I'm a home appliances expert, and these are the air fryers I'd recommend for students — plus my top tips on how to choose

Air fryers can be useful in all kinds of kitchen setups, but they're especially worth considering if you're moving into student accommodation.

<![CDATA[ <article> <p>Air fryers can be useful in all kinds of kitchen setups, but they're especially worth considering if you're moving into student accommodation. An air fryer can almost completely replace an oven and stove, performing of a whole spectrum of frying and baking jobs with ease. They're perfect for cooking small portions quickly, without wasting excess energy too. </p><p>Our general <a href="https://www.techradar.com/home/air-fryers/best-air-fryer">best air fryer</a> guide runs down more options in more detail, but below I've rounded up my top recommendations for students in particular. I've focused on affordable options, and included a number of small-footprint fryers for those who find themselves fighting for counter space in a pokey student kitchen. I've also featured the Ninja Crispi, which uses the same glass containers for cooking, serving and storing, making it an extremely low-effort (and low-washing up!) option. Scroll down for my top student air fryer picks, or hop to the bottom for my buying tips to help you choose. </p><h3 class="article-body__section" id="section-student-suppers"><span>Student suppers</span></h3> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_standard" data-id="da01b758-9aea-11f1-b81b-9b3c7c4a79f0"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DDDD8WD6?ie=UTF8&s=psc&ASIN=B0DDDD8WD6&th=1" data-model-name="Ninja Crispi Pro Glass Air Fryer" data-model-brand="" ><div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:100.00%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NwEJaPDoWfPZ2yVBwccqHC.jpg" alt="Ninja Crispi Glass Air Fryer, 4-In-1, Grey, Fn101gy"></p></div></a> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>Ninja</div> <div class="featured__title">Crispi Glass Air Fryer</div> <div class="stars__reviews"><span itemprop="reviewRating" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Rating" class="chunk rating"><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><meta itemprop="bestRating" content="100.0" /><meta itemprop="worstRating" content="0.0" /><meta itemprop="ratingValue" content="80" /></span></div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p><p><a href="https://www.techradar.com/home/air-fryers/the-ninja-crispi-isnt-your-typical-air-fryer-and-its-unique-design-makes-it-worth-the-price">Read our full review</a></p></p> </div> <div class="pro-con"><div class="list-pros-wrapper"><h4 class="list-pros-label">Pros</h4><ul class="list-pros"><li class='list-item list-item-pros'>Portable</li><li class='list-item list-item-pros'>Four cooking modes</li><li class='list-item list-item-pros'>Glass cooking dishes in multiple sizes</li><li class='list-item list-item-pros'>Cook, serve, and store food in the glass dishes</li><li class='list-item list-item-pros'>Easy to clean</li></ul></div><div class="list-cons-wrapper"><h4 class="list-cons-label">Cons</h4><ul class="list-cons"><li class='list-item list-item-cons'>Baking mode isn’t great</li><li class='list-item list-item-cons'>Not particularly attractive on the counter</li></ul></div></div> </div> </div> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_hero" data-id="ca6bbca2-9aeb-11f1-8ce0-7558adf9e6ba"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Instant-Touchscreen-Customizable-Programs-Stainless/dp/B08R6KMBQT/" data-model-name="4QT Vortex Plus 6-In-1 Mini Air Fryer" data-model-brand="" ><div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:100.00%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hNhCobdkHBfdX8P66JdirK.jpg" alt="Instant Pot 4qt Vortex Plus 6-In-1 Mini Air Fryer, Custom Program Options, Crisps, Broils, Roasts, Dehydrates, Bakes, Reheats, 100+ In-App Recipes, Stainless Steel,4 Quarts"></p></div></a> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>Instant Pot</div> <div class="featured__title">4QT Vortex Plus 6-In-1 Mini Air Fryer</div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_hero" data-id="ca6bbd1a-9aeb-11f1-ae05-010b19f9f643"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Instant-Pot-Program-Options-Dehydrate/dp/B0F9B3ZV61/" data-model-name="4QT Vortex 6-In-1 Mini Air Fryer with window" data-model-brand="" ><div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:100.00%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AcK2D2QMP8FNU8gVeJPaqK.jpg" alt="Instant Pot 4qt Vortex 6-In-1 Mini Air Fryer, Custom Program Options, Air Fry, Broil, Roast, Dehydrate, Bake, Reheat, Sea Salt, 4 Quarts"></p></div></a> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>Instant Pot</div> <div class="featured__title">4QT Vortex 6-In-1 Mini Air Fryer with window</div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_hero" data-id="ca6bbd7e-9aeb-11f1-8dde-a11f4a99bca0"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fits-anywhereTM-Kitchenware-EverGoodTM-Adjustable-Temperature/dp/B0CZPJ1833/?th=1" data-model-name="Fits-Anywhere Slim 4QT Air Fryer" data-model-brand="" ><div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:100.00%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6WemT9E4EiM3xYjk4NuYmK.jpg" alt="Bella Fits-Anywhere™ Slim 4qt Air Fryer, Non-Toxic Ceramic Coating, Blossom"></p></div></a> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>BELLA</div> <div class="featured__title">Fits-Anywhere Slim 4QT Air Fryer</div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_hero" data-id="ca6bbde2-9aeb-11f1-9954-e31afe58c80c"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0DZ9VFWYN?th=1" data-model-name="Crispinator 6-in-1 Air Fryer, 8QT " data-model-brand="" ><div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:100.00%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/C5ipPsJr4hDwZfuHXrQbiK.jpg" alt="Chefman Crispinator Air Fryer 6-In-1 With 8 Qt Capacity, 450°f Max Temp With Turbofry Pro Technology for Fast and Even Results, Viewing Window, Nonstick Ceramic Basket"></p></div></a> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>Chefman</div> <div class="featured__title">Crispinator 6-in-1 Air Fryer, 8QT </div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_hero" data-id="ca6bbe46-9aeb-11f1-8ef8-abac9e8907d6"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Cosori-Lite-Small-Fryer-400%C2%B0F/dp/B0BDFRZX3F/" data-model-name="Lite 2.1 QT Small Air Fryer" data-model-brand="" ><div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:100.00%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5mPTQBtuo6HkFKMvNFEdnK.jpg" alt="Cosori Lite 2.1 Qt Small Air Fryer, Max 400°f, 4-In-1, 97% Less Oil, Gray"></p></div></a> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>Cosori</div> <div class="featured__title">Lite 2.1 QT Small Air Fryer</div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_hero" data-id="ca6bbeaa-9aeb-11f1-8ada-7b31f477a6fe"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ninja-AF101-Fryer-Black-gray/dp/B07FDJMC9Q/" data-model-name="4QT 4-in-1 Air Fryer" data-model-brand="" ><div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:100.00%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Ye8T3uLCqa9VTioHL7VgkK.jpg" alt="Ninja Air Fryer, 4 Qt Capacity, 4-In-1 Crisp, Roast, Reheat, and Dehydrate, Dishwasher Safe Parts, 105°f-400°f, 1550 Watt, Grey, Af101"></p></div></a> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>Ninja</div> <div class="featured__title">4QT 4-in-1 Air Fryer</div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_hero" data-id="ca6bbf0e-9aeb-11f1-816e-790be1a4d9d2"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/TurboBlaze-Premium-Ceramic-Coating-90%C2%B0-450%C2%B0F/dp/B0C33CHG99/" data-model-name="Turboblaze Air Fryer, 9-In-1, 6QT" data-model-brand="" ><div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:100.00%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AwhMsfKxrdrtyktDGz3ijK.jpg" alt="Cosori Turboblaze Air Fryer, 9-In-1, 6 Qt, Pfas-Free Ceramic Coating"></p></div></a> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>Cosori</div> <div class="featured__title">Turboblaze Air Fryer, 9-In-1, 6QT</div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_hero" data-id="ca6bbf72-9aeb-11f1-a0eb-49082bf34d04"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ninja-Capacity-Dehydrate-Technology-AF141/dp/B0CSZ7WBYW/" data-model-name="Air Fryer Pro, 5QT, 4-in-1" data-model-brand="" ><div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:100.00%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/g7SDSK4bKMAxcHhTUfJ5pK.jpg" alt="Ninja Air Fryer Pro, 5 Qt, 4-In-1, Grey, Af141"></p></div></a> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>Ninja</div> <div class="featured__title">Air Fryer Pro, 5QT, 4-in-1</div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p></p> </div> </div> </div><h3 class="article-body__section" id="section-how-to-choose"><span>How to choose</span></h3><p>At this point, the air fryer market is saturated with options. If you're not quite sure how to choose the right one for you, here are some things to focus on to narrow down your options:</p><p><strong>1. Available counter space </strong></p><p>Consider the air fryer's shape and footprint — you need something that's not going to take up all your counter space. Remember, too, that you should be leaving some breathing space to the sides and rear of the appliance. If you're short on space, look for a tall design with edges that go straight up (rather than bowing out). </p><p><strong>2. Cooking capacity</strong></p><p>For one or two people, 4QTs will be just fine. However, if you want to cook for more people, you'll want something bigger. For more complex meals, consider a<a href="https://www.techradar.com/home/air-fryers/the-best-dual-zone-air-fryers-convenient-multi-component-cooking-for-a-crowd"> dual-zone air fryer </a>with two drawers that can be set to different temperatures.</p><p><strong>3. Brand reliability</strong></p><p>There are some <em>really </em>cheap, no-brand air fryers on Amazon, but if you want an appliance that'll last then I'd stick to a brand that's established in the kitchen appliance arena. Ninja is often touted as the leader in this market, and it makes some excellent air fryers, but we've also been impressed by options from the likes of Instant Pot and Cosori. </p><p><strong>4. Function options</strong></p><p>A lot of air fryers will be advertised as being able to deliver multiple functions in one, and will offer functions like baking, roasting and crisping alongside air frying. I feel these are an unnecessary gimmick — with my own air fryer, I never use anything but the air fry function (and if I'm quite honest, I struggle to see how the process of baking will be different to that of roasting; it's all just heat being circulated in the cavity at a specific temperature). I wouldn't factor it too heavily into your choice-making. </p> </article> ]]>