For college students, it can be hard to find time and resources for cooking. Luckily, there are a lot of healthy options that don’t require any pots or pans at all! One option is an air fryer. Air fryers are small appliances used to cook food with hot air instead of oil. This makes them perfect for dorm living because they use less energy than the stovetop. Additionally, most models have preset buttons so you can make delicious dishes without having any knowledge about cooking beforehand!
At a Glance:
Air Fryers also offers some unique features that other kitchen appliances do not have- like built-in timers and auto shut-offs which ensure your meal will never burn while you’re away from your stovetop studying for finals! They are perfect for dorm rooms since they don’t take up much space and make cooking healthier and easier than ever before.
If you are a college student living alone, cooking for yourself, and trying to eat healthy without oil but don’t have much space on the countertop then an air fryer is your best option. In this post, we’ll share with you our top 10 best air fryers for college students that can be stored easily in apartments or dorm rooms based on their size and ease of use.
- Our Recommendations for Best Air Fryer for College Students
- COSORI Air Fryer Max XL
- GoWise 5.8-Quart 8-in-1 Digital Air Fryer
- Ninja 4-Quart Air Fryer
- Dash Tasti-Crisp Electric Air Fryer
- Dash DCAF 2 QT Compact Air Fryer
- GoWISE USA 3.7-Quart Programmable Air Fryer
- COSORI Smart WiFi Air Fryer
- Elite Gourmet EAF2612D Personal Air Fryer
- KITCHER KAF6501 6.8QT Air Fryer
- Hamilton Beach 11.6 QT Digital Air Fryer
- Summary for Best Air Fryer for College Students
- Buying Guide for Best Air Fryer for Dorm Room
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
Our Recommendations for Best Air Fryer for College Students
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COSORI Air Fryer Max XL

With 9-10 nuggets and two servings of fries at a time, the 5.8-quart capacity is perfect for larger families or those who like to have leftovers! For half the price as other air fryers on the market, this Cosori model cooks your food evenly without all that grease you would expect from an oven tray.
The basket of this unit is significantly deeper than other air fryers, making it a little longer to fully preheat and cook food. However, the deep baskets are very useful for cooking larger objects (like roasting chickens) or more tall items simultaneously like fries and chicken nuggets.
A sleek LED screen features several presets and displays for time and temperature. It even reminds you when to shake the basket so that your food cooks evenly!
The 11 presets are great for cooking meat, veggies, desserts, and more. To use the preset options you just have to press one button! The removable nonstick baskets are dishwasher safe PFOA free BPA-free. You can also personalize your recipes by setting temperature and cooking time yourself.
Make a healthier meal with the Cosori Air Fryer! Preheat your air fryer before cooking to make sure that meals are crispy and delicious. The shake reminder function makes it easy for you to use this appliance while doing other things, so take some time out of your day with these 100 original recipes made by our chefs today!
Pros
- Produces a crispy exterior on food without deep frying or using oil.
- Fries foods in less time than other methods.
- Easy to use.
- Doesn’t produce messy splatter when cooking as conventional ovens do.
Cons
- No durability.
GoWise 5.8-Quart 8-in-1 Digital Air Fryer

The Gowise Airfryer has eight cooking presets, which will get your food cooked quickly. It also comes with a built-in alarm function that reminds you to shake the food so no soft spots form (or burned ones).
This multi-functional electric oven is a must for any kitchen. You can roast, grill, and even bake your favorite dishes. It comes with an easy-to-follow cookbook full of recipes so you don’t have to worry about where the creativity will come from!
The new touchscreen interface of the GoWISE USA digital air fryer makes it easier to change time and temperature settings while cooking. This is a huge improvement for users who had problems with older models that broke down after several uses because they relied on timers set by buttons rather than touch screens.
The oven comes with a built-in alarm system that is useful if you need to do something else. Simply set it for 5, 10, or 15 minutes and the food will remind you while cooking. It also includes 6-inch pizza and baking pans as well as silicon pot, warming rack, skewers rack!
Pros
- It has been equipped with an automatic shut-off feature.
- Comes with 8 preset options.
- Cook instant.
- Easy to clean.
- Its handle is soft and has a cool touch.
- Dishwasher safe.
Cons
- This air fryer has some warranty issues.
Ninja 4-Quart Air Fryer

The tested air fryer worked quickly, thus cutting down on cook time. The large holes of the crisper plate helped to catch any crumbs that fell from the basket at its bottom and both pieces were dishwasher safe.
This Ninja Air Fryer allows you to have guilt-free food with up to 75 percent less fat than traditional frying methods. The wide temperature range of 105 degrees Fahrenheit and 400 degrees Fahrenheit helps remove moisture or cook/crisp foods quickly through convection heat.
You can fry 4 pounds of french fries in this basket and crisper plate from the same unit. The cord is 2 feet long, but it will take a little while to heat up fully before you start frying your food.
The unit needs time to preheat for 3 minutes before putting any ingredients into it that are meant for deep-frying. We recommend doing so because achieving the best results requires using as much cooking space as possible by heating all components at once instead of one after another.
Make fun, homemade snacks with the dehydrate function on your oven! The low fan speed and temperature dry food without browning it.
The one-touch panel allows you to choose between 4 programmable cooking functions. You can manually control the cook time and temperature, as well.
Pros
- The Ninja can fry, bake, grill, and roast food.
- It eliminates the risk of hot oil spilling into your kitchen.
- Affordable.
- Easy to clean.
- Comes with a one-touch control panel.
Cons
- This Ninja air fryer has a bulky design.
Dash Tasti-Crisp Electric Air Fryer

Dash air fryer is designed to cook food healthily without using oil. The basket size of 2.6 qt cooks up to 3 people and the machine looks a little wider compared to other options available in the same category.
The best part of the Dash air fryer is that it’s portable and has a handle. It also uses its special technology called ‘air crisp’ to cook food evenly, quickly, and reduce oil in your food by 70-80%.
The air fryer’s heating mechanism produces a temperature of 180°F to 400°F easily, and the timer can be set for 30 minutes. The two knobs make it easy for anyone to adjust time & temp as they wish. However, older people may find this feature difficult because there’s an LCD control system that would allow them to do so more easily.
The air fryer has a non-stick coating which makes cleaning easier than other kinds of food cookers. The basket and crisper plate are removable, so the process is quick and easy to do in your dishwasher.
With its auto shut-off feature, the air fryer is perfect for busy people who want to eat healthy snacks in between their hectic schedules. The air fryer can cook appetizers within minutes and even bake cakes so you don’t have to work too hard!
Pros
- Comes with air-crisp technology.
- Non-stick basket coating is easy to clean.
- Auto shut off function.
- Easy to use.
Cons
- This air fryer has no digital control system.
Dash DCAF 2 QT Compact Air Fryer

The Dash DCAF 2 qt air fryer is the ideal choice for small kitchens and busy people. For the camper, RV, college students, or anyone with a tight schedule this 4-pound device will be easy to use in any situation! With trendy colors like silver and teal, you can add an extra pop of color to your kitchen countertop while cooking delicious meals that don’t require much work.
Using the unique air crisp technology, an air fryer can reduce up to 70%-80% of oil consumption from food. It contains a 2 qt cooking basket that lets you cook 1 dozen chicken wings or fries in less amount of time! You can also make appetizers and desserts with it.
The air fryer makes it easy for you to maintain a healthy lifestyle in your busy schedule. This small appliance produces up to 170°F and 400°F temperature, enough time & heat to cook any type of food! The best part is that there are no digital controls or knobs – just two adjustable options on the unit itself.
The air fryer has several safety features, like an auto-shutoff function that prevents overcooking and a cool-touch handle. The whole build quality of the product is good too! It’s perfect for kids to use because it offers them more convenience while cooking their food with ease.
The air fryer cookbook includes a crisper basket that is dishwasher safe. This will make it easier to start your favorite recipes as you do not have to worry about cleaning the parts!
Pros
- Compact design.
- Versatile offers many cooking options.
- The auto shut-off eliminates the risk of overcooking.
- Allow instant cooking.
- Affordable and easy to use.
Cons
- No additional accessories.
GoWISE USA 3.7-Quart Programmable Air Fryer

The GoWISE Programmable Air Fryer is the best value out of all air fryers currently on the market. It has every standard function that an average consumer would need or want, and it’s listed at a great price compared to other brands with similar functions.
This air fryer has 1400-watt power and can heat up to 400F. You’ll be able to set the cooking time from 1 minute up to 30 minutes for fully customizable meals without compromising on taste or healthiness due to its low-fat content!
If you want to make fried food, the air fryer is a great way to do it. You can use this machine for baking, grilling, roasting, and even toast! The Rapid Air Circulation Technology heats every ingredient inside of the air cooker without using any oil at all. It also ensures that your meal will be ready in under 30 minutes which makes it perfect if you’re always on the go or busy with schoolwork.
The digital control panel on the front of the appliance allows you to easily use it. There’s nothing complicated about this machine, and there are no unnecessary functions that just take up space or complicate things.
This air fryer comes with 8 presets designed for optimal temperatures and cooking times that save you from the frustration of guesswork, giving you more time to do things that matter.
The non-stick basket and pan are detachable making it easy to move your food without leaving a mess behind in the process. To prevent accidental detachment or potential disaster when cleaning up after yourself, this fryer has a button guard so pressing is necessary before moving anything around in it – especially if children may be involved!
The GoWISE Programmable Air Fryer is a 3.7-quart air fryer that can be used for just about anything from onion rings to pork loin, and it comes with an entire recipe book so you’ll have plenty of ideas on how to use it right away.
Pros
- It has an LCD.
- It comes with eight presets for different types of cooking.
- This makes cooking easy by only having to press one button.
Cons
- This makes cooking easy by only having to press one button.
COSORI Smart WiFi Air Fryer

Air frying is quickly becoming the favorite cooking method for people of all walks. The COSORI Air Fryer MAX XL makes air-frying a cook-out breeze because it uses only 1,700 watts to reach temperatures between 170°F and 400°F. Its ability to fry just about any food means you can enjoy your favorite foods without having them soggy or greasy!
If you are looking for a fryer with an extra-large capacity, this may be the right pick. The nonstick basket is 5.8 quarts and has a square shape that can comfortably fit up to 6 pounds of meat or seafood! Not only does it have great capacity but also offers other benefits like being dishwasher safe making cleaning easy after cooking.
The built-in “shake reminder” in this air fryer lets you know when to shake food, resulting in a perfectly even fry. This is great for preventing uneven frying and creating balance with the texture of your foods. However, if time isn’t on your side then preheating can be done quickly which will improve both taste and texture while making it easier than ever before!
If you are looking to keep your food warm, there’s also a dedicated function designed to do just that.
Its slimmer, stackable design lowers the footprint on your countertop and saves you space. This is especially useful for places that have limited countertop space such as apartments, college dorms, and offices.
This air fryer uses little to no oil when frying food, making your dishes much healthier and less greasy than traditional deep-frying. There are 11 cooking functions built into the air fryer that makes it easy for you to get started without any extra hassle or steps needed.
This air fryer features 100 delicious recipes to make every meal easy. It also comes with access to a community of recipes and tutorials, making it an ideal choice for beginners looking for help learning how best to use the product.
Pros
- Easy to use and clean.
- Offer instant cooking.
- Suitable for college students.
- WiFi compatibility.
Cons
- Sometimes its touch screen did not respond properly after several touches.
Elite Gourmet EAF2612D Personal Air Fryer

The Elite Gourmet EAF2612D Personal 2.1Qt air fryer is an appliance that can be used in small spaces, making it perfect for apartments or dorms.
The 2 qt. The basket can hold up to 1.5lbs of food, which is perfect for a couple’s meal with smaller portions or even one person’s lunch if they don’t have too much leftover from the night before. This also reduces electricity usage because it doesn’t need as large an amount of oil and limits unnecessary splatter in your kitchen when you’re cooking without using deep-frying methods that require larger amounts of fat to cook quickly enough compared to this healthier alternative!
Cook up those favorite foods with less oil! This fryer is designed to let you enjoy crispy fried food without the added calories. Simply add your ingredients and set the temperature for a delicious meal that’s just as tasty but healthier than traditional frying methods.
The Elite Gourmet air fryer allows you to cook a variety of foods with an adjustable temperature and a 30-minute timer. It’s great for frying, baking, grilling, or roasting your food all in one convenient appliance! The high-power convection fan cooks the food evenly at temperatures between 176F degrees – 392 F degrees while simultaneously circulating hot air around it which creates crispy results like traditional deep frying cooking methods without any added fat.
Now you can enjoy guilt-free fried food with the Elite Gourmet Air Fryer! This air fryer has a cool-touch handle and includes recipes to get you started. The exterior of the machine is easy to clean, just use a damp cloth on it after each use.
Pros
- Has a compact design that won’t take up much space on your countertop.
- Comes with a carrying handle, making it easy to store when not in use.
Cons
- Doesn’t come with a warranty.
KITCHER KAF6501 6.8QT Air Fryer

A hot air fryer oven is a great addition to any kitchen. It cooks your food quickly and evenly, while also giving it a nice crispy texture on the outside.
With the 6.8QT large-capacity air fryer, you can cook a whole chicken weighing 3.3lbs and serve 4-6 people successfully in one go! In addition to this, it comes with 50 different recipes so that every day is an adventure for your taste buds!
A hot air fryer uses rapid hot air circulation and heats food more evenly to keep the flavor, moisture, and shape of your favorite foods. You can enjoy crispy food with all the flavors that you love but only less than 1/4th the fat or oil compared to traditional deep-frying methods!
The non-stick frying basket will keep your food in shape and look delicious without it breaking apart. Please use soft cloth or sponge to clean the fry basket because any hard metal items can damage the surface of this product, which reduces its durability.”
The air fryer has a built-in smart LED digital touch screen, so you can adjust the temperature and set your desired cooking time. You can easily view what’s going on with food as it cooks from 180°F to 400°F. The timer goes up to 60 minutes! When this appliance is overheated, it will automatically turn off for safety reasons. Plus, the whole thing is dishwasher safe which makes clean-up more effective than ever before.
Pros
- It cooks food quickly.
- Food stays crispier than in other cooking methods.
- Can cook many different types of foods at once.
- Easy to clean up afterward.
- No need for oil or fat like deep-frying or pan-frying.
Cons
- Not everyone likes the taste of cooked food in an air fryer oven.
Hamilton Beach 11.6 QT Digital Air Fryer

The 1700 watt countertop oven is a versatile cooking tool with endless capabilities. With its air fryer, toaster oven, roasting/baking chamber, and pizza function you can cook almost anything in this one appliance!
This hot air fryer is equipped with 8 one-touch preset functions including fries, beef, chicken, fish, and shrimp as well as a rotisserie function for poultry and vegetables. It can even dehydrate food to create crispy snacks!
The air fryer has an easy-view window and lit interior so you can easily see your food while it cooks. It also includes three rotating mesh shelves for added convenience in cooking multiple foods at once or defrosting frozen items without worrying about them getting soggy.
Mesh shelves ensure that food is air-fried and dehydrated properly because it allows for the circulation of fresh, cool air all around. The rotating basket ensures a crispy finish on every side and even cooking throughout so no part goes un-fried or underdone!
If you are craving a delicious meal but have no time to wait for it, this oven is perfect. The cooking times and temperatures can be adjusted manually up until the 60-minute mark or 400° F so that your food will always turn out perfectly cooked.
Pros
- Easy to use.
- The oven has a digital display screen.
- It also includes an automatic shut-off feature.
- Large capacity.
- Comes with 8 cooking features
Cons
- Some customers complain that its rotating basket creates a problem while inserting and removing.
Summary for Best Air Fryer for College Students
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Buying Guide for Best Air Fryer for Dorm Room
If you are a college student, then you know that there is never enough space in your dorm room. Air fryers are the perfect solution to this problem! Here are some factors that you must consider before purchasing an air fryer for your dorm room.
Power
A good range for quality air frying would be anywhere between 1500 Watts to 1700 Watts, as this range will give you more than enough power to fry most commonly fried foods. A power greater than this range is good for heartier food like whole chicken or turkey, while power lower than this range is good for smaller, easily fried foods like cut potatoes.
Quality Features
When choosing an air fryer, be sure to consider its built-in features. The more options you have when cooking for your family and friends the better!
A big advantage that air fryers have over their deep frying counterpart is that they can bake certain foods like cake or pastries, allowing them to cook outside of just frying food. When it comes down to having many different functions in one appliance, choose a model with programmable settings because these are easy ways for home cooks to save time on complicated recipes.
Size
A small or medium-sized air fryer is a good choice if you’re looking for something easier to clean and won’t consume as much power. If you want an even larger model, then it might be worth the extra cost since they’ll cook more food at once than smaller versions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an air fryer good for college students?
Yes. A Fry Express Airfryer allows for you to cook with little oil and it can also help you save on electricity costs.
Yum! You just got the air fryer that allows you to cook with less than 1% of the oil of a traditional deep fryer, saves you money by using about 80% less energy than convection cooking, all while bringing out crispier food.
Can I use an air fryer in my dorm?
Yes, you can use an air fryer in your dorm if it meets the requirements of your college or university housing.
Does an air fryer have an exposed heating element?
The air fryer does not have an exposed heating element. The cooking chamber is a closed system. The air goes in and out of the cooking chamber but never comes into contact with a heating element or burner. Air fryers do not require oil to “fry” food. Many customers find them more healthy because no oil is used.
Do you have to wash the air fryer after every use?
Keeping the air fryer in good condition requires regular cleaning. The key is to do it when the device is still warm, which makes it much easier to clean and avoid causing damage.
Conclusion
An air fryer is a versatile kitchen appliance that can be used on regular basis to cook your daily meal. Some of the benefits of using an air fryer are: they’re simple and easy-to-use, compact and lightweight so there’s no hassle or worry about oil consumption for health reasons, etc.
While you’re at school we recommend choosing one with these specifications because it will make cooking much easier: Compact & Lightweight; Cooks without any fuss – quite literally! We’ve reviewed some other best-rated ones in detail here (with pros/cons), which should help you choose what works well for both budget and lifestyle.”
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