Choose an air fryer if reducing odours, avoiding the need to manage a bath of oil and cooking modest to family-sized portions matter more to you than achieving exactly the same texture as traditional frying. According to UFC-Que Choisir, hot-air cooking considerably reduces unpleasant odours in small kitchens, although results can vary depending on the food, the load and the appliance; a deep-fat fryer is still worth considering if immersion frying is your priority.
You prepare chips, breaded foods or browned dishes, but lingering smells are a nuisance. According to UFC-Que Choisir, an air fryer can considerably reduce these odours, although you should also allow for the noise it makes and the space it takes up on your worktop.
Your priority is cooking in a bath of oil, and you are happy to filter, cool and store the oil before taking it to a collection point. In this case, usable capacity and protection against splashes matter just as much as the type of fryer.
You rarely fry or prepare browned dishes and do not want an air fryer to duplicate your oven. Depending on your recipes and the result you are looking for, an oven, frying pan or an occasional traditional fryer may be a better fit.
Start by deciding whether reducing odours or achieving the texture of immersion frying is your priority. Then check the genuinely usable capacity, cleaning requirements and how the oil needs to be handled.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Reducing odours | Compare hot-air cooking with frying in oil. On a deep-fat fryer, a filter can trap some odours, but it cannot prevent emissions when the basket is lowered into or removed from the oil. | I want to cook browned foods without permeating a small kitchen with smells. UFC-Que Choisir reports that unpleasant odours are considerably reduced with an air fryer. |
| Quantity and texture | With an air fryer, check the usable volume, basket format and number of batches required. For a deep-fat fryer, UFC-Que Choisir uses 150 to 200 g of chips per person as a guide; a 1 kg capacity is suitable for around 3 to 4 people. | I want portions that suit my household and am, or am not, prepared to accept a different texture from immersion frying. A large capacity or two drawers can help avoid cooking multiple batches. |
| Cleaning and oil | Check which parts are removable, the washing instructions and, for a deep-fat fryer, the filtration system. Cooled oil should be stored in a sealed container before being taken to the local disposal or collection scheme. | I would rather avoid filtering, storing and disposing of a bath of oil. An air fryer removes this step, but its basket still needs to be cleaned after use. |
| Safety and installation | Inspect the stability, handles, lid, basket, thermostat and accessible surfaces. For an electric fryer, read the instructions and check the exact reference on RappelConso before use. | I want to handle the appliance without unnecessary risk of splashes or burns. With a pan-mounted bowl, I also check compatibility with my hob and the room’s ventilation. |
UFC-Que Choisir found that fresh chips cooked in an air fryer are less convincing than those cooked in a bath of oil, and that frozen chips may cook unevenly depending on the model and the load.
If the texture of traditional frying is essential, first compare the practical considerations of a deep-fat fryer. With an air fryer, avoid overfilling the drawer and allow for a few test runs to fine-tune the settings.
An appliance marketed as XXL may offer less than 5 l of genuinely usable space. Insufficient capacity means more batches and can lead to uneven cooking.
Match the volume to your usual portions and the number of people you are serving. Also check whether a single basket, two drawers or a mini-oven format would better suit the dishes you want to prepare at the same time.
Crumbs must be removed from the oil, which must then cool before it is stored. ADEME recommends not pouring it down the sink, toilet or into the environment.
Before buying, decide where you will keep the cooled oil and find the recycling centre or collection point available near you.
This routine takes time for filtering, requires a storage container and may involve travelling to a collection point.
Filters do not block every odour when the basket is lowered into or removed from the oil. French product recalls have also involved burn risks caused by splashes of hot oil.
Check the stability, handles, lid and how the basket is inserted. Use the fryer in a well-ventilated area and consult both the instructions and RappelConso for the exact reference.
Ninja is one of the air fryer brands tested on the French market by UFC-Que Choisir, including the Crispi FN101.
UFC-Que Choisir recently tested several Moulinex formats, including Easy Fry Silence Smart, Easy Fry XL Surface and Cookeo Infinity.
Philips is represented in UFC-Que Choisir’s comparison, notably with the NA462/70 Dual Stacked 4000 Series.
Cosori features among the air fryers recently tested in France by UFC-Que Choisir, with the Turboblaze Chef Edition.
Joybuy air fryer options for households wanting to cook browned foods without a bath of oil to filter or store.
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Two independent drawers for preparing different accompaniments without a bath of oil.
Two 4.75 L drawers, six functions, non-stick baskets and crisper plates that are dishwasher-safe.
Its stated dimensions of 41.5 × 27 × 32.5 cm and weight of 8.8 kg mean it needs a dedicated space on the worktop.
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A format to consider for everyday meals for 3 to 4 people without having to manage a bath of oil.
Stated capacity of 5 L, 1450 W power, adjustable temperature from 80 to 200 °C, six programmes and touch controls.
The non-stick basket is stated to be dishwasher-safe; check the footprint and the clearance around the air inlets and outlets before installation.
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Two separate baskets for cooking two dishes with different settings.
Two 4.5 L baskets, 2400 W power, eight programmes, synchronisation and independent temperature control.
The cool-touch handles and non-stick coating are stated features; check the washing instructions and the space required before buying.
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A capacity worth considering for one or two people who want to avoid filtering and storing oil.
4 L capacity, 1500 W power, eight modes, temperature from 35 to 200 °C and a timer from 1 to 60 minutes.
A shake reminder, automatic switch-off and overheat protection are stated features. For larger portions, allow for several batches.
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Two independent chambers for preparing several foods without having to dispose of a bath of oil.
Stated total capacity of 9 L, precise temperature control, ten menus and a removable non-stick basket.
Check the dimensions, noise level and whether the removable parts are dishwasher-safe to ensure they suit your kitchen.
No. UFC-Que Choisir states that hot-air cooking considerably reduces unpleasant odours, particularly in small kitchens, but does not guarantee that they will disappear completely. Filters in a deep-fat fryer can reduce some odours, but not those released when handling the basket.
According to the guidelines published by UFC-Que Choisir, allow 3 to 4 l for an air fryer intended for 1 or 2 people, then 5 to 6 l for 3 to 4 people. For a deep-fat fryer, allow around 150 to 200 g of chips per person; a 1 kg capacity is suitable for around 3 to 4 people.
Check the stability, handles, basket, lid, thermostat, accessible surfaces and the instructions provided. UFC-Que Choisir treats thermal and electrical safety as an important criterion; also check the exact reference in RappelConso before use.
Allow the oil to cool, pour it into a sealed bottle or container, then take it to the local disposal or collection scheme. ADEME states that it must not be poured down the sink, toilet or into the environment.
Not in every situation. In a UFC-Que Choisir test involving a small quiche, air fryers used an average of 36% less electricity than a mini-oven for the same quantity; however, the result depends on the preparation and the appliances being compared. Compare your usual portions and recipes before generalising this figure.