If you want to avoid deep-frying, start by comparing your oven with an air fryer. The extra appliance is most worthwhile if you often cook small batches, have room for it and don’t mind the sound of its fan. Stick with your oven if its features and capacity already suit your needs. An electric deep-fat fryer is better suited to food that needs to be fully immersed in oil, with all the handling, smells and cleaning that involves.
If you regularly cook chips, vegetables or roasted food and don’t want the hassle of deep-frying, an air fryer is worth considering. Check that its basket can hold your usual portions and that you’re comfortable with the fan noise.
Does your oven already cook the meals you make? Weigh up how often you prepare small batches against the space a new appliance would take up. UFC-Que Choisir points out that an air fryer performs some of the same functions as an oven.
If you want to cook food by immersing it in oil, an electric deep-fat fryer is a separate option from an air fryer. You’ll need to be comfortable handling hot oil and dealing with the smells and cleaning involved.
Consider it: for frequent small or medium-sized batches without deep-frying.
Bear in mind: it’s an extra appliance, its fan may be audible, and cooking results vary by model.
Keep it: if it already meets your needs, particularly for large trays or several dishes.
Compare: cooking times and energy use for small batches depend on the food and the appliances.
Choose it: if deep-frying is your main priority.
Bear in mind: you’ll have hot oil to handle, as well as smells and cleaning; it isn’t the right choice if you want to cook without deep-frying.
To choose between these options, start with the food you cook most often, then consider how much you need to prepare and the constraints of your kitchen. The percentages below show the proportion of consumers in each group who might prioritise a single main consideration.
| Criterion | What to check | Who might prioritise it? |
|---|---|---|
| Deep-frying and cleaning | Cooking method; removable parts and model-specific cleaning instructions. | I want to cook foods that are usually fried without handling a pan of oil or cleaning the bowl after every use. Around 33% of consumers would prioritise this. |
| How useful it is alongside an oven | How often you cook small batches; the size of dishes your oven can already accommodate. | If my oven covers my everyday cooking, I want to avoid buying an appliance that duplicates what it can do. This would be the main concern for around 27% of consumers. |
| Usable capacity | Genuinely usable capacity and basket shape for the portions you plan to cook. | When I’m cooking for several people, I want to check whether everything will fit without having to cook in batches. Around 20% of consumers would put capacity first. |
| Space and noise | Dimensions, clearance required and noise level under comparable conditions. | In a small kitchen or open-plan room, I don’t want a bulky or noisy appliance to disrupt mealtimes. Around 20% of consumers would put this comfort ahead of other criteria. |
UFC-Que Choisir points out that an air fryer also performs some of the functions of an oven. Whether it’s useful depends on how much you cook and how often you prepare small batches, not just on the type of appliance.
Before deciding whether an extra appliance would be useful, make a note of the dishes you cook most often and how many batches your oven needs to cook them.
Also consider how much worktop or cupboard space it will take up.
According to UFC-Que Choisir, some appliances labelled this way have an actual capacity of less than 5 L. The label won’t tell you how much space your food will take up in the basket.
Compare usable capacity, basket shape and external dimensions. For four people, UFC-Que Choisir recommends using 6 L as a starting point.
A basket that’s too small may mean cooking the same meal in several batches.
The fan in an air fryer can be disruptive in an open-plan kitchen, as UFC-Que Choisir notes. Its parts and coating also need to be cleaned in line with the instructions.
Check the noise information and instructions for the model you’re considering, including which parts are dishwasher-safe and which utensils to avoid.
RappelConso has published recalls in France affecting specific air fryer models, including for risks of overheating or electric shock. These recalls don’t apply to the whole category.
Compare the brand and model number on the appliance or its packaging with the RappelConso notices. If your model is affected, follow the instructions in the notice.
The Easy Fry range includes models with different capacities, as well as appliances that combine an air fryer and grill. You can compare basket sizes with the space you have available.
The Airfryer range includes different sizes. Compare the capacity and basket configuration with the quantities you usually cook.
Ninja is among the brands featured in UFC-Que Choisir’s air fryer tests. Compare models individually rather than choosing based on the brand alone.
These air fryers are options for cooking without deep-frying, as discussed in this guide. Compare their sizes with your portions and the space you have available. If your oven already does the job, or you want to deep-fry food, it’s worth reconsidering whether an air fryer is right for you.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you want to split your food between two drawers. The model name indicates a capacity of 9,5 L, two drawers and dishwasher-safe baskets.
Check that it will fit on your worktop, and consider how noise and smells might affect your kitchen.
Image unavailable
The dual basket may suit you if you want to keep two dishes separate. The stated capacity is 9 L; check whether each basket has enough room for the food you usually cook.
If you’re considering it for an open-plan kitchen, find out how much space it takes up and how noisy it is in use.
Image unavailable
Compare this 6,2 L model with the amount you usually cook at one time, rather than just the number of people at the table.
Check its dimensions and the clearance it needs, as well as the noise level if your kitchen is open-plan.
Image unavailable
If you want to cook several portions in one batch, compare its stated capacity of 7,6 L with the shape and quantity of the food you plan to cook.
The “Compact Max” name doesn’t replace checking the dimensions against the space you have available.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you want to choose the container to suit the amount you’re cooking. Check the capacity of each container against your portions, and whether using them at the same time suits your needs.
If noise or smells are a concern, check how this model performs on both before you choose.
It’s worth considering if you often cook small portions and cooking time matters to you. In a test comparing the same quantity of a small quiche lorraine, UFC-Que Choisir found that the air fryers tested used an average of 36 % less electricity than a mini-oven. This result won’t necessarily apply to your recipes, quantities or oven.
Check the usable capacity and basket shape against the portions you want to cook together. UFC-Que Choisir recommends using 6 L as a starting point for four people; a stated capacity alone doesn’t guarantee that your food will fit in one batch.
Check which parts are removable and dishwasher-safe, and read the care instructions for the model’s coating. Moulinex recommends unplugging the appliance before cleaning and avoiding abrasive accessories that could scratch a non-stick coating.
Compare the appliance’s exact model number with the RappelConso notices, and follow their instructions if it’s affected. In France, some models have been recalled over risks such as overheating or electric shock, but the recalls don’t apply to all air fryers.