Dreo Aircrisp Pro Air Fryer review: When its too hot to cook, we turn to our favorite small air fryer

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During a heat wave, the last thing you want to do is turn on your oven. To save energy and keep our kitchens cool, we turn to the best air fryers for making dinner and reheating leftovers. A small air fryer is even better for making quick one or two-person meals with very little fuss. 

I've tested more than 40 air fryers, including 11 compact units, and the best small air fryer you can buy is the Dreo Aircrisp Pro Air Fryer. It performed well in all of our tests, takes up minimal space, and is easy to use and clean. Read on to learn why this is the air fryer for individuals and couples to buy when space is at a premium.

Getting started

It took just three minutes to set up the Dreo Aircrisp Pro: I removed the packaging, plugged it in, and pressed the appropriate buttons to start it up. Many kitchen appliances have an off-putting odor the first time you use them, so I ran the Dreo without anything in it for 10 minutes so any smell wouldn't affect my food.

For basic functions, you just press the red on/off button and the other buttons will light up. Then, you can easily adjust the temperature and time before pressing start. I didn't need the manual to get going. The air fryer has 8 presets, which is more than most units. In addition to the standard french fries and reheat, the notable extras are dehydrate and bread functions.

Size

The Dreo Aircrisp Pro offers an outstanding balance of capacity and exterior dimensions. To assess how efficiently air fryers use space, I compared the exterior measurements to how much food they could hold. Of the compact pod-style air fryers I tested, the Dreo used the space it took up most efficiently, partly thanks to its cylindrical design. 

Additionally, the flat top of the Aircrisp Pro works for temporary storage, like if you need extra room for ingredients while cooking. However, since the controls are on the top of the unit, you must remove the items to use it.

Cooking performance

In each cooking test for the best small air fryer, the Dreo was among the top performers. When cooking with the Dreo, you can expect the cook to go according to most recipes without overcooking or requiring added time. It does a great job of working that Maillard reaction for crispy results.

The Dreo only took a minute more than standard to make fries, and the results were cooked evenly and tasted like what you would get at a fast food restaurant. The wings were perfectly done in the allotted time and the basket could easily fit a full pound. 

Most air fryers struggle to cook fresh broccoli evenly. The Dreo air fryer was one of a handful to finish in 10 minutes, and it came the closest to providing tender stems and crispy florets. Still, steaming or roasting your broccoli will likely produce better results.

Dehydration

Compared to dedicated dehydrators, the few air fryers that can dehydrate have limited room. Yet, it's nice to have it as an option and not need a separate appliance. 

To test the Aircrisp Pro's capabilities, I dehydrated a peach. There was only room for a half peach without overlapping pieces. I was impatient, so I crowded a full sliced peach in there anyway. Fortunately, this didn't appear to affect the performance. The default settings are 125 degrees F and one hour, which isn't enough time to dehydrate anything. I set it for 135 degrees and eight hours.

After six hours, the peach was dehydrated to my standards, and my kids gobbled up the tasty results in no time. This is a useful appliance for dehydrating small quantities of food.

Cleaning

The drawer and crisping tray of the Dreo Aircrisp Pro are dishwasher safe, but debris comes off easily when hand-washing thanks to the nonstick coating. Since dishwashers tend to wear away the nonstick coating on cookware, I recommend washing items by hand when possible. You might also consider picking up one of the best silicone air fryer liners to make cleanup easier.

Cons to consider

Cleaning the Dreo Aircrisp Pro isn't completely hassle-free. The crisping tray that fits in the bottom of the air fryer drawer features silicone pads to keep it securely in place. When washing the tray by hand, the pads can easily detach from it, and they don't go back on easily. Be mindful of this and scrub gently.

The presets are represented by symbols rather than words,, and some are ambiguous. For example, an image of an orange represents dehydration. You may want to keep your user manual handy until you can easily recognize them.

What are your alternatives?

If you want to cook in a dorm room, camper, or other cramped quarters where you don't have kitchen access, the Dreo Aircrisp Pro is excellent to have on hand. However, if you have more space, consider one of our other top small appliances.

• Best versatile air fryer: Instant Pot Duo Crisp Pressure Cooker — See at Amazon
  This true multicooker takes up about twice as much space as the Dreo, but it does so much more, earning spots in our guides to the best Instant Pots, best air fryers, best slow cookers, and best sous vide cookers. 
• Best small air fryer toaster oven: Ninja Digital Air Fry Countertop Oven — See at Amazon
  The wide, flat design allows it to cook frozen pizzas up to 13 inches in diameter, and you can store it upright to free up counter space.

For more compact recommendations, check out our best small air fryer guide. 

The bottom line

Based on my testing, the Dreo Aircrisp Pro is the best small air fryer you can buy. It cooks food quickly and deliciously, makes efficient use of space, and is easy to use and clean. There are a few minor drawbacks, but overall, I strongly recommend picking up this air fryer if you want to convection bake small meals and treats in tight quarters.

Pros: Dishwasher-safe, cooked broccoli well, fast cooking, efficiently uses space, effortless use and cleaning, made perfect fries and wings

Cons: Crisping tray's rubber feet fall off easily, confusing presets