Discover the 6 Best Small Air Fryers of 2025 for Healthier Cooking

Why Choose a Small Air Fryer for Healthier Cooking in 2025?

Small air fryers are great for cooking one or two servings, and they’re often budget-friendly. They use hot air instead of oil, so are healthier than deep-fat fryers, and more versatile and energy efficient for cooking smaller quantities than ovens. Air fryers require less oil compared to deep fat frying or pan frying and so help reduce the calorie content of the overall meal; it’s definitely a healthier way to cook whilst preserving taste and texture. A small air fryer is better designed to cook for one or two. And in tests, we found that the best small air fryers crisp up food as well as large ones do. They’re compact ovens that sit on your countertop and mimic the effects of frying with hot air and powerful fans that are large relative to the cooking space. Combined with designs that maximize airflow, they quickly deliver crisp and great-tasting results with not very much oil.

Top 6 Small Air Fryers for 2025

After rigorous testing, we’ve identified the best small air fryers that deliver crispy, evenly cooked food with minimal oil. Below are our top picks, each excelling in performance, ease of use, and compact design.

1. Instant Vortex Mini 4-in-1 Air Fryer

The Instant Vortex Mini is small, powerful, and one of the cheapest models we tested. While the wee basket can fit only one serving of food at a time, the machine circulates heat fairly well and manages to cook food without dehydrating it. With a 2-quart capacity, the Instant Vortex Mini 4-in-1 is the smallest air fryer we’ve tested, but it held its own against much larger machines. Though the Instant Mini’s square basket is a quart smaller than that of the Philips Airfryer L, it comfortably fits one or two servings of food thanks to its wide, shallow shape. This air fryer cooked as fast and almost as evenly as our other picks. Its streamlined interface has only four preprogrammed settings¡ªair fry, roast, bake, and reheat¡ªall operated by a single dial, which makes the Vortex Mini easy to use right out of the box. Check it on Amazon.

• Pros: Compact size, affordable, easy-to-use dial controls, cooks evenly.
• Cons: Small 2-quart capacity limits portion sizes, basic interface lacks advanced features.

2. Cosori Lite CAF-LI211 Air Fryer

College students, solo dwellers, or anybody who’s a tad tight on counter space¡ªthe Cosori Lite CAF-LI211 is for you. This measured 1.7-quart air fryer is packed with appealing features such as a dishwasher-safe basket, programmed settings, and a digital display. But with a footprint of just 9×10 inches, it comes in a small, 5-pound package (and at a fairly small price, too). What’s more, this model was a standout in our tests, receiving high marks for being easy to use and clean, and remaining at low volume while cooking. Check it on Amazon.

• Pros: Lightweight, intuitive controls, quiet operation, dishwasher-safe basket.
• Cons: Limited capacity for larger meals, slightly less powerful than competitors.

3. Dash Digital Tasti Crisp Air Fryer

The Dash Digital Tasti Crisp is small but mighty. With a measured capacity of 2.4 quarts and an overall size of less than a cubic foot, this 1,000-watt model is one of the most compact air fryers in our ratings, and it ranks among the best. It has simple-to-use controls, cleans easily, and excels in our noise test. Unlike the analog model above, it comes with a digital display and has three presets that allow you to save your go-to cooking settings. There’s a one-year warranty, which is pretty typical for the air fryers in our ratings. Check it on Amazon.

• Pros: Compact and lightweight, digital display, easy to clean, quiet.
• Cons: Limited preset options, controls may feel less intuitive for some users.

4. Dash Tasti-Crisp Ceramic DCAF26CM

For those who may be turned off by the thought of eating food from heated plastic, Dash Tasti-Crisp Ceramic DCAF26CM might be a good bet. Despite its lack of a nonstick Teflon coating, it aces our tests for ease of cleaning and earns top marks for noise. However, it receives a middling score for the usability of its controls, which looks at how clear and legible their markings are and how many steps it takes to set temperature and cooking modes and start cooking. Check it on Amazon.

• Pros: Non-toxic ceramic coating, easy to clean, quiet operation.
• Cons: Less intuitive controls, smaller capacity limits versatility.

5. Ninja Air Fryer Pro 4-in-1

If testing air fryers wasn’t my job, the Ninja Air Fryer Pro 4-in-1 is probably the air fryer I’d keep in my kitchen. It’s well-sized, well-priced, plenty powerful, and perfect for most people. My top pick, the Ninja, has a shallow but wide base of the basket which means that you can fit a lot more food than the capacity might suggest. Wattage = power, and the bigger the better. Ninja air fryers typically deliver on super-powerful performance. Check it on Amazon.

• Pros: Powerful performance, wide basket for more food, reliable brand.
• Cons: Slightly bulkier than other small models, higher price point.

6. Philips 3000 Series Airfryer L HD9200/91

This air fryer outperformed the competition, especially for its price, crisping food quickly and evenly. Its slightly fussy touchscreen is its main drawback. The size of these machines limits the amount of food you can cook at once, and they don’t always cook evenly. If you want a more spacious, versatile appliance, consider a convection toaster oven or air fryer toaster oven. Check it on Amazon.

• Pros: Fast and even cooking, budget-friendly for Philips quality.
• Cons: Fussy touchscreen, limited capacity for larger meals.

Comparison Table of the Best Small Air Fryers

Testing Scenarios and Performance Insights

We put each air fryer through a series of trials, from cooking basic items such as fries to cooking chicken and reheating meals (if that function was available). However, our main test came down to the humble chip. We wanted to see how fast they cooked, how well they crisped up and whether there was any difference in the taste and texture, depending on the air fryer being used. Each air fryer was run empty from cold for one hour at 200C to rate its power use. Where available, I followed the manufacturer’s instructions for cooking chips. This is because the guidance is often based on the air fryer’s capabilities. Where there was none, I defaulted to 24 minutes at 200C.

Frozen Fries Test

We cooked one pound of frozen French fries for 20 minutes at 400¨H, shaking the basket every five minutes and noting whether the air fryer finished cooking early (when the fries were crispy and golden brown all over). For example, the Instant Vortex Mini cooked fries evenly in 18 minutes, while the Ninja Air Fryer Pro 4-in-1 achieved crispy results in just 14 minutes due to its higher wattage.

Chicken Wings Test

We used our favorite air fryers to cook two pounds of chicken wings. The Cosori Lite CAF-LI211 produced juicy wings with a crisp exterior in 22 minutes, while the Philips 3000 Series Airfryer L took 20 minutes but required more frequent shaking to avoid uneven browning.

Cleanup and Usability

After each test, we washed the air fryer baskets by hand. At the end of testing, we used the dishwasher to clean the top picks with dishwasher-safe baskets. The Dash Digital Tasti Crisp and Cosori Lite stood out for their ease of cleaning, with nonstick surfaces that resisted sticking even after cooking greasy foods.

Health Benefits of Air Frying

One of the selling points of an air fryer is that food is cooked in substantially less oil, compared with a deep-fat fryer, making it a healthier alternative. We spoke to registered dietician Megan Hilbert MS, RDN, about the health benefits of cooking in an air fryer, and she said that it “reduces the amount of fat content by up to 70 to 80 per cent in foods, this can also drastically reduce the number of calories eaten, without sacrificing the crunch and texture that frying provides”. The Cleveland Clinic notes, “They [air fryers] won’t magically remove the saturated fat from bacon or the trans fats from a bag of processed chicken wings. To reap the benefits, reach for better-for-you options like vegetables and lean proteins.”

Buying Guide: How to Choose the Best Small Air Fryer

Choosing the right air fryer for you should actually be pretty straightforward. Here’s some mythbusting on the things that really don’t matter when shopping for an air fryer, as well as the things you should actually be considering.

• Capacity: If you’re typically cooking for one or two people, a 2- or 3-quart air fryer should be large enough. A 4-quart air fryer can be enough for up to two people, while a 6-quart-plus air fryer is better for families of four or more.
• Wattage: Wattage = power, and the bigger the better. If you skip this, I find you’ll end up with a slower and less crispy finish, because the air fryer struggles to maintain those top temperatures.
• Ease of Cleaning: You need to wash your air fryer after every use, so, you might want to consider investing in one that has dishwasher-safe parts. Yes, you can put foil in an air fryer, as well as parchment paper. This will help to make sure your appliance stays clean.
• Controls: Some air fryers have round baskets, which makes them a bit neater but ultimately offers a lot less cooking space than squared-off baskets. Digital displays and intuitive controls, like those on the Cosori Lite, make operation easier.
• Non-Toxic Materials: For those concerned about PFAS in nonstick coatings, consider models like the Dash Tasti-Crisp Ceramic, which uses a safer ceramic coating. Learn more about non-toxic air fryers.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Are small air fryers energy-efficient?

Yes, small air fryers are generally more energy-efficient than traditional ovens because of their compact size and faster cooking times. For example, a 1000W air fryer used for 20 minutes consumes less electricity than a 3000W oven running for an hour.

Can I cook multiple foods at once in a small air fryer?

Due to their limited capacity (1.7-5 quarts), small air fryers are best for single dishes or small portions. For cooking multiple foods simultaneously, consider a dual-basket model like the Ninja DoubleStack XL, though it’s larger.

How do I clean a small air fryer?

Most small air fryers have dishwasher-safe baskets and trays. For hand washing, use warm soapy water and a non-abrasive sponge. Wipe the exterior with a damp cloth when unplugged. Using foil or parchment paper can reduce cleanup.

Are air fryers really healthier?

Air fryers use significantly less oil than deep fryers, reducing fat and calorie content by up to 80%. However, the healthiness depends on the food¡ªopt for vegetables and lean proteins over pre-fried frozen items.

What can I cook in a small air fryer?

You can cook a variety of foods, including frozen fries, chicken wings, vegetables, and even baked goods like cookies. Small air fryers are ideal for single servings or side dishes but may struggle with larger items like whole chickens.

Final Thoughts

The best small air fryers of 2025 combine compact design, powerful performance, and healthier cooking. Whether you’re a solo cook or preparing meals for two, models like the Instant Vortex Mini, Cosori Lite, and Ninja Air Fryer Pro 4-in-1 offer excellent results in small spaces. Consider your cooking needs, counter space, and budget when choosing the right model. For more kitchen appliance recommendations, check out Good Housekeeping’s air fryer guide.