In an open-plan kitchen, an air fryer is worth considering if you often cook smaller batches and want to limit the smell of deep-frying. Which? recognises this benefit, but doesn’t present the appliance as a substitute for ventilation. If your oven already meets your needs, weigh up the practical benefits against the space it takes up and the cleaning involved. A deep-fat fryer or multicooker may be better suited to other cooking habits.
If your kitchen opens onto the living room or is shared with other people, the smell of frying may influence your choice of appliance. Which? notes that this leads some people to consider an air fryer. Whichever cooking method you choose, you’ll also need to think about ventilation.
For smaller portions, compare the basket size with the space you actually have available. If your existing oven suits the recipes you make, another appliance may simply take up valuable worktop space – a point raised by Which? in its buying guide.
An appliance with two drawers can let you cook a main dish and a side separately. Check the usable capacity of each drawer and how the synchronisation feature works, rather than relying solely on the advertised total capacity.
Start with your usual portion sizes and preferred cooking method, then consider smells, space and cleaning in your kitchen.
Worth considering: for regular batches of chips, breaded foods or small roasted items, especially if the smell of frying matters in an open-plan space.
The trade-off: Which? reports that these appliances can be bulky and noisy. Its tests also show that cooking results vary between models and depending on how full they are.
Keep yours if: you specifically want this style of frying and are happy to manage the oil between uses.
The trade-off: the bowl, food residue and smells need particular attention in a shared kitchen. Which? assesses these aspects separately in its electric fryer tests.
Stick with it if: your existing oven already suits your dishes, portion sizes and available space.
The trade-off: before adding an air fryer, identify exactly what your oven doesn’t do well enough for you. Which? points out that the two appliances have overlapping functions.
Worth considering: if you’ll also use the multicooker’s other functions, rather than just its hot-air setting.
Check: the function may depend on a specific accessory. For example, Moulinex offers a Cookeo configuration that includes the Extra Crisp lid.
| Criteria | What to check | Think about your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Smells and ventilation | Consider the cooking method you’re thinking of, whether you can use an extractor hood and how well the room is ventilated. The ADEME recommends keeping ventilation running and airing the room after cooking. | I cook near other people and find the smell of frying unpleasant. I don’t expect a new appliance to replace airing the room. |
| Cooking with a realistic load | Check the quantity recommended in the instructions and look for tests using larger loads. Which? tests both situations and notes that chips may cook unevenly in a basket. | For a full meal, I want to know how much food I can cook to a standard I’m happy with, and whether I’ll need to shake or turn it. |
| Space and usable capacity | Measure the available space, the clearance needed and the appliance’s external dimensions. Then compare your usual quantity of food with the capacity of each basket, not just the advertised total. | Worktop space is limited. A small basket may be enough for my portions, but I want to check that the appliance will actually fit. |
| Cleaning | For the exact model, check which parts can be removed and which are dishwasher-safe. With a deep-fat fryer, also check how easy it is to access the bowl and filter. | In a shared kitchen, I’d prefer to remove food residue and clean the parts we’ve used before the next meal. |
| Noise | Look for an independent noise measurement that explains the test conditions. Which? says air fryers can be noisy. | If someone is working or chatting in the next room, noise during cooking matters just as much as the space the appliance takes up. |
| Functions you already have | Consider what your oven already does. For a multicooker, check the hot-air accessory’s model number, whether it’s included and whether it’s compatible. | I’ll only add an appliance if its functions suit dishes I’ll actually cook. |
Choosing an appliance doesn’t replace ventilation in an open-plan kitchen. The ADEME recommends keeping ventilation running and opening the windows after cooking.
Check that your ventilation is working and use your extractor hood if you have one, whatever appliance you choose.
A larger capacity doesn’t guarantee even browning. Which?’s tests distinguish between the quantity recommended in the instructions and the maximum load, and show that results can vary.
Think about the size of your usual batch, measure the space available and look for tests that assess cooking with different loads.
According to Which?, an air fryer performs cooking, roasting and grilling functions that an oven can already handle. It could therefore take up extra space without making enough difference to your everyday routine.
Before buying, identify the portions or dishes your oven doesn’t suit, then check whether an air fryer would meet that specific need.
Deep-fat frying means handling the oil, removing food residue and cleaning the bowl. A filter or removable parts won’t eliminate these jobs.
Check the bowl, basket, filter and cleaning instructions for the model you’re considering, especially if several people use the kitchen.
If you’re comparing air fryers with two baskets, the 3000 Series NA352/24 is one model to look at. Philips France describes it as having one large drawer, one smaller drawer and synchronised cooking times.
Moulinex France offers two distinct options: the 3.5 L Easy Fry Essential and a Cookeo Wifi configuration that includes the Extra Crisp lid.
Tefal gives you the option to consider deep-fat frying alongside its hot-air appliances. For the 4 L Filtra Pro, Tefal France lists a filtration mesh and removable parts.
These hot-air models offer a range of capacities and configurations to consider if you’re thinking about an air fryer for your open-plan kitchen. Compare them with the oven or fryer you already use, too. Their inclusion here doesn’t indicate how well they cook or how they affect smells.
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The two drawers may suit a household that cooks a main dish and a side for the same meal. The product listing states that it has six functions and dishwasher-safe baskets. Before setting aside space for it, check its dimensions and the clearance it needs. You should also look for cooking tests using a load similar to yours.
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This configuration may suit anyone who switches between cooking a larger dish and preparing two separate dishes. The product name mentions a viewing window, a sync function and 50 cooking paper liners. Check the external dimensions, basket layout and which parts are dishwasher-safe.
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The Dual Tower design is worth considering if you want to prepare two dishes in a vertical appliance. The product title states that it has a 12 L capacity and ten preset programmes. Measure the available height and clearance, then check the exact instructions to see which parts are dishwasher-safe before choosing this model for a shared kitchen.
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Its advertised 7.6 L capacity is worth comparing with your usual batch size, but it doesn’t guarantee the results you’ll get when the basket is full. Check the external dimensions, the recommended quantity for the food you cook and cooking test results before deciding whether this size will suit your kitchen.
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The 2 L basket is better suited to small portions than a meal for several people. The product title lists a 60-minute timer, a non-stick basket and dishwasher compatibility; check the instructions to see which parts this applies to. Also measure the space you’ll need: the basket capacity doesn’t tell you the appliance’s external dimensions.
No. Which? recognises that oil-free appliances may appeal to people who dislike the smell of frying, but choosing one doesn’t replace ventilation. The ADEME recommends keeping ventilation running and opening the windows after cooking. Use your extractor hood too, if your kitchen has one.
Compare the amount of food you usually cook with the recommended load and usable basket area, then check whether you’ll need to shake or turn the food while it cooks. Which? tests air fryers using both the quantity recommended in the instructions and the maximum load, and notes that chips may cook unevenly depending on where they sit in the basket.
No. Check which parts of the exact model are dishwasher-safe, how they come apart and how easy it is to remove greasy residue. For a deep-fat fryer, also check the cleaning instructions for the bowl and filter.
Not automatically. Which? points out that an air fryer can cook, roast and grill, functions already available on an oven. Compare your usual portions and recipes, then decide whether the way you plan to use an air fryer justifies making room for a second appliance.