Best Small And Compact Air Fryer Ovens

Does the size of a kitchen appliance matter? It matters when the space in your kitchen is limited. We all know that air fryer is an indispensable part of the modern kitchen. But we often are to compromise the size of the air fryer because of the space constraint in our kitchen. We may sometimes prefer a small and compact air fryer for portability. In this article, I am going to help you find the best small and compact air fryer that fits perfectly in your kitchen. In the beginning, I am going to describe the method of how I selected the top compact air fryers. After that, I will review each of the models so that you can justify the usability of these products for you.

Best compact air fryers – Our Top Pick

Small and compact does not mean that it has to be literally small. For example, a compact air fryer for a large family will not be similar to that of a small family. Therefore, I have picked 5 best compact air fryers in 5 different categories. To discuss in detail, let us find out the list with a comparison.

Table of comparison

Chefman TurboFry 2 Quart Mini air fryer [For Small Families]

If you are residing in a small family, looking for a compact air fryer that fits your small kitchen, then I must suggest you Chefman 2 Quart air fryer. The size of the food basket of this air fryer is 2 qt. Therefore, it is suitable for cooking in small batches. It will be a perfect choice if you are a single person or living in a family of 2 members. The shape of this unit is like a traditional coffeemaker having a total volume of 1200 inch³. It weighs only around 7 lbs. Therefore, it is a perfect choice for a small kitchen and also suitable for portability.

The temperature range of this unit is 200°F to 400°F. Although small, it is still capable of cooking all kinds of air fryer recipes because of the highest achievable temperature of 400°F. But it will not be suitable for low-temperature cooking because you can not lower the temperature less than 200°F.

Chefman TurboFry 2 Quart compact air fryer has two different manual dials that are used to control the temperature and time. Time can be set between 5 to 30 minutes. I think it is one of the major drawbacks of this small air fryer. The basket is non-stick and dishwasher safe. Therefore, it is easy to clean.

Two prominent advantages of this air fryer are that it is BPA free and it is equipped with an automatic shut off system that ensures safety. Considering all the above points, I can suggest Chefman TurboFry 2 Quart air fryer for a person in a small family who expects a very basic and small air fryer.

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Dash 2 QT Compact Air Fryer [Portable]

Dash is another renowned name for the compact air fryer. If you are looking for a small and portable air fryer for travel, camping or RV, then this one is just perfect for you. It is a 2 qt air fryer. Therefore, you can cook for 2 persons at most in a single batch. Now come to the point of portability. Dash compact air fryer has a dimension of 10.2 x 8.1 x 11.4 inches with a total volume of around 942 inch³. The weight of this unit is only 5.7 pounds. Considering the volume and weight, this air fryer is the best solution for you if you give portability the top priority.

Although small, Dash air fryer looks beautiful. It has a variable temperature that can be lifted to 400°F. This temperature is sufficient for handling all kinds of air fryer recipes – such as air fried chicken wings, roasted broccoli and so on. Although the power rating of 1000W is not that much, it will be sufficient for a smaller size air fryer. The control panel is similar to the previous model that I have reviewed. It has two manual dials for temperature and time setting. Time can be set up to 30 minutes which is similar to Chefman TurboFry.

What is good about Dash 2 qt compact air fryer? First of all, it is the smallest air fryer for a small family. Secondly, it is the best option for portability. All the other features that need to become a good air fryer such as auto shut off function, dishwasher safe basket, non-stick pan, and so on are present in it. It has advanced air crisp and rapid air technology that ensures uniform heat distribution. Considering all these, I suggest this unit for a small family having 1 or 2 members who are looking for a compact and portable air fryer.

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GoWISE USA GW22639 [For Medium Size Family]

GoWISE USA GW22639 is the smallest medium size air fryer. Considering the popularity, users’ review, and features, I have found it to be the best option for a small to medium size family that needs a compact air fryer. It is a 3.7 qt air fryer that will be just OK for a family of four members. The volume of this appliance is only 768 inch³ with a dimension of 12 x 8 x 8 inches. The volume of this unit is even less than the 2 qt air fryers I have discussed earlier. The weight of this unit is 13 pounds. Therefore, although it is small, it will be not the best for portability.

The temperature range of GoWISE USA 3.7 qt GW22639 air fryer is 180°F to 400°F. The overall range is acceptable. The control panel does not have any touch control system but it has a digital display to show the status. It has eight built-in cooking preset modes. Therefore, the panel is enough user-friendly. The preset modes include chicken, pork, shrimp, fish, cake, and so on. You can not dehydrate apple or other food items with it but it is capable of cooking fruit or vegetable chips.

What did I like about GoWISE USA GW22639 compact air fryer? First of all, it has a big basket that is good enough for a medium-size family yet it is very small in size. The price of this unit is another mention worthy attribute. At this price point, getting a multi-functional digital control panel is great.  Although small, it has a powerful 1400W heating element. The basket is dishwasher safe and removable. Therefore, it is easy to clean. Overall, it is the best option for you if you are looking for a compact air fryer for a medium-size family.

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Maxi-Matic Elite EAF-501SS [For Large Families]

Maxi-Matic Elite EAF-501SS is a small air fryer within its size range. The basket size of this air fryer is 5.3 quarts. Therefore, it is capable of cooking food for 5 to 6 persons in a single batch. The dimension of this unit is 11.42 x 14.37 x 13.31 inches with a total volume of 2184 inch³. It is one of the most compact 5 or 6-quart air fryer with so many positive attributes to mention. The weight of this unit is around 15 lbs. Therefore, it will not be suitable for mobility. The wattage rating is 1700W that is fair enough for faster cooking.

The temperature range of this Elite EAF-501SS air fryer is 160°F to 400°F. The temperature range is average. With a digital touch control panel, you will have eight preset cooking options. As the temperature range is ordinary, you can cook high temperatures or low-temperature recipes. The preset modes include baking, grilling, and roasting functions. Overall, the control panel is smart and user-friendly.

What did I like most about it? The design and compactness are two unique aspects of this Maxi Matic air fryer. The exterior of the basket is made of stainless steel. Therefore, it is easy to clean and resistant to rust. The basket is PFOA free, dishwasher safe, and non-stick. The heating element of this unit is powerful. It ensures a fast and uniform heat distribution. Overall, Maxi-Matic Elite EAF-501SS is the best choice for you if you are residing in a family consisting of 5 to 6 members but still, you need a compact and small air fryer. The only drawback I can mention is the absence of some high temperatures or low-temperature cooking functions. But the price of this unit justifies that the quality it has.

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Innsky Air Fryer IS-AF001 [Compact with Rotisserie]

Are you looking for an air fryer with rotisserie function but do not have enough space on the countertop? Innsky Air Fryer IS-AF001 can be the best solution in this situation. The dimension of this unit is 14.2 x 11.4 x 14.3 inches with a total volume of 2315 inch³. It is less than that of our Maxi-Matic air fryer. The weight of this unit is around 18 pounds. Therefore, it is not good for mobility.

The temperature range of the Innsky IS-AF001 air fryer is 150°F to 400°F. Although the range is fine, it is still not good enough for high temperatures or low-temperature cooking. But it is capable of doing the basic air frying along with rotisserie, roasting, and baking. Food dehydration is possible with this unit through the preset function but you can not manually lower the temperature less than 150°F.

What are the advantages of Innsky IS-AF001 air fryer? First of all, it is the smallest air fryer that has a rotisserie option. Therefore, it comes with a lot of accessories such as mesh rack, skewer, rotisserie basket, and so on. The food chamber is huge. It is capable of cooking foods for a big family in a single batch. The machine is equipped with 360-degree hot air circulation technology. All of the removable parts are non-stick and dishwasher safe. The only drawback that I can mention is the wattage. It has a 1500W heating element that could have been improved to boost the power of this machine. Otherwise, I think it is the best compact air fryer with a rotisserie that is suitable for a big family.

If you are interested, you can also read our article on the best air fryers with rotisserie option.

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How did I choose the best compact air fryers?

First of all, I made categories thinking about the varying needs of different people. The categories were made to find out the best small size air fryer for a small, medium, and large family. I also tried to find out the best portable air fryer. Because I believe that portability and compactness are two related terms. On the other hand, I tried to find the best small size rotisserie air fryer as well. Because I think there is a misconception that rotisserie ovens are huge. People who love rotisserie chicken always do not get an oven thinking that they do not have enough space in the kitchen.

After making the categories, I made a draft list of all the best possible air fryers for each of the categories. I finalized my list and choose the top air fryers each of the categories based on users’ rating, review, compactness, portability, weight, and other important attributes.

FAQ – Commonly asked Questions about small air fryers

Is the best compact air fryer portable?

Not necessarily. For portability, an air fryer needs to be lightweight and small. Not all air fryers that are small are lightweight. Therefore, if portability is your priority, you should check both of the quality. If you want to get the best air fryer for a big family, then you must need a 6-quart machine. An air fryer of this size will not be portable in any case. The bottom line, compact does not necessarily mean portable.

What is the basket size of a small air fryer?

If you discount all other considerations and find an air fryer smaller in size, then it will be a 1.5 to 2 qt air fryer. But this is not the ideal case. We have families of different sizes. Therefore, the term ‘compact’ is also variable. An air fryer with a 4-quart basket can have equivalent or less volume than an air fryer with a 2-quart basket. Therefore, whatever the required basket size is, you may find a suitable solution if you have limited space in the kitchen.

Can I use an air fryer in my RV?

It depends on the electrical supply line condition of the RV. Usually, a 2-quart air fryer has a wattage rating of around 800 to 1000W with a 120V voltage rating. If your RV can supply this amount of current with the required condition, then it will work. But I always suggest getting an air fryer with minimum wattage to use it outside.

What should be the best wattage for a portable air fryer?

As mentioned, if you want to use the portable air fryer outdoor, then it is better to choose the least wattage. The reason is that you may fall short of power supply. Therefore, for outdoor use, less wattage is better. My suggested wattage rating for outdoor use is around 800W. However, if the intended use is not outdoor, then the formula is the opposite. Choose the air fryer with the highest wattage. The reason behind this is that it will take less time to cook because of having a powerful heating element.

Is the digital control panel of an air fryer necessary?

It depends on you. Some people like digital touch panel and some others like a simple manual panel. But if you need a portable air fryer then you must compromise the digital panel. Lightweight and portable air fryers are inexpensive. Therefore, these air fryers do not usually have a digital touch panel. If you need it, you may have to go for an air fryer which has a basket size of at least 4 quarts.

You can read our article on what to consider before buying an air fryer.

Bottom line

I think now you have gathered enough ideas about the best available compact air fryers of varying features. The term ‘compact’ can apply to many conditions. Therefore, I have tried to suggest to you the best air fryers that have one quality in common – ‘compact’. I think this article will help you find the perfect air frying machine as per your situation. If you think it helped, you can share the article with others so that everybody can get benefited from it. You can also share with us any of your kitchen experiences through the comment. Have a good day.