Dash Compact Air Fryer (2-Qt)

Should you buy the Dash Compact Air Fryer?

The Dash Compact Air Fryer (2-Qt) is a $49.99 single-serving fryer with a manual dial, a 30-minute timer and a 1000 W element. It is for a dorm room, an RV, an office or one person who wants to reheat leftovers and crisp a handful of nuggets. It ranks last of our ten air fryers and scores below our buy line, mostly because a 2-quart basket and dial controls cannot compete on features with fryers that cost $40 more. Owners like it, but it is a snack appliance, not a cooking appliance.

Where it earns its score

• Satisfaction of 94. People who buy it for what it is are happy with it; the score is the highest Satisfaction in the category.
• Tiny footprint. It fits where a 5-quart fryer will not, and it weighs little enough to move around.
• Simple to use. Two dials, no menus, and auto shut-off when the timer ends.
• Cheap to try. At $49.99 it is the lowest-cost way to find out whether air frying suits you.

What to know first

• Features score is 45. No digital display, no presets, no dehydrate, and a 30-minute timer cap.
• Two quarts is one person. About a single portion of fries or four chicken tenders per batch.
• Quality scores 65. Lighter plastics and a basic basket compared with the Cosori and Ninja units.
• Warranty is the weakest factor at 55. Standard coverage is short, though at this price the stakes are low.

Questions buyers ask