Elite Gourmet EAF1121 Personal 1.1 Quart Air Fryer: A Full Review

Living in a studio apartment usually means choosing between a microwave and a toaster oven because you simply don't have the counter space for both. I bought the Elite Gourmet EAF1121 because I wanted to crisp up frozen foods without heating up my entire kitchen, and I only had about a six-inch square of free space left next to my sink. This is a genuinely cheap air fryer, coming in under forty bucks, so my expectations for build quality were fairly low.

It is tiny. The 1.1-quart basket holds exactly enough food for one person—think a handful of fries, two chicken tenders, or a single salmon fillet. If you try to cook for two, you will be running multiple batches and eating in shifts. The controls are entirely analog, featuring two basic dials for time and temperature. You won't find digital presets or a touchscreen here, which honestly feels refreshing since there are no confusing menus to navigate. Just turn the dial and it starts blowing hot air.

Because the heating element is so close to the food in such a confined space, it cooks remarkably fast. However, that same proximity means you need to watch your food closely to prevent burning, especially since the maximum temperature caps at 395 degrees instead of the standard 400. It lacks the premium feel of heavier appliances, and the non-stick coating feels a bit thin, but if you just need a cheap air fryer for basic single-serving meals in a dorm or tiny kitchen, it does exactly what it needs to do.