If you’re most concerned about the smell of deep-fat frying, an air fryer is worth considering. UFC-Que Choisir links it with reduced cooking smells, but doesn’t promise odour-free cooking, and notes that it can be bulky and noisy. A deep-fat fryer is still a good choice for traditional frying, provided you’re happy to maintain it and handle the oil. Using an oven you already own means you won’t need to add another appliance.
You want to cook fried food without the smell of deep-fat frying lingering in the kitchen or nearby rooms. UFC-Que Choisir lists this as one reason to opt for hot-air cooking, but doesn’t guarantee that it will be completely odour-free.
You’re preparing several portions, so you need to consider the basket’s surface area, how the food is arranged and how much space the appliance takes up. UFC-Que Choisir advises against relying on the « XXL » label alone.
You’re mainly looking for deep-fat frying for chips, doughnuts or battered and breaded food, and are happy to filter, store and dispose of used oil responsibly.
Worth considering: if avoiding deep-fat frying matters more to you than recreating the results of traditional frying.
The trade-off: results vary between air fryers, and the fan can be audible, as UFC-Que Choisir points out.
Worth considering: if cooking in oil is the result you want for the food you usually make.
The trade-off: a filter lid won’t necessarily get rid of cooking smells, and you’ll need to store and dispose of the oil responsibly.
Worth considering: if you only cook these foods occasionally and don’t want another appliance to store.
The trade-off: don’t assume it will deliver the same results or use the same amount of electricity as an air fryer for your recipes and portion sizes.
| Criteria | What to check before buying | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking smells | First, decide between deep-fat frying and hot-air cooking. If you’re considering a deep-fat fryer, check the lid and filter, but don’t expect them to eliminate smells. | If the smell of deep-fat frying spreads to nearby rooms, I want to be able to cook without that smell lingering afterwards. Around 29% of consumers would put reducing cooking smells first. |
| Portions and batches | Compare the usable surface area, basket shape and external dimensions, not just the stated capacity. | When I’m cooking for several people, I want to avoid making lots of batches while still having enough room for the food. This would be the priority for around 18% of consumers. |
| Cleaning and storage | Check which parts are removable and dishwasher-safe. If you’re deep-fat frying, find out how used oil is collected locally. | After a meal, I’d rather keep cleaning to a minimum and have somewhere convenient to store the appliance. Handling the oil is also a factor in my choice. Around 23% of consumers would put these practical considerations first. |
| Results for fried food | Look for tests covering the foods you cook, especially fresh chips, oven chips or doughnuts. | If I mainly make doughnuts or deep-fried chips, I don’t want to assume that hot-air cooking will give me the same results. Around 18% of consumers would put the results of traditional frying ahead of other criteria. |
| Another appliance | Consider how often you cook these foods, your portion sizes and the space available, compared with the oven you already own. | If my oven already covers my occasional needs, I’d rather not add another appliance to clean and store. Around 12% of consumers would make this their top priority. |
UFC-Que Choisir links air fryers with reduced smells compared with deep-fat frying, but that doesn’t mean all cooking will be odour-free. A filter on a deep-fat fryer is no guarantee either.
If the smell of deep-fat frying is your main concern, compare an air fryer with your oven first. Choose a deep-fat fryer if its cooking method is worth that trade-off for you.
A large capacity doesn’t tell you how your food will fit in the basket. UFC-Que Choisir points out that some « XXL » capacities can give a misleading impression of the portions you can cook.
Start with your recipes and the number of people you usually cook for, then look at the usable surface area, drawer layout and appliance dimensions.
In an open-plan kitchen, an air fryer’s fan can be disruptive. UFC-Que Choisir has found differences in noise levels between models.
If you’ll be using the appliance near your living area, look for an independent test of the model you’re considering rather than relying on a brief demonstration.
According to ADEME, frying oil must not be poured down the sink or toilet, or into the natural environment. Disposing of it is part of using a deep-fat fryer.
Before buying, find out where you can take used oil locally and have a sealed bottle or container ready for the cooled oil.
The Easy Fry range includes air fryers in a variety of capacities. The Easy Fry Mega EZ855D20 is an example of Moulinex’s single-basket design, with a stated capacity of 7,5 L.
Philips offers air fryers with two drawers, including the Series 3000 NA352/24, which has a large drawer and a small drawer for cooking two different foods.
The Filtra Pro FR516070 is an electric deep-fat fryer with a removable bowl and a system for filtering out food debris.
Severin offers appliances for cooking with oil and hot air. Its FR 2431 is a deep-fat fryer with a stated capacity of 3 L.
These hot-air models are for households looking to avoid deep-fat frying. The range includes everything from a small basket for smaller portions to two-zone designs. Choose according to the food you want to cook, the space you have available and how easy you’d like it to be to clean.
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Worth considering if you’d like two hot-air cooking zones for your meals.
The model name specifies 9 L and a « 10-in-1 » design. Before deciding where to put it, check the usable space in each zone, as well as the dimensions and noise level.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a model with a stated large capacity for cooking several portions.
The model name specifies 12 L and 10 pre-set programmes. Check that there’s enough surface area for your food, the external dimensions and how the two zones work with your recipes.
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Worth considering if you’d like to split a meal between two baskets instead of putting everything in one bowl.
The model name specifies 9 L, 2 400 W and eight programmes. The total volume alone doesn’t tell you what portions will fit in each basket, so check the overall size and noise level too.
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Worth considering if you’d prefer a hot-air appliance with a window so you can keep an eye on your food as it cooks.
The model name specifies 7 L and a digital display. Before buying, check the basket’s surface area, whether the parts are dishwasher-safe, the dimensions and the noise level.
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Worth considering for smaller portions if you don’t need to cook a full family meal in one batch.
The model name specifies a capacity of 3,2 L. Check which portion sizes suit the basket, how much space to leave around the appliance and how noisy it is if you have an open-plan kitchen.
No. UFC-Que Choisir says air fryers can reduce smells compared with deep-fat frying, but doesn’t guarantee odour-free cooking. If you’re using one in an open-plan kitchen, bear in mind that the fan may also be noisy.
Start with the number of people you’re cooking for and the food you’d like to cook at the same time. UFC-Que Choisir recommends at least 6 L for four people and suggests considering larger models for more than five. Check the basket surface area and external dimensions too, as capacity alone doesn’t guarantee that you’ll be able to cook a suitable batch.
No, it depends on the model and the part. Moulinex says the Easy Fry Mega EZ855D20’s basket is dishwasher-safe. For the Tefal Filtra Pro FR516070, Tefal says the heating unit isn’t dishwasher-safe. Check the instructions for the specific model.
Let it cool, then pour it into a sealed bottle or container and find out where you can take it locally. ADEME says it must not be poured down the sink or toilet, or into the natural environment.
No. It depends on the recipe, the quantity and the oven you’re using. In a 2024 test of a small quiche, UFC-Que Choisir measured average electricity consumption that was 36% lower for the air fryers tested than for a mini oven, when cooking the same quantity. This result won’t necessarily apply to other foods you prepare.