If you want to avoid a bath of oil, compare air fryers by usable cooking space, cleaning and noise, without assuming they eliminate smells. If you prefer the taste and texture of chips cooked in oil, include a traditional deep-fat fryer in your comparison: it still requires a bath of oil and needs cleaning.
You want to prepare foods usually deep-fried in a kitchen where smells linger. Don’t confuse avoiding a bath of oil with a promise of odour-free cooking; UFC-Que Choisir identifies smells as one reason people switch cooking methods.
You need to choose between a large cooking area and two separate cooking zones, depending on your portions and the shape of your dishes. Check the capacity and configurations stated by the manufacturer for each model.
You prioritise the taste and texture of chips cooked in oil and want to know what might change with an air fryer. UFC-Que Choisir notes that the result may not be the same.
Start with the result you’re looking for, then check the usable capacity, cleaning requirements, noise and the space available in your kitchen.
Worth considering: if you mainly cook one dish or small portions and want to avoid a bath of oil.
Bear in mind: food shouldn’t be piled up, and the fan makes noise.
Worth considering: if you want to cook a main and a side separately and serve them together.
Bear in mind: two drawers mean more parts to wash, and they don’t necessarily create one large continuous cooking area.
Worth considering: if you need racks or trays for foods that need to lie flat.
Bear in mind: measure the cooking surface and the overall dimensions. This style doesn’t guarantee fewer smells or lower energy consumption.
Worth considering: if you prefer the texture of traditional deep-frying and are happy to manage a bath of oil.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to maintain the oil and take precautions to avoid burns.
Worth considering: if you want to avoid buying another appliance and your dishes fit in your oven.
Bear in mind: results depend on the dish and the appliance. Don’t assume it will save energy or reduce smells without a suitable comparison.
| Criterion | What to check before buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Smells and cooking method | Check whether the appliance uses a bath of oil, and distinguish a filter for food residue from one claimed to reduce smells. | If I’m bothered by the smell of frying, I want to prepare dishes without a bath of oil, but I don’t expect a completely odour-free kitchen. This is the top priority for around 31% of consumers concerned by the issue. |
| Cooking results | Look for tests covering the type of chips or dish you make, and quantities similar to yours. | If I care about the crispness and texture of traditional chips, I want to know what changes with a different cooking method. Around 25% of consumers concerned by the issue prioritise the result above all. |
| Portions and configuration | Compare the internal dimensions, the shape of the cooking zones and how much fits in each drawer. | To serve the right portions or cook two dishes together, I look at the space that’s actually available rather than just the total capacity. Capacity is the top priority for around 19% of consumers concerned by the issue. |
| Cleaning | Check the instructions for the exact model to see which parts can be removed and whether they’re dishwasher-safe. | If I want to keep washing up after a meal to a minimum, I check which parts need cleaning and how the oil is managed. Cleaning is the top priority for around 13% of consumers concerned by the issue. |
| Noise and size | Look for a noise measurement that states the distance used, and check how much space the appliance needs around it. | In an open-plan kitchen or a small space, I want to avoid an appliance that’s too noticeable while cooking or takes up too much worktop space. Noise and space are the top concern for around 12% of consumers concerned by the issue. |
Avoiding a bath of oil doesn’t mean cooking will produce no smells. Results can also vary depending on the appliance and the food you prepare.
Choose based on the dishes you cook and how sensitive you are to smells, then look for tests covering those foods.
Two separate baskets don’t automatically give you one large area for a bulky dish. For example, Philips lists 6 L and 3 L baskets for the NA352/00; Moulinex describes the EZ9228F0 as having a flexible configuration.
Check the internal dimensions and exact layout before comparing stated capacities.
If your dish doesn’t fit in either drawer, you may need to cook it in batches.
The sieve in the Tefal FR516110 is used to remove residue from the oil. The De’Longhi F28-9 kit is listed as compatible only with F28 and D28 models; these features aren’t proof of a measured reduction in smells.
Before buying, check what the filter does and which appliance models it’s compatible with.
Models that use a filter may need a replacement; compatibility depends on the model reference.
Energy consumption also depends on what you cook and how much you prepare. A rated power figure alone isn’t enough to compare two appliances for your recipe.
To compare appliances, look for measurements taken using a recipe and quantity similar to yours.
The range includes dual-basket air fryers. For the NA352/00, Philips lists a 6 L basket, a 3 L basket and a synchronisation function.
For the EZ9228F0, Moulinex lists two zones of 5,5 L and 3,5 L, or one 9 L zone with a removable divider.
The Filtra Pro FR516110 is a deep-fat fryer listed for 4 L of oil and up to 1,3 kg of chips.
The range includes air fryers and hybrid oven-air fryer appliances. The Combi SFP700EU is among the models recently tested by UFC-Que Choisir.
The F28-9 filter kit is listed by the manufacturer for De’Longhi F28 and D28 deep-fat fryers.
These hot-air appliances suit different needs, including cooking two dishes, switching between one large zone and two separate zones, or preparing portions of different sizes.
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The two containers could suit you if you prepare portions of different sizes.
5,7 L and 2,3 L CleanCrisp glass containers; 5 preset cooking modes. The containers, inserts and lids are listed as dishwasher-safe. The glass containers get very hot, so use oven gloves when handling them.
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Two independent drawers could suit you if you want to cook separate dishes at the same time, each with its own settings.
Stated total capacity of 9,5 L, with two 4,75 L zones and 6 cooking functions. The baskets are listed as dishwasher-safe; use oven gloves when handling hot drawers.
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This layout could suit you if you want to cook two dishes separately in independent zones.
Two 3,8 L drawers and 6 cooking functions. The description states that the drawers and crisper plates are dishwasher-safe; use oven gloves to handle hot drawers.
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The convertible zone could suit you if you want to switch between cooking one large dish and using two separate zones.
Basket listed as 10 L, convertible into two 5 L zones. The description recommends leaving space around the appliance for ventilation.
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The convertible zone could suit you if you need to switch between cooking one large dish and preparing two dishes separately.
The description lists a 12 L zone that converts into two 6 L zones, as well as dishwasher-safe baskets and trays.
No. Compare the amount and shape of food that fits in each drawer with the dishes you usually cook. A synchronisation function can finish two cooking programmes at the same time, but it doesn’t make a basket bigger.
Look for tests of the exact model that state the measurement distance. UFC-Que Choisir measures appliances while they’re running at 0,50 m and finds differences between models; a shop demonstration won’t necessarily recreate the conditions in your kitchen.
Check the instructions for the exact model before washing its parts. For the Tefal FR516110, the manufacturer states that all parts except the heating unit are dishwasher-safe; its sieve is used to remove residue from the oil.
No. A commercial warranty is optional and is in addition to statutory guarantees. The statutory guarantee of conformity applies to goods sold by a professional seller to a private individual, subject to its terms.