If your main priority is avoiding the need to handle and store a pan of oil, compare air fryers based on the dishes you make and the basket’s usable capacity. For regular deep-frying, an electric deep fryer can offer a thermostat and, depending on the model, an oil filtration system. For occasional use, a deep-frying pot may suit you if it’s compatible with your hob. None of these appliances can, on its own, guarantee cooking results, easy cleaning or odour-free cooking.
If you cook vegetables, breaded food or roast dishes and want to handle less oil, start by looking at air fryers. Check that the basket can fit your usual portions and that it’s easy for you to clean. Les Numériques describes this cooking method as being more like a small fan oven than deep-frying in oil.
If you regularly cook chips, doughnuts or breaded food in oil, look at the capacity, thermostat and removable parts of an electric deep fryer. Some models also offer an oil filtration and storage system, such as the one Tefal describes for its Oleo Clean range; these features aren’t available on every model.
A deep-frying pot means you don’t have a dedicated electrical appliance to store, but it takes up a hob ring and you’ll need to keep an eye on the hot oil. Check it’s compatible with your hob before buying: de Buyer, for example, says its La Lyonnaise pots aren’t suitable for induction hobs.
Worth considering: if you want to avoid a pan of oil and also make roast or reheated dishes.
Bear in mind: according to Les Numériques, cooking with circulating hot air is more like using a small oven than deep-frying in oil.
Worth considering: if you deep-fry often and want a dedicated bowl with a thermostat.
Bear in mind: even with built-in filtration, the oil needs to cool before you store or dispose of it.
Worth considering: if you deep-fry occasionally and would rather use a piece of cookware than a dedicated electrical appliance.
Bear in mind: the pot takes up a hob ring, and compatibility, particularly with induction, depends on the model.
| What to consider | What to check | Think about your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Handling oil | Check whether your recipes need added oil. For a deep fryer, look separately at the model’s oil drainage, filtration and storage container. | I’d rather not cool and decant a pan of oil after every use, or I’d prefer a system designed to collect it. |
| Results and portions | Compare the stated food capacity with your usual portions, not just the volume in litres. Look for tests of the dishes you want to make: Que Choisir assesses cooking performance and evenness in its tests, among other things. | Chips, doughnuts and roast vegetables don’t necessarily call for the same appliance. I want to cook the amount I need without assuming every model will give the same results. |
| Cleaning and odours | Check which parts are removable and which are explicitly listed as dishwasher-safe. Check how filters should be maintained; having a filter doesn’t guarantee that there’ll be no odours. | If cleaning up after cooking puts me off, I’d prioritise parts that are easy to remove. Odours also matter to me, but I wouldn’t assume how a particular model will perform. |
| Space and compatibility | Compare the appliance’s dimensions with your worktop and storage space. For a deep-frying pot, check whether the exact model is compatible with your hob: de Buyer says its La Lyonnaise collection is suitable for all hobs except induction. | I need space to store an electric appliance, or I need to be happy with a pot taking up a hob ring. If I have an induction hob, cookware compatibility is essential. |
| Safe use | Read the instructions for setting up, filling and handling the appliance after cooking. Que Choisir highlights the risk of splashing and instability with traditional deep fryers, among other concerns. | When cooking with hot oil, I want to set the cookware up securely and follow the instructions for that particular model. |
The material and exact model matter: de Buyer says its La Lyonnaise pots are suitable for all hobs except induction. A claim that applies to another range isn’t enough.
Identify your hob type, then check the exact pot’s compatibility before buying.
Les Numériques describes an air fryer as an appliance with a heating element and fan, making it more like a fan oven. Que Choisir found that cooking performance varied between the models it tested.
Choose based on the dishes you most want to cook. Look for tests covering how well the appliance cooks them, as well as its noise levels and ease of cleaning.
Filtration or dishwasher-safe parts can make some tasks easier, but you’ll still need to let the oil cool and deal with storing or disposing of it when using a deep fryer.
Check how the oil collection system works and which parts are actually dishwasher-safe. In France, ADEME says that in most cases, used frying oil should be taken to a recycling centre, not poured down the drain.
A pan of hot oil can splash and leave surfaces hot. You’ll also need to plug in an electrical appliance in accordance with its instructions.
Follow the manufacturer’s guidance. The Directorate-General for Civil Protection recommends keeping flammable materials away from heat sources and avoiding overloading sockets. If a fire can’t be brought under control, evacuate and call the emergency services on 18 or 112.
Tefal offers electric deep fryers and air fryers, with specifications that vary by model.
Philips offers air fryers in several formats, including Essential Compact and 5000 Series Connected models.
de Buyer’s La Lyonnaise collection includes deep-frying pots designed for use on a hob.
These models show two ways to cook at home: with hot air or by deep-frying in oil. Compare their size and practical considerations with the dishes you usually make. If you’re considering a deep-frying pot for your hob, check that it’s compatible.
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The two drawers let you cook two dishes separately without a pan of oil. The product name lists six functions and a total capacity of 7.6 L. Check how much food fits in each drawer and how much worktop space you’ll need.
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Designed for frying two dishes separately, this model has two independent thermostats and advertised odour filters. The two 3 L baskets don’t remove the need to let the oil cool and deal with it afterwards. Check the amount of oil required and the dimensions before choosing where to put it.
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This deep fryer is listed with a capacity of 3.5 L and an XL anti-mist viewing window. If ease of cleaning is important, check which parts of this model are dishwasher-safe and how its filter works. The viewing window doesn’t remove the need to take care around hot oil.
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This 4 L hot-air model has eight pre-set modes and a stated temperature range of 35 to 200 °C. Check the basket’s usable capacity for your portions and follow its cleaning instructions.
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The two baskets and independent temperature settings let you cook two dishes at once. The stated total capacity is 9 L, with eight programmes and a power rating of 2,400 W. Check the dimensions and basket cleaning instructions before buying.
Yes, but only if the pot you choose is compatible with induction. Que Choisir recommends checking the material of the bowl; de Buyer explicitly says that its La Lyonnaise pots are suitable for all hobs except induction. Check the exact model and your hob before buying.
ADEME says that in most cases, frying oil should be taken to a recycling centre. Don’t pour it down the sink or toilet, into the garden or onto the compost; contact your local council to find out where you can take it.
Check which parts can be removed and which are explicitly dishwasher-safe, then look at how the oil is filtered and stored. Tefal lists these features for its Oleo Clean Inox & Design model, but they vary between models and don’t remove the need to deal with used oil.
In France, the Ministry for Ecological Transition says that an electrical appliance can be taken to a collection point or recycling centre, returned to a retailer or given to a social and solidarity economy organisation. Its January 2023 FAQ explains the conditions for take-back in shops: “1 for 1” when buying an appliance of the same type, and “1 for 0” at shops with at least 400 m² of sales floor space dedicated to this category.