If you want to avoid handling a pan of hot oil and the smell of deep-frying, an air fryer is a sensible option. It won’t guarantee an odour-free kitchen or recreate deep-fat frying, though. Choose a size that suits your portions and available space. If your oven already does everything you need for roasting, you may not need another appliance.
You enjoy making chips or breaded food, but don’t fancy dealing with a pan of hot oil. UFC-Que Choisir notes that the smell of deep-frying leads some consumers to consider hot-air cooking. However, this can produce other cooking smells.
You mainly cook small portions and need to keep your worktop clear for other tasks. A single-basket model may suit you, as long as you check the appliance’s dimensions and the clearance it needs around it.
You want to avoid cooking several batches or would like to cook two dishes at the same time. You could consider a large basket, two cooking zones or an oven, depending on the quantities you need to prepare. Check the usable cooking area, not just the stated capacity.
Consider it: if avoiding a pan of hot oil is your priority and you also cook small portions of roasted food.
Bear in mind: it takes up worktop space, its fan makes a noise, and results vary depending on the model and the amount of food.
Consider it: if cooking in oil is your priority, using an electric deep-fat fryer or a pan suited to your hob.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to handle the oil, deal with the smells and clean up afterwards.
Consider it: if you mainly want to roast or cook without a pan of hot oil, particularly if you already have an oven that meets your needs.
Bear in mind: this won’t replace deep-fat frying. Before adding a mini oven, compare the space it needs with the portions you want to cook.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Deep-frying and smells | Identify the cooking method and look for test results on the foods you prepare. | I want to cook foods that are usually deep-fried without having to manage a vat of oil; around 33% of consumers put this need first. |
| Usable capacity | Compare the basket’s surface area and the portions it can hold. If you cook different foods, check whether it has two zones. | To serve several people without cooking multiple batches, I prioritise the space actually available for the food. This is a priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Space and noise | Measure the space available, including the clearance needed, and look for tests that assess how noisy the model is. | In a small kitchen, I don’t want an appliance to get in the way of other cooking or its fan to be too noticeable. This is the main concern for around 25% of consumers. |
| Cleaning and after-sales service | Check which parts are dishwasher-safe, the cleaning instructions and the services available for the exact model. | If I cook often, cleaning after each use and being able to get replacement parts matter when I choose an appliance. Around 17% of consumers prioritise this. |
Circulating hot air avoids the need for a pan of hot oil, but tests by UFC-Que Choisir show that cooking results vary between models and quantities.
Look for test results on the foods you prepare and stick to the recommended quantities for the basket.
The number of litres alone doesn’t tell you how much food will fit in the basket. A large appliance also needs enough space.
Start with the portions you usually cook, then check the cooking surface and external dimensions.
An appliance that’s the wrong size may mean cooking several batches or taking up valuable prep space all the time.
An air fryer’s fan can be audible, while removable parts and cooking residue need regular cleaning.
Check the cleaning instructions, whether the specific parts are dishwasher-safe, and test results that assess noise levels.
In France, when a private individual buys from a professional seller, the statutory guarantee of conformity applies under the conditions set out by law. A commercial warranty is optional, as the French Ministry of the Economy explains.
Before taking out an additional warranty, compare its duration, exclusions and services with the legal protection that applies to your purchase.
The Easy Fry range includes different sizes to compare according to your portions and the space available.
Philips Airfryer models come in several capacities. Check the care instructions for each model.
Ninja Dual Zone models are worth considering if you want to cook two dishes separately.
These hot-air models suit you if you want to avoid deep-frying in oil. Stated capacities range from baskets for small portions to larger models and those with two drawers. Measure the available space and compare it with the quantities you actually cook.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you want to prepare two parts of a meal without deep-frying in oil.
Stated total capacity of 9 L with two baskets. Check that its dimensions suit your worktop, and look for test results if noise matters to you.
Image unavailable
Consider it for cooking two dishes at the same time if you have room for a model with two drawers.
Stated total capacity of 9.5 L and six functions. The baskets are listed as dishwasher-safe; check the care instructions for this specific model.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you want to cook two dishes separately without deep-frying in oil.
Stated total capacity of 7.6 L and six functions. Before choosing this size, compare the space it needs with the portions each drawer can hold.
Image unavailable
Worth considering for small portions if you don’t want a large basket taking up space in your kitchen.
Stated capacity of 3.2 L. Check that it suits the quantities you usually cook, and allow for the required clearance around the appliance.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you’re looking for a larger-capacity basket and want to keep an eye on your food through a window.
Stated capacity of 7 L. Before buying, check its dimensions, whether the noise level is right for your kitchen, and the basket’s cleaning instructions.
An air fryer avoids cooking in a pan of hot oil and the smell of deep-frying that comes with it, but it won’t make cooking odour-free. The food, residue inside the appliance and your kitchen’s ventilation still matter.
UFC-Que Choisir recommends at least 6 L for a family of four. Check the basket’s surface area and the quantities you want to cook together, too: the capacity in litres alone doesn’t tell you how much room there is to spread the food out.
Let it cool down and follow the instructions for your model. For the Philips models concerned, Philips recommends washing the pan and basket in hot water with washing-up liquid and a non-abrasive sponge. Don’t use metal utensils on the non-stick coating.
Not necessarily. Check that the material and base of the pan are compatible with your hob. UFC-Que Choisir notes, in particular, that a cast-aluminium pan isn’t suitable for induction.