If you want to avoid a vat of oil, an air fryer could be a good option. However, check how much space it takes up and how well the model performs: Que Choisir reports that results vary, and that air-fried chips taste different from those cooked in oil. If deep-frying is your priority, an electric deep fryer lets you cook by immersion, although its filter won’t get rid of every smell. For the occasional fry-up, a traditional pan fryer could also suit you, provided it’s compatible with your hob.
If you have a small kitchen or a room with little ventilation, compare cooking without a vat of oil with an oil fryer that has a filter. Que Choisir notes that filters vary in effectiveness, and smells can escape when the basket is lifted in or out of the oil.
If you’re after the taste of deep-fried food, look at electric oil fryers and the amount of food they can cook at a time. Que Choisir distinguishes between the taste of chips cooked in a vat of oil and those made with hot air.
A traditional fryer that’s compatible with your hob means you don’t need to keep another electrical appliance on the worktop. If you’re considering an air fryer instead, measure the space available: Que Choisir describes these appliances as bulky and a little noisy.
Worth considering: for occasional frying, if the pan is suitable for your hob.
Bear in mind: Que Choisir notes that this option has neither a cool zone nor an odour filter.
Worth considering: if you want to deep-fry without using the hob.
Bear in mind: you’ll still need to handle and dispose of the oil. Que Choisir says a filter won’t trap every smell.
Worth considering: if avoiding a vat of oil matters more to you than recreating the results of deep-frying.
Bear in mind: Que Choisir found that performance varies between models and notes that these appliances can be bulky and noisy.
| Criteria | What to check | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Smells | For an oil fryer, check the type of filter and how to maintain it. Que Choisir points out that filters vary in effectiveness, and smells can also escape when you handle the basket. | I cook in a room where frying smells bother me, so avoiding a vat of oil may matter more than getting the taste of deep-fried food. |
| Cooking results | Compare tests on the foods you plan to cook. Que Choisir found that air fryer performance varies, and that air-fried chips taste different from those cooked in a vat of oil. | For chips and doughnuts, I want the results you get from cooking in oil. For other dishes, I’m open to hot-air cooking. |
| Useful capacity | Check the recommended amount of food per cooking session, the basket dimensions and, where relevant, the capacity of each drawer. Que Choisir’s test protocol assesses electric fryers using two quantities of frozen chips. | If I’m preparing several portions or two different foods, I want to know the capacity of each bowl or drawer, not just the total volume. |
| Cleaning and maintenance | Check the manual to see which parts can be removed and are dishwasher-safe. With an oil fryer, you’ll also need to store and dispose of the oil. ADEME says it must not be poured down the sink, toilet or into the environment. | I’d rather know how to clean the appliance after each use and, if I use oil, how to dispose of it properly. |
| Space and ease of use | Measure the space available and check that a traditional fryer is compatible with your hob. For an air fryer, also bear in mind the size and noise levels noted by Que Choisir. | My kitchen is short on space, so I want to be able to use and store the appliance without getting in the way of other cooking. |
A capacity in litres doesn’t tell you how much food you can cook in one go. In fact, Que Choisir’s test protocol assesses electric fryers using two different quantities of frozen chips.
Check the recommended amount of food and the dimensions of the bowl or drawer. If you’re looking at a model with two drawers, check each compartment separately.
Que Choisir says filters vary in effectiveness, and smells can escape when the basket is lifted in or out of the oil.
If smells are a deciding factor, first compare cooking with and without a vat of oil. For an oil fryer, check the filter on the specific model and remember to ventilate the room.
An oil fryer means an extra step once you’ve finished cooking. ADEME says used oil must not be poured down the sink, flushed down the toilet or released into the environment.
Let the oil cool, pour it into a sealed container and check with your local authority for suitable collection points.
You’ll also need space and time to store and drop off the container.
In 2024, Que Choisir reported very uneven performance across the models it tested. So a feature listed on an appliance’s product page isn’t enough to predict how your recipes will turn out.
Look for tests covering the foods you’re interested in, then check the recommended quantity and how easy the model is to clean.
These examples highlight features of specific models; they don’t represent every fryer made by each brand.
The OleoClean Pro FR804110 oil fryer is worth considering if you’re looking at oil filtration and storage.
The Easy Fry Essential EZ130810 and Easy Fry Dual EZ901N20 show two different ways of organising hot-air cooking.
The Airfryer Premium Smart Sensing HD9867/90 is a large-capacity model to consider if you have enough space.
These models let you compare air fryers with electric oil fryers. To choose between them, start with the type of cooking you want, then look at each appliance’s useful capacity and cleaning requirements.
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If you want to cook two foods separately without a vat of oil, take a look at this model with two drawers and six functions. It has a stated total capacity of 9.5 L. Before choosing, check how much food each drawer can hold and how much space you have.
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This 2 L hot-air model is worth considering for small portions without a vat of oil. The product description lists a dishwasher-safe non-stick basket and a 60-minute timer. Check the recommended amount of food per cooking session and the appliance’s dimensions.
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This model has a stated capacity of 3.2 L for hot-air cooking without a vat of oil. Before choosing it for chips, check the recommended amount per cooking session and look for a test of this specific model.
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This model is for those who want to keep cooking in a vat of oil. Its stated 3.5 L bowl capacity and anti-mist viewing window are worth comparing. Check the recommended amount of food and how to maintain the filter. Que Choisir says filters won’t get rid of every smell.
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The two bowls let you prepare two different foods by deep-frying them separately. Before choosing this model, check the recommended amount for each bowl, how much space you’ll need and the cleaning instructions for its parts.
No. Que Choisir says effectiveness varies between appliances, and smells can escape when the basket is lifted in or out of the oil. Check the filter on the model you’re considering and ventilate the room while cooking.
An air fryer avoids a vat of oil, but it won’t necessarily give you the results you’d expect from deep-frying. Que Choisir notes that air-fried chips taste different from those cooked in oil, and that performance varies between models. Compare tests of the model and type of chips you’re interested in.
It depends on the model and the part, so check the manual rather than assuming the whole appliance is dishwasher-safe. For example, Moulinex says the basket in the Easy Fry Essential EZ130810 is dishwasher-safe. Unplug the appliance and let it cool before cleaning.
Let it cool, pour it into a sealed container and check with your local authority for collection options. ADEME says frying oil must not be poured down the sink, flushed down the toilet or released into the environment.