Households bothered by lingering smells
You sometimes make chips or breaded food, but the smell of oil puts you off. Compare cooking methods without assuming that a filter or a hot-air appliance will make your kitchen completely odour-free.
Who is this choice for?
Occasional cooks with a small kitchen
If you only make these meals occasionally and storage space is limited, consider whether your oven or frying pan will do before adding a dedicated appliance. UFC-Que Choisir also considers a traditional deep-fat fryer an option for infrequent frying.
Households cooking several portions
How much food you can cook at a time matters just as much as the cleaning involved afterwards. Check the stated capacity of the specific model, then look at which parts can be removed and how they should be washed.
Which criteria should you prioritise?
For the occasional fried or similar meal at home, first choose between deep-frying, hot-air cooking and using the appliances you already own. How often you’ll cook, how much space you have and how easy each option is to clean will help you decide.
Hot-air appliance
Consider this if: you want to avoid dealing with a deep-fat bath and plan to use the appliance for other types of cooking too.
Bear in mind: UFC-Que Choisir highlights the size and noise of air fryers, and notes that results vary between models.
Electric deep-fat fryer
Consider this if: you want to keep deep-frying and are looking for a dedicated model with oil filtration or storage.
Bear in mind: these features don’t remove the need to manage the oil or prevent smells.
Traditional deep-fat fryer
Consider this if: you fry only occasionally and don’t want another electric appliance to store, as UFC-Que Choisir suggests.
Bear in mind: it takes up a hob and doesn’t have the oil-filtering features found on some electric fryers.
Oven or frying pan
Consider this if: you only make these meals occasionally and would rather use the equipment you already have in your kitchen.
Bear in mind: cooking in the oven or frying pan isn’t necessarily the same as deep-frying; choose the method that suits the dish you want to make.
| Criteria | What to check | What matters to consumers |
|---|---|---|
| Smells | Compare cooking methods first. With a deep-fat fryer, don’t assume the filter will guarantee there are no smells. | When the smell of oil lingers in my kitchen after making a few chips, I mainly want to stop it putting me off cooking these meals; around 36% of consumers prioritise reducing smells. |
| Space and frequency | Measure the space available for using and storing the appliance, then compare its intended use with what your oven can already do. | If I rarely cook this kind of dish, I don’t want another appliance to store between uses; space and frequency come first for around 29% of consumers. |
| Portions and cleaning | Check the stated food capacity and identify exactly which removable parts are dishwasher-safe. | When I’m cooking for several people, I need a suitable quantity without making the clean-up harder; around 21% of consumers prioritise this. |
| Deep-frying | Check the temperature settings, whether the model has oil filtration and what maintenance it requires. | I want to keep deep-frying and am happy to manage the upkeep; this is the main priority for around 14% of consumers. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming an odour filter means no smells
On a deep-fat fryer, filter performance varies between appliances. Smells can also escape as the basket is lowered into or lifted out of the oil, according to UFC-Que Choisir.
If smells are a deciding factor in your purchase, compare cooking methods first. Then assess the filter as one feature of the specific model.
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Buying an air fryer for just a few meals
A versatile appliance still takes up space. UFC-Que Choisir recommends considering what your oven can already do.
Before you buy, think about the dishes you’d genuinely make in it and where you’d store it.
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Assuming litres tell you how many portions you can cook
The volume of a hot-air fryer basket and the amount of oil in a deep-fat fryer measure different things. So a capacity in litres alone won’t tell you how much food you can cook.
Check the stated food quantity or number of portions for each model, then look at its external dimensions.
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Assuming filtration means no maintenance
Some oil fryers filter or store the oil, but you’ll still need to manage the oil bath and clean the appliance’s parts.
Before choosing this type of fryer, check what needs to be done between uses and which parts can be removed.
Brands to consider
Moulinex
The Easy Fry range includes hot-air appliances in different sizes for households looking for uses beyond cooking chips.
- Moulinex says that removable baskets on some models in the range are dishwasher-safe; check this for the specific model you’re considering.
- The stated capacity of one Easy Fry model doesn’t apply to the entire range.
Tefal
The Filtra Pro and OleoClean Pro deep-fat fryers are for households that prefer deep-frying and want to make oil maintenance easier to manage.
- Tefal describes filtration systems on these models and automatic oil storage on the OleoClean Pro.
- Filtration won’t make deep-frying odour-free; also check which parts need cleaning on the specific model you choose.
SEB
The Actifry range uses hot air and, for some dishes, a stated limited amount of oil.
- For the Actifry Family AH900000, SEB says the bowl and lid are dishwasher-safe.
- The claim of very low odours is SEB’s claim for this model, not a guarantee for every type of cooking.
Philips
Philips Airfryers are another option to compare for hot-air cooking and the care of removable parts.
- Philips says certain parts and models are dishwasher-safe; check the instructions for the model you’re considering.
- Philips’ claim that these appliances reduce smells compared with traditional deep-frying doesn’t mean they’re odour-free.
Hot-air appliances on Joybuy
These models are hot-air cooking options. Compare the size and stated features of each model with the space you have and your cleaning habits. They’re not a substitute for comparing hot-air appliances with a deep-fat fryer, oven or frying pan.
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NINJA FN101EUGY Crispi Air Fryer
Worth considering if you want to try hot-air cooking without a deep-fat bath. Check the dimensions and the space needed around the appliance before deciding where to put it; this cooking method doesn’t guarantee an odour-free kitchen.
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Midea Air Fryer 2 L, 1,150 W
Its 2 L basket is worth considering if you cook small quantities. The product name specifies a dishwasher-safe non-stick basket and a 60 min timer; if space is limited, check the external dimensions too.
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Cuisinart Compact Max AFS8OBLE, 7.6 L
Worth considering if you’re looking for a 7.6 L hot-air appliance. This volume alone doesn’t tell you how much food you can cook at once: compare the portions you want to make with the model’s stated capacity and check how much space it needs.
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Ninja Dual Zone DZ400EU, 2 drawers, 9.5 L
The two drawers let you cook two dishes in one appliance. The stated capacity is 9.5 L in total, and the product name specifies dishwasher-safe baskets; check the clearance needed when it’s in use.
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KITCHENCOOK AIRMED7W, 7 L
Worth considering if you’d like to keep an eye on your food through a viewing window rather than removing the basket. The product name specifies a 7 L capacity and a digital display; check the dimensions and basket-cleaning instructions before you buy.
Frequently asked questions
Will an air fryer make my kitchen odour-free?
No, there’s no guarantee that it will get rid of all smells. If you want to avoid the smells associated with deep-frying, hot-air cooking is an option to compare. However, food and cooking residues can still produce smells, so remember to clean the parts involved.
Is an odour filter enough for an electric deep-fat fryer?
No. If smells are your deciding factor, don’t choose a deep-fat fryer based on this feature alone. UFC-Que Choisir says filter performance varies between appliances and smells can escape when you handle the basket.
Which parts can go in the dishwasher?
It depends on the exact model. Check the instructions separately for the basket, bowl, lid and any other removable parts. Some parts being dishwasher-safe doesn’t mean the heating unit or element can go in the dishwasher too.