For occasional frying, a traditional fryer may be enough if its pan is compatible with your hob and you don’t mind handling the oil. An electric deep fat fryer keeps the oil bath, with features that vary by model. An air fryer may be worth considering if odours and cleaning matter more to you, but don’t assume it will produce the same results for chips. Whichever you choose, check how much space it needs and which parts you’ll have to clean.
If cooking smells linger in your home, the cooking method may be an important factor in your choice. UFC-Que Choisir suggests considering hot-air cooking; some electric deep fat fryers also have a dedicated feature to tackle odours, so check the exact model.
If you only fry food now and then, a traditional fryer can save you from adding another electrical appliance to your worktop, provided you have a suitable hob. An air fryer can be used for other dishes too, although UFC-Que Choisir notes that it can take up quite a bit of space.
If cleaning affects how often you’ll use the appliance, check which parts can be removed and which are actually dishwasher-safe. Tefal, for example, excludes the heating unit from the dishwasher-safe parts of its Filtra Pro 3 L. Check the details for each individual model.
If you only prepare fried food at home occasionally, start by deciding which cooking method you want, then consider the practical constraint that matters most in your kitchen.
Consider it: for occasional use, if you already have a hob that’s compatible with the pan.
Bear in mind: it takes up a hob ring, and you’ll need to manage the oil and cooking smells.
Consider it: if you want to keep cooking with an oil bath without using up a hob ring.
Bear in mind: you’ll need space to store a dedicated appliance and will still have to maintain the oil bath; filtration features vary between models.
Consider it: if reducing the hassle of an oil bath and preparing other dishes matter more than replicating deep-fried food.
Bear in mind: UFC-Que Choisir reports that these appliances can be bulky and a little noisy, and that results for chips vary by model.
| Factor | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking smells at home | Cooking method and any model-specific odour-reduction feature; check whether filters need replacing. | When smells affect whether I cook, I want to know what the appliance actually does to reduce them. Around 31% of consumers prioritise this. |
| Space and occasional use | Whether the pan is compatible with your hob; the appliance’s dimensions and the space needed to use it. | If I only cook with it a few times a year, I’d rather avoid a dedicated appliance that takes up too much space. This matters to around 23% of consumers. |
| Cleaning | Removable parts, dishwasher exclusions and oil maintenance for an oil bath. | If cleaning puts me off getting the fryer out, I look for parts that are easy to remove and wash. Nearly 23% of consumers put ease of care first. |
| Other dishes | The model’s stated functions, a capacity that suits your portions and easy access to the basket. | To justify the space it takes up in my kitchen, I want to use the appliance for other dishes too. Around 23% of consumers prioritise this versatility. |
The pan needs to suit your hob. UFC-Que Choisir notes, in particular, the difference between steel pans and cast aluminium pans when it comes to induction hobs.
Before buying, check that the specific pan is compatible with your type of hob.
Filtration or an odour-reduction feature applies to a specific model; it doesn’t mean that cooking with an oil bath will be odour-free.
Check the stated feature and find out whether it uses replaceable filters.
UFC-Que Choisir describes some appliances as bulky and notes that results for chips can vary between models.
Measure the space you have in mind and, if chips are what you’ll cook most, look for a test of the model you’re considering.
Even if you rarely use a fryer, you’ll still need to dispose of its oil. ADEME advises that it must not be poured down the sink or toilet, or into the natural environment.
Before choosing an oil-bath fryer, check what collection options your local authority offers.
Worth considering when comparing cleaning and maintenance features on electric deep fat fryers, model by model.
Worth looking at among hot-air appliances if size and basket care are important to you.
Worth considering if being able to find a compatible basket or replacement part is a factor in choosing an air fryer.
These products let you compare hot-air appliances with an electric deep fat fryer, based on how much you want to cook, the space you have and how easy you’d like cleaning to be. For occasional use, first choose the cooking method that suits you, then check the features of the model you’re considering.
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Worth a look if you’d rather switch to a hot-air appliance than keep using an oil bath.
If reducing smells or the results for chips are important to you, look for information specific to this model.
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Compare the stated 2 L capacity with the portions you usually prepare.
The product name indicates a dishwasher-safe, non-stick basket and a 60-minute timer. Check its dimensions if space is limited.
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If you often prepare several portions, compare its stated 7,6 L capacity with the amounts you usually cook.
If you only fry food occasionally, also check that you have room for the appliance in your kitchen.
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This fryer is for those who want to keep using an oil bath and have two separate baskets.
The product name indicates a power rating of 3600 W, two independent thermostats, removable baskets and odour filters. Check whether two baskets suit the amounts you usually cook; filters don’t mean there will be no smells. Used oil still needs to be disposed of in line with your local authority’s guidance.
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Compare its stated 7 L capacity with your usual portions and the space you have available.
The product name indicates a digital display and a clear cooking window. If easy cleaning is important, check the user manual for instructions on caring for the basket.
Only if its pan is compatible with induction. UFC-Que Choisir says a cast aluminium pan would not be suitable, unlike a steel pan; check the stated compatibility of the fryer you’re considering.
Not necessarily: hot-air cooking is different from deep frying in oil. UFC-Que Choisir notes that results for chips vary between models, so if they’re what you’ll cook most, look for a test of the model you’re interested in.
No, it depends on the parts and the model. Tefal says that some parts of its Filtra Pro 3 L FR511170 are dishwasher-safe, but excludes the heating unit. Check the user manual before choosing or cleaning another model.
As ADEME advises, don’t pour it down the sink or toilet, or into the natural environment. Once the oil has cooled, ask your local authority which container and collection point to use.