking, you will be able to dehydrate any kind of food you like. It can even dehydrate sensitive foods like herbs and seeds. Therefore, if you do not want to purchase a bigger size air fryer with a dehydrator for your small family, this little air fryer can do the job.
Another unique advantage of Philips 2.75-quart air fryer is the ‘TurboStar’ technology. With this technology, you can cook the food with just a tablespoon or less oil and get an evenly cooked food. You do not need to turn the food even if you overburden the basket. It also comes with a digital control panel with four preset cooking modes. It is also a unique feature of a small air fryer. The only drawback is the price which is quite obvious for a premium product.
Popular choice – BELLA
BELLA 2.6-quart air fryer is one of the best options for a small family. I have chosen it for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it is the most popular and widely used air fryer by small families. The basket capacity of this unit is 2.6-qt as mentioned before. Therefore, it can be a great option to consider if you are a single person or living in a family of two.
Other significant advantages of this BELLA air fryer include the powerful cooking element. The wattage of this unit is 1500W that is equivalent to the wattage of a 4-qt air fryer. Higher wattage means that it can cook faster and give a better result. It includes an auto shut off technology. Therefore, it will automatically save the food from overheating. It will ensure 85% less fat than conventional deep-frying method. As a result, you will consume around 65% fewer calories. What are the cooking functions a single person can expect from a basic air fryer? Roasting, grilling, and baking are the most common. This BELLA air fryer will provide all these functions with a temperature range of 175°F to 400°F.
You may consider the manual control panel as a drawback. But you can set the timer up to 60 minutes that is an advantage over the competitors. The cooking basket has all the good qualities. It is removable and dishwasher safe. The price of this unit is just about 50 bucks. Overall, if you like to trust an air fryer that is trusted by most of the users, then it is the best option for you.
Perfect for a gourmet – Avalon Bay
Do you like to eat a little more than average? Then you need an air fryer with a higher capacity. For a single person who likes to eat more, Avalon Bay 3.7-qt air fryer can be the best option. Although a 2-qt air fryer will be sufficient for average persons, the 3.7-qt basket will expand your cooking capacity on a large scale. What are the other qualities of this unit that made me choose this one on my list? First of all, the dimension and volume of Avalon Bay air fryer are equivalent to that of a 2-qt air fryer. It is a great feature for a single person or a small family that mostly does not have a large countertop.
The temperature range is as usual – 180°F to 400°F. But it is quite good enough for cooking all kinds of air fryer recipes such as French fry, apple chips, doughnut, air fryer broccoli, and so on. It functions by rapid air circulation technology that mimics the deep-frying process with a little or no oil. The basket is detachable and BPA free. This is not a common feature of all air fryers for single persons. Therefore, it can be a great choice for a health-conscious person.
The manual control panel of Avalon Bay air fryer does not have any digital display. The timer limit is 30 minutes. These are the drawbacks of this popular air fryer. Considering all these, I think it is the best option for a single person who likes a bigger cooking basket keeping the overall dimension the same.
Perfect for a Small Family – Ninja AF101
Ninja is the renowned name in the field of the air fryer. The AF101 model is the best option for a small family in my assessment. If you are a single person, have enough space on the countertop, then it is a great option for you as well. The reason I have chosen this one on my list is the features and users’ reviews. It is the most popular and widely used air fryer among small families. With the 4-quart basket, this air fryer is capable of cooking foods for 3 persons in a single batch.
What are the other good features of Ninja AF101 air fryer? It includes a digital control panel that has four different programmable cooking presets. The preset functions include a reheat button. I have seen many people who do not know how to reheat an air fryer. With this preset button, you can reheat even if you do not know the temperature and time. It has a ceramic coated basket. Therefore, it is nonstick and free from the toxicity caused by BPA or other compounds. You will get a free multi-layer rack with it that can be a great help to maximize the cooking capacity. With a wide temperature range of 105°F to 400°F, it is capable of food dehydration along with other common cooking functions.
The price of Ninja AF101 is the only drawback of this popular air fryer. But the good features and advantages of this unit have made it the number one choice for a small family or a single person who looks for a bit more cooking capacity.
Most cost effective – Willsence 3.7 QT
If you are a single person or living in a small family, looking for the best air fryer for the money, then Willsence 3.7-quart air fryer is the best option for you. I think it is an underrated air fryer. I have chosen this one for the features that you won’t find in an air fryer at this price. First of all, the basket capacity of this unit is 3.7-QT. Therefore, it is more than enough for cooking in large batches that will be sufficient for a maximum of 3 persons. It is a little bulkier than the competitors. Therefore, if you are a single person, you have to consider this before making the decision.
Other good features include the digital control panel with eight preset cooking options. It is unthinkable that an air fryer around 50 dollars has this cool feature. The temperature range of this Willsence air fryer is comparatively wide – 140°F to 400°F. Therefore, you can dehydrate fruits and vegetables along with fish and meat. The common temperature range among the competitors is 180°F to 400°F. Other than these, the food basket is nonstick, dishwasher safe, and BPA free. The 360-degree heat circulation technology cooks the food perfectly without oil or fat. It also makes the food free from unwanted burning smell.
What more you want from a budget air fryer? But again, it is not the most compact. Therefore, a single person who intends to consider this one should check whether she has enough space to keep it.
Air fryer with dehydrator for one person – Chefman 6.3-QT
Chefman 6.3-quart air fryer is the best option for a single person if she likes to dehydrate foods occasionally. Why did I choose this one as the best option for a small family? First of all, it is the best air fryer with the smallest capacity that has a full range of dehydrator option. The temperature range of this unit is 90°F to 400°F. Therefore, you can even dehydrate the most sensitive foods such as seeds and herbs with it.
The other advantages of Chefman 6.3-quart air fryer include the basket size. I know that even if you are a single person, cooking capacity sometimes becomes a concern for you. This 6.3-quart air fryer will spare you from this problem. It has two detachable racks that increase the cooking capacity. You can use these racks for cooking different recipes at the same time. Almost all the basic air fryers for a single person are manual. Chefman 6.3-quart air fryer has a digital control panel with eight preset cooking functions. It comes with a rotisserie option as well. With the rotate option, the foods will be automatically rotated. Therefore, you do not need to shake the basket to make the food uniformly cooked.
Other than these, it has so many other good features such as auto shut off function, BPA free property, a lot of free accessories, and so on. Considering all these, I strongly recommend this air fryer for a single person who loves dehydrated foods.
Air fryer with toaster oven – Instant Vortex Pro
Who likes to overburden the countertop with different cooking appliances when you have the option to get a combo? These days, you do not separately purchase an air fryer and a toaster oven. If you are a single person or a member of a 2-person family, Instant Vortex Pro air fryer and toaster oven are going to be the best option for you. It is an all in one air fryer. The reason I recommend this for a small family is the compactness and cooking capacity. It is a 10-quart air fryer, the least capacity among the good quality air fryer and toaster oven combo.
Other good features include the wide temperature range that has enabled it for food dehydration as well. It has also a rotisserie option. The digital control panel of this Instant Vortex air fryer has nine smart programmable functions. The preset functions include air fryer, roast, broil, bake, toast, dehydration, and so on. Therefore, you can do a lot of things to do with it. The exterior of this unit is made of stainless steel. It is fingerprint-proof and easy to clean. It comes with a lot of free accessories that are important for different cooking functions.
As you are a one-person family, think whether you have enough space to keep it before making the decision. Maintaining a large air fryer can also be troublesome if you do not have anyone to help. Keep these in mind if you like it.
Air fryer for one person with rotisserie – PowerXL Pro
If you like rotisserie function with an air fryer, looking for the best option that is compact and suitable for a single person family, then PowerXL Pro is the best option. It is a 6-quart air fryer that is the least size for the perfect rotisserie. Other than this function, it can be used as a dehydrator as well.
Other advantages of PowerXL Pro 6 qt air fryer include rapid air technology. It ensures 360-degree hot air circulation uniformly throughout the food and makes it crispy. With the automatic shut off function, it saves the food from overcooking. The wattage of the heating element of this unit is 1700W. Therefore, it is powerful enough to cook faster. The digital control panel has eight preset cooking functions. Although I did not like the arrangement of the panel that much. You will get a lot of free accessories with this PowerXL air fryer that is a great advantage of it. The accessories include a set of stainless-steel skewers, mesh basket, rotisserie spit, drip tray, and so on.
Before deciding on it, make sure you have enough space in the kitchen and you can maintain it. A drawback of this unit is the few days of the warranty period. But you do not need to worry about it. I have not found a user who had trouble with it after using a couple of months.
How A single person should choose the best air fryer?
Basket size – The ideal size of the cooking basket of the air fryer for one person or a small family consisting of two persons will be something around 2 quarts. However, the rule of thumb is to try to get the largest air fryer you can. With a large cooking pot, you will be able to cook without any restrictions. A 2-qt air fryer will not be able to hold a whole chicken. Therefore, if you have the capacity in the kitchen and have a bit more money to spend, then go for a larger one. If you cannot, a 2-qt should be more than enough for you.
Temperature range – Whether you intend to purchase an air fryer for a single person or a larger family, the minimum temperature requirement will be 180°F to 400°F. However, it is always better to choose a machine with a wider temperature range. If you prefer a 2-qt air fryer because you think it is good enough for one person, then you will have to be satisfied with the basic temperature range that I have mentioned. With this temperature, you will be able to cook in air fry, roast, bake, and grill mode. If you want to dehydrate, then the lower range should be around 120°F or less. If you want toaster and broil function, then the higher range should be around 450°F or more. In these cases, you have to get a larger air fryer having a capacity of at least 6 quarts.
Other features – When the above requirements are fulfilled, you may look for some other features in an air fryer for small families or a single person. The features may include a BPA free or ceramic coated cooking basket. You may also prefer a rotisserie option in your air fryer. Remember that you may cook a whole chicken in a smaller size air fryer without having rotisserie function. But if you prefer, you may also get one that has this option. Also, you may check whether your air fryer is integrated with advanced technology such as a 360-degree hot air circulation system and so on.
Portability – For a single person, portability may be a great concern. If you want a portable air fryer, it has to be compact and lightweight. Therefore, you have to compromise the capacity of the air fryer if you want it to be portable. The best portable air fryer will have a capacity of around 2-quart.
FAQ
What should be the perfect capacity of an air fryer for a single person?
A single person should not get an air fryer having basket capacity more than 2 quarts. However, a family of 2 persons can choose a 4-quart machine. Less is better for a single person because she might need to move frequently. However, if you have a fixed place to live with a wide kitchen, then you must get a larger air fryer.
How much an air fryer for a small family cost?
The cost of an air fryer depends on the basket size, features, and brand reputation. Ideally, an air fryer for a small family having a basket capacity of 2 qt will cost around 50 bucks. If you add more money, you will get more features such as BPA free basket, stainless steel alloy, wider temperature range, and so on.
Can I clean my air fryer with a dishwasher?
Usually, we clean the basket and the accessories of an air fryer with a dishwasher. Whether the accessories are dishwasher safe or not, it is better to wash these with mild cleaning liquid and lukewarm water without putting into the dishwasher. If the basket has a non-stick coating, then you should clean it with extra care so that the coating is unharmed. Try to purchase accessories that are made of stainless steel to make sure longevity.
What can I cook with an air fryer for one person?
An air fryer for a single person is a basic one. Therefore, it will cook in air frying mode along with other basic cooking functions such as grilling, roasting, and baking. You can also prepare dehydrated meat and fish with it. Do not expect a full range of dehydration, toast, and broil function with it.
How to choose an air fryer that is best for portability?
At first, compare the dimension and overall volume with the competitors. Another important aspect of portability is the weight. You have to balance all these qualities to find the best air fryer that is good for traveling.
Bottom line
Not everybody has the same situation. Therefore, I have tried to suggest the best options for everyone keeping my focus on a small family. I think this article will help you choose the best air fryer if you are a single person or living in a family of 2. Which air fryer of my list is the most suitable for you? You may let me know through the comments. If you have an any better idea, you may also share with us.