An air fryer could be a good choice if you often make small, crispy portions and want to avoid the hassle of dealing with a pan of hot oil. If your oven already suits the quantities you cook, or you mainly prepare larger meals, another appliance could be redundant. And if you prioritise the texture of fresh chips cooked in oil, a traditional deep-fat fryer is a better match—though it does come with the associated smells and cleaning.
If the smell of frying, splashes and handling oil put you off, focus on the cooking results you want and how much cleaning each appliance involves. UFC-Que Choisir highlights these drawbacks of traditional deep-fat fryers.
If you usually cook modest portions, a smaller basket could be an advantage over using your oven. Whether it’s the right choice will depend on the recipes you make and how often you prepare those portions.
If your oven already meets your needs, think about where you would keep an air fryer and whether you’d be happy with the sound of its fan. UFC-Que Choisir lists both its size and noise as points to consider.
Choose this if: you often make small, crispy dishes and want to cook without a pan of hot oil.
Bear in mind: it’s another appliance to store or leave on the worktop, the fan is audible and the basket limits how much you can cook at once.
Choose this if: the taste and texture of traditional fried food, especially fresh chips, are your priority.
Bear in mind: this cooking method involves handling oil, possible smells and cleaning.
Stick with this if: you mainly cook larger batches or only make crispy dishes occasionally.
Bear in mind: energy-use results recorded for certain small recipes in an air fryer won’t necessarily apply to your oven or every dish you make.
| Criteria | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Oil and cleaning | Access to the basket, removable parts and cleaning instructions. | I want crispy food without handling oil or dealing with the smell afterwards. Around 31% of consumers put this convenience first. |
| Small portions | Usable capacity for your recipes and cooking times compared with your oven. | When I’m cooking a small amount, I want the appliance to offer something different from my oven, without assuming it will save electricity every time. This is a priority for around 31% of consumers. |
| Household meals | How much you can actually cook in one batch and how much space the appliance takes up. | When cooking for several people, I want to avoid having to cook batch after batch because the basket is too small. Around 23% of consumers put capacity first. |
| Chip texture | The result you want from fresh chips: air-fried or deep-fried. | If taste and the crispness of fresh chips cooked in oil matter most to me, I’m happy to accept the drawbacks of traditional deep-frying. This texture is the priority for around 15% of consumers. |
A favourable result for a small dish doesn’t predict how much energy a family meal or several batches will use. UFC-Que Choisir’s tests compare specific recipes, quantities and appliances.
Think about what you usually cook and compare the quantities and cooking times with your oven, rather than applying one percentage to every meal.
A basket that’s too small could mean cooking in several batches. UFC-Que Choisir points out that usable capacity determines how much food you can actually prepare.
Check whether there’s enough room for the foods you usually cook, especially if they need to be arranged in a single layer for the result you want.
Extra batches add to the preparation time.
An air fryer’s fan could be disruptive in an open-plan kitchen, particularly if other appliances are running at the same time.
Check for an independent noise measurement if one is available, and consider where the appliance would be used in your home.
UFC-Que Choisir says that air-fried chips don’t necessarily have the same taste as chips cooked in hot oil.
If fresh chips are the main reason you’re buying one, choose based on the texture you want. If you’ll use it for a wider range of dishes, consider those too.
These appliances use hot air rather than a pan of oil. To compare their sizes, start with the portions you usually cook and the space you have available. Then check the cleaning instructions and noise levels if those are important to you.
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Worth considering if you want to cook two foods in separate drawers without using a pan of oil.
The model name indicates six functions and a total capacity of 7.6 L. Check that the amount of food each drawer can hold and the noise level suit your meals and kitchen.
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Its 2 L size is worth a look if you mainly cook small portions rather than family meals.
The model is listed with a 60-minute timer and a non-stick basket described as dishwasher-safe. Check how much you can actually cook in one batch.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a stated 7.6 L capacity for several portions, without using a pan of oil.
The stated capacity doesn’t guarantee that all your food will fit in one batch. Check how you usually arrange food in the basket and compare the appliance’s dimensions with the space available.
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Its configurable basket could suit households that alternate between cooking one dish and preparing two separately.
The stated capacity is 10 L, but the description mentions 800 g of food in total. Check how much you can cook for your meals in each configuration. Also check the cleaning instructions if dishwasher-safe parts are important to you.
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Worth considering if you’d like to keep an eye on your food through a viewing window while avoiding a pan of oil.
The model is listed with a 7 L capacity and a digital display. Check how much food it can hold for your dishes, how much space it will take up and the basket’s cleaning instructions.
It can use less for some small dishes, but this won’t apply to every recipe. In a test published in 2024, UFC-Que Choisir found that the air fryers tested used an average of 36% less electricity than a mini oven when cooking a small quiche of the same size. The difference depends on the appliances and cooking methods being compared.
It could be redundant if your oven already meets your needs and you only expect to use an air fryer occasionally. Look for a regular, distinct use, such as cooking small portions or reheating food until crispy, and consider how much space the appliance would take up.
Focus on how much you can actually cook, rather than the capacity stated on the appliance alone. UFC-Que Choisir suggests 3 to 4 L for one or two people, 5 to 6 L for three or four people, and 9 L or more for households of over five. The shape of the basket and the food you’re cooking also make a difference.
Yes, particularly in an open-plan or compact kitchen. The fan makes a noise, and levels vary between models. UFC-Que Choisir measures noise from 50 cm away in its tests. If noise matters to you, check for an independent measurement of the model you’re considering.