If you want to cook by submerging food in oil, choose a deep-fat fryer and be prepared to deal with used oil. An air fryer may suit you better if you want to avoid a pool of oil for regular portions, as long as you’re happy with the space it takes up, the noise it makes and, depending on the instructions, having to shake or stir the food. If your oven already handles the recipes and quantities you usually cook, carrying on using it could save you buying another appliance.
You cook foods that are usually fried, but would rather not store and then dispose of cooking oil. An air fryer offers an alternative method, although you shouldn’t assume the result will be the same as deep-frying. Que Choisir notes that the smell of a deep-fat fryer can put some households off, while ADEME points out that used oil needs to be disposed of appropriately.
If you’re cooking several portions or two dishes at once, look at the usable capacity and how the baskets are arranged rather than relying on the stated volume alone. Que Choisir highlights that usable capacity determines how much the appliance can actually cook.
If your oven already meets your needs, the space a new appliance takes up matters just as much as how often you’ll use it. Que Choisir describes air fryers as bulky and a little noisy; any difference in energy use should be assessed using comparable recipes and quantities.
Worth considering: if deep-frying is your priority for chips, doughnuts or coated foods.
Be prepared for: possible smells, as well as storing and disposing of used oil.
Worth considering: if you regularly cook portions but don’t want to deal with a pool of oil.
Be prepared for: an appliance that takes up space, makes noise and may need you to shake or stir the food; Que Choisir also found that results vary between models.
Keep using it: if it already covers the dishes, quantities and cooking frequency your household needs.
Consider: for small dishes, any difference in energy use compared with an air fryer depends on the appliances and recipes being compared.
| Factor | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Handling oil | Decide whether avoiding a pool of oil matters more to you than keeping the option of deep-frying. If you choose a deep-fat fryer, find out where you can take used oil locally. | I want to cook foods that are usually fried without having to store and then dispose of used oil. Around 31% of consumers would put this concern at the top of their list. |
| Usable capacity | Compare the recommended load, basket surface area and, if needed, number of cooking zones. Que Choisir says usable volume, rather than the stated capacity alone, determines how much you can cook. | When several people are eating together, I want to cook enough portions without making batch after batch. This would be the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Space, noise and cleaning | Measure the space you have and check the model’s guidance on noise and cleaning removable parts. Que Choisir describes air fryers as bulky and a little noisy. | In a small kitchen, I don’t want preparing meals to mean more noise, cleaning or clutter. Around 25% of consumers would prioritise these everyday considerations. |
| How useful it is alongside your oven | Compare the recipes and quantities you usually cook with what your oven already does. To assess energy use, compare the same recipe and quantity using clearly identified appliances. | My oven already meets some of my needs, so I want to know whether I’d use another appliance often enough. Avoiding an unnecessary duplicate purchase would be the main concern for around 19% of consumers. |
Que Choisir points out that the stated volume can give a misleading impression of how much you can actually cook. If the basket is too small for your portions, you may need to cook several batches.
Compare the usable volume, recommended load, cooking surface and external dimensions of the model you’re considering.
Cooking several batches also takes more time.
Que Choisir’s tests show that cooking results vary between air fryers and the foods being prepared. Its test method involves shaking the chips during cooking at least once.
If the texture of your chips is particularly important to you, look for tests of the specific model and check its loading and shaking instructions.
Que Choisir found that some small dishes cooked in the same quantity used less energy in an air fryer than in a mini oven. This result doesn’t automatically apply to every recipe, larger portions or your oven.
Assess whether the appliance is worthwhile based on the quantities you actually cook and comparisons made under equivalent conditions.
ADEME says frying oil must not be poured down the sink or toilet, or released into the environment.
Before choosing a deep-fat fryer, find out where your nearest suitable waste or oil collection point is.
Storing used oil and then taking it to a collection point takes time and may mean making a special trip.
Ninja is among the air fryer brands tested by Que Choisir.
Philips’ Airfryer range includes different sizes, including models with two baskets for cooking two parts of a meal.
The Easy Fry range includes different hot-air configurations, depending on the model.
These hot-air models are for anyone choosing an appliance for cooking without having to deal with a pool of oil. Their stated capacities and formats vary: compare them with your portion sizes and available space, without assuming they’ll replace your oven or replicate deep-frying.
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Worth considering if you want to cook two parts of a meal in separate drawers rather than using a pool of oil.
The model name lists six functions and dishwasher-safe baskets. Check the load suited to your food, the appliance’s dimensions and the instructions on shaking food during cooking.
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The dual basket is worth considering if you plan to cook two dishes separately rather than together.
The stated capacity is 9 L; check the usable load and surface area for your portions, as well as the appliance’s dimensions.
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The two baskets are worth considering if you want to keep foods separate while preparing a meal.
The product name lists eight preset programmes and independent temperature control. Check the usable load, dimensions and cleaning instructions before choosing this format.
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This two-compartment format is worth considering if you’d rather keep two dishes separate without using a pool of oil.
The product name lists ten functions and temperature control. Compare its dimensions and usable load with your available space and planned portions.
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Its stated capacity of 2 L makes this model more suited to small portions than larger batches.
The product name lists a dishwasher-safe non-stick basket and a 60-minute timer. Still, measure the space you have and check how much you can cook in one go.
Not necessarily: it can do some of the same things as an oven, but whether it’s useful depends on your portions, recipes and available space. If your oven already meets your needs, another appliance may be redundant. Que Choisir found that some small dishes cooked in the same quantity used less energy in an air fryer than in a mini oven, but this result doesn’t apply to every cooking task.
Shake them if the instructions for your model say to. In its test method, Que Choisir shakes the chips at least once, and more often if recommended in the instructions. Check the recommended load for your dish, too.
Start by checking how much you can actually cook in one batch, rather than relying on the “XXL” label alone. As a guide, Que Choisir recommends at least 6 L for four people and 9 L or more for more than five people, while warning that stated capacities can be optimistic. Also check the basket surface area and recommended load for the specific model.
Don’t pour it down the sink or toilet, or release it into the environment, as advised by ADEME. Once it has cooled, put it in a sealed container and find out where your local waste or oil collection point is.
Check which parts are removable and whether they’re dishwasher-safe for the exact model. A feature listed for one model doesn’t necessarily apply across the whole brand: for example, Moulinex says that the Easy Fry & Grill XXL EZ801D10 has removable dishwasher-safe parts.