If you want to avoid deep-frying in oil, start by comparing an air fryer with your oven: according to UFC-Que Choisir, their hot-air cooking functions can overlap. An air fryer is worth considering if its size and upkeep meet a need your oven doesn’t; a deep-fat fryer remains an option if you prefer food cooked submerged in oil and are happy to deal with the oil, smells and cleaning involved.
In an open-plan kitchen or a home where smells travel, you may want to prepare roasted or crispy food without deep-frying it in oil. UFC-Que Choisir lists cooking smells among the reasons people consider another appliance.
Your oven can already cook with hot air. Before adding another appliance, you want to know whether a separate basket would really change how you prepare your usual meals. UFC-Que Choisir advises against buying appliances you don’t need.
You need to work out whether one basket can hold your portions, whether two cooking zones would make it easier to prepare food at the same time, or whether your oven is better suited to the size of your dishes.
To avoid deep-frying in oil without cluttering your kitchen with appliances, start with the dishes you make and what your oven can already do. Then check how much space a new appliance would need and how much upkeep it would involve.
Worth considering: for batches that fit its basket, if you want to cook without submerging food in oil.
Bear in mind: it’s an extra appliance, and its functions may overlap with your oven. Results and noise levels vary by model. UFC-Que Choisir highlights these differences.
Worth considering: if deep-frying in oil is still your priority.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to manage the oil, cooking smells and cleaning. The filtration systems described by Tefal apply to specific models and don’t guarantee an odour-free kitchen.
Stick with it: if it already cooks the roasted or crispy dishes you want in the quantities you need.
Check: how a recipe you regularly make turns out before adding an air fryer with similar functions. This is the risk of duplication highlighted by UFC-Que Choisir.
Worth considering: if you need a particular dish size or function that neither your oven nor a basket-style air fryer can offer.
Bear in mind: you’ll have another appliance to set up and put away. Compare its dimensions and functions with the equipment you already have.
| Consideration | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Smells and deep-frying | Understand the difference between hot-air cooking and food submerged in oil; whatever appliance you choose, make sure you can ventilate the room as needed. | When cooking smells bother me at home, I mainly want to avoid deep-frying in oil without assuming that cooked food won’t smell at all. Around 33% of consumers would prioritise this need. |
| Overlap with the oven | Try a recipe you regularly make in the oven and compare the result, as well as the space a second appliance would take up. | If my oven already prepares the dishes I want, I’d rather check what an air fryer would change before buying one. This would be the main concern for around 27% of consumers. |
| Dishes and desired results | Compare the usable dimensions and fill limits with your recipes; check whether two cooking zones are available if you need them. | For the dishes I make most often, I’m looking for a size that fits the food without having to cook several batches, while still giving me the result I want. Around 20% of consumers would put how well it suits their menu first. |
| Space and cleaning | Measure your worktop and the space needed to open the drawer; check the instructions for clearance, cleaning and noise information. | In a small space, I need to be able to set up, use and clean the appliance without it becoming a daily nuisance. Space and upkeep would be priorities for around 20% of consumers. |
UFC-Que Choisir points out that the two appliances can perform similar functions. Whether a second appliance is useful therefore depends on the meals you make, not just its category.
Start by making a representative recipe in your oven, then look for a specific practical benefit before buying.
An extra appliance also needs space to store and maintain.
Avoiding deep-frying in oil doesn’t mean cooking food will be odour-free. Claims about filtration in deep-fat fryers also apply only to the models concerned.
If smells are a deciding factor, consider the appliance’s cooking method and make sure you can ventilate and clean it appropriately for the food you prepare.
Capacity alone doesn’t tell you how much of your usual food you can cook well at once. UFC-Que Choisir’s testing method distinguishes, in particular, between the optimal and maximum quantities.
Check the container’s dimensions and the filling instructions for your portions, then compare a single basket, two drawers and your oven.
A container that’s too small may mean cooking several batches; a larger appliance takes up more space.
You need to be able to open the drawer, and the appliance must be installed in accordance with its instructions. Noise from the fan also matters in an open-plan kitchen, as UFC-Que Choisir notes.
Measure the space you have in mind and follow the instructions for your chosen model. For the Philips NA210/00, the Joybuy product page specifies at least 100 mm of clearance on all sides. Don’t assume the same measurement applies to another model.
The Easy Fry range includes models with a grill function and options with two drawers.
The range includes air fryers in different sizes; Philips Support lists the 6.2 L NA231/00 model, among others.
The brand offers deep-fat fryers, including the Filtra Pro and Clear Duo.
Ninja is among the air fryer brands mentioned by UFC-Que Choisir.
These air fryers offer a way to cook without submerging food in oil. Compare their size with your portions and the space you have available. Their inclusion here doesn’t mean they’ll eliminate all cooking smells or necessarily offer an advantage over your oven.
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Worth considering if you’d like to cook two different foods in separate drawers instead of using a single basket.
Stated capacity: 7.6 L; six functions listed in the product title. Check the instructions for the required clearance and cleaning guidance before deciding where to put it.
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Compare it with your usual portions if you’re looking for an air fryer with a high stated capacity.
The stated capacity is 7.6 L. Check the usable dimensions and filling instructions for the dishes you plan to prepare.
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Compare the 2 L basket with your smaller portions and the dishes you actually use.
Stated power: 1,150 W; 60-minute timer listed in the product title. Check the instructions to see how much space to leave around the appliance.
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Worth a look if you want an air fryer for different quantities of food; compare its containers with your usual portions.
The product warnings state that the glass containers get hot during use. Check the instructions for handling them and the clearance required.
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Compare it with the 2 L model if your portions call for a basket with a different stated capacity.
The product title lists eight modes, a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C and a 60-minute timer. Check the instructions for basket care and installation clearances.
No. Choosing hot-air cooking to avoid deep-frying in oil doesn’t guarantee that cooking food won’t produce any smells. UFC-Que Choisir lists reducing smells as one possible consideration, but doesn’t claim the results will be the same for every recipe and model. Make sure you can ventilate the room adequately.
Only if it meets a specific need your oven doesn’t. UFC-Que Choisir points out that their functions can overlap. Try cooking a dish you often make in your oven first, then compare the size, portion capacity and cleaning requirements.
Follow the clearance measurements in the instructions for your chosen model. For example, the Joybuy product page for the Philips NA210/00 specifies at least 100 mm of clearance on all sides. Check separately that the drawer can open, and don’t apply this measurement to another model.
Check which parts of the exact model are removable and what cleaning instructions apply to them. Moulinex states that parts on some Easy Fry models are dishwasher-safe, but you should confirm this for the appliance you’re considering.