If the smell of deep-fat frying bothers you, start by considering hot-air cooking: UFC-Que Choisir says it reduces unpleasant smells, but doesn’t eliminate them. To choose between a single drawer, two drawers and a mini-oven style, think about the portions and dishes you prepare, then check the space required, noise levels and how easy the model is to clean. A deep-fat fryer is still an option if you specifically want to fry food in oil and are happy to accept the drawbacks.
If the smell of deep-fat frying puts you off fried or breaded food, hot-air cooking is worth considering. UFC-Que Choisir reports that it reduces unpleasant smells, but you should also bear the fan noise and the space it takes up in mind.
For modest portions, consider a model with a single basket. Be sure to measure the appliance and the clearance needed to open the drawer: the stated capacity alone doesn’t tell you how much you’ll be able to cook.
Two drawers can be useful for cooking, for example, chips and vegetables at the same time. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the benefits of this setup; also check how much space it takes up and the usable capacity of each zone.
First decide whether you want to stick with deep-fat frying, then compare hot-air models based on your portions and the space you have available.
Worth considering: if you want to cook food by immersing it in oil.
Things to bear in mind: handling and cleaning the oil, as well as the smell of frying, which may bother you.
Worth considering: if your priority is cooking without a bath of oil and limiting the associated smells.
Things to bear in mind: the results will differ from oil frying, and the fan may make some noise.
| Criteria | What to check | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Smells | Compare whether the appliance uses a bath of oil and how it cooks. According to UFC-Que Choisir, an air fryer reduces unpleasant smells, but doesn’t guarantee odour-free cooking. | The smell of frying bothers me, especially in a small kitchen. |
| Noise | For an air fryer, look for a test of the model that states the measurement distance. UFC-Que Choisir measures noise from 0.50 m away. | In an open-plan kitchen, I want to know how noisy the fan is before choosing. |
| Portions and space | Compare the usable capacity and cooking surface with your portions; also measure the appliance and the clearance needed to open the drawers. Two drawers let you cook different foods at the same time, according to UFC-Que Choisir. | I’d rather avoid cooking several batches, without using up too much worktop space. |
| Cooking performance | Check the model’s results for the recipes you’re interested in and the quantities tested. UFC-Que Choisir has found that air fryers vary in performance. | For fresh chips or breaded food, I don’t want to assume that every appliance will produce the same results. |
| Cleaning | Check how easy it is to reach the basket or cooking cavity, which parts need washing and what the model’s instructions say. | After a meal, I want to be able to clean the parts I’ve used without too much effort. |
| Electricity use | Compare measurements based on a similar recipe, quantity and reference appliance, rather than relying on the stated wattage alone. | I’d like to know how an air fryer compares with the appliance I actually use. |
Deep-fat frying and hot-air cooking won’t necessarily give fresh chips the same taste or results. UFC-Que Choisir also reports differences in cooking performance between models.
Choose hot-air cooking for the dishes and results it can deliver, rather than assuming it will recreate the way you usually fry food.
A stated capacity doesn’t guarantee either the cooking surface available or the amount you can cook in one batch.
Compare your portions with the usable capacity, then measure your worktop and the clearance needed to open the appliance.
An air fryer’s fan may be a consideration in an open-plan kitchen; UFC-Que Choisir recommends checking noise levels before buying.
Look for a noise measurement or test of the model that states the distance, rather than relying on a simple “quiet” label.
Energy-use comparisons depend on the recipe, quantity and appliance used as a reference.
To assess whether an air fryer would suit your home, look for measurements based on dishes and an appliance similar to the ones you use.
These hot-air models let you compare features such as a two-drawer layout and different stated capacities. For each one, consider how its format suits your portions, available space and the dishes you want to prepare.
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The two drawers may suit a household that wants to cook two parts of a meal at the same time. The product title states a total capacity of 9.5 L, six functions and dishwasher-safe baskets. Check the usable capacity of each drawer, the space the appliance takes up and how well it cooks the dishes you make.
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This two-drawer model is worth considering if you want to cook two dishes separately. Its stated total capacity is 7.6 L, and the product title mentions six functions and dishwasher-safe baskets. Compare the capacity of each zone with your portions, and check how noisy the model is.
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The stated capacity of 7.6 L may catch your eye if you cook larger portions. Before choosing, check the basket layout, external dimensions and how much food you can actually cook: the name “Compact Max” alone doesn’t tell you how much space it takes up.
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This air fryer is another option for cooking without a bath of oil. If you need to cook different portion sizes, check the containers’ layout and usable capacity, as well as the space the appliance takes up. It’s also worth looking for a test of the model’s cooking performance and noise levels.
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Its stated capacity of 4 L gives you a starting point for assessing your usual portions. The product title lists eight pre-set programmes, a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C and a 60-minute timer. Check the usable capacity, noise levels and cleaning instructions in the model’s manual.
No. UFC-Que Choisir says hot-air cooking reduces the unpleasant smells associated with deep-fat frying, but food can still produce an odour as it cooks.
There’s no rule to say so. Air fryers use a fan, and noise levels vary by model. If you have an open-plan kitchen, look for a test that states the measurement distance. UFC-Que Choisir measures noise from 0.50 m away in its testing protocol.
Not necessarily. Two drawers are useful if you want to cook different foods at the same time. If you’re cooking a large quantity of one dish, check the usable capacity and cooking surface instead. The number of drawers doesn’t determine the size of each batch.
No. In a test published in 2024, UFC-Que Choisir measured an average 36% reduction in electricity use for air fryers compared with a 19 l mini-oven when cooking a small quiche. This result applies to that specific comparison: the recipe, quantity and models all affect the outcome. So compare it with the appliance you use at home.