An air fryer can replace a deep-fat fryer for dishes you want to cook using hot air, provided its basket is large enough for your usual portions. It won’t replicate deep-fat frying. If you prepare two items at the same time, consider a dual-compartment model. If large batches of fried food or bulky dishes are still your priority, keeping your fryer or using the oven may make more sense than adding another appliance.
If smells, handling oil or cleaning up are prompting you to make a change, compare the recipes you actually cook with the space available in an air fryer basket. UFC-Que Choisir reports that odours lead some consumers to consider an oil-free fryer; it’s also worth thinking about how easy your chosen appliance is to clean and how noisy it is.
A main course and a side dish don’t always need the same settings. A dual-compartment model can keep them separate, but check the capacity of each basket: the stated total capacity won’t tell you how much fits in each one.
In a small kitchen or open-plan room, measure the space where you’ll use and store the appliance, then check the clearances specified in the instructions. When it comes to noise, look for a measurement taken while the appliance is running rather than relying on a simple ‘quiet’ claim: UFC-Que Choisir points out that the fan can be audible.
Start with the cooking method you want to keep, then compare each format with your portion sizes and the space available. A dual-drawer air fryer and a deep-fat fryer suit different needs, even though both can be used to prepare a meal with several components.
Consider it: for hot-air cooking when your portions fit in one basket.
Downside: two dishes that need different settings may have to be cooked in separate batches.
Consider it: if you want to cook a main course and side dish separately and serve them together.
Downside: the appliance takes up more space, depending on the model, and the two baskets aren’t necessarily the same size.
Keep it: if deep-fat frying is essential to the recipes you regularly make.
Consider: you’ll still need to handle and store the oil, and clean the appliance.
Choose it: for dishes or tins that won’t fit in the baskets you’re considering, without adding another appliance to your worktop.
Compare: energy use depends on the recipe, quantity and appliances used; an air fryer won’t always save electricity.
| What matters to you | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Usable capacity | Check the internal dimensions, then see how much room each basket offers for the food you usually cook, rather than looking only at the total capacity. | If you need to feed the household in one batch, the number of portions that will actually fit is crucial. Around 29% of consumers rank capacity as their top priority. |
| Odours and cleaning | Check which parts are dishwasher-safe; for a deep-fat fryer, also look at the oil filtration and storage system. | If frying smells and dealing with oil make everyday meals less appealing, it may be worth considering a different appliance. Easing these drawbacks is the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Noise and space | Measure the appliance and the clearances specified in its instructions; look for a noise measurement taken while it’s running. | In an open-plan kitchen or a small space, keeping your worktop usable and limiting noise are especially important. Around 21% of consumers put this need ahead of all others. |
| Using it instead of the oven | Compare the dishes, quantities and number of batches; only compare energy use when the recipe and quantity are the same. | If your oven already handles the dishes you usually cook, the key question is what a second appliance would really change. Around 21% of consumers make this their top consideration. |
A stated capacity doesn’t guarantee that a large item or a whole meal will fit in the basket. UFC-Que Choisir points out that usable capacity determines how much you can actually cook.
Compare the shape and internal dimensions with the dishes you usually make, and allow for the possibility of cooking in extra batches.
The two appliances use different cooking methods. Even with a filtration system, a deep-fat fryer still involves handling and storing oil.
Make a list of the recipes where deep-fat frying really matters before deciding whether to replace your fryer.
Keeping your fryer also means finding time to filter and store the oil, and clean the appliance after use.
An air fryer’s fan can be noticeable in an open-plan kitchen; a large model also needs to be used with the clearances specified in its instructions.
Measure the space where you plan to put it and check noise tests carried out while the appliance is cooking, especially if it’ll be near your living area.
Results vary depending on the food and quantity. UFC-Que Choisir found that air fryers used less energy than a mini oven for a small quiche, but not for every dish they tested.
When comparing an air fryer with your oven for the dishes you make, use equivalent quantities and factor in any extra batches you’ll need to cook.
The range includes dual-drawer air fryers and vertical models. They’re worth considering if you want to cook two dishes at once, but be sure to check how much space you have.
Some models in the range combine two differently sized baskets, which may suit a main course and a side dish.
The Oleoclean range is for deep-fat frying rather than hot-air cooking, making it worth a look if you want to keep frying by immersion.
These single- and dual-basket models are options if you’re switching to hot-air cooking. Compare their stated capacity with your portion sizes and check how much space they’ll need in your kitchen.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you want to cook two dishes in separate baskets. The stated capacity is 9 L in total: check that each basket can accommodate your portions, and consider the noise and clearance needed in your kitchen.
Image unavailable
Consider it if you want to cook a main course and a side dish separately for the same meal. The model name indicates a total capacity of 9.5 L and six functions; compare the dimensions of each drawer with the food you plan to cook, and check the instructions for installation guidance.
Image unavailable
This dual-drawer design lets you cook two dishes separately. Its stated capacity of 7.6 L is for the appliance as a whole, so check what will fit in each drawer, as well as the space and clearance needed before buying.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you’d rather cook your food in one basket than divide it between two zones. The stated capacity is 7.6 L; compare the internal dimensions with your dishes, then measure the space you have for the appliance.
Image unavailable
Consider it if you want to cook two dishes in separate baskets. The model has a stated total capacity of 9 L and eight preset programmes; check the dimensions, clearance and cleaning instructions that matter for your kitchen.
Start with the portions and dishes you want to cook in one go, then check the usable capacity. UFC-Que Choisir suggests 3 to 4 L for one or two people and 5 to 6 L for three or four. However, the shape of the basket can affect what will fit inside.
They’re useful if you often cook two foods that need different settings and want to serve them at the same time. Check the capacity of each compartment and whether your chosen model has a synchronisation function; two baskets still won’t replicate deep-fat frying.
Look for a measurement taken while the appliance is running, especially if you have an open-plan kitchen. UFC-Que Choisir measures noise from 50 cm away in its tests; a brief demonstration or a ‘quiet’ claim isn’t a substitute for comparing models this way.
No. The recipe, quantity and appliance you’re comparing all affect the result. In its air fryer tests, UFC-Que Choisir measured average energy use for a small quiche that was 36% lower than in a mini oven. This result doesn’t apply to every recipe, and cooking in several batches can change your comparison.
According to the French Ministry of the Economy, the statutory guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a business to an individual. If the appliance doesn’t match its description or the use normally expected of it, keep your proof of purchase and contact the seller. This remedy applies to a lack of conformity, not simply a change of mind.