Our writers test and research products independently. When you buy through a link on our site we may earn a commission, but we’ll only ever publish an honest review. Find out more.
Best air fryer for 2 people: compact options for small households
Looking for a fast and efficient way to prepare meals for two? Here are the best small air fryers that don’t take up valuable countertop space, as recommended by Mumsnet users.
By Lucy Cotterill With contributions from Natasha Gregson | Last updated Aug 19, 2025
While most of us are familiar with the benefits of air fryers, not everyone wants the premium price tag or the bulky design of an air fryer hogging their kitchen countertops, especially when you’re only cooking for two.
Understandably, many of the bestselling models are family-sized or dual air fryers, however, it is entirely possible to find air fryers suitable for couples or solo diners. In fact, there is a wide range of compact air fryers for two that still offer many of the impressive features found on more spacious models.
Not only are air fryers a quick way to prepare midweek meals and weekend treats for two, but they can also reduce your energy bills, saving between 50% to 65% on average when compared to a traditional fan oven. With rapid heat-up times and shorter cooking durations, you can turn on your air fryer guilt-free, even when preparing smaller portions.
To help you find the best air fryer for two people, we tapped into the tried-and-tested verdicts of Mumsnet users - the biggest online network of parents in the UK. We sought opinions on the air fryers that Mumsnet users have used to prepare meals for two in their own homes and would happily recommend to others. By combining Mumsnet user suggestions with the opinions of industry experts, wider consumer feedback and consumer champions, we’re confident with our pick of the best small air fryers that you can buy today.
Looking for more Mumsnet user-approved gadgets? We also have guides to the best slow cookers and best microwaves.
Best air fryer for 2 people UK: at a glance
Best overall: Ninja Air Fryer AF100UK, £80 | Jump to product
Best budget: Salter EK4221AS Digital Air Fryer, £50 | Jump to product
Best mid-range capacity: COSORI Air Fryer 5.5L, £75 | Jump to product
Best dual basket: Ninja Foodi Dual Zone Digital Air Fryer AF300 UK, £150 | Jump to product
Best small: Russell Hobbs Compact Rapid Digital Air Fryer, £50 | Jump to product
Best air fryer for 2 people overall
Compact and portable
Trusted air fryer brand
Simple to use - even for beginners
Dishwasher-safe basket
Some may prefer a dual-drawer design
Costly
Key specs
Price on writing: £80 | Modes: Four - air fry, roast, reheat, dehydrate | Capacity: 3.8 litres | Dimensions: 25 x 36 x 32 cm | Weight: 4.6kg | Power: 1550 watts
What Mumsnet users say
Ninja is the leading brand for air fryers and it’s not hard to see why. Coming highly rated with thousands of five-star reviews, the AF100UK is the smallest and most portable model in the Ninja air fryer range, with a 3.8-litre capacity that is well suited to solo diners and couples.
We love the simplicity of this model, which couldn’t be easier to use, even for those new to air fryers. It comes with four cooking modes, including air frying, reheating, roasting and dehydrating, making it versatile for preparing full meals or quick and convenient leftovers for your lunch.
While some couples may prefer the freedom of a dual air fryer design, we love the compact size and portability of this model, which can easily be left out on your countertops or stashed inside a cupboard without taking up valuable storage space.
Related: The best food processors for easy meal prep
Best budget air fryer for 2 people
Budget-friendly price tag
Compact size
Easy to use
Excellent results
Not dishwasher safe
Instructions could be improved
Capacity will be too small for large families
Key specs
Price on writing: £50 | Modes: Seven presets including fries, steak and seafood | Capacity: 4.5 litres | Dimensions: 10.79 x 12.87 x 12.6 cm | Weight: 4.28 kg | Power: 1300 watts
What Mumsnet users say
Reviewed by MNHQ editor Natasha Gregson: Read our in-depth Salter EK4221AS Air Fryer review
When I first got my hands on the Salter EK4221AS, I wasn’t expecting much – after all, at just £50, it's the cheapest air fryer I've tested to date. But after putting it through its paces in a two-person household, I was very impressed. Bacon came out perfectly crispy, garlic bread was golden and delicious, and frozen food cooked quickly and evenly. For a budget buy, it punches well above its weight, which is why it earned its spot as our best affordable pick.
The touchscreen controls were easy to navigate, even if the instructions could have been clearer, and I liked having the choice between manually adjusting time and temperature or selecting one of the seven preset cooking modes. Admittedly, it’s not the most high-tech air fryer on the market, and it doesn’t have the same versatility as pricier models, but I really rate it as a great basic option.
There are a few drawbacks, however. The basket isn’t dishwasher-safe, which means washing up by hand, and if you’re cooking for a large family, you’ll need something with a bigger capacity. Another small annoyance is that if you need to stop cooking before the timer runs out, pressing the on/off button won’t immediately pause the process – you'll need to remove the basket first.
Best air fryer for 2 with a mid-range capacity
Affordable price tag
Simple to use
Wide range of convenient presets
Dishwasher-safe basket
Generous mid-range capacity
Can be a little noisy
Basket can be tricky to clean by hand
Key specs
Price on writing: £75 | Modes: 11 presets including air fry, bake, roast, french fries, chicken and steak | Capacity: 5.5 litres | Dimensions: 29.9 x 36.4 x 32.1 cm | Weight: 5.44 kg | Power: 1700 watts
What Mumsnet users say
Reviewed by MNHQ editor Natasha Gregson: Read our in-depth Cosori Air Fryer 5.5L review
With a mid-range capacity of 5.5 litres, this Cosori single-drawer air fryer offers plenty of room for even the most generously sized dishes for two – whether you’re sharing a romantic meal made with manual temperatures and timings, or opting for convenience with one of eleven presets.
It has a range of cooking options including air frying, baking and roasting, and I loved how simple this air fryer was to use – it’s a great choice for those switching from a traditional fan oven or using an air fryer for the first time. It was pleasingly speedy too; during testing, dishes that would have taken me 45 minutes in the oven (including preheating), took only 25 minutes in total.
It’s worth noting that the Cosori Air Fryer is a little noisier than some models while it’s in use. However, with an affordable price tag and dishwasher-safe basket, this is a small price to pay. It’s also a Mumsnetter favourite, winning our award for the best budget air fryer overall.
Related: The best bread makers according to Mumsnet users
Best dual air fryer for 2 people
Ninja Foodi Dual Zone Digital Air Fryer AF300UK
Mumsnet trusted brand
Dual-drawer design
Ability to match programmes and sync end times
Dishwasher-safe baskets
Cooks up to 75% faster than traditional fan ovens
Costly
Bulkier than single-basket options
Key specs
Price on writing: £150 | Modes: 6 | Capacity: 7.6 litres | Dimensions: 2.54 x 2.54 x 2.54 cm | Weight: 9.89kg | Power: 2400 watts
What Mumsnet users say
Reviewed by MNHQ staff Ajoy Nath: Read our in-depth Ninja Foodi Dual Zone Air Fryer AF300UK review
The Ninja Foodi Dual Zone Air Fryer AF300UK is a total game-changer for quick, healthy meals with minimal effort. With a 7.6-litre capacity, it’s a slightly smaller version of the highly-rated Ninja AF400UK (which has a 9-litre capacity), but it still packs in all the same handy functions. While it won’t suit larger families, for a couple or a small household, it’s spot on.
I've owned this air fryer for two years, and whether I’m crisping up chicken escalopes, roasting veg, or making golden homemade chips, everything cooks evenly and with minimal oil compared to other frying methods. Cleaning is easy too, and both the baskets and crisper plates are completely safe to throw in the dishwasher, so you don’t need to bicker about washing up.
Unlike the other models on our shortlist, this is a dual-basket air fryer, so it can cook different foods in both baskets and have them ready at the same time. However, this does mean it's bulkier than our other single-basket picks.
I wasn't a fan of the plastic-heavy design, but it’s a small compromise for such a practical, well-designed appliance. Given its speed, efficiency, and ease of use, I’d say it’s well worth the investment.
Best small air fryer for 2 people
Small and compact design
Four presets for convenience
Adjustable timer and temperature
Dishwasher-safe parts
The smallest capacity of our top picks
Key specs
Price on writing: £50 | Modes: Four presets including fries, chicken, steak and fish | Capacity: 3.5 litres | Dimensions: 32.6 x 26.5 x 31.3 cm | Weight: 3.55 kg | Power: 1350 watts
What Mumsnet users say
If you have a small kitchen or are seeking a compact air fryer that is easily accessible on your countertops, the discreet footprint of this Russell Hobbs Compact Air Fryer is ideal. It’s also a great choice for students heading off to uni thanks to the dinky capacity and budget-friendly price tag.
While the 3.5-litre single drawer has the smallest capacity of our top picks of air fryers for two, there's still plenty of room to make up to 600g of fries, with Russell Hobbs recommending loading it with 400g for the best results.
We love the four simple-to-use presets, helping cook quick meals straight from the freezer or prepare an easy dinner of steak and fries to kickstart the weekend. With a manual timer of up to 60 minutes and temperature dial ranging from 80 to 200 degrees, it’s also easy to tailor to your meals of choice, whatever you plan to serve up in the kitchen.
Is an air fryer worth it for two people?
Often the thought of turning the oven on for just the two of you can feel like a waste of energy, especially in a time of high energy bills. Air fryers are not only faster than an oven, but they use less energy too, heating up more quickly and preparing your food much faster, saving you time and money, even when you're only cooking for two.
Related: The best mandoline slicers for food prep
What’s the best size air fryer for two people?
As a general rule, air fryers with a capacity of two to four litres are sufficient for two people. However, you may prefer a larger capacity or dual air fryer design if you plan to experiment more with side dishes or prepare multiple meals simultaneously.
What to look for when choosing the best air fryer for two people
Here are some things to consider when choosing an air fryer for two people:
Size and capacity: While larger models and dual basket designs can be ideal for families, they do take up significant space, which can be overkill when only catering for two people. For couples and small households, air fryers which are more compact and have a smaller overall capacity are often sufficient for your needs.
Dual or single basket?: In most cases, a single-drawer basket will be ample for two people. However, if you plan to prepare a main meal and side dish, or are in a couple with different taste preferences, allergies or dietary requirements, a dual-drawer design may be more appropriate for your needs. Most dual-drawer air fryers offer the ability to match and sync programmes, meaning you can still tuck in together.
Settings: Does the air fryer come with presets to save you time and energy? These can be handy for beginners, however, having the freedom to manually set the temperature and timings is also important to provide the freedom to experiment.
Modes: Does the air fryer offer other cooking modes such as roast and reheat? Sunday roasts for two can be a breeze in the air fryer, while a reheat mode can prevent waste by reusing leftovers for a lunchtime snack.
Budget: How much are you willing to spend? Some budget-friendly air fryers cost £50 or less, but for premium models such as Ninja, which are often the most efficient, you can expect to pay £100+.
Ease of cleaning: If you’re forever taking it in turns to do the washing up, an air fryer with dishwasher-safe parts can certainly take the stress out of cleaning up. Some designs have baskets and trays which can all be thrown into the top drawer of your dishwasher, while others with non-stick coatings are advisable to wash by hand.
How we chose the best air fryer for two people
Recommendations from real Mumsnet users
Having grown in popularity significantly in recent years, there are many discussions on the Mumsnet forums about air frying. With that in mind, we sought out the trusted opinions of Mumsnet users to get their feedback on the air fryers for two that they rate, recommend and use in their own homes.
Expert opinions
Next up, we considered reviews and feedback from trusted industry experts. We want to be confident that the small air fryers we recommend are fit for purpose, so we looked out for award-winning products or those that were well regarded in the marketplace, including those endorsed by food industry experts and chefs.
Authentic consumer reviews
After that, we thoroughly investigated genuine, in-depth customer reviews on retailer sites such as Amazon, Argos, and John Lewis to get wider consumer experiences regarding the products on our shortlist.
Real-life testing
Finally, Mumsnet's home and kitchen editor Natasha Gregson and MNHQ staff and foodie Ajoy Nath put selected products from our shortlist through their paces, testing them out extensively in their own kitchens to make a range of meals. They carefully evaluated the Ninja dual-basket and Cosori models, scoring them on their ease of use, performance, design, and overall value for money.
About the author
Lucy Cotterill is a mum of two and a Content Writer at Mumsnet, specialising in baby/child and home product reviews and round-ups. Having written reviews on her own blog Real Mum Reviews since 2012, Lucy loves to research and explore the pros and cons of products, scrutinising expert opinions and consumer feedback to help parents make confident purchases that benefit their families.
First introduced to air fryers during lockdown, Lucy is prone to rustling up some quick midweek meals in her Ninja, with some major successes and a few unsuccessful trials along the way. She’s also written several Mumsnet guides on air fryers, so whether you’re after the best budget air fryer, a large dual-basket air fryer, or the top air fryers for families, she’s the one in the know.
Why you should trust us
We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust and we spend hours scouring the Mumsnet forums and online bestseller lists to find products that real parents rate.
Transparency is really important to us and that's why we're always upfront about where we find our recommendations. We write about products that we feel offer the best value to most parents – the ones that our users would recommend to their own friends and family.
Read next: The best multi-cookers for families