If you find the smells from deep-frying off-putting, an air fryer offers a different way to cook using hot air, but it cannot guarantee an odour-free kitchen. Choose based on your portion sizes, how many dishes you want to cook at once and the space available, allowing for the clearances specified in the instructions. If your oven already meets your needs, consider what an additional appliance would really offer.
You want to prepare golden or roasted food without always resorting to deep-frying. Cooking with hot air may suit you, but it will not eliminate all cooking smells. UFC-Que Choisir also reports that the smell of oil puts some consumers off.
You often need to cook a main dish and a side with different settings. Compare the usable space in each basket rather than relying on the total capacity alone.
You need to consider the space available, the fan noise and the features of your current oven. UFC-Que Choisir recommends taking an air fryer’s size and noise into account when choosing one.
To avoid buying an appliance that duplicates what you already have, start with the recipes and portions you prepare, then check the installation space, noise levels and cleaning requirements.
| What matters to you | What to check before buying | Who this matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Reducing the smell of deep-frying | The cooking method and ventilation instructions; how easy it is to clean the parts that come into contact with food. | If the smell of deep-frying puts you off certain recipes, you may be looking for another way to brown or roast food, without expecting an odour-free kitchen. Around 31% of consumers concerned give priority to reducing the smell of deep-frying. |
| Portions and cooking two dishes at once | The shape and usable dimensions of each basket; whether you can set each zone separately, if needed. | When you prepare a main dish and a side, you want to know whether each item will fit in its zone and cook as required. Around 25% of consumers put portion sizes and cooking two dishes at once first. |
| Space available | The appliance’s dimensions and the clearances specified in the instructions; the space required around and above it. | In a small kitchen, check that the appliance and the clearances specified in its instructions will fit on your worktop. Around 19% of consumers prioritise the space available. |
| Noise while in use | A noise measurement for the exact model, including the test method and conditions, particularly the distance. | If your kitchen opens onto your living area, the fan noise while cooking may affect your choice. Around 13% of consumers put noise levels at the top of their list. |
| Cleaning and whether the purchase is worthwhile | Which parts can actually be washed and how to clean them; the recipes and quantities your current oven can already handle. | If you use it often, you want to clean the parts easily and avoid adding another appliance if your oven already does the job. Around 12% of consumers prioritise ease of cleaning and whether the purchase is genuinely worthwhile. |
An air fryer changes the cooking method, but food can still produce smells. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between the nuisance caused by deep-frying and cooking smells in general.
Decide whether you mainly want to avoid deep-frying or are looking for a deep-fat fryer: these methods meet different needs.
The combined capacity does not tell you whether the food you usually cook will fit in the drawer it needs to go in. For example, the Philips NA352/00 splits its stated 9 L capacity between a 6 L drawer and a 3 L drawer, according to Philips.
Compare the shape and dimensions of your food with those of the basket it will go in.
If a piece of food will not fit in either drawer, you may need to cook in multiple batches.
Results depend on the dish, the quantity and the appliances being compared. They do not automatically apply to your oven or to cooking several batches.
For a fair comparison, look for a test using a similar dish and quantity, then assess your current oven separately.
Installation must also meet the clearances and ventilation instructions in the manual. UFC-Que Choisir lists the appliance’s size among the factors to consider.
Measure the width, depth and height, as well as the required clearances, before choosing a spot.
If the location is unsuitable, you may have to put the appliance away and get it out again every time you use it.
The NA210/00, NA352/00 and NA156/60 are examples of single-basket, dual-basket and removable-divider configurations.
The Easy Fry Essential EZ130810 is an example of a single-basket model with a stated capacity of 3.5 L.
The OleoClean Pro FR804110 is an example of an electric deep-fat fryer, designed for a different kind of cooking from hot-air frying.
The TO 2068 is an example of a mini convection oven with a stated 20 L capacity.
This selection of Joybuy products covers hot-air cooking, from single-basket appliances to models with several cooking compartments.
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Worth considering if you want to switch between smaller and larger portions without always resorting to deep-frying.
The glass container can become very hot. Handle it with heat protection and let it cool before cleaning.
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Worth considering if you regularly prepare two dishes and want to set each one to cook separately.
Compare the dimensions of each drawer with your planned portions, and check how much worktop space the appliance needs.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for hot-air cooking rather than deep-frying.
Follow the instructions in the product description: do not block the air inlets or outlets, and place the appliance on a stable, heat-resistant surface.
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Worth considering if you want the option of using two separate zones or one combined basket, depending on what you’re cooking.
The product description says the appliance uses hot air and is not suitable for liquid dishes such as soups, sauces or stews.
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Worth considering for smaller dishes in a single basket; Philips states that this model has a capacity of 3.2 L.
Follow the clearance instructions in the manual and bear in mind that accessible surfaces can become very hot.
No. It can replace deep-frying with hot-air cooking, but cooked food can still produce smells. Check the ventilation instructions in the manual for the model you choose, too.
Not necessarily. Compare the dishes, portion sizes and results you get with your oven. An air fryer is only worth adding if its size or cooking zones meet a specific need in your home.
Measure the space, allowing for the clearances and ventilation instructions in the manual for the exact model. Also check which parts are dishwasher-safe. For example, Moulinex says the EZ130810’s basket is suitable for the dishwasher, but that does not automatically apply to the whole appliance.
No. In a test published in 2024, UFC-Que Choisir measured average energy consumption for the tested air fryers that was 36% lower than for the mini oven used in the test, when cooking a small quiche in the same quantity. This result does not automatically apply to all foods, models, domestic ovens or cooking in several batches.
The legal guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a trader to a consumer. Claims must be brought within two years of delivery, according to the French Ministry of the Economy and the DGCCRF. For distance purchases from a trader, the right to cancel lasts at least 14 days, subject to legal conditions and exceptions. These rights are separate from any optional commercial guarantee.