I did not want an air fryer. My kitchen is small. My counter space is precious. But my sister would not shut up about hers, so I bought the cheapest one I could find just to prove her wrong. It broke in three months. Then I bought another cheap one. That one was terrible in a different way. At this point I had become the person who owns multiple air fryers, which was not the plan.

So I tested four models, all under fifty dollars, to find the one that actually works without taking over your counter.

What I Tested

I cooked frozen fries, chicken wings, and broccoli in each one—the same amounts, same times, same seasoning. Judged on: crispiness, evenness of cooking, noise level, and how annoying they were to clean. Here is how they ranked.

#1: The Winner — Dash Compact 2-Quart ($39)

Smallest footprint of the four. Fits a single person’s portion perfectly—about a dozen wings or two servings of fries. Browns more evenly than units twice its size because the small cavity means the hot air has less distance to travel. Downside: you cannot cook for a family in this thing. If you live alone or with one other person, it is perfect.

#2: Mainstays 3.2-Quart ($42)

The Walmart brand, and honestly—surprisingly good. Larger capacity, decent crisp on fries, acceptable on wings. The dial timer feels cheap and clicks loudly. It works, but it feels like it will not work forever. Good for a first air fryer if you are still not sure you will use one.

#3 and #4

The other two were a Bella 2.9-Quart ($35) that burned everything on one side and left it raw on the other, and a no-name Amazon brand ($29) that made a high-pitched whining sound the entire time it was running. I gave the Amazon one away. I threw the Bella away. Some things are not worth passing on to another human.

I still have the Dash and the Mainstays. The Dash gets used almost daily. The Mainstays comes out for batch cooking. I have become my sister. I am at peace with this.