If your main priority is avoiding the hassle of handling a vat of oil, consider hot-air appliances. Que Choisir reports that they’re easier to clean and produce fewer smells, but also notes that they can take up space, be noisy and deliver varying results depending on the model. For deep-frying, choose between a frying pan and an electric deep-fat fryer based on how often you’ll use it and how you feel about handling the oil. If oven-baked or pan-fried food is enough for you, there’s no need for a dedicated appliance.
How often you fry matters just as much as the smells: it determines whether you’ll really use an appliance that needs storing and cleaning.
If you mainly cook food until golden and don’t want to deal with a vat of oil, start by considering hot-air cooking. Que Choisir reports that this category produces fewer smells and is easier to clean, while noting that appliances can be bulky and noisy. Check how to clean the basket on the model you’re considering, too.
If you enjoy deep-fried food but rarely cook it, a frying pan could save you having to store a dedicated electric appliance. Que Choisir considers this a suitable option for occasional use. Check that it’s compatible with your hob, and plan how you’ll handle the oil after cooking.
If you deep-fry more regularly, look for an electric deep-fat fryer that explicitly includes oil filtration and storage. Tefal lists these features for the OleoClean Pro FR804110; don’t assume they’re available on other fryers.
Start with the dishes you make and how often you make them, then check the space you have, how easy the appliance is to clean and, for a frying pan, whether it’s compatible with your hob.
| Priority | What to check | My needs |
|---|---|---|
| Smells and cleaning | For an air fryer, check the instructions for details of the removable basket, dishwasher-safe parts and the space needed to take them out. Que Choisir reports fewer smells and easier cleaning for this category, but results aren’t guaranteed to be the same for every model. | I want to cook food until golden without having to clean a vat of oil after every use. |
| Oil handling | For deep-frying, check how the oil cools, whether it can be filtered and how it should be stored. ADEME advises putting cooled used oil in a sealed bottle or container, never down the sink or toilet. | If I choose deep-frying, I want to be able to handle the oil between uses and after the final use. |
| Cooking results | Compare tests that cover the food and quantities you usually cook, rather than looking only at the number of programmes. Que Choisir says results for air-fried chips vary between models. | Fritters and breaded fried food matter more to me, or I’m mainly looking to brown and roast a range of dishes. |
| Space and compatibility | Measure the worktop and storage space for a hot-air or electric appliance. If you’re using a frying pan on an induction hob, make sure the model is explicitly compatible: De Buyer says its La Lyonnaise range isn’t suitable for induction, despite being made of steel. | My kitchen is small, or my induction hob means I need to check cookware compatibility before buying. |
| How often you’ll use it | If you rarely fry, consider a frying pan if you want to deep-fry, or use your oven and frying pan if you’re already happy with the results. Que Choisir considers a traditional deep-fat fryer sufficient for people who rarely eat fried food. | I’d rather use the equipment I already have than store an appliance I’d rarely use. |
Hot-air cooking doesn’t immerse food in oil. Que Choisir says results for chips vary between models.
If deep-frying is your priority, look for tests covering the food and quantities you cook. Choose an air fryer for what it does well, without assuming it’ll deliver the same results.
A frying pan that doesn’t work on your hob won’t meet your needs. De Buyer, for example, says its steel frying pans are compatible with all hob types except induction.
Before buying a frying pan for an induction hob, check that the exact model is listed as induction-compatible.
ADEME says frying oil must not be poured down the sink or toilet, or released into the environment.
Let it cool, put it in a sealed bottle or container and find out where your local collection point is. If you’re considering deep-frying, factor this step into your decision.
Removable parts and cleaning instructions vary by model. Tefal lists filtration on its OleoClean Pro and Filtra Pro models, while Philips support specifies which parts of its Airfryer models are dishwasher-safe.
Read the instructions for the model you choose to find out which parts can be washed, which can’t and, for an oil fryer, how the oil is filtered or transferred.
These examples can help you identify features and their limitations. Always check the details for the specific model you’re interested in.
The OleoClean Pro FR804110 and Filtra Pro FR516070 electric deep-fat fryers illustrate two approaches to filtration and cleaning.
Philips support guidance offers useful checks for cleaning an Airfryer from the brand.
The brand’s deep-frying pans offer a way to cook on the hob without a dedicated electric fryer.
This selection includes hot-air appliances and an electric deep-fat fryer. First choose the cooking method that suits your dishes and the cleaning you’re happy to do, then compare the features of each model.
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Worth considering if you want to cook with hot air without dealing with a vat of oil, and would like two drawers. The product name lists a 9.5 L capacity and 6 functions. Check that it’ll fit on your worktop and read the cleaning instructions for the removable parts.
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A hot-air option if you want to avoid cleaning a vat of oil. It has a listed capacity of 7.6 L; compare this with your usual portion sizes and check its footprint, as well as how to clean the baskets and trays.
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Consider this for small portions cooked with hot air, without an oil-filled pan to empty. The product name lists a non-stick basket and a 60-minute timer. Check the space you have and read the care instructions before buying.
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Another hot-air option if you want to avoid handling a vat of oil. Check the space it needs, the instructions for handling hot containers and how it performs with the food you cook. This isn’t deep-frying.
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Worth considering if you want to stick with deep-frying rather than switch to hot-air cooking. This electric deep-fat fryer has a listed 3.5 L capacity. Plan how you’ll cool, store or dispose of the oil, and check the space it needs and which parts need cleaning.
Let it cool, then put it in a sealed bottle or container and find out where your local collection point is. ADEME says it must not be poured down the sink or toilet, or released into the environment.
No. Check that the exact model is compatible with your hob. De Buyer says its La Lyonnaise range of frying pans is compatible with all hob types except induction, so the fact that a pan is made of steel isn’t enough to tell you.
It can handle some types of oven cooking, but whether it’s worth buying one depends on the dishes and portions you already make with your existing appliances. Check you have enough space and look at how the model performs with your recipes. Que Choisir assesses air fryers for cooking, cleaning and storage, among other things.
Check the instructions for the exact model to find out which parts can be removed and how to wash them. Philips support says the pan, basket and frying accessory for its Airfryer models are dishwasher-safe, but that doesn’t mean the same applies to every appliance.
No. With a deep-fat fryer, you still need to let the oil cool before storing or disposing of it. Tefal describes automatic filtration and storage for the OleoClean Pro FR804110. Check whether the model you’re considering has these features rather than assuming all electric fryers do.