If cooking smells bother you and you regularly prepare small or medium-sized batches, consider an air fryer, but don’t expect it to make your kitchen completely odour-free. A deep-fat fryer remains an option if you prefer traditional frying and are happy to handle the oil. For larger dishes or occasional use, first check whether your oven will do the job. According to UFC-Que Choisir, noise levels and cooking results vary between air fryers, so the exact model matters just as much as the cooking method.
You’d like to make chips, breaded foods or doughnuts, but the smell and the hassle of dealing with a pan of hot oil put you off. UFC-Que Choisir highlights this drawback of electric deep-fat fryers, although switching to another cooking method doesn’t guarantee an odour-free kitchen.
An extra appliance needs to fit into your kitchen without making ventilation a daily nuisance. Check its dimensions, the clearance needed to open the drawer and the noise level of the model you’re considering. UFC-Que Choisir has found that noise levels vary between air fryers.
If you cook for several people or prepare two foods at once, look at the shape and usable surface area of the baskets, not just their stated capacity. A large basket and two compartments won’t necessarily fit the same dishes.
For chips, breaded foods or doughnuts at home, start by choosing the cooking method you’ll actually use. Then check the appliance’s requirements and how it will fit into your kitchen.
Consider it : for regular batches that fit in a basket, if you want to avoid deep-fat frying.
Bear in mind : the fan noise and the space a dedicated appliance takes up, with no guarantee of an odour-free kitchen.
Consider it : if you prefer traditional frying, particularly for doughnuts.
Bear in mind : you’ll need to handle and dispose of hot oil. According to UFC-Que Choisir, smells can escape even when a filter is used.
Consider it : an oven for large dishes or occasional cooking; a frying pan for a one-off meal.
Bear in mind : results depend on the recipe, while hot oil in a frying pan can cause smells and splashes.
| Criterion | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking smells | For a deep-fat fryer, check the filter and plan for ventilation. For an air fryer, look for a test of the exact model rather than relying on an “odour-free” claim. | If the smell of deep-fat frying puts you off cooking fried food at home, avoiding a pan of oil may help you decide, but it won’t guarantee an odour-free kitchen. Around 33% of consumers rank this concern as a priority. |
| Noise and size | Measure the space available and the clearance needed for the drawer; look for a noise assessment of the exact model. | In a small kitchen or open-plan room, you may want to save space and reduce the disturbance from the fan. This is the top concern for around 27% of consumers. |
| Capacity and oven use | Compare the basket’s usable surface area and shape with the dishes you usually cook, then compare them with the space available in your oven. | If you cook for several people or prepare two dishes at once, you’ll want to avoid a poorly sized basket that means cooking in batches. Capacity or versatility is the top priority for around 20% of consumers. |
| Cleaning and handling | Check which parts are removable and the cleaning instructions. For a deep-fat fryer, find out how to store and dispose of the oil. | If cleaning up after cooking or handling hot oil puts you off, ease of cleaning and safe handling become deciding factors. Around 20% of consumers name this as their main criterion. |
The cooking method alone can’t tell you what your kitchen will smell like. UFC-Que Choisir notes, in particular, that a deep-fat fryer filter won’t trap smells every time you handle the basket.
Make sure your kitchen is well ventilated. If this is a deciding factor, look for an independent test of the model you’re considering.
A large single drawer, two separate drawers and a basket with a removable divider won’t all fit dishes in the same way.
Compare the basket’s usable dimensions with the foods you usually cook, then measure the space needed to open the appliance.
According to UFC-Que Choisir, air fryers overlap with some of the things you can do in an oven. Results from small recipes aren’t enough to compare every appliance, portion size and recipe.
If you mostly cook large dishes or only prepare these foods occasionally, first check what your oven can do.
A deep-fat fryer means handling, storing and disposing of oil with care. ADEME advises that used oil must not be poured down the sink or toilet, or released into the environment.
Before choosing this option, set aside a sealed container for cooled oil and find out where you can take it for collection locally.
The Easy Fry range includes several configurations. Moulinex’s line-up includes the Easy Fry Mega EZ855BF0, which has a 7.5 L drawer.
The Airfryer range includes compact models and multi-compartment configurations. Philips describes the NA156/60 as having two 3,55 L compartments that can be combined into a 7,1 L basket.
Ninja is among the air fryer brands reviewed by UFC-Que Choisir, along with Moulinex and Philips.
These hot-air models offer a range of capacities and basket configurations. Compare them with your portion sizes, the space you have available and your oven if you’re looking for another way to prepare foods that are usually fried. None promises an odour-free kitchen.
Image unavailable
The two baskets may suit a household preparing a main and a side dish. The stated total capacity is 9 L; check the usable size of each basket for the foods you cook, as well as the space needed to open the drawers. If noise or cooking smells are a deciding factor, look for test results for this exact model.
Image unavailable
This 3,2 L basket is worth considering for small batches rather than a large family meal. Make sure your portions will fit and that the appliance has enough room in your kitchen with the drawer open. Check noise and cooking smells separately if they’re important to your decision.
Image unavailable
The stated 2 L capacity makes it worth checking what you’d like to cook in one batch. The product name lists a power rating of 1150 W and a 60-minute timer, but these figures alone don’t tell you about noise, cooking smells or how much space it takes up. Measure the space you have before choosing this size.
Image unavailable
The two drawers are worth considering if you prepare two foods separately. The stated total capacity is 7,6 L. Check the size of each drawer and the space needed to open them. Check the instructions for cleaning the drawers and crisper plates, and look for a noise test if you cook in an open-plan room.
Image unavailable
This 7,6 L model is worth comparing with your oven if you cook several portions. Check the basket’s usable surface area for the dishes you make, then measure the outside dimensions to see where you’ll store it. The stated capacity doesn’t indicate how noisy it is or how much it smells during cooking.
No. The cooking method alone can’t guarantee there’ll be no smell. UFC-Que Choisir says an air fryer may reduce smells compared with deep-fat frying. If this is an important factor in your purchase, look for an assessment of the model you’re considering and make sure your kitchen is well ventilated.
Let it cool, put it in a sealed container and find out where you can take it for collection locally. In France, ADEME advises that frying oil must not be poured down the sink or toilet, or released into the environment.
For a deep-fat fryer, check how the oil is filtered and how to clean the bowl. For an air fryer, check which parts can be removed and follow the cleaning instructions for the exact model, particularly before putting a drawer or crisper plate in the dishwasher.
Search for the exact model on RappelConso and, if relevant, compare the model and batch details listed in the notice. A recall applies to the products it identifies; it doesn’t allow you to draw conclusions about every air fryer from a particular brand.