An air fryer could replace your deep-fat fryer if you mostly cook a variety of small batches and want to avoid the smells associated with a vat of oil. Keep your deep-fat fryer if traditional chips are your priority. If your oven already suits the meals you usually make, consider how you use it before adding another appliance. Tests by UFC-Que Choisir show that the results for chips and electricity consumption depend on the preparation and the appliance.
If the smell of a vat of oil puts you off making chips or similar foods, consider hot-air cooking, but don’t expect exactly the same results. Check how noisy the model is, too: UFC-Que Choisir identifies this as a factor to consider when using the appliance.
A basket sized for your portions can be convenient for meals for one or two people. However, measure the space the appliance will take up and consider whether your oven already meets these needs: UFC-Que Choisir warns against buying an appliance that duplicates what you already have.
If the taste and crunch of traditionally fried food are your priority, keeping your deep-fat fryer is a sensible choice. UFC-Que Choisir’s tests found that chips cooked with hot air can produce uneven results.
Start with the meals you make most often, then compare the portions and results you want with the space, noise and cleaning requirements of each appliance.
| Factor | What to check | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Smells and cleaning | Compare hot-air cooking with deep-frying in oil. Check how easy it is to access the basket, the cleaning instructions and which parts are dishwasher-safe. Hot-air cooking doesn’t mean there will be no smells at all. | I want to avoid frying smells and spend less time handling oil after a meal. |
| Results for chips | Look at test results for chips and check how much food was put in the basket. UFC-Que Choisir found uneven cooking in some air fryers; the results may not match those from deep-frying in oil. | The texture of traditionally fried chips matters more to me than having a range of cooking options. |
| Portions and meal planning | Compare the usable capacity with your usual portions. A single drawer is suited to cooking one batch at a time. If you want to cook two foods, check the settings for each compartment and how much room a dual-drawer model takes up. | I either cook small batches or make two different foods for the same meal. |
| Noise and space | Measure the space available and leave the clearance specified in the instructions. If you have an open-plan kitchen, look for a test of the exact model: UFC-Que Choisir measures noise from 0,50 m away. | An appliance left on the worktop or audible ventilation could bother me day to day. |
| How you use your oven | Compare your recipes, quantities and cooking times before buying a second appliance. For a small quiche Lorraine, the air fryers tested by UFC-Que Choisir used an average of 36 % less electricity than a mini oven; this result doesn’t apply to every meal. | My oven already cooks these dishes, but I want to know whether my smaller portions justify an extra appliance. |
UFC-Que Choisir found that chips were sometimes unevenly cooked in its air fryer tests. A basket that’s too full can also be a problem if you’re making large batches.
If the texture of traditionally fried food is essential, keep your deep-fat fryer. Otherwise, compare test results for the recipes and quantities you plan to cook.
Both appliances can be used for baking, roasting and grilling. UFC-Que Choisir advises against adding more appliances when your oven already does the job.
Make a note of the meals you cook often, your usual portions and how you prepare them now. Look for a clear benefit for those meals rather than assuming you’ll use a new appliance more often.
An air fryer you use regularly will also take up space on your worktop.
A large basket or two drawers take up space, while the fan may be intrusive in an open-plan kitchen. UFC-Que Choisir tests the noise levels of air fryers.
Measure the space available, allow for the clearance specified in the instructions and check the noise measurement for the exact model.
Product recalls apply to specific models, not all air fryers. In France, RappelConso has, for example, issued a warning about a 10 L appliance that posed a risk of overheating.
Before using the appliance for the first time, check the model number on the appliance or its packaging against RappelConso’s notices, and keep your proof of purchase.
These options include air fryers with one or two drawers, as well as a deep-fat fryer. Compare them based on your portions and cooking habits, and consider how you use your oven before buying an additional appliance.
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Worth comparing if you cook small portions rather than large batches of chips. The product listing specifies a non-stick basket, a 60-minute timer and removable parts described as dishwasher-safe; check which parts in the instructions. Measure the space available and look for a test of this model if noise is a deciding factor.
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Consider this model if you regularly cook two foods for the same meal: the product listing specifies two 4,75 L drawers with independent settings. The drawers and crisper plates are described as dishwasher-safe; check the instructions. The stated dimensions are 32,5 × 41,5 × 27 cm: measure your available space and check the clearance required.
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Compare the 4 L capacity with the portions you usually cook. The product listing specifies eight pre-set programmes, a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C and an alert to shake the food. Check the instructions if dishwasher cleaning is important to you; the stated power rating doesn’t tell you how much electricity a meal will use.
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Compare the stated 7 L capacity with your actual portions and the space you have available. The product listing mentions seven programmes, a removable non-stick basket and a viewing window so you can see the food as it cooks. Check the instructions for how to clean the basket, and look for a noise measurement if you’ll be using the appliance in an open-plan kitchen.
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This option keeps deep-frying in oil as a choice if it matters more to you than switching to hot-air cooking. The product listing specifies two 3 L baskets, independent thermostats and removable parts described as dishwasher-safe. It says the odour filters help reduce smells, not eliminate them; you’ll still need to deal with the oil after cooking.
Not for every meal: an air fryer can be used for baking, roasting and grilling, like an oven, but its cooking chamber limits the amount you can make. UFC-Que Choisir advises considering whether it would duplicate what you already have. Compare the small recipes you make often with the larger batches you cook in your oven before deciding.
Look for a noise measurement or test of the exact model rather than relying on a quick demonstration. The fan is part of how the appliance works; UFC-Que Choisir measures noise from 0,50 m away as part of its testing procedure.
It depends on the model and the parts in question. Check the instructions to see whether the basket, crisper plate or other removable parts are dishwasher-safe, then follow the manufacturer’s care guidance.
For goods sold by a business to a private individual in France, the legal guarantee of conformity is compulsory, as the French Ministry of the Economy points out. Keep your proof of purchase and contact the seller to describe the fault. Don’t confuse this guarantee with a returns policy for changing your mind.
Read the instructions and check the appliance’s exact model number against RappelConso notices: recalls apply to specific products. In France, RappelConso has, for example, issued a warning about a 10 L air fryer that posed a risk of overheating. This notice doesn’t apply to the whole category.