If frying smells bother you, a drawer-style air fryer can replace deep-frying in oil for some dishes, without guaranteeing odour-free cooking or the same crispness. A dual-drawer model is mainly useful for cooking two dishes at the same time. Keep your deep-fat fryer if the texture of traditionally fried food matters most, or use your fan oven if it already meets your needs without taking up any more space.
If the appliance will be used near your living area, compare the worktop space it takes up and how noisy it is when running. An air fryer avoids a deep-fat fryer full of oil, but its fan may be noticeable in this setting.
An air fryer lets you make chips, breaded foods or vegetables without always turning to deep-frying. However, the amount you can cook in one batch and how crispy it gets depend on the food and the model.
Two independent drawers are useful if you regularly cook foods with different cooking times. If you only need this occasionally, compare the space they take up with a single-drawer model or your oven.
Worth considering: for regular cooking without deep-frying, if one batch is enough for your household.
The trade-off: the fan makes some noise, and the results do not always have the same crispness as traditionally fried food, as UFC-Que Choisir points out.
Worth considering: if you often cook two dishes with different cooking times as part of a meal.
The trade-off: its main advantage is convenience; make sure you have room for an appliance with two compartments.
Worth keeping: if the texture of chips cooked in oil matters more to you than reducing cooking smells.
The trade-off: you will need to clean the bowl and dispose of used oil.
Worth using: if your oven already accommodates the dishes and quantities you usually cook.
Bear in mind: it will not eliminate cooking smells. Consider how an extra appliance would change the way you use your kitchen.
Once you have chosen a cooking method, compare the stated capacity with your portion sizes, then check the noise, cleaning requirements and available space.
| Criteria | What to check | My needs |
|---|---|---|
| Smells and oil | Compare hot-air cooking with deep-frying, but do not expect it to be completely odour-free. If you are considering a deep-fat fryer, also look at how easy it is to clean and dispose of used oil. | Frying smells are still an issue in my home, and I would rather avoid handling used oil regularly. |
| Noise | Look for tests carried out using comparable methods rather than assuming noise levels from an appliance’s size or a marketing claim. UFC-Que Choisir, for example, measures noise from 0,50 m as part of its test procedure. | In an open-plan kitchen, I want to be able to take the fan noise into account throughout cooking. |
| Portions and cooking | Check the recommended load, the shape of the basket and the results with the foods you usually cook. UFC-Que Choisir tests chips at an optimal quantity, then with the drawer two-thirds full: capacity in litres alone does not tell you whether a batch will turn out well. | One batch should be enough for a meal without overfilling the basket. If I’m cooking two different dishes, independent drawers may matter more than the total capacity. |
| Space and cleaning | Measure the appliance and the clearance required in its instructions, including beneath wall units. Check which parts can be removed and whether they are dishwasher-safe. | I want an appliance I can leave out or put away without cluttering the kitchen, and clean after making the dishes I usually cook. |
You may hear the fan in your living area; UFC-Que Choisir recommends taking this noise into account before buying.
Look for a sound test that specifies its method and measuring distance, or listen to the appliance running if you have the chance.
A large appliance or dual-drawer model can take up a significant amount of worktop space and may need clearance around it.
Measure the available width, depth and height, then compare them with the model’s dimensions and clearance instructions.
According to UFC-Que Choisir, the crispness and cooking results for chips can vary between air fryers; traditional deep-frying produces a different result.
Look for tests involving the foods you cook. If the texture of chips cooked in oil is your main priority, bear that in mind before replacing your deep-fat fryer.
Keeping a deep-fat fryer means letting the oil cool and disposing of it somewhere other than down the sink or toilet.
Find out where your nearest collection point is and have a sealed container ready to transport the cooled oil.
You will also need to allow time for the oil to cool, store the container and, depending on the collection point, make a trip to drop it off.
These ranges are useful for comparing formats and features, but they do not predict how every model will perform.
The Easy Fry range includes the 5 L Easy Fry Smart & Silence EZ572DF0.
The range includes models with one or two baskets. According to Philips France, the Série 3000 NA352/04 has a 6 L basket and a 3 L basket, and lets you synchronise cooking times.
The MultiFry 3 HF3030 and MultiFry 5 HF5073 are among the models featured in UFC-Que Choisir’s comparison.
These single- and dual-drawer air fryers are options if you are considering hot-air cooking instead of deep-frying. Compare their size with your portions and the space available; this selection is not a substitute for comparing them with your deep-fat fryer or oven.
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Worth considering if you regularly prepare two parts of the same meal. The model name specifies two drawers, a stated capacity of 7,6 L and six functions. Check the recommended load for each drawer, noise levels and the space required before choosing.
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The two-basket design may suit you if you cook separate dishes. Its stated total capacity is 9 L. Compare the space it takes up and the recommended load for each basket with the food you plan to cook, as well as the appliance’s overall size and noise levels.
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Worth comparing if you want an air fryer for portions of different sizes. Check the capacity of the containers, the recommended load and how much storage space you will need. Do not assume that having several containers means you can cook two dishes at once.
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Its stated 2 L basket is worth comparing with the smaller portions you actually cook; larger quantities may need to be cooked in several batches. The product name specifies a non-stick basket and a 60-minute timer. Also check the recommended load, dimensions and noise levels.
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Compare the stated 7,6 L capacity with the size of the batches you cook and the worktop space available. Check the recommended load, external dimensions, noise levels and results with the foods you cook most often.
No. It may reduce the smells associated with deep-frying, but it will not make cooking odour-free. The food you cook, ventilation and appliance maintenance are also worth considering.
Compare the recommended load, basket shape and number of portions you cook. In its test procedure, UFC-Que Choisir tests chips at an optimal quantity, then with the drawer two-thirds full: the stated capacity does not guarantee the same results at every load.
Not necessarily. Two drawers are mainly useful if you often cook two foods with different cooking times. If you are making just one dish, compare the capacity of a single basket with that of your oven too. Check the size of each basket, not just the total capacity.
Let it cool, then follow the instructions for removing and washing the parts designed to be taken out. Check whether they are dishwasher-safe for each individual model. For example, Philips France says the basket and removable plate on the Série 3000 NA352/04 are dishwasher-safe.
Do not pour it down the sink, flush it down the toilet or tip it into the environment. ADEME advises that, once cooled, frying oil should generally be taken to a household waste recycling centre. Check which local collection points are available and transport the oil in a sealed container.