The Best Mini Air Fryers for One or Two People

A mini air fryer is the easiest way to get crispy food in a small kitchen. It heats up quickly, takes up about as much room as a coffee maker, and it’s big enough for dinner for one or two. Here are six of the best small air fryers from 2 to 4 quarts, and how to choose between them.

How we chose

We haven’t tested these air fryers ourselves. We chose them based on the specs from each manufacturer, how long each model or brand has been on the market, and what owners and independent reviewers consistently say about them. Every pick is from a well-known brand with replacement parts and customer support in the US. Prices change often, so check the current price on Amazon.

Mini air fryers at a glance

Air fryer	Size	Best for
Instant Vortex 4 qt Mini	4 qt	Best overall, with a cooking window
Ninja AF101	4 qt	A proven, well-known model
Cosori Lite 4.0 qt Smart	4 qt	App control and 7 functions
Chefman 4 qt TurboFry Touch	4 qt	One-touch presets
Cosori Lite 2.1 qt	2.1 qt	One person, quiet kitchens
Chefman 2 qt Mini	2 qt	Smallest budget pick

Best overall: Instant Vortex 4 qt Mini

Best for: two or three people who want one small air fryer that does it all.

Instant’s 4-quart Vortex Mini covers six cooking modes: air fry, bake, roast, broil, dehydrate and reheat. It also has a cooking window in the front of the basket, so you can see when food is browned without letting the heat out. At 4 quarts, it’s big enough for two chicken breasts or a full batch of roasted potatoes, but still small enough to leave out on the counter. The basket is nonstick and dishwasher-safe, and it shuts off automatically if it overheats.

Keep in mind: it’s a square basket in a fairly tall body, so measure the space under your cabinets.

Best-known brand: Ninja AF101, 4 qt

Best for: anyone who wants a model with a long track record.

The Ninja AF101 has been one of the most popular small air fryers for years. Its 4-quart basket and crisper plate have a ceramic nonstick coating, and Ninja says it holds about 2 pounds of fries. It has four modes: air fry, roast, reheat and dehydrate, with a temperature range of 105–400°F41–205°C. The low setting is useful for dehydrating fruit and jerky.

Keep in mind: it has fewer presets than newer models, and it doesn’t bake or broil.

Best smart pick: Cosori Lite 4.0 qt Smart

Best for: two or three people who’d like to use an app.

The Cosori Lite 4.0-quart is the 4-quart version of Cosori’s small Lite range, designed for one to three people. It has seven cooking functions on a touch panel, and connects to the free VeSync app, where you can start and adjust cooking from your phone and find more than 150 recipes. It goes up to 450°F230°C, a little hotter than most minis, and the basket is dishwasher-safe.

Keep in mind: you don’t need the app to use it, but you need Wi-Fi and an account for the smart features.

Best for one-touch presets: Chefman 4 qt TurboFry Touch

Best for: people who’d rather press one button than set a time and temperature.

Chefman’s 4-quart TurboFry Touch has one-touch presets for fries, fish, chicken and meat, plus a Hi-Fry setting for an extra-crisp finish at the end of cooking. The touchscreen also reminds you to shake the basket, and the basket is nonstick and dishwasher-safe.

Keep in mind: presets are a starting point. Check food a few minutes early the first time, because thickness and amount change the time.

Best for one person: Cosori Lite 2.1 qt

Best for: one person, a dorm or a very small kitchen.

The Cosori Lite is one of the smallest air fryers from a major brand. Its 2.1-quart basket is the right size for a single serving of fries, a couple of chicken thighs or reheated leftovers. It weighs under 5 pounds, so it’s easy to put away, and Cosori rates it as quiet, at under 48 decibels. It has four modes: air fry, roast, bake and reheat, up to 400°F205°C.

Keep in mind: it’s too small to cook for two in one batch, and it runs at 900 watts, so food can take a few minutes longer. Our Cosori Lite 2.1 qt guide covers what fits in the basket and how it compares to the Chefman.

Best budget pick: Chefman 2 qt Mini

Best for: a first air fryer, or a second one for sides and snacks.

Chefman’s 2-quart mini is one of the most affordable air fryers from a major brand. It has a touchscreen, a square basket that makes the most of its small size, and an alarm that reminds you to shake the basket halfway through. It goes up to 400°F205°C, and the basket and rack are dishwasher-safe.

Keep in mind: like most 2-quart models, it’s best for one person, and its lower wattage means slightly longer cooking times.

What size mini air fryer do you need?

Size	Cooks for	Fits about
2 quarts	1 person	One portion of fries, 2 chicken thighs, a salmon fillet
3 quarts	1–2 people	Two portions of fries, 2 chicken breasts
4 quarts	2–3 people	About 2 lb of fries or wings, a small chicken breast roast
5–6 quarts	3–5 people	A family dinner, a small whole chicken

These are rough guides. Food needs space around it to crisp, so a basket that looks big enough when it’s empty can feel small once you spread food out in a single layer. For larger sizes too, see our full air fryer size guide.

What to look for in a small air fryer

• Basket shape. A square basket holds more than a round one of the same size, because food fits into the corners.
• Wattage. Most minis run at 900–1,550 watts. Lower wattage is gentler on shared or older outlets but cooks a little slower.
• Temperature range. Look for at least 400°F205°C for crispy food. A low setting, around 100–120°F38–49°C, means you can also dehydrate.
• Coating. Most baskets are nonstick, and some are ceramic-coated. See are air fryers toxic? for how the coatings compare, or our picks for non-toxic air fryers.
• Height. Check the space under your cabinets. Some 4-quart models are taller than you’d expect.
• Dishwasher-safe parts. Small baskets are easy to wash by hand, but dishwasher-safe parts make cleanup quicker. Our guide to cleaning an air fryer covers both.

Tips for cooking in a mini air fryer

• Don’t overcrowd the basket. Cook in a single layer, and work in two batches if you need to.
• Shake or flip more often. In a small basket, food is closer to the heating element, so it browns faster on top.
• Check a few minutes early. Recipe times are usually written for 5–6 quart models. Our cooking times chart is a good starting point.
• Use the right accessories. Liners and pans need to fit a small basket. See the air fryer accessories worth buying, and measure the basket first.

Buying as a gift?

A mini air fryer is a great gift for students, new apartments and anyone cooking for one. See our air fryer gift ideas for extras to go with it, or browse more mini air fryers on Amazon.