If you want to avoid dealing with a pan of hot oil, an air fryer could be a good choice if your portions fit in its basket and you’re happy with a different result from deep frying. Que Choisir Ensemble notes that capacity and texture vary between models. If your oven already handles the dishes you have in mind, try it before adding another appliance. Stick with a deep-fat fryer if traditional frying is your priority, and consider a multicooker with an air fryer function only if you’ll also use its other settings.
You often cook foods that are usually deep-fried and want to reduce the work involved in handling oil and the cooking smells, without expecting air frying to produce exactly the same result as deep frying. Que Choisir Ensemble notes that the smell of frying can lead people to choose a different type of appliance.
You need to serve several portions and want to compare the usable space in a basket, separate drawers or your oven before deciding.
You already have an oven and are wondering whether another appliance would be redundant. A multicooker with an air fryer function is worth considering if you’ll also use its other settings.
Consider it if: your usual portions fit in the basket and you want to avoid heating and disposing of a pan of oil.
Bear in mind: crispness and even cooking depend on the food and the model. The fan and parts that need washing are also worth considering.
Consider it if: deep frying is the result you want and you’re happy to handle the oil.
Bear in mind: a filter and removable bowl don’t eliminate the need to handle hot oil, clean the appliance or dispose of the oil.
Consider it if: your oven already cooks the portions and dishes you have in mind without taking up more worktop space.
Bear in mind: check the results and how much space you need to spread the food out before ruling out a dedicated appliance.
Consider it if: you’ll also use its other settings and want to combine these functions in one appliance.
Bear in mind: the lids and accessories may need storage space. The bowl’s capacity alone doesn’t tell you how much usable surface there is for air frying.
Start with the foods and portions you usually cook, then check whether your oven already prepares them the way you like. Your choice will then depend on the results you’re after and how much space you can make for the appliance.
| What matters to you | What to check | Who this applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Oil and cooking smells | Understand the difference between hot-air cooking and deep frying; check the cleaning and oil-handling requirements for each appliance. | If I want to avoid heating and disposing of a pan of oil, while accepting a different texture from traditional deep frying, this comes first. Around 28% of consumers prioritise oil handling and cooking smells. |
| Number of portions | Compare the shape and usable space of the basket or each drawer with the quantities you plan to cook. | If I’m cooking for several people, I check that each dish fits in its compartment without needing multiple batches. Around 22% of consumers prioritise serving portions over other criteria. |
| Space and whether it duplicates your oven | Try cooking the foods in question in your oven and measure the space needed for the appliance and its accessories. | If my oven already does the job, I’d rather check how well it works before making room for a dedicated appliance. Around 22% of consumers first look to avoid buying redundant equipment. |
| Cooking results | Compare cooking methods for the foods you usually prepare and look for tests covering those foods. | If the texture of my chips or breaded foods matters more than reducing the need to handle oil, I compare the results before changing how I cook. Around 17% of consumers put cooking results first. |
| Noise and cleaning | Check noise tests for the exact model and read the cleaning instructions for its parts. | If the appliance will be used in an open-plan kitchen or on a regular basis, I want to know how much cleaning it needs and whether the noise will suit me. Around 11% of consumers prioritise noise or cleaning. |
The compartments remain separate. For its documented Dual Easy Fry model, Moulinex lists one drawer with a capacity of 5.2 L and another of 3.1 L. Their combined capacity doesn’t make one large basket.
Compare the portions for each dish with the size of the drawer it will go in, and check the quantity of food specified for the model you’re considering.
If the compartments are too small for your portions, you may need to cook extra batches or serve the meal in stages.
Hot-air cooking isn’t the same as deep frying. Que Choisir Ensemble also notes that chips may cook unevenly in some air fryers.
If traditional texture is essential, include a deep-fat fryer in your comparison and look for tests of the model using the foods you cook most often.
An air fryer duplicates some of the functions of an oven. On the Duo Crisp documented by Instant Pot, pressure-cooking and air-frying modes use two separate lids.
List the functions you’ll actually use and measure the space needed for the appliance and its parts, including storage.
Accessories and lids mean more parts to clean and store.
A filter in a deep-fat fryer can help you collect the oil, but it doesn’t remove the need to handle or dispose of it. ADEME advises against pouring used oil down the sink or toilet, or into the environment.
Check which parts need washing, how to handle the oil container and where to take used oil locally.
You’ll need somewhere to store the used oil until you can take it to an appropriate collection point.
Ninja air fryers with baskets, drawer-style models and a Combi model are among the products featured in French reviews.
The range includes compact basket-style models as well as appliances with two baskets.
The Dual Easy Fry range includes models with two drawers, letting you cook different dishes separately.
The brand also makes electric deep-fat fryers, including the Oleo Clean FR804015.
According to the manufacturer, the Duo Crisp combines pressure-cooking and hot-air cooking modes.
The appliances featured here let you compare different hot-air cooking formats, from compact baskets to models with separate compartments and mini ovens. Check the usable capacity and available space against the portions you plan to cook.
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Its size is listed as suitable for 1 to 2 people and may work well for smaller portions.
4.7 L basket, capacity for up to 500 g of chips and 2,000 W power. The listed functions include Air Fry, Reheat and Dehydrate; the basket is stated to be dishwasher-safe.
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Its two separate containers let you divide food according to portion size; together, they don’t make a single 8 L bowl.
CleanCrisp glass containers with capacities of 5.7 L and 2.3 L, plus five preset cooking modes. The containers and accessories are stated to be dishwasher-safe.
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The two differently sized containers can help you cook separate dishes; their capacities remain separate.
Glass containers with capacities of 3.8 L and 1.4 L. The listed functions include Air Fry and Roast, and the parts are stated to be dishwasher-safe.
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Its two baskets let you cook two dishes separately. Check that each portion fits in the compartment you plan to use.
Stated 12 L capacity, two separate baskets, Dual Cook and Sync-Finish functions, 2,600 W power and a digital display.
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Its mini-oven design and two zones may suit you if you cook several dishes at once. Check the appliance’s dimensions and how much space you’ll need in your kitchen.
Stated 23 L capacity, removable divider and air fryer, toaster, oven and grill modes.
Not necessarily: the dimensions and ways of arranging portions are different. Que Choisir Ensemble points out that an air fryer performs some of the same functions as an oven, but that the food and containers you use need to be taken into account. Try cooking the dishes in question in your oven first, and keep using it for anything that won’t fit in the basket.
Follow the instructions for your chosen model on plugging it in, positioning it and leaving space around the hot-air outlets. Don’t work out these clearances from the stated capacity alone, and avoid touching the basket, bowl or air outlet while it’s still hot.
Let the appliance cool and follow its instructions for cleaning removable parts and protecting their coatings. If you have a deep-fat fryer, let the oil cool before transferring it. ADEME advises against pouring it down the sink or toilet, or into the environment; check your local collection options.
Subject to the legal conditions, the statutory guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold to a consumer by a professional seller. The Ministry of the Economy and Finance distinguishes this guarantee from a commercial guarantee or paid extension. Keep your proof of purchase and check the terms that apply to your purchase.
No. The DGCCRF explains that the CE mark represents the manufacturer’s declaration that the product meets the relevant European requirements; it isn’t a certification mark. It doesn’t prove the quality of the cooking results or the model’s noise level. You should also follow the instructions for use.