An air fryer can replace some of the ways you use a deep-fat fryer, particularly if you mainly cook portions suited to hot-air cooking and want to avoid dealing with a pan of hot oil. Keep your deep-fat fryer if deep-fried results are important for your recipes. If your oven already meets your needs, consider whether you’d use an additional appliance often enough to justify the space it takes up in your kitchen. Usable capacity, fan noise and cleaning can all influence your decision.
The right appliance depends first and foremost on the food you cook and the hassle you want to reduce.
If dealing with a pan of hot oil puts you off, hot-air cooking is worth considering. However, UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes this method from deep-frying: choose according to the results you want for the dishes you usually make.
A drawer-style appliance may suit smaller portions, as long as its cooking space can accommodate them and it fits on your worktop. Also bear in mind the fan noise highlighted by UFC-Que Choisir.
Two compartments can make it easier to cook different foods at the same time, while a mini-oven style may fit some wider dishes. In either case, check the usable space rather than relying on the stated capacity alone.
Start with the recipes and portions you usually make, then compare the space required, ease of use and whether an additional appliance would offer enough over your oven.
| Criteria | What to check | My needs |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking method | Compare the deep-frying method of a deep-fat fryer with the circulating hot air used by an air fryer. Look at results for the foods you cook: tests by UFC-Que Choisir show that the air fryers they tested do not all perform equally well with the same recipes. | I want to avoid dealing with a pan of hot oil, but deep-fried results may still be essential for some of my dishes. |
| Portions and dishes | Check the usable capacity, the shape of the cooking space and how much room your food needs. UFC-Que Choisir recommends at least 6 l as a guide for a family of four, while pointing out that usable capacity determines how much you can cook. | My household’s portions need to fit without cooking in multiple batches. If I want to cook two dishes at once, I’ll also check the size of each compartment. |
| Space and noise | Measure the space you have in mind and check the appliance’s external dimensions. Compare the noise while it’s running: UFC-Que Choisir notes that an air fryer’s fan can be audible. | In a small kitchen or open-plan room, the space it takes up and the sound of the fan matter just as much as capacity. |
| Cleaning | Check the instructions for how to dismantle and clean the parts of the specific model. If you keep a deep-fat fryer, also consider how you’ll handle the oil. | I want an appliance I can clean and put away after making the meals I cook most often. |
| How you use your oven | Compare similar recipes and quantities rather than looking only at the wattage. In a test published in 2024, UFC-Que Choisir measured an average of 36% less electricity used by the air fryers tested than by a mini oven when cooking a small quiche of the same size. This result doesn’t apply to every dish. | If my oven already handles larger dishes, an air fryer needs to suit a frequent, specific use, particularly for smaller meals. |
| Model and safety | Identify the exact model, read its instructions and check RappelConso for any recalls affecting it. Instructions for use and any recall measures depend on the model. | Before using a new appliance, I want to be able to find its model details and follow the relevant instructions. |
A deep-fat fryer submerges food in oil, whereas an air fryer circulates hot air. UFC-Que Choisir also found that results vary depending on the food and the appliance tested.
If you rely on the texture you get from your deep-fat fryer, check tests for your recipes before replacing it.
A stated capacity doesn’t tell you whether the shape of the cooking space will suit a quiche, another wide dish or the amount you plan to cook. UFC-Que Choisir stresses the importance of usable capacity.
Check the internal dimensions, available surface area and the size of each drawer, then measure the space you’ve set aside for the appliance.
The recipe, quantity and cooking time matter too. UFC-Que Choisir’s test of a small quiche found that the air fryers tested used less electricity on average than a mini oven. That doesn’t guarantee savings for every use.
Where test results are available, compare electricity use for recipes and portions similar to your own.
Recalls apply to specifically identified products. RappelConso has, for example, published a recall of a Carrefour Home 10L air fryer due to a risk of overheating, advising owners to stop using it.
Keep a record of your appliance’s identifying details, look them up on RappelConso and follow the instructions if it is subject to a recall.
These models, with either one drawer or two baskets, are worth considering if you’re thinking of replacing some of the ways you use your deep-fat fryer. Their stated capacity doesn’t remove the need to check that there’s enough usable space for your dishes.
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The two drawers are worth considering if you’re cooking several parts of a meal. This model has a stated total capacity of 7,6 l and six functions. Check that each drawer has enough usable space for your portions, and consider the noise while it’s running if you have an open-plan kitchen.
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This basket-style model is worth considering if you mainly cook one dish at a time. It has a stated capacity of 6,2 l. Check the usable space for your recipes and consider the noise if you’ll be using it in an open-plan room.
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The two baskets suit the idea of cooking two parts of a meal at the same time. The model title lists a capacity of 9 l, 2 400 W and eight programmes. Check the usable dimensions of the baskets and the overall size before choosing it for your portions.
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The viewing window lets you keep an eye on your food as it cooks without pulling out the drawer. It has a stated capacity of 7 l. Check that its usable dimensions suit your dishes and that the appliance will fit on your worktop.
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This basket-style model is worth considering for portions that fit inside its cooking space. The product title lists a capacity of 5 l, a viewing window and a steam container. Check the instructions for using and cleaning the container, then make sure the basket has enough usable space.
Not for every recipe. According to UFC-Que Choisir, a deep-fat fryer cooks food submerged in oil, while an air fryer uses circulating hot air. If you want the results of deep-frying, keep your deep-fat fryer. If you mainly want to avoid a pan of hot oil, compare the results for the foods you cook.
Look at the usable capacity and the shape of your dishes, rather than just the number of litres shown. UFC-Que Choisir recommends a minimum capacity of 6 l for a family of four, while noting that usable capacity determines how much you can actually cook.
No: it depends in part on the recipe and quantity. In a test published in 2024, UFC-Que Choisir found that, when cooking a small quiche of the same size, the air fryers tested used 36% less electricity on average than a mini oven. This measurement doesn’t predict the energy use of all your cooking.
Search for the exact model on RappelConso and follow the instructions if a recall applies to your appliance. For example, a recall notice for a Carrefour Home 10L air fryer advised owners to stop using it due to a risk of overheating. This instruction applied to the recalled product, not all air fryers.
Look for a noise measurement taken while the model you’re considering is running, with the test conditions clearly stated. UFC-Que Choisir notes that the fan can be audible and measures noise from 0,50 m away in its testing protocol. Compare measurements taken under similar conditions.