To make chips or other crispy sides without always switching on the full-size oven, start by considering how much you want to cook at a time and the result you’re after. An air fryer suits portions and recipes that fit in its basket; a deep fat fryer is for those who prefer traditional frying; and a convection mini oven is better for dishes that need a larger cooking space. You can then weigh up the room you have, the cleaning involved and the energy used for comparable recipes.
If you want to serve everyone without cooking batch after batch, look at how much you can actually cook, how the food is arranged and how much space the appliance takes up. UFC-Que Choisir highlights that, for this kind of use, usable capacity matters more than the stated capacity alone.
You want to avoid switching on the full-size oven, but you also need somewhere to put the appliance while it’s cooking and, if necessary, when you store it away. Check its dimensions and the clearance needed to open the drawer or door.
You want to handle less oil and avoid the smells associated with frying. An air fryer means no vat of oil, but its basket and accessories still need cleaning. The results and the amount you can cook may also differ from traditional deep frying.
The right type of appliance mainly depends on your usual portion size, the shape of the food and how much space you can spare. Then check what day-to-day cleaning involves.
Worth considering: for sides and other small dishes that fit in the basket.
Bear in mind: a large quantity may need to be cooked in batches or shaken during cooking, depending on the model and the food.
Worth considering: if traditional frying is your main priority for chips or breaded foods.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to handle hot oil, then cool, store or dispose of it, and clean the appliance.
Worth considering: if your dishes need a cooking space that an air fryer basket can’t provide.
Bear in mind: you’ll need room for the appliance. Compare its energy use for the recipes you actually make.
| What to consider | What to check | Who should consider it? |
|---|---|---|
| Amount per batch | The recommended amount of chips in the instructions and the usable cooking surface, rather than the stated capacity in litres alone. | When I’m cooking for several people, I want to avoid successive batches delaying the meal. Around 36% of consumers say the amount they can cook at a time is their top priority. |
| Space and size | The external dimensions, the clearance needed for the drawer or door, and the internal dimensions suitable for your dishes. | In a small kitchen, I need to be able to use and store the appliance without it taking over the worktop. Around 29% of consumers say available space would be their top priority. |
| Cleaning | Removable parts, washing instructions and, for a traditional deep fat fryer, draining and filtering the oil. | If I make chips often, I want to know what I’ll need to clean and what to do with the oil afterwards. Cleaning comes before other considerations for around 21% of consumers. |
| Electricity and other recipes | Energy use measured for a comparable recipe and quantity, as well as the types of dishes you can prepare. | For a variety of small dishes, I want to avoid switching on the full-size oven without assuming one appliance always uses less energy than another. Around 14% of consumers prioritise this combination of uses and energy consumption. |
A stated capacity doesn’t tell you how many chips you can cook properly at once. UFC-Que Choisir draws attention to usable capacity: an overloaded basket may mean cooking another batch or getting less even results.
Compare the amount recommended in the instructions, the internal dimensions and the space needed to open the appliance fully.
In a UFC-Que Choisir test, air fryers used less energy than a mini oven tested for cooking small quiches in the same quantity. This result doesn’t apply to every appliance or dish; the stated wattage alone won’t tell you how much energy a cooking session uses.
Look for tests that specify the recipe, quantity and electricity used, then see how they compare with the way you cook.
Deep frying means dealing with hot oil, potential splashes and parts that need cleaning. In its tests of electric fryers, UFC-Que Choisir assesses cooking, smells, ease of use and safety separately.
Before buying, check the appliance’s stability, how the basket is handled, how to drain the oil, which parts can be washed and what the instructions say.
UFC-Que Choisir’s air fryer tests include shaking the chips during cooking. Browning and crispness vary depending on the appliance and the quantity you cook.
Start by following the filling and cooking instructions in the manual. If you’re planning to cook for the family, check the results with an amount that reflects your usual portions.
This selection includes air fryers for portions or a variety of dishes, as well as a deep fat fryer for traditional frying. Before choosing, compare their usable capacity and footprint with the way you cook.
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The two drawers may appeal to households that want to cook two sides at once. The stated capacity is 7.6 L; check the recommended amount of chips per drawer and the space needed for the appliance.
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Worth considering if traditional frying is your priority. The 3.5 L refers to the stated capacity of the appliance, not the amount of chips you can cook at a time. Check the latter in the instructions and plan what you’ll do with the oil afterwards.
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For air-fried sides, compare the recommended amount of chips for each container with your usual portions. Also follow the instructions for handling hot parts after cooking.
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Its stated capacity of 7.6 L may catch your eye if you’re cooking several portions. Check the recommended amount of chips, the fill limit and the external dimensions before deciding where to put it.
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Worth a look if you want to switch between cooking a large dish and preparing two separate foods. The stated capacity is 10 L; check the recommended amount for each configuration, the space available and the cleaning instructions.
Yes, if its bowl is induction-compatible. If you’re using a fryer designed to sit on a hob, check its instructions and your hob’s guidance before use. An electric fryer must not be placed on the hob.
Compare the electricity they use for the same recipe and an equivalent quantity, rather than looking at their stated wattage alone. UFC-Que Choisir’s tests show that results depend on the food and the appliances being compared: a measurement for a small quiche won’t predict how much energy your chips will use.
Check that it comes with instructions and safety information in French, then read the guidance on hot surfaces, the power supply and cleaning. In France, the DGCCRF says it checks electrical safety, electromagnetic compatibility and the documents supplied to consumers, among other things. This doesn’t remove the need to inspect the appliance you’re considering.
Ask the retailer whether they’ll take back an old appliance of the same type when you buy a new one. The French Ministry for Ecological Transition describes this as the “one-for-one” take-back scheme. In France, electrical appliances are also covered by a dedicated collection and recycling scheme.