If you often deep-fry while keeping the hob free, an electric deep-fat fryer meets both needs, as long as you’re happy to deal with oil and the cleaning it involves. An air fryer is better suited to portions that fit its basket and dishes you also want to roast or reheat; check that you have room for it on the worktop and consider how noisy it is. If you only fry occasionally, a hob-top fryer, oven or frying pan could save you from adding another appliance.
Your choice depends first on what you actually cook and how much space you can spare, both on the hob and on the worktop.
If you’re already using the hob for a sauce or side dish, an electric deep-fat fryer or air fryer lets you keep the rings free for other preparations. The former still needs its oil to be looked after; with the latter, you’ll need to check that the basket can hold your portions.
For one or two portions, compare the dimensions of a compact air fryer with the space it will take up between uses. If you rarely cook this way, your oven or frying pan may be easier to put away.
A large advertised capacity isn’t enough on its own: check the basket’s surface area and shape, and whether you can cook two dishes separately. UFC-Que Choisir recommends starting with an air fryer of at least 6 L for a family of four.
First decide whether you want to deep-fry in oil or use a hot-air appliance. Then compare each option against the space you have, the portions you cook and the level of maintenance you’re happy to take on.
| Criteria | What to check | How it suits my needs |
|---|---|---|
| Hob space | A traditional hob-top fryer uses a ring; an electric deep-fat fryer sits beside the hob, as UFC-Que Choisir points out. Check where you’ll put the appliance while cooking. | I often prepare a side dish on the hob while something crispy cooks elsewhere. |
| Cooking method | Choose between deep-frying in oil with a traditional or electric fryer and hot-air cooking with an air fryer. Also check that the basket’s shape works for the foods you want to roast or reheat. | If I mainly want to deep-fry, I’ll keep that cooking method in the running; for a variety of small portions, I’ll look more closely at an air fryer. |
| Oil and smells | For a deep-fat fryer, check the bowl, filtration system and removable parts. A filter doesn’t guarantee that there’ll be no smells when you handle the basket. | I’d rather avoid filtering and storing oil after each round of frying, or I’m happy to do those jobs to keep deep-frying. |
| Usable capacity | Compare the volume, as well as the basket’s surface area and shape: two drawers share the total capacity. UFC-Que Choisir recommends at least 6 L for an air fryer intended for four people. | There are several of us eating, and I’d like to avoid cooking in multiple batches without assuming that everything will fit just because a large capacity is advertised. |
| Space and noise | Measure the space and follow the clearances specified in the instructions. If you’re using an air fryer in an open-plan kitchen, look for a noise test while it’s running: UFC-Que Choisir highlights the sound of its fan. | In a small kitchen, I need to be able to use and put away the appliance without getting in the way of other cooking. |
| Cleaning | Check which parts can be removed and which are genuinely dishwasher-safe on the model you’re considering. A deep-fat fryer also means dealing with oil and its residue. | After a meal, I want to know exactly what I’ll need to wash, filter or store. |
| Existing oven or frying pan | Think about how often you cook these dishes and how much room you already have in the oven. A frying pan uses the hob; an oven means you don’t have to find space for another appliance on the worktop. | If I rarely cook crispy foods, I’d rather check first whether my current appliances are enough. |
| Electricity use | Compare measurements for a recipe and quantity similar to your own, rather than looking only at the stated wattage. In a test published in 2024, UFC-Que Choisir measured lower energy consumption for the air fryers tested than for a mini oven when cooking a quiche; this result doesn’t compare those appliances with oil fryers. | For my smaller dishes, I look for a comparison that matches what I cook, without assuming the result applies to all my meals. |
A large capacity may be split between two baskets, or the baskets may not have enough room for a wide dish. Extra batches can change how you organise a meal.
Compare the volume and dimensions of each basket with your usual portions. For four people, the at-least-6 L guideline from UFC-Que Choisir is a starting point, not a guarantee that everything will cook in one go.
An air fryer uses a fan, which you may hear in an open-plan kitchen. UFC-Que Choisir lists noise as one of the points to consider.
If noise matters to you, look for a test carried out while the appliance is cooking rather than judging how loud it is from its size.
The quantity of food and the cooking time matter too. The quiche test published by UFC-Que Choisir in 2024 compares air fryers with a mini oven for that specific dish, not with a deep-fat fryer.
Look for measured energy use for recipes and quantities similar to your own before making electricity consumption a deciding factor.
After cooking, you’ll need to remove food debris, store the oil properly and clean the appliance’s parts. A filter in the lid doesn’t eliminate the need to handle the basket.
Before buying, check whether the bowl comes apart, how to filter the oil and which parts can be washed separately.
Depending on the model, replacing the oil and certain filters adds to your ongoing costs.
These examples relate to specific ranges or models; a feature advertised for one doesn’t automatically apply to other appliances from the same brand.
The Easy Fry range includes air fryers in different sizes. Moulinex describes the 3.5 L Easy Fry Essential as a compact model for up to four people.
Philips is among the air fryer brands mentioned by UFC-Que Choisir when looking at comparisons of energy use with ovens.
Ninja offers air fryers with two cooking zones, which are worth considering if you need to cook two dishes separately.
Tefal makes electric deep-fat fryers. The Filtra Pro product information describes a 4 L model.
These Joybuy models include air fryers and an electric deep-fat fryer: two ways to cook without using a hob ring. Compare their capacity and maintenance needs based on the type of cooking you want to keep.
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The two drawers let you cook separate dishes without using the hob. The model has a stated total capacity of 7.6 L and six functions; compare the space in each drawer with your portions. Set it on a stable, heat-resistant surface with the air vents unobstructed, and look for a noise test if you have an open-plan kitchen.
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This 6.2 L air fryer lets you cook away from the hob without having to maintain a bath of oil. To reduce the number of batches, check that the basket’s shape fits your portions without overcrowding it; if noise is a deciding factor, look for a measurement taken while it’s running.
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Its two baskets let you cook separate dishes without using the hob. The model name indicates a total capacity of 9 L, 2400 W and eight programmes; check the capacity of each basket, the appliance’s dimensions and the cleaning instructions if these points affect your choice.
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This electric deep-fat fryer frees up the hob for the rest of the meal. It has two independent thermostats and odour filters; these filters don’t remove the need to deal with the oil or ventilate the kitchen. Check its dimensions too if space is limited.
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The two chambers in this air fryer let you cook separate dishes at the same time without tying up the hob. The stated total capacity is 9 L: check the dimensions of each chamber and of the appliance before opting for this size. Also check the basket cleaning instructions.
Not for every use: its capacity and basket shape may limit the size of the dishes you can cook. If you regularly cook small quantities that fit in the basket, it can complement or replace your oven for those specific dishes; keep the oven for meals that need more space.
UFC-Que Choisir recommends starting with an air fryer of at least 6 L for a family of four. Then check the basket’s surface area and shape: capacity alone doesn’t guarantee that a wide dish or a full portion will fit in one batch.
No. A filter can’t guarantee odour-free cooking, particularly when you handle the basket. If smells are a major factor in your decision, also consider the room’s ventilation and the maintenance the filter needs.
You’ll need to remove food debris, filter the oil and replace it according to its condition and the appliance instructions. UFC-Que Choisir recommends storing filtered oil in a cool place and suggests changing it after 8 to 10 uses. A removable bowl can make these jobs easier, but it won’t eliminate them.
No. The DGCCRF advises using utensils and containers designed for the intended food use and following their instructions. Also check that the tin fits in the basket without obstructing the closure or the clearances specified in the appliance instructions.