If your main aim is to avoid the hassle of a pan of hot oil, an air fryer is worth considering for crispy or roasted dishes, though it won’t eliminate cooking smells altogether. Stick with deep frying if that’s what matters most to you. If you only fry occasionally, first see whether your oven or hob will do the job before making room for another appliance.
If you want to make crispy food without regularly dealing with a pan of hot oil, compare how easy air fryers are to clean. UFC-Que Choisir highlights smells and cleaning as drawbacks of deep-fat fryers, although cooking with hot air doesn’t guarantee an odour-free result.
If you rarely make chips or doughnuts, a dedicated appliance could end up taking up space between uses. UFC-Que Choisir suggests that a traditional fryer can be an option for occasional use, provided you’re happy to handle hot oil.
The space available, the usable capacity and the sound of the fan can matter just as much as the cooking functions. UFC-Que Choisir draws particular attention to the size and noise of air fryers, so check these details for the model you’re considering.
First decide between deep frying and hot-air cooking, then consider how well the appliance you have in mind suits the recipes you make and the space you have available.
Consider it: for occasional frying, if you have a hob and are happy to handle hot oil.
Bear in mind: cooking takes up a hob ring, and a pan of hot oil needs cleaning and careful handling to avoid splashes.
Consider it: if you want to keep deep frying but leave your hob free.
Bear in mind: this appliance still comes with the smells, hot oil and cleaning associated with deep frying.
Consider it: if you mostly make crispy or roasted dishes and aren’t looking for deep-fried results.
Bear in mind: it may duplicate your oven, and the fan could be noisy in an open-plan kitchen.
Consider it: if you only make these recipes occasionally and your current equipment gives you the results you want.
Bear in mind: frying in a pan still involves hot oil, which can cause smells and splashes.
| What matters to you | What to check | Consumers prioritising this |
|---|---|---|
| Smells and cleaning | Oil-based or hot-air cooking; removable parts and cleaning instructions. | If I want crispy food without regularly cleaning a bowl of oil, easy maintenance matters more than deep frying. Around 33% of consumers put this first. |
| Frying and portion sizes | Deep frying or hot-air cooking; usable capacity and basket filling instructions. | I want to know whether my usual portions will fit in one batch and whether the cooking method suits my fried-food recipes. Around 25% of consumers prioritise this. |
| Space, noise and duplication | Dimensions and clearances specified in the manual; operating noise and what your oven already does. | In a small open-plan kitchen, I don’t want a noisy appliance cluttering the worktop and doing the same job as my oven. Space, quiet operation or avoiding duplication comes first for around 25% of consumers. |
| Keeping things simple for occasional use | How often you make these recipes; whether a pan you’re considering is suitable for your hob, and how to deal with the oil afterwards. | If I rarely fry food, I’d rather start with what I already own than store another appliance. Around 17% of consumers value this simplicity most. |
Both can cook using hot air. If the new appliance won’t offer a distinct benefit for your recipes or portion sizes, it may simply add another item to store and clean.
Make a note of the recipes and quantities you actually cook, then compare them with what your oven can do.
The advertised capacity doesn’t tell you exactly how much food will fit in the basket while following the cooking instructions. UFC-Que Choisir stresses the importance of usable capacity when deciding how much you can cook.
Check the basket shape and the filling instructions for the model you’re considering, especially if you want to avoid cooking in several batches.
An air fryer’s fan can be noticeable in an open-plan kitchen, and the appliance takes up space while it’s in use. UFC-Que Choisir recommends considering noise before you buy.
Measure the space available, follow the clearance requirements in the manual and look for a review of the exact model if quiet operation matters to you.
Safety precautions vary from one appliance to another. RappelConso has issued recalls for specific models of deep-fat and air fryers due to overheating or temperature-control problems; this doesn’t mean the same applies to the whole category.
Before using an appliance, particularly a second-hand one, read its manual and search for its model number and, if necessary, batch number on RappelConso. If it has been recalled, follow the official instructions.
These appliances give you two distinct options to compare: hot-air cooking for crispy or roasted dishes, and electric deep frying if you want to keep using a pan of oil. Consider your portion sizes and the space available before choosing a size.
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Worth considering if you’d like to cook food in two drawers rather than a single basket, without deep frying.
This air fryer has a stated total capacity of 7.6 L, with six functions listed in its product title. Check how much space the appliance needs and whether the usable capacity of each drawer suits your portions.
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Before choosing this size, compare its stated 2 L capacity with the smaller portions you usually make.
The product title states that it has a dishwasher-safe, non-stick basket and a 60-minute timer. Check the dimensions against the space you have and how much food you can actually cook in one batch.
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This hot-air model is worth considering if you’re looking for a larger stated basket capacity and want to see your food through a viewing window.
The product title mentions a digital display and a 7 L capacity. To work out how many portions it can handle, check the basket and its filling instructions rather than relying on the stated capacity alone.
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If you’re considering hot-air cooking, compare its stated 4 L basket capacity with the amounts you usually prepare.
The product title specifies a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C and a 60-minute timer. Check which programmes are actually available on this model before relying on a particular function.
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Worth considering if you prefer deep frying and want to use two baskets with independent thermostats.
The product title lists a power rating of 3600 W, removable baskets and odour filters. These filters don’t mean there will be no smells, so remember to allow for handling and cooling the hot oil, as well as cleaning the appliance.
No. Avoiding the hassle of a pan of hot oil doesn’t mean cooking without any smells at all. The recipe, food residue in the appliance and ventilation in your kitchen all play a part, so don’t choose an air fryer on the promise of eliminating odours completely.
Compare the recipes and portions you actually make with what your oven can already do. Both use hot air for certain types of cooking. If your oven already meets your needs and you’re short on space, an extra appliance may offer limited benefit.
Read the manual for the exact model, follow its installation instructions and search for the model on RappelConso. Some deep-fat and air fryer models have been recalled in France. If your appliance is affected, follow the instructions in the recall notice.
First, see whether it can be repaired. For small electrical appliances, ADEME also recommends donating or reselling one that still works, or using a take-back scheme or an electrical and electronic equipment collection point if you need to get rid of it.