Keep your oven if it already handles the quantities and dishes you usually cook. Adding an air fryer could simply duplicate what you already have, as UFC-Que Choisir points out. An air fryer may be worth considering if you often cook smaller batches and are happy to make room for it, clean it and put up with the noise from its fan. If frying is your main priority and you’re comfortable with the drawbacks, a deep-fat fryer may be a better fit.
If your oven works well and handles the meals you usually cook, first consider what an additional appliance would actually change. UFC-Que Choisir notes that an air fryer can perform the same functions as an oven.
An air fryer could suit your routine if its usable capacity is right for your portions, and you’re happy to find space for it, clean it and hear its fan. UFC-Que Choisir highlights noise and ease of cleaning as points to consider.
An electric deep-fat fryer is designed for this specific purpose. Before finding it a place in your kitchen, consider the hot oil, potential smells and cleaning involved, all of which are also covered in UFC-Que Choisir’s guides and tests.
Start by thinking about how you actually cook, rather than how many functions an appliance advertises. If your oven already handles larger batches, consider separately whether you’d benefit from cooking small batches with hot air or from proper deep-fat frying.
Best for: meals and batches you can already prepare without adding another appliance.
Bear in mind: for a small dish, it may not be as convenient as using a smaller appliance. Results depend on the appliances and cooking method in question.
Worth considering: for smaller portions you cook regularly, when you want a dedicated hot-air cooking appliance.
Bear in mind: its functions overlap with those of an oven. It also takes up space, and its fan can be noisy, according to UFC-Que Choisir.
Worth considering: if fried food features regularly in your meals.
Bear in mind: hot oil needs to be handled carefully, and smells and cleaning are part of the process.
| Factor | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Overlap with your oven | Compare the dishes you usually make with what your oven can already do. Work out what distinct purpose a new appliance would serve. | If my oven already handles my meals, I want a clear reason to add another appliance. Around 40% of consumers would put avoiding duplication with an oven first. |
| Usable capacity | For an air fryer, check the recommended load and the size of each drawer rather than relying on the total capacity alone. | I often cook small portions, but they need to fit in the cooking area without having to make multiple batches. Around 30% of consumers would prioritise convenience for smaller portions. |
| Deep-fat frying | Check how much food each basket can hold, how easy it is to handle and what the instructions say about hot oil. | When I regularly want to fry food in oil, air frying doesn’t meet the same need. Around 20% of consumers would prioritise deep-fat frying. |
| Practical considerations | Measure the space available and check the cleaning instructions. If noise matters, look for a noise rating for the specific model. | In a kitchen where the appliance would be on show or audible, I want to be able to set it up and clean it without too much hassle. Around 10% of consumers would put these practical considerations first. |
If you’re considering a mini oven or a hybrid appliance instead, start with a dish your current equipment can’t make the way you want it to. Extra functions alone don’t prove that another worktop appliance would be useful to you.
UFC-Que Choisir points out that the two appliances can perform the same functions. If your usual dishes and quantities already fit in your oven, a new appliance may simply duplicate what you already do.
Think about the dishes you make most often, then ask yourself which ones would genuinely benefit from being cooked separately.
An additional appliance also needs to be set up, cleaned and stored.
UFC-Que Choisir’s testing process distinguishes between the optimum quantity and maximum load for air fryers. A large capacity, or two drawers, doesn’t tell you on its own how much of your usual food will fit in each cooking area.
Check the recommended loads in the instructions and compare the external dimensions with the space available in your kitchen.
An air fryer’s fan may be more noticeable in an open-plan kitchen or a small space. UFC-Que Choisir recommends taking this noise into account before buying.
If this matters to you, look for a noise assessment of the specific model rather than judging it by its appearance or features alone.
A deep-fat fryer is for when you specifically want fried food, but using one means handling hot oil. UFC-Que Choisir also notes the potential for smells and assesses thermal safety in its tests.
Before choosing one, check the manufacturer’s instructions for the basket, lid, cooling and cleaning.
After cooking, you’ll also need to deal with the oil and set aside time for cleaning.
These Joybuy appliances are suited to the two cooking methods covered here: hot-air cooking in an air fryer and frying in hot oil. Compare their size with your portions and kitchen, and remember that their inclusion in this selection doesn’t mean you need to replace an oven that already meets your needs.
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Worth considering if you regularly cook food in hot oil. The stated oil capacity is 3.5 L; compare the quantity of food recommended in the instructions with your usual portions.
Using it involves handling hot oil, then letting the appliance cool before cleaning. Don’t assume that a viewing window or filter will eliminate frying smells.
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Worth considering if you want to cook two different things in separate drawers using hot air. The stated 7.6 L capacity is for the appliance as a whole, so check the recommended load for each drawer when planning your meals.
Measure the space available and, if you have an open-plan kitchen, look for a noise assessment of this model.
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Its 2 L basket makes it more suited to small portions, so check that the recommended load matches your meals. The product title lists a power rating of 1 150 W and a 60-minute timer, but these figures alone don’t tell you what makes a suitable batch size.
If you have limited worktop space or an open-plan kitchen, check the external dimensions and noise level of the model.
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Worth comparing if your batches are often too large for a small basket. Its stated capacity is 7.6 L; check the recommended load for the food you cook rather than estimating the number of portions from capacity alone.
Before making room for it, check its external dimensions and, if necessary, how noisy it is when running.
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Worth considering if you want to split fried food between two baskets. The title lists two 3 L tanks, a power rating of 3 600 W and two independent thermostats; check how much food each basket can hold.
Make sure you have enough room for the appliance and follow the instructions for handling hot oil. The filters mentioned in the title don’t mean that frying will be odour-free.
Not automatically: UFC-Que Choisir points out that their functions can overlap. If your oven already suits the meals you cook, first consider what separate purpose frequent small batches would serve. In a test published in 2024, UFC-Que Choisir found that the air fryers tested used less electricity than a mini oven when cooking a small quiche. This result doesn’t apply to every dish and appliance.
Compare the recommended load for the food you cook and, if it has two drawers, check the space available in each one. UFC-Que Choisir’s testing process distinguishes between the optimum quantity and maximum load. Total capacity therefore doesn’t guarantee that a whole batch will cook the way you want it to.
Read the instructions for your specific model, including guidance on hot oil, the basket, lid, cooling and cleaning. In its electric fryer tests, UFC-Que Choisir assesses electrical safety and surface temperatures separately. These points deserve as much attention as capacity.
Find out whether spare parts are available and whether the appliance you’re considering can be repaired. This is among the recommendations from the French government’s consumer information portal for making a more sustainable purchase. Also check the after-sales information for the model and seller you choose.