Choose an air fryer if you regularly cook portions that fit its basket and would also like to roast, grill or reheat food. If you prioritise the crispness of traditional deep-frying, consider a deep-fat fryer instead; for larger dishes, your oven may still be the most practical choice. Before adding another appliance, check its usable capacity, how much space it will take up in your kitchen and which jobs it would genuinely do instead of your oven.
If you want to roast, grill and reheat as well as cook chips, an air fryer can handle all these tasks, as long as its usable capacity suits your portions. Also check that it won’t simply duplicate what your oven already does.
If you often make chips, doughnuts or breaded food and prefer the results you get from deep-frying, a deep-fat fryer is worth considering before an air fryer. The trade-off is having to handle and dispose of the oil.
A compact basket may suit smaller portions, but could mean cooking several batches for a family meal. Compare how much you can actually cook with the appliance’s dimensions, and make sure it fits on your worktop and in your storage space.
For everyday meals at home, start with the dishes you make most often. They’ll help you weigh up an air fryer’s versatility, the results of deep-frying and the capacity of the oven you already have.
Consider it: for modest portions and a variety of everyday meals.
The trade-off: overfilling the basket may mean cooking several batches and can make chips cook unevenly.
Consider it: if your dishes need more cooking space or usable capacity than a standard basket offers.
The trade-off: this style takes up more space, and its stated capacity alone won’t tell you how much food you can cook.
Consider it: if the results of traditional deep-frying matter more to you than having a range of cooking modes.
The trade-off: you’ll need to manage hot oil, cleaning and used oil.
Keep it for: large dishes and batches that won’t fit in an air fryer.
Worth considering: an air fryer only adds value if it handles tasks you do regularly, rather than simply duplicating your oven.
| Criterion | What to check before buying | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Versatility | Compare the dishes you plan to make with what your oven can already do, and check which dish sizes the appliance can accommodate. | For a range of smaller meals without always turning on the oven, I want one appliance that can handle several types of cooking; around 31 % of consumers may make versatility their priority. |
| Usable capacity | Check how much you can cook without overfilling the basket, rather than relying on the “XXL” label alone. | When I’m serving several people, I want to avoid waiting for successive batches; for nearly 25 % of consumers, capacity may be their main concern. |
| Frying results | Look for cooking tests of chips for the model and portion size you’re considering, and compare the results with what you expect from deep-frying. | If chips, doughnuts and breaded food are regulars on the menu, I prioritise texture over versatility; this may be the top priority for around 25 % of consumers. |
| Space and cleaning | Measure the space where you plan to keep the appliance and where you’ll store it. Also consider cleaning, noise and, for a deep-fat fryer, how you’ll manage the oil. | In a kitchen where every appliance needs to earn its place, I want to minimise the work involved after cooking; around 19 % of consumers may put this first. |
Using less oil doesn’t, on its own, guarantee an overall health benefit. The recipes you make and the portions you eat also matter.
Instead, compare the cooking methods you need with the results you want.
Usable capacity determines how much you can actually cook. A large basket may also take up too much space on your worktop or in a cupboard.
Compare your usual portions with the usable cooking area, then measure the space available before you buy.
UFC-Que Choisir’s tests report that chips cook unevenly in some air fryer models. Results depend on the appliance and the amount of food being cooked, among other things.
If chips and breaded food are your main dishes, compare the results from both types of appliance first.
According to ADEME, frying oil must not be poured down the sink or toilet, or released into the environment.
Check what collection options are available in your local area, and keep a sealed container for cooled oil.
Also allow time to transfer the oil and, depending on local collection arrangements, take it to a collection point.
Not for every task. An air fryer can take on some of the jobs your oven does, but its basket limits the size of dishes and batches. If you often cook large quantities, keep using your oven for those meals and consider an air fryer for portions that fit.
Choose based on your portions and the usable capacity, not just the stated capacity. For a family meal, check how much food can cook without being piled up too high. UFC-Que Choisir points out that usable capacity determines how much you can actually cook.
Stick to the quantity recommended for your model and check whether the instructions say to shake or stir the food during cooking. Before you buy, look for tests carried out with different loads: UFC-Que Choisir found that some models cook the chips at the top more thoroughly than those at the bottom.
Let it cool and put it in a sealed container. Don’t pour it down the sink or toilet, or release it into the environment. ADEME says that, in most cases, the local recycling centre is the solution; check with your local council to find out where you can take it.
No. This isn’t true for every recipe or oven. In a test involving a small quiche, UFC-Que Choisir measured an average of 36 % less electricity used by the air fryers tested than by a mini oven, when cooking the same amount. When choosing an appliance, think about the portions and dishes you actually make.