Can You Take an Air Fryer to College or University?

One of the perennial student problems is this: what can I make for lunch? Or, at least, what can I make for lunch in 10 minutes, when all the shared cooking equipment in the kitchen is covered in an unidentifiable burnt-on mess?

Contents

Make sure it’s safe You may not be able to use it in your dorm room If in doubt…

An air fryer will get you a long way toward solving these problems. It’s a shortcut to making quick, cheap and (hopefully) healthy meals. But can you bring one with you to college?

The answer is very probably yes, but with some caveats. Read on to find out what they are.

If you’re shopping for an air fryer to take away with you, browse our round-ups of the best air fryers, the best dual-drawer air fryers, and the best Ninja air fryers and cookers we’ve tested.

Emma Rowley / Foundry

Make sure it’s safe

The number one worry in dorms, halls, flats or any shared student accommodation is fire safety. In some cases, accommodation officials or RAs might want to take a look at any electrical appliances you bring with you to make sure they’re in good condition.

Here’s how to ensure your air fryer passes the test:

In the UK and Europe, check that your appliance has a CE mark on the packaging (any reputable brand will have this). There’s no direct equivalent in the US, although there is a voluntary UL mark you can look out for.
Make sure that your air fryer has no loose wiring and is in good working order.
Check that it has the right plug for your country – an adapter may not be safe for an appliance of this voltage.
Choose a well-known brand. This doesn’t mean you need to spend a lot of money. One of the budget-friendly brands we’d recommend is Cosori. You can check out its store on Amazon UK and Amazon US. Its air fryers start at around £49.99/$49.99, and they’re reliable and robust. If you have a bit more to spend, we’d recommend a Ninja air fryer.

Lee Bell / Foundry

You may not be able to use it in your dorm room

Appliances and devices that heat up are often banned from dorm rooms. For example, toasters are often banned from individual student rooms as a fire hazard, as are any appliances with heated coils.

So, you may have to use it in the shared kitchen. We wouldn’t recommend trying to use it secretly in your room, as it could set off a smoke alarm (especially if you don’t clean it properly).

Besides, bringing along an air fryer that everyone can use could be a good way of bonding with new roommates. But, if you’re worried about it being used and left for you to clean, you can store it in your room and bring it out to the kitchen when you want to use it.