Choose an air fryer if you want to cook smaller portions without setting up a pan of hot oil, and are happy to have an extra appliance and a different result for fresh chips. A deep-fat fryer is worth considering if deep-frying is your priority. If you already own an oven and mainly cook larger quantities, first check whether it meets your needs without adding another appliance.
For chips, coated foods or vegetables, an air fryer lets you cook without deep-frying. However, you’ll need to accept a different cooking result: Que Choisir notes in particular that fresh chips don’t turn out the same as they do when deep-fried.
If the appliance needs to stay on the worktop or be put away after each use, compare its dimensions, the space needed to open the drawer and the parts that need cleaning. It’s also worth checking how noisy the specific model is.
Two baskets can be useful for cooking separate dishes at the same time. Before choosing this configuration, check the capacity of each compartment, whether you can synchronise the cooking times and how much space the appliance takes up.
Worth considering: for cooking smaller portions without deep-frying, especially if you also prepare vegetables or coated foods.
Bear in mind: according to Que Choisir, results vary depending on the food and model; the appliance also takes up space and can be noisy.
Worth considering: if you regularly want to deep-fry without using a hob.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to handle hot oil, deal with odours and drain the oil.
Worth considering: for occasional deep-frying if you’re happy to use a hob.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to manage hot oil and splashes; check that the pan is compatible with your hob.
Worth considering: if you already own one and want to cook larger quantities without cluttering your worktop.
Bear in mind: results depend on how the food is prepared; don’t assume it will replicate deep-frying.
| What matters to you | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking without deep-frying | Compare tests using the foods you cook, especially fresh chips, and check the instructions on shaking the food. | If I want to avoid hot oil and the smells that come with it, I’m happy for my fresh chips to turn out differently. Around 42% of consumers would make avoiding deep-frying their priority. |
| Portions and cooking meals at the same time | Check the recommended food load, the capacity of each basket and whether the appliance can synchronise cooking times. | When I’m preparing a main and a side, I want to avoid cooking in multiple batches. A capacity suited to the meal would be the top criterion for around 33% of consumers. |
| Space, noise and cleaning | Measure the space with the drawer open; check how noisy the model is and read the cleaning instructions for its parts. | In a small kitchen, I want to be able to use and clean the appliance without it getting in the way of other food preparation. Around 25% of consumers would prioritise this everyday convenience above all else. |
The total capacity doesn’t tell you how many chips can be cooked properly. In its tests, Que Choisir distinguishes between the load recommended in the instructions and a basket filled to two-thirds.
Check the recommended load for the foods you cook and the model’s cooking test results. Where the instructions advise it, leave room for air to circulate around the food.
Air frying isn’t the same as deep-frying. Que Choisir reports that results vary for chips, with a marked difference compared with fresh chips cooked in oil.
If that texture is essential, compare deep-fat fryers too. For an air fryer, look at results for the type of chips you use.
An air fryer takes up extra space alongside an oven. Que Choisir also includes noise in its air fryer testing process.
Measure the appliance in the space where you plan to use it, with the drawer open and the clearances specified in the instructions. If noise matters, look for a comparable measurement for the model you’re considering.
The basket, cooking pan and areas exposed to food residue need to be cleaned according to the model’s instructions. Abrasive accessories can damage a non-stick coating.
Check which parts are removable or dishwasher-safe, and follow the instructions for cooling and cleaning the appliance.
Philips offers air fryers with separate or convertible baskets, among other options. They’re worth looking at if how the capacity is divided matters for your meals.
The Easy Fry range includes a variety of sizes, including Silence models worth considering if noise and storage are important to you.
Ninja air fryers feature among the appliances tested by Que Choisir. When choosing between two models, results for the specific model are more useful than the brand name alone.
Cosori is among the air fryer brands featured in Que Choisir comparisons.
These air fryers are for households looking to cook without setting up a pan of hot oil. Dual-basket models are particularly useful for preparing two parts of a meal. Check the usable size of the baskets and how much room the appliance will take up in your kitchen.
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Worth considering if you want to split two dishes between separate drawers. The model name specifies two drawers, a total capacity of 9,5 L and six functions. Check the recommended load for each drawer and the space needed to open them.
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This configuration could suit households that alternate between cooking a larger dish and preparing two separate dishes. The product name mentions a convertible basket, a viewing window, a capacity of 12QT and 50PCS cooking paper liners. Check the recommended food load for each configuration and the external dimensions.
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Consider this model if cooking two separate dishes would be useful and you’re looking for a stated total capacity of 7,6 L. The model name specifies two drawers and six functions. Compare the space it takes up and the recommended load per drawer with the DZ400EU before choosing.
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Its vertical design with two cooking zones could suit a household preparing two parts of a meal. The model name specifies 12 L and ten programmes. Measure the available height and check the usable load for each zone before opting for this style.
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Worth considering if you want to cook two parts of a meal separately without deep-frying. The product name specifies a total capacity of 9 L and two baskets. Check the capacity of each basket, the appliance dimensions and the cleaning instructions for the NA351/00.
Not if you expect the same result as deep-frying. Que Choisir says fresh chips cooked with hot air turn out differently. Before replacing your fryer, compare tests using the type of chips you cook.
One basket may be enough if you mainly cook one food at a time. Two baskets are more useful for separate dishes: check the capacity of each, the recommended load, the external dimensions and, if you want to serve everything at once, whether cooking times can be synchronised.
Follow the instructions for the model you’ve bought and avoid using abrasive tools on a non-stick coating. Philips recommends letting its Airfryers cool for around 30 minutes before cleaning. Check separately which parts of your model are dishwasher-safe.
No: energy use depends on the recipe, quantity and appliances. In tests published in 2024, Que Choisir recorded an average consumption 36% lower than a mini oven when cooking a small quiche of the same quantity. However, some air fryers used more energy when cooking chicken drumsticks. These results don’t apply to every type of cooking or every oven.