If you want to reduce oil odours and are happy to use a different cooking method, start by considering an air fryer. If you want to deep-fry, choose between a pan for the hob and an electric deep-fat fryer, depending on how often you’ll use it and how much maintenance you’re happy to do. UFC-Que Choisir points out that air frying and deep-frying don’t necessarily produce the same results, and that a filter doesn’t guarantee an odour-free kitchen.
You regularly cook small portions and want to reduce oil odours, without assuming that air frying will produce the same results as deep-frying. UFC-Que Choisir’s advice highlights that filter performance varies between appliances.
You want to keep deep-frying and need to choose between a pan for a compatible hob and an electric deep-fat fryer. Filtration and cleaning features vary by model.
Before adding another appliance to your kitchen, check how much food it can hold, which parts need washing and how much storage space you have.
Worth considering : if you deep-fry occasionally, prefer cooking by immersion and have a hob that’s compatible with your chosen pan.
Bear in mind : you’ll need to handle hot oil and clean the pan; compatibility and cleaning requirements vary by pan.
Worth considering : if you regularly deep-fry and want to keep your hob free for other cooking.
Bear in mind : a filter may reduce some odours, but it won’t eliminate them, and the oil still needs maintenance. Check the features of the specific model.
Worth considering : if reducing oil odours and avoiding a vat of oil matter more to you than getting the same results as deep-frying.
Bear in mind : the cooking method and results may be different; UFC-Que Choisir also notes that there are limits to how many chips you can cook at once.
Next, compare how easy each appliance is to clean, how much it can cook in one batch and how much space it takes up. These factors may lead you to choose a different appliance from the one you initially preferred for reducing odours.
| Criterion | What to check before buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Odours | Cooking method, whether there’s a filter and how to maintain it, and whether you can ventilate the room. | When I cook at home, I want to reduce oil odours, even if that means changing the cooking method. Around 26 % of consumers prioritise reducing odours. |
| Deep-frying | Decide whether you want to keep deep-frying, then compare a hob-top pan with an electric appliance based on how often you’ll use it. | If I want to deep-fry, I prioritise that cooking method while taking oil odours and maintenance into account. Around 21 % of consumers prioritise deep-frying. |
| Cleaning and maintenance | Check which removable parts are dishwasher-safe and how the oil is filtered or drained. | After use, I want to know which parts need washing and how to handle the oil. Easy maintenance is a priority for around 21 % of consumers. |
| Amount per batch | Compare capacities using the same unit and check how much space is actually available for food. | To cook enough for my household without making multiple batches, I check how much food the appliance can hold and the usable cooking area. Around 16 % of consumers prioritise the amount they can cook per batch. |
| Space and hob compatibility | Measure the space available for storage or use; if you’re buying a pan for the hob, check that it’s compatible with your heat source. | In a kitchen where space is limited, I want to avoid an appliance that’s difficult to store or a pan that won’t work on my hob. This is the top priority for around 16 % of consumers. |
A filter may trap some odours while you cook, but they can still escape when you handle the basket. UFC-Que Choisir points out that performance varies between appliances.
Check the type of filter and how to maintain it, and plan to ventilate the kitchen or use a suitable extractor hood.
Depending on the model, you may also need to replace the filter.
The volume of oil, the capacity of a basket and the weight of food all measure different things. A capacity figure alone won’t tell you whether your portions will fit in one batch.
Compare like with like between appliances of the same type, and check the usable dimensions as well as the amount you usually cook.
Air frying doesn’t work in the same way as deep-frying. UFC-Que Choisir notes that the results can differ and that there are limits to how many chips you can cook at once.
Decide whether you’re happy to change the way you cook, or would rather keep both appliances for different uses.
Keeping your current deep-fat fryer as well as an air fryer takes up storage or worktop space.
The De Buyer La Lyonnaise Ø28 cm pan reviewed isn’t induction-compatible or dishwasher-safe; these details apply to this specific product.
Before buying, check that the exact pan is compatible with your hob and read the care instructions.
The La Lyonnaise steel deep-frying pan is a traditional option for occasional use on a compatible hob.
The OleoClean Pro FR804110 is an example of an electric deep-fat fryer with filtration and oil storage features advertised by Tefal.
The Super Uno AM314010 is an example of an electric deep-fat fryer; the Easy Fry range uses hot-air cooking and should be considered separately.
The Airfryer 2000 Series NA210/00 is an example of an air fryer with a stated basket capacity of 3,2 L.
These options include electric deep-fat fryers, air fryers and a hob-top deep-frying pan. Compare them based on your preferred cooking method, portion sizes and cleaning requirements.
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Worth considering if you want to keep deep-frying and compare filtration and cleaning features.
Stated capacity: 3,5 L of oil and up to 1,2 kg of food. An active carbon filter is designed to reduce odours, not eliminate them. Several removable parts, including the oil pan and basket, are listed as dishwasher-safe.
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Worth considering if you want to air-fry in two different-sized containers and are happy with results that differ from deep-frying.
Two glass containers, with capacities of 5,7 L and 2,3 L. The containers, inserts and lids are listed as dishwasher-safe. The containers can get hot, so follow the handling instructions and use oven gloves.
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Worth considering if you want to deep-fry on the hob and have confirmed that the pan is compatible with your heat source.
Stated capacity: 4 300 ml. Removable draining basket; listed as induction-compatible. The pot and basket can get very hot, so follow the instructions for handling hot oil.
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Worth considering for small portions if you’re short on space and happy to use hot-air cooking.
2 L basket, described as suitable for one or two people. The basket and removable parts are listed as dishwasher-safe.
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Worth considering if you want to keep deep-frying and cook two foods using separate settings.
Two 3 L baskets and two independent thermostats are listed. The filters are designed to reduce odours, not eliminate them; the product description recommends adequate ventilation. Hot oil can cause serious burns, so don’t move the appliance while the oil is hot.
Not if you specifically want to deep-fry. An air fryer uses hot air, and UFC-Que Choisir notes that the quantity and results can differ when cooking chips. It may work well alongside a deep-fat fryer rather than replacing it.
No. A filter doesn’t guarantee an odour-free kitchen. UFC-Que Choisir points out that performance varies and that odours can escape as the basket is lowered into or lifted out of the oil. Plan to ventilate the room or use a suitable extractor hood.
Check the instructions for the model in question. For the OleoClean Pro FR804110, Tefal says the heating element isn’t dishwasher-safe; for the Philips NA210/00, Philips states that the StarPlate insert is dishwasher-safe. This doesn’t mean the whole appliance can go in the dishwasher.
ADEME says not to pour it down the sink or toilet, or out into the environment. Let it cool, put it in a sealed container, then check the guidance from your local recycling centre or collection point.
Subject to its terms, the legal guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a professional to a private individual. The French Ministry of the Economy and the DGCCRF state that claims must be made within two years of the goods being delivered. An optional commercial warranty doesn’t replace this legal guarantee.