If you’re concerned about cooking smells, splashes and cleaning an oil-filled fryer, an air fryer could be a good fit for regular, modest-sized portions, as long as you have room for another appliance. However, compare its usable capacity with the meals you usually make: according to Que Choisir, cooking results vary considerably from one model to another, and a traditional fryer still has particular appeal when it comes to the texture of fried food. If your oven already meets your needs, buying an air fryer isn’t a given.
If you often cook small or medium-sized portions, cooking smells, splashes and cleaning may matter more to you than achieving the texture of traditionally fried food. Que Choisir highlights these drawbacks in its guide to electric fryers.
When worktop space is limited, compare the basket’s usable capacity with the appliance’s external dimensions. Que Choisir points out that usable capacity, rather than the stated capacity alone, determines how much you can cook.
If the taste, texture and crispness of food fried in oil matter most to you, a traditional fryer is still worth considering. You’ll need to accept the drawbacks of cooking smells, handling oil and cleaning; Que Choisir clearly sets out this trade-off compared with using an air fryer.
To avoid the drawbacks of an oil-filled fryer, start with your portion sizes and how often you cook them. Then check whether your oven can already handle those dishes. Choosing an appliance comes afterwards.
Worth considering: if you often prepare modest-sized portions without using a bath of oil.
Bear in mind: it’s an extra appliance that can be bulky or noisy, and cooking results vary by model, according to Que Choisir.
Worth considering: if the texture of traditionally fried food is still your priority, as Que Choisir points out.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to handle hot oil and deal with cooking smells and cleaning.
Worth considering: for occasional frying, if the pan is suitable for your hob.
Bear in mind: it takes up a hob ring and requires you to keep an eye on hot oil, with the risk of splashes highlighted by Que Choisir.
Stick with it: if your dishes mainly need a large cooking space or you rarely make small batches.
Compare: an air fryer performs similar functions to an oven; whether it’s worthwhile depends on your recipes and the quantities you cook.
| What matters to you | What to check | Who this applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Drawbacks of cooking with a bath of oil | Compare hot-air cooking with frying in oil, then check which parts of your chosen model need cleaning. | I cook often, but cooking smells, splashes and oil maintenance make it a chore. Around 33% of consumers would put these practical drawbacks first. |
| Portion sizes and available space | Check the usable capacity, basket shape, external dimensions and the clearance needed around the appliance. | In a small kitchen, I want to cook a meal without making several batches or cluttering the worktop; this would be the priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| How it compares with your oven | Compare the size of your usual dishes and the number of batches needed with each appliance. | My oven already fits most of my dishes, so a new appliance needs to get enough use to earn its place. Around 25% of consumers would make this their priority. |
| Fried-food texture | Look for cooking tests on the foods you’re interested in, and factor in the upkeep of an oil fryer. | For the occasional portion of chips, I’d rather keep the texture I expect from traditional frying, despite the drawbacks of using oil; this would be the main consideration for around 17% of consumers. |
According to Que Choisir, usable capacity determines how much you can actually cook. If the basket is too full, you may have to cook several batches.
Compare the basket’s dimensions with the food you usually cook, and measure the space available on your worktop.
Que Choisir’s tests show considerable differences in cooking results between models. Two drawers or a wide range of programmes don’t guarantee a particular outcome.
Look for tests covering the dishes you cook, and check noise levels and ease of cleaning. For models with two drawers, check the capacity of each cooking zone too.
Both air fryers and ovens use hot air for some types of cooking. If your meals need a large cooking space, an extra basket may not save you from using the oven.
Make a note of the dimensions and quantities involved in the meals you cook most often, then check how many batches each appliance would need.
Even an appliance you rarely use still takes up space on the worktop or in a cupboard.
A traditional fryer takes up a hob ring and can expose you to splashes of hot oil. Que Choisir also notes that some pans, particularly those made from cast aluminium, aren’t suitable for induction hobs.
Before choosing this option, check that the pan is compatible with your hob, that it’s stable and that you understand the instructions for use.
A brand to look at if you’re comparing different basket sizes and how much room they’ll take up in your kitchen.
A brand to consider if basket size and being able to find a compatible replacement part matter to you.
A brand to consider if you want to compare multi-zone models that let you cook two foods using different settings.
These air fryers come with different basket sizes for cooking without a bath of oil. Start by choosing one that suits your portion sizes and available space. If you’re mainly after the texture of food fried in oil, compare that cooking method too.
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Worth considering if you want to cook two foods using different settings without a bath of oil. The product name lists six functions and a 7,6 L capacity; check how much room the appliance needs and whether each cooking zone is large enough for your food.
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Compare it with your usual portion sizes if you’re looking for a single-basket model without a bath of oil. Its stated capacity is 6,2 L; check how much food the basket can actually hold and the ventilation clearance specified in the instructions.
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Worth looking at if you switch between smaller and larger batches. Compare the containers designed for this model with your actual portion sizes, and check the instructions for the clearance needed around the appliance.
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Its 2 L capacity is worth comparing with smaller portions before you consider cooking larger meals. The product name lists a 60-minute timer and a non-stick basket described as dishwasher-safe; check the dimensions and positioning instructions in the manual.
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Worth considering for larger batches if you have room for it in your kitchen. Its stated capacity is 7,6 L; check that the basket shape can accommodate your food without requiring several batches, and make sure you have the necessary space and clearance.
Not for every meal. The two appliances have similar uses, but the size of your dishes and how often you cook small batches affect whether a separate appliance is worthwhile. Compare the size of your usual quiches, gratins and portions with the basket capacity; a dish that fits in your oven won’t necessarily fit in the air fryer.
Use the stated capacity as a starting point, then check the basket’s usable capacity and shape against the food you cook. Que Choisir points out that usable capacity determines how much you can prepare; a high litre figure doesn’t guarantee you can cook your meal in one batch.
Don’t assume the results are the same. Que Choisir notes that traditional fryers still have an advantage when it comes to the taste, texture and crispness of fried food. If that matters more to you than avoiding an oil-filled fryer, look for tests covering the foods and models you’re considering.
Check each part and model number before you do. Philips, for example, offers QuickClean baskets for specific compatible models, but this doesn’t automatically apply to racks, dividers or other appliances; the manual explains how to care for your chosen model.
Look for tests covering several recipes and the exact model, rather than relying on the number of programmes alone. Que Choisir finds that results vary between air fryers and also assesses practical factors such as noise and ease of use.