College life can be difficult, especially when it comes to cooking your meals. Fortunately, you don’t need a fully equipped kitchen. Even better, it’s not necessary that you know how to cook! Instead, I suggest that you invest in useful appliances, including the best air fryer for college students.
Why do I need an air fryer? Well, to start, it’s compact and versatile. Most college dorms are small, so the size of an air fryer makes it perfect. Plus, you can cook a multitude of meals within minutes. It’s also multifunctional, which will also allow you to bake, roast, grill, and dehydrate, among other functions present in an air fryer.
Are you clueless about the brand to choose? Here’s a quick rundown of the four best brands and models that should be on your radar!
Dash Tasti-Crisp Air Fryer: The overall winner of this review is an affordable and compact air fryer with a cool aesthetic.
Chefman Turbo Touch Air Fryer: If you have a roommate, this air fryer with four built-in presets is a great alternative.
Crux AirPro Indoor Grill: Those who like grilling will love this product, which also delivers a plethora of other cooking functions.
Chefman TurboFry Dual Air Fryer: With two cooking baskets, this air fryer will allow you to cook two dishes at the same time.
Best Air Fryer For College Students: Dash Tasti-Crisp Air Fryer
What I Like:
- A great pick for college students on a budget
- Straightforward control for setting temperature and time
- Low wattage for energy efficiency
Limitations:
- Lacks a digital display
- Does not come with presets
Many college students are on a budget. Hence, the cost of the air fryer is often a major consideration. If that’s the case, then this model is for you! It’s the cheapest of the four products in this guide. Plus, it has more than 29,000 Amazon reviews, which is a testament to its exceptional quality.
I highly recommend this air fryer to anyone who is looking for something without frills. It has a straightforward interface. Rotate the dial at the top to set the temperature and the knob under to set the timer.
Many of the people who bought this air fryer live on their own. It has a cooking capacity of 2.6 quarts, making it perfect for one person. If you live in a tiny dorm, this is one air fryer worth considering.
Those who are searching for low-wattage air fryers will be happy with this model. It only has 1,000 watts, which is the lowest of the four products in this guide. This also means you can expect it to be more efficient than its higher-wattage counterparts.
Nonetheless, simplicity can also be a drawback. For instance, some people might not appreciate the basic display. It has no screen that shows the time or temperature. Plus, there are no presets, so you must input the settings manually.
An Affordable Option for Students with a Roommate – Chefman Turbo Touch Air Fryer
What I Like:
- Space saving with a good cooking capacity
- Comes with four built-in presets
- Has a shake reminder
- Includes bonus liners for easy cleaning
Limitations:
- The rack does not stay in place
If the Dash Tasti-Crisp Air Fryer is too small for you, a great alternative to consider is Chefman Turbo Touch. It has a 5-quart basket, which is good enough for two to three people. It can be a great pick for those who live with a roommate or two.
Despite the good cooking capacity, it retains a compact design, making it ideal for college dorms and apartments. It’s also sleek with an industrial design because of the stainless steel body.
To simplify cooking, there are four built-in presets. It may seem minimal, but for college students looking for something basic, such would be enough. You can choose from fish, fries, chicken, or meat.
Another feature that comes in handy is the built-in shake reminder. It comes with a LED notification, which will let you know when it’s time to shake the air frying basket.
College life can be busy, so many may not have the time to clean their air fryers. Many of the users of this model were happy with how it comes with bonus liners, which can make the cleanup a breeze. It minimizes stuck food particles on the cooking surface.
Some people, however, did not like how the rack does not stay in place. This can be a problem if you’re cooking in multiple layers.
Best for Grill Party with Friends – Crux AirPro Indoor Grill
What I Like:
- Accommodates large food, including pizza
- High wattage for exceptional performance
- Comes with ceramic coating
Limitations:
- The large size can be a problem for small spaces
For college students looking for versatility, this is one model worth looking at. While Crux markets it as a grill, it has multiple cooking functions. It can also air fry, broil, sauté, sear, roast, bake, and dehydrate. There’s even a setting for pizza.
With a 12×12 cooking area, this is for college students who need generous space. The grilling grate that comes with the unit allows cooking everything in one batch. Plus, the basket is deep, so you can cook even high foods.
More so, it has 1,760 watts, which makes it a powerful product. This means it can get hot quickly. However, such also means that it can be power-hungry. Not to mention, it can reach a maximum temperature of 510 degrees Fahrenheit.
It’s also worth mentioning that the accessories that come with the air fryer have a ceramic coating. This makes it a great alternative to those with Teflon coating.
One thing to note is that it’s large. Hence, if you have limited space in your college dorm or apartment, you might want to look at more compact alternatives.
Best for Cooking Two Meals at Once – Chefman TurboFry Dual Air Fryer
What I Like:
- Cooks two dishes at the same time
- Offers eight cooking presets
- Has the option to sync cooking in both baskets
Limitations:
- Not for people on a budget
It’s common for college students to be busy. Hence, you may not have the luxury of time to cook two dishes. However, this air fryer from Chefman promises the perfect solution. It comes with two baskets that offer a combined cooking capacity of 9 quarts, like what you can expect from the Crux AirPro Indoor Grill.
Since it has two baskets, it has functions that are not present in the other models in this guide. For instance, you have the option to synchronize coking in both baskets, so they’ll finish at the same time.
Since it’s from the same maker as the Chefman Turbo Touch Air Fryer, they share similar features. For instance, they both have a shake reminder, so you’ll know exactly when to shake the basket to make air frying more consistent.
Those who want a versatile kitchen companion will love how there are eight cooking presets. It has pre-programmed settings for chicken, fries, burger, bacon, fish, veggies, steak, and shrimp. Alternatively, you can choose to customize the temperature from 200 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Lastly, this is the most expensive of the four air fryers in this guide. Budget-conscious college students might want to look for cheaper alternatives. In my opinion, however, the price is justifiable given its generous capacity and impressive features.
How to Choose the Best Air Fryer for College Students
Purchasing an air fryer won’t be a walk in the park. You’ll have a long list of choices, each claiming to be the best. As you try to narrow down your options, here are some things to consider.
- Size
Most college students live in tiny dorms or small apartments. Hence, many may not have a large kitchen. Because of the limited space available, it’s essential to choose a compact air fryer. This also means that it will be easy to store when not needed.
- Capacity
Finding the perfect balance between size and capacity is a must. If you live alone, then you can do with a small 2-quart air fryer. On the other hand, if you have a roommate or other people in the house, a larger one can be a better choice.
- Ease of Use
Because many college students don’t have a lot of time on their hands, it makes sense to buy an air fryer that offers an intuitive interface. Look for one that’s straightforward to operate. Even cleaning should be a snap. To make things easier, consider using parchment paper or aluminum foil to minimize the mess you’ll be dealing with.
- Cooking Functions
It can be a hassle having multiple appliances in a small kitchen. Also, many college students want variety in their food. As such, consider the cooking functions available so you can use the air fryer for other things, such as baking, roasting, and grilling.
- Price
Many college students are on a budget. As such, the air fryers listed above are perfect for those looking for cheap alternatives without compromising performance. Even the cheapest of the four air fryers is still relatively affordable compared to many of its competitors.
- Type of air fryer
There are many type of air fryers besides a single-basket air fryer nowadays that you can choose from. For college students if you don’t have much space I would go for a single-basket air fryer but if you have space and a budget for it there are cooler options. Like an air fryer indoor grill combo where you can throw a grill party for your friends.
Final Verdict
From dorms to apartments, the best air fryer for college students is a sensible investment. It can be a lifesaver. Not to mention, it does not require a lot of space.
The winner of this review is the Dash TastiCrisp Air Fryer. It’s an affordable and small air fryer with a cool design. The high rating from other users can make you confident about its quality. Plus, it has basic functions and an intuitive interface for hassle-free air frying.
