A modern kitchen must need a good quality air fryer. But when you have space shortage, you may need to consider the size of the air fryer. In this article, I am going to describe the considerations that you need to follow during deciding on a compact air fryer. After the read, you will know what are the factors that should be followed during purchasing a compact and portable air fryer.
Is portability important to you?
You may be looking for a compact air fryer for portability. But this is not the only reason for what people buy a compact air fryer. However, if portability is important then you must have to stick to a smaller size air fryer. For that, you may have to get a 2-qt capacity basket. Usually, these are smaller in dimension and overall volume. For example, Dash compact air fryer has an overall volume of around 940 cubic inches having a basket size of only 2 qt. The weight of this unit is also far less than that of an air fryer with a larger capacity. It weighs only around 6 lbs. Therefore, there have to be two features that you should consider if you need a portable and compact air fryer – smaller basket size and weight.
Space on the countertop
When the space on your countertop is limited, you have no other option but to choose a smaller size air fryer. What to consider when you are in this kind of situation? As you do not need to move the air fryer because you do not need portability, you just need to follow the overall volume. It is up to you what size air fryer you are going to choose. You may choose between 2 to 4 quarts. GoWISE USA GW22639 can be a perfect example in this case. It is a 3.7-qt air fryer having a volume of around 770 cubic inches. But the weight of this unit is not suitable for portability. Nonetheless, it is a good option for a kitchen with limited countertop space.
Size of the family
We cannot compromise in every aspect of our life. What if you have a family of 6 members and you need a compact air fryer? In this situation, you have to balance between the family size and the size of the air fryer. For a big family, I would prefer at least a 4 quarts air fryer. Therefore, the term ‘compact’ is not always the same for everybody. According to the needs, different persons may require different kinds of air fryers.
Special features
We may have limited space on the countertop but still, we may look for a special feature such as toasting or rotisserie function and so on. In this case, we should first make a list of the best air fryers having the required quality. After that, we should find the volume and surface area of each of these and decide accordingly. For example, if you look for a compact air fryer with rotisserie function, you should choose a model that has a cooking chamber of around 6 quarts. Although an air fryer with rotisserie option may have a cooking chamber as much as 32 quarts, you may not select these voluminous machines.
The shape of the air fryer
The shape is a decisive factor when choosing a compact air fryer. For example, two air fryers have the same volume with a different shape. One is rectangular and the other is coffeemaker like. Now as the surface area of the rectangle is more than that of an oval, the later one is the preferred choice if we prioritize compactness. Similarly, when comparing two air fryers, we must not only consider the overall volume. Rather, we should calculate the surface area as well.
Bottom line
I think now you know how to choose a compact, small or portable air fryer. What I always suggest to the readers – ‘know your need first’. Do not jump into a model that seems perfect primarily. You should not repent your misjudgment. An air fryer is the kind of kitchen appliance that you will get a customized solution for your need even if it is so unique. So, take your time and do some research.
That’s all from me. If you find this article helpful, you may share it with others. Happy cooking!