Air fryers have become an essential appliance in many of our kitchens—they’re a game changer for frozen and previously fried foods. We’re air fryer enthusiasts and have tested them extensively . Not only are they great for cooking and reheating deep-fried foods, but they also roast veggies to perfection. Air fryer bacon comes out crispy with less mess, and air fryers can cook excellent baked potatoes (without having to turn the oven on for an hour)!

The downside? Some models are large and bulky, making them less ideal for small households and kitchens with limited counter or storage space. I tested eight popular small air fryers with a capacity of four quarts or less to find models that quickly produced evenly crisp food.

The Winners, at a Glance

Instant Pot is the winner in our review of standard-size air fryers . This smaller version cooked food the fastest, producing crispy fries after just 14 minutes and golden wings in 30 minutes.…