If reducing cooking smells and making cleaning easier are your priorities, an air fryer is worth considering instead of a deep-fat fryer. However, it won’t guarantee a smell-free kitchen, so also check its noise level, size and how well it cooks the foods you prepare. If you’re mainly after the texture of traditional fried food, a deep-fat fryer could still be right for you. Its filter won’t eliminate smells when you handle the basket, though, and used oil needs to be dealt with.
If you’re making chips, doughnuts or breaded foods, weigh up how much cooking smells might bother you alongside two other factors: an air fryer’s noise and the space it will take up. Que Choisir highlights reduced odours as a benefit of air frying, while also drawing attention to the noise and size of these appliances.
A dual-drawer air fryer can let you cook a main and a side separately. If you switch between cooking separate dishes and making a larger batch, also look at models with a removable divider and check the capacity of each cooking zone.
If the texture you get from deep-frying is important to you, look at deep-fat fryers and their usable capacity. A removable bowl or filtration system can make cleaning easier, but it won’t get rid of smells or take care of used oil for you.
Start with the cooking results you’re looking for, then consider the demands the appliance will place on your kitchen and your cleaning routine.
| Criteria | What to check | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Smells | Compare air frying with deep-frying. If you’re considering a deep-fat fryer, check whether it has a lid and a filter, but don’t expect the filter to stop smells when you put the basket in or take it out: Que Choisir highlights this limitation. | In an open-plan kitchen, I want to limit lingering smells, but I don’t expect an appliance to eliminate them. |
| Cooking results | Look for tests covering the foods you cook and how evenly they turn out. Que Choisir has found differences between air fryers, particularly when cooking chips; the number of programmes alone won’t tell you which one is best. | The texture of deep-fried food matters more to me than avoiding a vat of oil, or I’m happy to compare air fryer results before switching appliances. |
| Cleaning and oil | Find out which parts are removable and which are genuinely dishwasher-safe. With a deep-fat fryer, you’ll also need to store and dispose of the oil after use: ADEME advises against pouring frying oil down the sink, toilet or into the environment. | After cooking, I want an appliance that’s easy to clean and, if I choose a deep-fat fryer, a manageable way to deal with used oil. |
| Noise and space | Measure the available space and check the model’s dimensions. If you’re considering an air fryer for an open-plan kitchen, also compare noise ratings: Que Choisir includes this in its tests. | My worktop space is limited, or an air fryer’s fan might bother me while it’s cooking. |
| Portions and cooking zones | If you want to cook two dishes at once, check the capacity of each drawer, not just the total volume, and look for independent settings or a synchronisation function. If you’re considering a traditional fryer for use on a hob, check that its bowl is compatible. | I sometimes cook a main and a side together; at other times, one compartment or the occasional use of a fryer on the hob is enough for me. |
According to Que Choisir, filter performance varies, and smells can escape when the basket goes into or comes out of the oil. So, in an open-plan kitchen, a filter alone won’t solve the problem of cooking smells.
If smells are your main concern, compare air fryers while also considering their noise levels. Choose a filtered deep-fat fryer if you’re comfortable with this limitation.
Que Choisir has found that results vary between air fryers: depending on the model, chips may cook differently at the top and bottom of the basket.
Look for tests covering the foods you’re interested in, and check the capacity and the instructions for loading and shaking the basket.
The two drawers may have different capacities. The total volume doesn’t tell you whether either one will fit the portion or food you want to cook in it.
Compare the capacity of each compartment. If you also need one large basket, look for a model with a removable divider.
A deep-fat fryer needs to be cleaned, and you’ll need to deal with the oil after use. In France, ADEME advises that frying oil must not be poured down the sink, into the toilet or into the environment.
Check which parts can be removed and find out where to take used oil in your local area.
Filtering, storing and disposing of used oil also takes time and space.
These examples highlight specific configurations; a feature of one model won’t necessarily apply to the brand’s entire range.
The brand offers electric deep-fat fryers with different cleaning features, depending on the model.
The Easy Fry Dual Essential EZ901820 is an example of a dual-drawer model for cooking two dishes separately.
Two Philips models illustrate the difference between a flexible basket and stacked drawers.
This selection includes air fryers with one basket or two cooking zones, as well as an electric deep-fat fryer. First choose the cooking method that suits your priorities, then compare the different designs.
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Worth considering if you want to cook without a vat of oil and are looking for a stated capacity of 10 L. Check how much worktop space you’ll need, and look for cooking results covering the foods you prepare; air frying doesn’t guarantee an odour-free kitchen.
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The two drawers let you cook two dishes separately. The product name states a total capacity of 9,5 L and six functions. The baskets are listed as dishwasher-safe. Check the dimensions and usable capacity of each drawer before choosing this design.
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This model lists independent controls for cooking two dishes at different temperatures. Its product title gives a capacity of 9 L, a power rating of 2400 W and eight programmes. Compare the size of each basket and the appliance’s overall dimensions; these specifications don’t guarantee a particular cooking result.
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If you’re cooking for one or two people, compare the 2 L basket with the size of your portions. The product lists a non-stick basket and a 60-minute timer. Check its dimensions against your worktop space, and find out which parts are covered by the stated dishwasher-safe claim.
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This deep-fat fryer is for those who want to stick with traditional frying while cooking two dishes separately. Its product title lists two independent thermostats, removable baskets and odour filters. According to Que Choisir, a filter won’t stop smells when the basket goes into or comes out of the oil. You’ll also need to clean the appliance and deal with the used oil.
No. Que Choisir highlights reduced smells as a benefit of air frying, but doesn’t guarantee that there will be no smell at all. If this is your main concern, also compare the noise, size and cooking results of the models you’re considering.
No, not on its own. Que Choisir says filter performance varies and that filters can’t stop smells escaping when the basket goes into or comes out of the oil. Bear this in mind before choosing a deep-fat fryer.
Choose this design if you regularly cook two separate foods for the same meal. Check the capacity of each drawer, the options for adjusting or synchronising the settings, and the space available: a large total capacity doesn’t guarantee that each compartment will fit the food you want to cook.
Don’t pour it down the sink, into the toilet or into the environment. ADEME says that taking it to a recycling centre is the most common option. Ask your local council where to take it, and transport the cooled oil in a sealed container.