An air fryer can replace some of the things you use a deep-fat fryer for, provided you mainly cook portions that fit its basket and are happy with a different texture from traditional deep-frying. Keep your fryer if that texture matters most, or stick with your oven if it already handles the meals you usually make. A multicooker with an air-fry function is also worth considering if you’ll use its other cooking modes too. Just check its capacity and accessory compatibility first.
If you regularly make chips or battered and breaded food in hot oil, think about which dishes you want to keep making before changing appliances. UFC-Que Choisir highlights both the smell of frying and the difference in texture between food cooked in a deep-fat fryer and an air fryer.
If you want to cook a main and a side without having to cook in batches, look at the shape of the basket and the number of cooking zones, not just the stated capacity. UFC-Que Choisir recommends at least 6 L for a family of four.
If your oven already cooks the food you want, consider what difference a second appliance would make to your daily routine. If you own a Cookeo, Moulinex says its Extra Crisp accessory is compatible with 6 L models. Check your model number before buying.
Start with the dishes you cook most often, then weigh up each cooking method against the space you have and the cleaning you’re happy to do.
Worth considering: for portions that fit the basket and food cooked with hot air, such as oven chips, roasted vegetables or chicken.
The trade-off: it won’t exactly recreate deep-frying, and it takes up worktop space.
Worth keeping: if you often make fried food and prefer its familiar texture. UFC-Que Choisir says the classic deep-fat fryer is hard to beat on this front.
The trade-off: you’ll need to handle hot oil and maintain the oil bath.
Worth keeping: if it already cooks your roasts, gratins, quiches and other dishes just the way you like them.
The trade-off: consider whether an air fryer’s format would be useful often enough to justify adding another appliance.
Worth considering: if you’ll also use the multicooker’s other cooking modes, or already have a model that takes a compatible accessory.
The trade-off: the function may require a specific accessory. UFC-Que Choisir says the Cookeo Infinity can’t cook two things independently.
| Criterion | What to check | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Texture of fried food | Compare the cooking method with your usual recipes. UFC-Que Choisir says air-fried chips vary in quality between models and have a different texture from chips deep-fried in oil. | If I care most about the crunch of my chips or doughnuts, I don’t want to replace my fryer without trying those recipes another way first. |
| Capacity and batches | Check the basket’s shape and usable dimensions, as well as the space your dishes need. For a family of four, UFC-Que Choisir recommends an air fryer of at least 6 L. | I want the main or side dish to fit in the appliance without having to cook in batches every time. |
| Smells and cleaning | Find out which parts are removable and which the manual says are dishwasher-safe. With a deep-fat fryer, also allow for handling and maintaining the oil bath. | Frying smells and cleaning bother me, but I want to know which parts I’ll actually need to wash after each use. |
| Space and noise | Measure the space and follow the clearances set out in the manual. If noise matters in your kitchen, look for measurements for the model you’re considering. | My kitchen is open-plan or short on space, so I need to be able to use and store a new appliance without it getting in the way of other activities. |
| Functions you already have | List the things your oven already cooks. For a multicooker, check which models work with the accessory, its capacity and whether it can cook two dishes independently if you need it to. | I’d rather use my existing oven or multicooker if buying another appliance wouldn’t change the meals I usually make. |
Circulating hot air doesn’t cook food by immersing it in oil. UFC-Que Choisir notes that results for chips vary by model, and that a classic deep-fat fryer has the edge when it comes to the texture you expect from deep-frying.
Make a note of the three dishes you cook most often. If chips or doughnuts with their familiar texture are top of the list, try making them in an air fryer before getting rid of your deep-fat fryer.
The stated capacity in litres doesn’t tell you the shape of the basket or how much room there is for a quiche or another dish. UFC-Que Choisir also points out that some large-capacity appliances take up a lot of space.
Measure the space you have and compare the basket’s usable dimensions with the dishes you use. If you want to cook two things at once, check how the cooking zones actually work.
The air-fry function may rely on a compatible accessory. UFC-Que Choisir says the Cookeo Infinity can’t cook two things independently, which may be a drawback for some meals.
Make sure you’ll also use the multicooker’s other modes. If you’re considering Extra Crisp, Moulinex says it’s designed for 6 L Cookeo models. Follow the manual for fitting and handling it.
An air fryer can take up a lot of room, and you’ll hear its fan while it’s cooking. These factors matter particularly in a small, open-plan kitchen.
Check the dimensions, the clearances required by the manual and where you’ll store it. To compare the noise of specific models, look for measurements taken under comparable conditions.
The Easy Fry range and Cookeo solutions offer two ways to add hot-air cooking: a dedicated appliance or a function that works with a multicooker.
The NA352/24 is aimed at households considering two drawers for cooking different parts of a meal.
Ninja is among the air fryer brands reviewed by UFC-Que Choisir. Choose a specific model and format to suit your needs.
This selection at Joybuy includes air fryers in different formats, as well as a deep-fat fryer for households who prefer traditional deep-frying. Before deciding whether to switch appliances, compare their capacities with the dishes you cook and the space you have.
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Worth considering if you want to divide a meal between two drawers instead of cooking everything in one basket. The model title lists six functions and dishwasher-safe baskets. Check that each drawer is the right size for your dishes.
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This size may suit households looking at a 7,6 L basket. Before replacing a deep-fat fryer, check that its internal shape will suit your usual dishes and that its external dimensions will fit the space you have.
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Worth considering for smaller portions, as long as the basket fits the dishes you want to cook. The title lists a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C, a 60-minute timer and a reminder to shake the food. These features don’t guarantee a particular result for chips.
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Worth considering if this air fryer’s format suits the dishes you make. Check the capacity of the container you’ll use for your meal. If you want to cook two dishes at once, make sure this model really does allow two independent cooking cycles.
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This deep-fat fryer is for those who prefer to stick with traditional deep-frying rather than switch to hot-air cooking. Its title lists two independent thermostats, removable baskets and odour filters. The filters won’t eliminate every smell, and you’ll still need to handle hot oil.
Not for every use: it cooks with circulating hot air rather than immersing food in oil. If the texture of your chips, doughnuts or battered and breaded food is important, try your recipes before replacing your fryer. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the difference in results compared with traditional deep-frying.
For a family of four, UFC-Que Choisir recommends an air fryer of at least 6 L. Check the basket’s shape and usable dimensions too: the stated capacity doesn’t guarantee that your usual dish will fit.
Not necessarily. If your oven handles the things you usually cook and you’d rarely use a second appliance, sticking with it will keep your worktop clear. An air fryer is more worth considering if its format suits portions you make regularly.
Not if you need two independent cooking cycles, unless you’ve checked that the model you’re considering offers this function. UFC-Que Choisir says the Cookeo Infinity doesn’t; Moulinex says the Extra Crisp accessory is compatible with 6 L Cookeo models.
No. That label refers to cleaning the specified parts, not the coating’s composition or effects. Check the manual for the model you’re considering to find out which parts are dishwasher-safe and how to care for them.