If the smell of deep-frying and the clean-up are your main concerns, an air fryer is worth considering, although it won’t guarantee odour-free cooking. You’ll also need to make room for it on your worktop and check how noisy it is. An electric deep-fat fryer lets you carry on cooking with oil and may make some cleaning tasks easier, depending on the model. A traditional deep-fat fryer, meanwhile, needs a compatible hob. Before buying another appliance, consider what you can already make in your oven or frying pan, in the quantities your household usually needs.
You make chips, breaded foods or doughnuts, but the smell of deep-frying puts you off. UFC-Que Choisir highlights this concern in its guide to deep-fat fryers. It’s one reason to compare air frying with the features found on some oil fryers.
You need a capacity that suits your portions and a cleaning routine you can keep up with. With a deep-fat fryer, cleaning the appliance comes on top of filtering, draining or storing the oil, depending on the model.
Available space and noise can matter just as much as the cooking method. UFC-Que Choisir specifically notes the sound of air fryer fans. With a traditional deep-fat fryer, you’ll also need to check that it’s compatible with your hob.
First decide which cooking method you want to keep or avoid, then compare appliances based on your portion sizes, kitchen and post-cooking clean-up.
Worth considering: if you want to make foods usually deep-fried without managing a bath of oil.
Bear in mind: it takes up worktop space and its fan can be disruptive, particularly in an open-plan kitchen, as UFC-Que Choisir points out.
Worth considering: if you want to keep deep-frying in oil without using a hob.
Bear in mind: even with built-in filtration or a drainage system, you’ll still need to handle and maintain the oil.
Worth considering: if you prefer a pan used on the hob for occasional deep-frying.
Bear in mind: it takes up a cooking zone, and the pan’s material must be compatible with your hob.
Worth considering: if your existing equipment already suits the food and quantities you want to prepare.
Bear in mind: compare the cooking method and the result you’re looking for, recipe by recipe. A frying pan alone won’t remove the need to deal with oil.
| Criterion | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Smells and oil | Air frying or deep-frying in oil; filtration features and how they’re used. | If the smell of fried food bothers you, avoiding the need to pour and store a bath of oil may be your priority. Around 33% of consumers put this need first. |
| Cleaning | Removable parts and washing instructions; filtration or drainage for a deep-fat fryer. | You want to cut down on cleaning after each use, even if smells aren’t your main concern. This is the priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Portions and space | Recommended amount per cycle and external dimensions; whether the pan is compatible with your hob, if needed. | For around 20% of consumers, serving several people without running multiple cycles, or finding space for an appliance in a small kitchen, comes first. |
| Noise and uses | The model’s measured noise level and genuinely useful functions; energy use compared for the same recipe and quantity. | In an open-plan kitchen, you may want to avoid a distracting fan. You might also be looking for other ways to make the most of the space an appliance takes up. Around 20% of consumers make this their priority. |
You may hear the fan in an open-plan kitchen, and the appliance’s size doesn’t tell you how noisy it is. UFC-Que Choisir recommends checking noise levels before you buy.
If this is a deciding factor, look for an independent noise measurement for the model you’re considering.
The wattage doesn’t tell you how much energy your recipe will use. In its tests, UFC-Que Choisir notes that results vary depending on the food, quantity and appliances being compared.
Compare the same recipe and quantity with the oven you already use.
Filtration features are specific to individual models and don’t remove the need to look after the oil. Odour-reduction claims for some Tefal models don’t apply to all deep-fat fryers.
Check the type of filter, how the oil is drained and the cleaning instructions for the model you choose.
Depending on the model, charcoal filters may need replacing.
A pan that isn’t suitable for induction may not work on your hob. UFC-Que Choisir specifically distinguishes between cast-aluminium and steel pans for this use.
Before buying, check the material and diameter, as well as the instructions for both the pan and your hob.
Tefal offers electric deep-fat fryers and air fryers. Cleaning features vary by model.
The Easy Fry range includes air fryers in different sizes. Compare the capacity and features of the model you’re considering.
Philips offers air fryers with two compartments or adjustable baskets, depending on the model.
These air fryers do away with the need to manage a bath of oil. To compare them, focus on portion sizes, the number of compartments and cleaning instructions. None of these features guarantees odour-free cooking.
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Worth considering if you’d like to split the cooking between two baskets rather than use a single compartment.
The stated total capacity is 9 L. If noise matters in your kitchen, look for a measurement for this specific model.
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Worth a look if you want to cook two different foods in separate drawers.
The title states a total capacity of 7.6 L and six functions. Check the DZ300EU instructions for drawer-washing guidance before putting them in the dishwasher.
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Compare its 2 L basket with the smaller portions you usually prepare.
The title lists a non-stick basket, a 60-minute timer and dishwasher compatibility. Check the external dimensions too if space is limited.
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Compare this model if you’re looking for a 7 L compartment and want to check on your food through a window.
It has a digital display. Check its dimensions and how to clean the basket to make sure it suits your kitchen.
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Its two compartments are worth considering if you want to keep different foods separate.
The stated total capacity is 9 L. Before choosing this size, check you have enough space and look at the basket-washing instructions.
No. UFC-Que Choisir presents air frying as one way to reduce smells associated with deep-frying in oil, not to eliminate smells from food or cooking residue. You’ll still need to clean the appliance.
Yes, if the pan is compatible with your hob. UFC-Que Choisir says a cast-aluminium pan won’t work on induction and recommends steel for this purpose. Check the instructions for both pieces of equipment too.
Check the instructions for the basket, cooking pan and heating element separately, and whether each part is dishwasher-safe. For the relevant Airfryer models, Philips recommends letting the appliance cool and avoiding abrasives on the coatings. For specific cleaning instructions, always refer to the manual for the model you’ve bought.
No. In tests comparing the same quantities, published by UFC-Que Choisir, the difference depends on the recipe and appliances being compared. Some air fryers even used more energy when cooking chicken drumsticks. Compare the same recipe and quantity with the oven you’d actually use.