If cooking smells and cleaning are your main concerns, start by looking at air fryers: UFC-Que Choisir reports fewer frying smells, but also notes that these appliances can be bulky and noisy. If you want the results of deep-frying, compare electric deep-fat fryers instead, checking how the oil is maintained and how well your kitchen is ventilated. For very occasional frying, a traditional fryer may be enough, according to UFC-Que Choisir, provided you’re prepared to handle hot oil and possible splashes.
If cooking smells linger and you don’t want to maintain a bath of oil, consider an air fryer. UFC-Que Choisir reports fewer frying smells with this option, but also describes the appliances as bulky and somewhat noisy. Check how much space your chosen model would take up.
If the results of deep-frying matter more to you than reducing cooking smells, compare electric deep-fat fryers. Think about how much you actually prepare, how easy the fryer is to clean and how you’ll handle the oil. According to UFC-Que Choisir, a filter won’t capture every smell.
UFC-Que Choisir says a traditional fryer may be enough for this kind of use. Check that it’s suitable for your hob, and make sure you have enough room to cook while limiting splashes and contact with hot oil.
For occasional frying, start by deciding whether cooking smells or the results matter more to you. Then check the space available, how much you’ll prepare and how easy the model is to maintain.
Consider it if: reducing frying smells and avoiding the need to manage a bath of oil matter more to you than the results of traditional frying.
Bear in mind: UFC-Que Choisir notes that these appliances can be bulky and somewhat noisy.
Consider it if: you want to cook food in a bath of oil and are happy to maintain it.
Bear in mind: according to UFC-Que Choisir, a filter won’t eliminate cooking smells, particularly when you handle the basket.
Consider it if: you fry very occasionally and have a compatible hob. UFC-Que Choisir says it may be enough for this kind of use.
Bear in mind: it takes up a hob ring while you cook, and you’ll need to take care around splashes and hot oil.
| What to consider | What to check | Think about your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking smells and ventilation | Compare the cooking methods and, for a bath of oil, check the filter and its maintenance requirements. ADEME advises against blocking ventilation and recommends airing the room after cooking. | Cooking smells bother me in my small kitchen, so I won’t rely on an “anti-odour” label alone to get rid of them. |
| Cleaning | Check which parts can be removed and the cleaning instructions for the exact model. For a bath of oil, also look at how to drain and filter the oil. For an air fryer, check the manual before washing the basket and drawer. | I want to be able to put the appliance away between uses without putting off cleaning the basket or dealing with the oil. |
| Amount you’ll prepare | Compare your usual portions with the recommended quantity for each type of food, rather than looking only at the stated capacity. Check whether two compartments would be genuinely useful to you. | We sometimes cook for several people, so the amount that can be cooked in one batch matters more to me than the stated capacity alone. |
| Space and noise | Measure the space available for using and storing the appliance. If noise matters, look for an assessment of the specific model rather than guessing how loud it is based on its type. | In my open-plan or shared kitchen, I’d rather know where to put the appliance and what to expect from its noise while it’s cooking. |
| Cooking results | If you make fresh chips, compare tests of that specific food and the quantity cooked. An air fryer won’t necessarily give you the same results as deep-frying. | For me, the texture of traditional fried food may be worth the extra steps involved in using a bath of oil. Otherwise, I can consider an air fryer. |
The amount of fresh chips in the basket and the cooking method can affect the results. Don’t choose based on the stated capacity alone.
If traditional frying is your priority, keep a deep-fat fryer in the running. Otherwise, look for tests of fresh chips cooked in the air fryer you’re considering.
UFC-Que Choisir says filter performance varies, and cooking smells can escape when the basket is put into or taken out of the oil.
Check the type of filter and its maintenance instructions. ADEME also recommends keeping ventilation working properly and airing the room after cooking.
If the model uses a replaceable filter, check its reference and how often it needs replacing in the manual.
The capacity of the bowl doesn’t tell you by itself how much of your usual food will cook well. A two-drawer appliance also takes up more space.
Think about how many people you usually cook for and your usual portion sizes. Consider two drawers mainly if you regularly cook two different foods at the same time.
A deep-fat fryer involves handling the oil and cleaning greasy parts. An air fryer also needs to cool down before cleaning, and which parts are washable varies by model.
Before buying, check the manual for instructions on draining the oil, removable parts, whether they’re dishwasher-safe and any cleaning precautions.
These examples highlight features to compare on specific models. They don’t guarantee that every model will be available.
Moulinex’s Easy Fry Dual documentation describes an 8.3 L air fryer, split between two drawers of 5.2 L and 3.1 L.
Philips’ support instructions can help you identify the cleaning precautions to check for an Airfryer from the brand.
Tefal’s Filtra Pro is an electric deep-fat fryer with a stated capacity of 4 L.
This selection from Joybuy includes two air fryers to consider if cooking smells are influencing your choice, as well as an electric deep-fat fryer for small batches of traditionally fried food.
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Worth considering for small portions if you want to avoid a bath of oil. The product name indicates that it has a dishwasher-safe non-stick basket and a 60-minute timer. Check its dimensions and noise level if space or noise is a concern in your kitchen.
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An option to consider for small batches if you prefer deep-frying. Before choosing this model, check the manual for instructions on cleaning the bowl, handling the oil and maintaining any filter. UFC-Que Choisir reminds us that a filter won’t eliminate every cooking smell.
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Compare it with the 2 L model if you’re looking to prepare larger portions without using a bath of oil. The product name indicates eight modes, a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C and a 60-minute timer. The 4 L capacity alone doesn’t determine the right quantity for every type of food. Check the space it needs, its noise level and the cleaning instructions for its parts.
No. UFC-Que Choisir says filter performance varies, and filters don’t capture every smell when the basket is lowered into or lifted out of the oil. Check the filter on the model you’re considering, but don’t treat it as a substitute for ventilation.
Not necessarily. According to UFC-Que Choisir, a traditional fryer may be enough if you only prepare fried food occasionally. Check that it’s compatible with your hob, and consider the risk of splashes and the need to handle hot oil.
It depends on the model and the individual parts. Check the manual for the model you’ve chosen rather than assuming the same applies across a brand. Philips, for example, says to let its Airfryer models cool down before cleaning them.
No. UFC-Que Choisir reports fewer frying smells from air fryers, but ADEME still recommends keeping air inlets and extractor vents clear, and airing the room after cooking.