Keep a deep-fat fryer if you regularly cook fried food and care most about its texture, and are happy to handle the oil, deal with the smells and clean the appliance. An air fryer is better suited to regular cooking, roasting and grilling in a countertop appliance, provided its usable capacity, footprint and noise level work for you. If your oven already meets those needs and handles your portions, you may not need an extra appliance at all.
If you regularly make chips, doughnuts or breaded food, the texture of deep-fried food may matter more to you than the drawbacks of using oil. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the classic deep-fat fryer’s ability to deliver this result, while also pointing out the smells and the need to handle it with care.
If you want to cook, roast or grill small to medium portions in a standalone appliance, an air fryer is worth considering. Compare its usable capacity with the recipes you make, then think about the space it takes up, its noise level and the cleaning involved.
If your oven handles the recipes and quantities you usually cook, ask yourself what regular use an air fryer would genuinely add. If there’s no distinct need, choosing not to buy one is a perfectly sensible decision.
The cooking method will guide your choice: a deep-fat fryer is for traditional frying, while an air fryer, a multifunction appliance and your existing oven should be compared based on the recipes you make, your portion sizes and the space you have available.
Consider it: if you regularly fry food and traditional texture is your top priority.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to handle hot oil, deal with smells and clean the appliance.
Consider it: if you regularly cook, roast or grill portions that fit in a countertop appliance.
Bear in mind: it takes up worktop space and its fan may be noisy.
Stick with it: if it already suits your household’s recipes, quantities and cooking routine.
Consider: which dishes you regularly make that it doesn’t handle well before ruling out any other appliance.
Consider it: if you’d like to use racks or trays for some recipes instead of relying on a basket alone.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to clean the accessories and check the appliance’s footprint. Don’t assume you’ll use every function.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Texture of fried food | Compare the dishes you make regularly and the result you want from each method: deep frying or circulating hot air. | If I regularly make chips or doughnuts, I want the texture of traditionally fried food and am happy to handle the oil. Around 25% of consumers put this need first. |
| Cooking options | Think about the dishes you regularly cook, roast or grill, and check that the appliance you’re considering is easy to use and clean. | When my meals involve different types of cooking, I’m looking for a standalone appliance I’ll use regularly. Around 31% of consumers would put this versatility first. |
| Overlap and footprint | Make a note of the recipes your oven already handles, then measure the space for the appliance to operate, including the clearances required in the instructions. | If my oven handles the portions I make in a kitchen with limited space, I’d rather keep my worktop clear than add an appliance with similar uses. This would be the main consideration for around 25% of consumers. |
| Portions and batches | Compare the usable capacity, the space available for the food and the number of batches you’ll need to cook your usual portions. | If I cook large quantities, having to make several batches can make a small basket impractical. For around 19% of consumers, usable capacity would come before other considerations. |
For choosing an air fryer size, UFC-Que Choisir suggests 3 to 4 l for one or two people, 5 to 6 l for three or four, and 7 to 9 l for five or six. These volumes don’t replace checking how much space is actually available for the food or the model’s external dimensions.
A large advertised capacity doesn’t tell you how much food you can cook in one batch. UFC-Que Choisir recommends checking the usable capacity. Basket surface area matters too, as food needs room to cook without being packed in.
Start with your usual portions and the bulkiest foods you cook, then compare the cooking surface, external dimensions and number of cooking zones.
A basket that doesn’t suit your portions could mean cooking extra batches.
Your oven may already cover the cooking, roasting and grilling you need. A new appliance could take up space without necessarily meeting a separate need.
Keep a note for a while of the recipes and portions your oven doesn’t handle well. If no regular use stands out, consider not buying another appliance.
An extra appliance also needs to be stored and cleaned.
According to UFC-Que Choisir, an air fryer’s fan can be a concern in an open-plan living space.
Check where the appliance will operate and, if noise matters to you, look for measurements taken under comparable conditions.
A deep-fat fryer needs careful handling when inserting the basket, letting the oil cool and cleaning the appliance. UFC-Que Choisir also highlights the possibility of splashes and smells.
Check the model’s stability, lid and handling instructions. If you’re placing the fryer on an induction hob, also check that its bowl is compatible.
Remember to plan how you’ll dispose of used oil as well as clean the appliance.
These appliances illustrate two of the options discussed here: cooking with hot air in a countertop appliance and deep frying. Before choosing one, compare its features with your portion sizes, the space available and the uses already covered by your oven.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for an air fryer to cook portions your current appliance doesn’t handle as you’d like.
The capacity stated in its name is 7.6 L; check how much you can actually cook for your recipes.
Measure the space where it will operate, including clearances, and check the noise level if you have an open-plan kitchen.
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Worth considering if traditional deep frying is still your priority and two baskets suit the food you make.
The model name indicates two 3 L bowls, a power rating of 3 600 W, two independent thermostats, removable baskets and odour filters.
The filters don’t remove the need to consider smells, handling hot oil and letting the appliance cool before cleaning. Also check how much space it needs.
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Worth considering if you prefer a deep-fat fryer and want to keep an eye on the food through a viewing window.
The model name indicates a 3.5 L capacity and an XL anti-mist window.
Check that the capacity suits your portions, that the appliance fits in the space you have and that you can manage the oil after use.
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Worth considering if your usual portions will fit in a 3.2 L air fryer.
The capacity stated in the name is nominal. Compare it with the space needed to arrange your food without overcrowding it.
A basket this size may require several batches, depending on the recipe. Also allow for the ventilation space specified in the instructions and check the noise level if needed.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for an air fryer, provided its size and the quantities it can cook suit your recipes.
Check its dimensions where it will operate, the clearances required and the noise level if you have an open-plan kitchen.
Handle hot containers and accessories in accordance with the model’s instructions.
Choose based on how much you cook in one batch, not just the stated capacity in litres. UFC-Que Choisir suggests 3 to 4 l for one or two people, 5 to 6 l for three or four, 7 to 9 l for five or six, then 9 to 10 l or more for six people or more. Also check the available cooking surface and the appliance’s external dimensions.
An air fryer could be redundant if your oven already handles the cooking, roasting and grilling you regularly need, in the quantities you want. Before buying, identify a dish you make often that a countertop appliance would prepare in a distinct way, then check that its capacity is up to the task.
For a deep-fat fryer, check its stability and how to handle the basket. If needed, make sure the bowl is compatible with your induction hob. UFC-Que Choisir highlights the risk of splashes when inserting the basket. For any electrical appliance, follow the instructions on installation, ventilation, cooling and cleaning.
Take it to an electrical equipment collection point rather than putting it in your household rubbish. The ministry responsible for ecological transition lists collection points and household waste recycling centres as options for these appliances.