For the occasional fry-up, a deep-fat fryer may be enough if you’re happy to handle and dispose of the oil. For regular small portions of roasted or crispy food, an air fryer lets you cook without a bath of oil. If you already own an oven, whether another appliance is worthwhile depends largely on your portion sizes, available space and how much cleaning you’re prepared to do. Tests by UFC-Que Choisir show that cooking results and noise levels vary between air fryers.
You make chips, doughnuts or other breaded food from time to time and don’t want to add more appliances to your kitchen. According to UFC-Que Choisir, a traditional pan fryer may be enough for occasional use, provided you’re happy to handle the oil.
You often make small portions of roasted or crispy food without a bath of oil. Before choosing an air fryer, consider how much space it will take up, how much food you can fit inside and how noisy its fan is – a point also highlighted by UFC-Que Choisir.
You need to cook several portions or two different dishes at once. Compare the capacity that suits the food you’re cooking, the number of baskets and the space required. A large oil fryer and a dual-zone air fryer don’t involve the same cleaning or cooking method.
Worth considering: for occasional frying, if you’re happy to use a hob and manage a bath of oil. UFC-Que Choisir lists it as an option for this kind of use.
The trade-off: hot oil needs careful handling and can splatter and smell. Also check that the pan is compatible with your hob.
Worth considering: if you want an appliance dedicated to deep-fat frying without having to use the hob.
The trade-off: even with a removable bowl or a filtration system, you’ll still need to let the oil cool, store it and dispose of it when it’s used up.
Worth considering: for regular portions of roasted or crispy food when you’re not specifically looking for deep-fried results.
The trade-off: how full the basket is and how well the food is turned affect the results; the fan also makes some noise. UFC-Que Choisir found differences in cooking results between models.
Stick with what you have: if you rarely cook this kind of food and can’t see yourself using another appliance regularly. UFC-Que Choisir points out that air fryers share some functions with ovens.
Compare: your portion sizes and cooking habits before deciding whether a smaller cooking cavity would meet a separate need.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking chips and breaded food | For an air fryer, look for tests using the foods you cook and a similar load; for a deep-fat fryer, check the permitted food quantity and temperature settings. | If I’m mainly looking for consistently golden chips, I want to judge the results using portions similar to my own. Around 33% of consumers rank cooking results as their top concern. |
| Cleaning and oil | Check which parts can be removed and washed. For deep-fat frying, also look at how you can store and dispose of used oil. | If cooling, storing and cleaning up the oil puts me off, I want to know what I’ll need to do after each frying session. For around 25% of consumers, cleaning is their main concern. |
| Space and portions | Compare the available space with the appliance’s dimensions, then check the recommended food quantity against your usual batches. Don’t rely on the capacity in litres alone. | In a kitchen where my oven already does some of these jobs, I need a new appliance that suits my portion sizes without cluttering the worktop. Space and everyday use are the top priorities for around 25% of consumers. |
| Noise and energy use | Look for a noise measurement with the distance specified. To compare energy use, find tests using portions and dishes similar to yours. | With an open-plan kitchen, I want to use the appliance without its fan becoming a nuisance; for small batches, I also consider how much electricity it uses. These are the main concerns for around 17% of consumers. |
The cooking methods are different, and results vary from one air fryer to another. In tests, UFC-Que Choisir found that some models overcooked chips at the top while leaving them pale at the bottom.
Look for tests using the foods you cook, and take the load and any instructions to shake or turn the food into account.
A large stated capacity doesn’t tell you how much food you can fit inside without restricting the airflow. UFC-Que Choisir’s test method includes different food loads when assessing air fryers.
Compare the recommended quantities for the foods you cook, and check whether they need to be arranged in a single layer or shaken during cooking.
An air fryer uses a fan, and its noise may be more noticeable in an open-plan kitchen. UFC-Que Choisir includes a noise measurement taken at 50 cm in its test method.
If the appliance will be near a living area, look for a measurement with the distance specified rather than relying on a quick listen in a shop.
ADEME advises against pouring used oil down the sink or toilet, or into the natural environment.
Find a local disposal point before choosing a deep-fat fryer. A removable bowl or filtration system may make some steps easier, but won’t remove the need to dispose of the oil eventually.
Let the oil cool and have a sealed container ready, along with a plan for taking it to a collection point if needed.
Philips offers air fryers with one or two baskets. Some models have zones that can be set to finish cooking at the same time.
The Easy Fry range includes the Easy Fry Surface XL AL4018F0, which Moulinex says can hold up to 1 kg of chips.
The OleoClean range consists of electric deep-fat fryers. Tefal says the OleoClean Pro FR804110 automatically filters and stores the oil.
These appliances offer two ways to cook chips and breaded food: an electric deep-fat fryer or an air fryer. Depending on how often you cook these dishes, you can also compare them with your oven, frying pan or a pan fryer.
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Worth considering if you want an electric fryer for deep-fat frying. The title lists a capacity of 3,5 L and an XL anti-mist window. Remember to handle the hot oil carefully and dispose of it once it has cooled.
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Worth considering if you want to cook two dishes in separate drawers rather than using a bath of oil. The title lists a total capacity of 7,6 L, six functions and baskets described as dishwasher-safe. Check the recommended load for your food and make sure you have enough space.
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Worth considering if you cook larger portions without a bath of oil. The title lists a capacity of 10 L; to work out how much you can actually cook, check the recommended food load and the worktop space required.
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Worth considering if you want to cook two different dishes separately in a bath of oil. The title lists two 3 L baskets, two independent thermostats and filters designed to reduce odours. Don’t confuse the basket capacity with the amount of oil needed; check this before buying.
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Worth considering if you want to cook several portions using hot air rather than a bath of oil. The title lists a capacity of 7,6 L; compare the dimensions and recommended food load with your needs, as capacity alone doesn’t guarantee even cooking.
Not necessarily. UFC-Que Choisir points out that air fryers share several functions with ovens, such as cooking and roasting. If you often make small portions, compare using a smaller cooking cavity with using your oven. If you only make these dishes occasionally, another appliance may be doing the same job twice.
Follow the recommended load for your model and shake the chips if the instructions say to. UFC-Que Choisir tests different food loads, so before buying, look for results using a quantity similar to the one you usually cook.
Yes, particularly if your kitchen opens onto a living area. The fan can be audible; UFC-Que Choisir measures noise at 50 cm as part of its testing, giving you a more useful guide than a quick listen in a shop.
Let it cool, put it in a sealed container and check where you can dispose of it locally. In France, ADEME advises against pouring it down the sink or toilet, or into the natural environment. A recycling centre is a common option, and some local authorities provide other collection points.