Air fryers make up for everything you need when buying kitchen appliances for a dorm. However, since you aren’t planning to cook a three-course meal for your whole family, you need one device that can cook different foods, and can be easily stored, which is where an air fryer will help.
This versatile kitchen appliance will only take a little of your space while ensuring a mountain of benefits. And not just that, air fryers are a great way to enjoy fried, crispy food without compromising your health. It takes little to no oil, and you can enjoy your favorite chicken wings or fries while preventing the haphazard consequences of too much fat.
But how do you find the best air fryer for college students? Since there are countless options available in the market, how would someone choose the perfect air fryer? This article discusses some of the top dorm air fryers that you can buy for your time at the college.
Top 7 Air Fryers for College Students
Finding air fryers for college might seem a bit difficult, but you have to know where to look. So we are enlisting some of the best compact air fryers below that you can use in your dorm room.
Ninja Foodi Pro 5-in-1 Indoor Integrated Smart Probe Air Fryer
Are you buying an air fryer for the first time? That too for your college, then we don’t think any other model can make air frying fun as much as this one does. Ninja Foodi Pro 5-in-1 Air Fryer is one of the best air fryers on the market.
It comes at a higher price point, but if you’d like to invest in a solid instant pot that takes care of all your cooking needs, you’ve just found your match.
Features:
The selling point of the Ninja Foodi Pro Air Fryer is that it crisps your food just like traditional deep-fried food but with 75% less fat. As a result, cooking your favorite chicken nuggets, French fries, or chicken wings requires little to no oil while ensuring the same fried deliciousness.
The air fryer has an impressive 105F to 500F temperature and cooking time. As a result, it takes less time to prepare your food, not to mention its automatic shut-off feature provides overheating protection.
The basket style is quite spacious, and it will easily fit into small spaces. The Ninja Foodi Pro is a 5-in-1 cooking oven cum air fryer that allows you to roast, grill, toast, fry, and bake all your recipes in a single cooking pot.
It has a size of a small coffee maker, perfect for storing in dorm rooms. The Ninja Foodi Pro also features Smart Probe technology to ensure your food is cooked thoroughly at any time. It is smoke-free, and the nonstick basket promises easy cleaning.
Pros
- Dishwasher safe
- Stellar built quality
- Perfect for a small space
Cons
- Very expensive
COSORI Compact Oilless Air Fryer
The COSORI Compact Oilless Air Fryer is an excellent choice for college students looking for a somewhat large air fryer. It’s not a family-sized air fryer but does feature a 5-Quart basket that will allow you to cook a whole chicken, French fries, chicken wings, and whatnot.
Features:
The COSORI Air Fryer offers 1500watts of power with a great cooking capacity. It is recommended for reheating and cooking food with 85% less oil.
The selling point of this air fryer is the 360-degree rapid heat circulation. COSORI has integrated heat vents throughout the internal basket, so your meals are well-prepared and are never left under-cooked. You will get the same deliciousness and texture typically attained from deep frying without using even a bit of oil.
This is the latest tech air fryer with 9-functions. You can personalize the heating system as per your requirement so it keeps shaking your food when needed.
The compact design and suitable cooking capacity of the COSORI Air Fryer and Oven make it functional. It has a maximum temperature range of 450°F, sufficient to prepare various recipes.
Pros
- Easy to clean
- Stylish and sleek design
- Very functional
- Perfect for everyday cooking
Cons
- Slightly expensive
- It takes a bit of extra counter space
GoWISE USA 3.7-Quart Programmable Air Fryer
Next is the GoWISE Programmable Air Fryer that prepares the yummiest air-fried food. It offers superb value for money. The construction quality is excellent, the air fryer feels solid, and it ensures none of your food gets overcooked.
Features:
The GoWISE Programmable Air Fryer features a 3.7-Quart basket and has a cooking power of 1400watts. The temperature ranges from 170F to 400F, and you can digitally time it between 11 to 30-minutes.
This bad boy is highly versatile. It has different cooking functions, including+ roasting, baking, grilling, and toasting. Trust us; if you purchase this air fryer for college, you’ll have your party every other day.
The GoWISE Air Fryer also has different presets you can program as required. It also features a nonstick basket and a detachable pan for easier cleaning. Not to mention, it is also dishwasher safe.
On the plus point, GoWISE has also included a recipe book containing more than 50 recipes you can try with this air fryer.
Pros
- Auto shutoff
- Various cooking programs
- Easy to use
- Safe to be washed in a dishwasher
Cons
- It doesn’t have a viewing window
- You will have to purchase a baking pan for an additional cost
COSORI Pro Smart Air Fryer
Want to enjoy a classic snack of chicken nuggets but also wish to avoid those extra calories while at college? Get yourself the COSORI Pro Smart Air Fryer and cook delicious meals in your college dorm.
Student life is tough with all the fast food you’d have to put up with. Make your life easier by investing in a solid air fryer and cooking homely meals throughout your college life.
Features:
The COSORI Pro Smart Air Fryer features a 5.8-Quart air fryer basket that will allow you to air fry anything from a whole chicken to tiny chicken wings. The construction quality is quite durable, and it’s a total steal.
You might have noticed that most air fryers on this list weren’t very powerful. That is mainly because of the low price point. On the other hand, the COSORI Smart Air Fryer offers a boost of energy with 1700watts. This has to be one of the most potent air fryers we have seen for a limited budget.
The model also features 11 bullet presets that you can personalize as required. It is also the first of its kind where Wi-Fi cooking is concerned. This air fryer features innovative technology and lets you control all its presets with your mobile phone.
You won’t have to hover over the air fryer until your meal is cooked. Instead, you can relax and even take a walk while handling the cooking process even from afar with your phone.
You can also schedule time on the air fryer for up to 4-hours of cooking. It is convenient for college students to cook a meal thoroughly without the fear of overheating.
Pros
- Alexa enabled
- Dishwasher safe
- Large cooking capacity
Cons
- Only one button to toggle temperature and time
CHEFMAN Small Compact Air Fryer
Another air frying solution for you is the CHEFMAN Small Compact Air Fryer, which allows you to air fry the most delicious recipes and avoid added fat from deep frying. It is the best overall air fryer with its innovative touch system and intuitive settings panel, making cooking super easy.
Features:
With a 3.7-Quart basket, the CHEFMAN Small Compact Air Fryer will allow you to cook fresh meals while leaving home. This instant vortex is less time-consuming and will cook meals as quickly as possible.
With a heat range of 200-400F, the air fryer works like a standard oven. The only difference is that it doesn’t need oil to bring that frying texture to your food. What we loved the most about the CHEFMAN Air Fryer is its flat air fryer basket.
The dish allows you to cook 40% more ingredients than the rest of the air fryers on this list. In addition, the box includes a detailed user manual that will help you go through all the instructions you need to start cooking.
The nonstick surface and the fact that it is dishwasher safe promise a quick cleaning process. The CHEFMAN Air Fryer also features an automatic shut-off to ensure your meals are never overcooked.
Pros
- Large cooking capacity
- Flat basket design
- Nonstick frying basket
Cons
- It makes a lot of noise
BLACK+DECKER Purify 2-Liter Air Fryer
Allocating a high-end air fryer budget is probably difficult for a college student. So, we have found this affordable and very functional air fryer for you. The Black+Decker Purify 2-Liter Air Fryer is a perfect choice if you’d like to cook fantastic food.
Features:
The air fryer has a maximum capacity of 2.6 Quarts, which is perfect for a single person. In addition, the Black+Decker Purify Air Fryer has an auto shut-off feature that cooks food without oil with a power boost of 1500watts. The maximum temperature range on this air fryer is 175-400°F which is sufficient enough to cook most of your recipes.
We found this baby the perfect dorm solution with many beneficial features. First, it has a compact size so that it won’t take up a lot of shelf space. On top of that, it comes under $100, so it is also easy on the pocket. You also get access to many recipe videos, booklets, and other essentials that will help make the cooking process smoother.
The best part is that the Black+Decker Purify 2-Liter Air Fryer doesn’t use even a little oil, so you won’t have to worry about consuming unhealthy food on campus. You can take care of your health without depending on food from the cafeteria.
It also features a nonstick surface that releases food without spraying. The quick and easy cleanup of this appliance also makes it worth buying.
Pros
- Quiet operation
- Budget-friendly
- Commendable performance
Cons
- The packaging was bad
DASH Compact Air Fryer Oven with Temperature Control
The DASH Compact Air Fryer Oven is another excellent model for personal use. It is a semi-portable compact air fryer that takes up a little space and is also very easy to travel.
Features:
The Dash Compact Air Fryer features a 2.6 Quart air fryer basket with a power capacity of 1000watts. Although, the power range is less than our previous model. But still, this air fryer doesn’t disappoint where top-notch performance is concerned.
The temperature range of the DASH Air Fryer Oven is 200-400°F with a digital interface and custom presets. You can choose your favorite cooking settings and save them on this air fryer. This will save you time, and you can instantly get your meal to start cooking.
Another commendable feature of this model is the AirCrisp technology. This latest tech integration reduces the fat by 80% without compromising the taste of your recipes. The DASH Air Fryer is very easy and quick to use. The auto shut also prevents overcooking, while the cook touch housing handle is safe.
Pros
- Energy efficient
- Affordable price
- Simple interface
Cons
- It takes longer to cook
- Less cooking capacity
Final Verdict
So, these were our top recommendations for the best air fryers for college students. As you have read, an air fryer is an instant vortex that uses hot air to prepare air-fried meals. The recipes you prepare in an air fryer contain less fat, are more healthy, and don’t take too much time to cook thoroughly.
Other air fryers are available in the market, some with two baskets, but that will take a lot more space. Considering a more prominent air fryer would be a good decision if you’d like to prepare meals for multiple people.
Hopefully, this article has been worth your time and attention. If there is anything else you’d like to add, do leave us with your feedback below.