Are Air Fryers Allowed in Dorms?

Are you confused about which appliances to look at before you move into your college dorm room? You might consider stocking up on dry snacks. But sometimes, the cravings for freshly cooked meals are too hard to ignore. What if you could use something that would help you cook or heat delicious meals at any time? You could take an air fryer!

A lot of dorms have little kitchen spaces or big shared kitchens. In that case, there is no need for an additional appliance like an air fryer. But you can still consider one so you can have some late-night meals without going to the kitchen.

Are Air Fryers Allowed in Dorms?

Air fryers are not allowed in many dorms. An air fryer is similar to a toaster oven. One of their disadvantages is they can get quite hot as you use them, which can be risky. That is why many dorms do not allow students to have air fryers in their rooms. Many use microwaves for only heating up food, so they do not get as hot. Most dorm rooms allow students to have microwaves for this reason.

Check your dorm’s guidelines or rulebook before going shopping for an air fryer. Check the section about appliances students are allowed to have in their rooms. Whether dorms allow air fryers or not depend on the rules of that particular college or university. Some dorm rooms allow air fryers, but some safety measures are in place.

Can you have an air fryer in a dorm room?

No, you can not have an air fryer in a dorm room. I have only found one exception – the University of Florida (UF) that allows residents to use air fryers in their room or kitchen areas. Source – https://housing.ufl.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/2021-2022-Community-Standards-Rev3.pdf

Why Are Not Air Fryers Allowed in Dorms?

An air fryer can get quite hot as you use them, which can be risky. That is why many dorms do not allow students to have air fryers in their rooms. Microwaves are used for only heating up food, so they do not get as hot.

Some dorms do allow students to have air fryers, but only in the kitchen. If there is a separate kitchen area or a common kitchen, you might be allowed to operate the air fryer there.

Air fryers are a fire hazard. They are a risky appliance to have in a dorm room, similar to any open flames or wax candles. Since dorm rooms are confined spaces with many individuals, a small fire hazard can become disastrous in no time.

Can You Use Air Fryers in a Dorms Building?

Some dorms allow students to have appliances like air fryers and toaster ovens. It is best to check the guidelines of the particular college and dorms before you make a list of things you want to take.

Where in the Dorms Building Can You Use Air Fryers?

Some dorms have standard kitchens that allow students to use their appliances. You can take your air fryer and use it there. But in such scenarios, dorms do not take responsibility for theft or misplacing those items.

So if you keep your air fryer in the shared kitchen after making a meal, you may not find it the next time you go into the kitchen. The administration may help you find the culprit, but efficiency is not guaranteed. So do keep these things in mind if your dorm has a shared kitchen and you want to use an air fryer there.

How can I know if air fryers are allowed at my university dorm?

There are several ways to find out if you can use an air fryer in your dorm:

• you can google “[your university] dorms air fryer”, for example, “Ohio State University dorms air fryer”
• you can google “[your university] air fryer reddit”, for example,  “Arizona State University air fryer reddit” – here you will find students sharing their experience
• you talk to your Resident Director, Area Director, or other staff members

You can also leave your question in the comments below and I will help you to find this information.

Information about air fryer use in several US universities

University	Air Fryers in rooms	Comments	Source
University of Central Florida (UCF)	Not allowed	Not allowed in dorm rooms, allowed in apartment-style kitchens)	https://www.housing.ucf.edu/movein/before/
Texas A&M University (TAMU)	Not allowed		https://reslife.tamu.edu/knowledge-base/appliances/
Ohio State University (OSU)	Not allowed		https://housing.osu.edu/posts/documents/2022-2023-ati-handbook.pdf
Florida International University (FIU)	Not allowed		pdf
University of Florida (UF)	Allowed	Residents are allowed to use the following items in their room or kitchen areas: electric fondue pots, air fryers, electric crock pots, coffee pots, hot dog cookers, frying pans, drip coffee makers, toasters (not toaster ovens), bread makers, and popcorn poppers. These items are permitted so long as they are single units with sealed heating elements.	https://housing.ufl.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/2021-2022-Community-Standards-Rev3.pdf
Georgia State University (GSU)	Not allowed		https://myhousing.gsu.edu/community-living-guide/electrical-equipment/
Arizona State University (ASU)	Not allowed		https://housing.asu.edu/housing-resources/housing-policies-and-procedures
University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign (UIUC)	Not allowed		https://housing.illinois.edu/Resources/Policies/Hall-Policies/your-room
University of Minnesota (UMN)	Not allowed	Allowed in the kitchen area of on-campus apartments.	https://housing.umn.edu/residents/moving-breaks/movein/bring
University of Texas at Austin	Not allowed		https://utexas.app.box.com/v/ResidenceHallManual2021

Conclusion

The safety concern is no joke, especially for dorm buildings where so many residents live in closed spaces. A little accident can become disastrous in no time. It is better not to take any risks regarding safety matters.

Take an air fryer in the dorm only when you see explicit guidelines stating that you can. Leave it be if the dorm rules do not allow any appliance other than a microwave. Have some snacks and instant food in your room that you can heat up in the microwave.