If the smell of deep-frying is your main concern, an air fryer is worth considering. UFC-Que Choisir says it can reduce smells and make cleaning easier, but it doesn’t promise odour-free cooking. Air fryers can, however, take up space and be noisy. If you only fry food occasionally, sticking with your oven or frying pan means you won’t need to buy another appliance, but it doesn’t guarantee fewer smells. A deep-fat fryer still comes with the usual drawbacks of deep-frying.
You want to keep making crispy food, but the smell of deep-frying is making you consider another way to cook. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes the reduction in smells associated with air frying from the drawbacks of a deep-fat fryer.
Worktop space, storage and noise matter just as much as the cooking method. UFC-Que Choisir highlights how much space air fryers can take up and how noisy they can be in an open-plan kitchen.
If you rarely make chips, breaded food or doughnuts, consider whether you’ll use a new appliance often enough to justify the space it takes up.
When making chips, breaded food or doughnuts at home, start by choosing the cooking method that best addresses your main concern. Then compare appliances by the space they take up, noise, cleaning and the portions you usually prepare.
Consider it: if reducing the smells of deep-frying and avoiding the need to handle oil are your priorities, and you have enough space for the appliance.
Bear in mind: UFC-Que Choisir notes that these appliances can be bulky and noisy. Fewer smells doesn’t mean no smells.
Consider it: for occasional frying if you don’t want to add another electrical appliance.
Bear in mind: according to UFC-Que Choisir, this option still comes with possible smells, oil management and cleaning the bowl.
Consider it: if you want to keep deep-frying in an appliance separate from your hob.
Bear in mind: using oil doesn’t, by itself, solve the problems of smells or cleaning. Check these details for the specific model.
Consider it: if you rarely cook these foods and would rather use the equipment you already have.
Bear in mind: this avoids adding another appliance, but doesn’t guarantee fewer smells than an air fryer.
| Criterion | What to check before buying | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Smells from deep-frying | The cooking method and, for a specific appliance, any available information on smells and cleaning parts exposed to grease. | If the smell of deep-frying puts you off making chips or breaded food, reducing it takes priority over other criteria. Around 36% of consumers would put this need first. |
| Space and noise | The appliance’s external dimensions, the space needed around it and its noise level, especially in an open-plan kitchen. | In a small or open-plan kitchen, you want to be able to set up the appliance without getting in the way or disrupting conversations. For around 29% of consumers, this would be their main concern. |
| Cleaning and oil management | Which parts are removable and whether they are dishwasher-safe, as confirmed in the model’s instructions. | If emptying the oil and cleaning the bowl put you off more than the smells, an easier cleaning routine becomes crucial. Around 21% of consumers would put this need first. |
| Portions and frequency | The amount you can actually cook in one batch, and whether a large basket or two drawers would suit the meals you usually make. | If you cook for several people, you’ll want to avoid cooking in successive batches without choosing an appliance that’s too large for your needs. Around 14% of consumers would prioritise this balance. |
UFC-Que Choisir says air fryers can reduce smells, not eliminate them. Food can still give off cooking smells.
If smells are the reason you’re buying, compare cleaning requirements and where the appliance will go too, rather than expecting an odour-free kitchen.
A larger basket may be suitable for more portions, but the appliance’s external dimensions and storage space are still crucial in a small kitchen.
Measure the space where you plan to put it, including the clearance it needs around it. Then think about your usual portions rather than relying on the “XXL” label alone.
Dishwasher compatibility and cleaning instructions vary by part and model. Philips and Moulinex, for example, specify which parts of some of their models are dishwasher-safe.
Check the instructions for the exact model to find out which parts are removable and how to care for the coating.
Cooking results and energy consumption depend on factors including the model and the amount of food prepared. An advantage seen in a particular test won’t necessarily apply to every meal.
Compare tests involving foods and quantities similar to what you cook, and don’t assume you’ll always make savings.
The Airfryer range includes models whose parts and cleaning instructions should be checked individually.
The Easy Fry range includes a compact 3.5 L model and models with two drawers.
De’Longhi sells oil-free fryers, including models in its IdealFry and MultiFry ranges.
No. UFC-Que Choisir talks about reducing smells, not eliminating cooking odours altogether. Bear in mind what you’re cooking, and clean any parts exposed to greasy residue according to the instructions.
Check its dimensions, how much space it needs around it and how noisy it is when running. UFC-Que Choisir notes that these appliances can be bulky and noisy. Compare the specific model you’re considering rather than relying on its stated capacity alone.
Check the model’s instructions to find out which parts are removable, which are dishwasher-safe and how to care for their coating. Philips, for example, recommends using a non-abrasive sponge on the relevant parts of its Airfryer models.
Not necessarily. If your oven or frying pan suits how often you cook, keeping to what you have means you won’t need to find room for another appliance. However, this doesn’t guarantee that cooking this way will produce fewer smells.
According to the French Ministry of the Economy, the statutory guarantee of conformity applies to new goods for two years. Any commercial warranty offered by the retailer or brand is in addition to this; it doesn’t replace it.