If the smell of hot oil is your main concern, start by comparing hot-air appliances, but don’t assume they’ll cook without producing any odour. In a small home, then weigh up a drawer-style air fryer, an oven-style model or a multi-cooker by considering the space needed to position, open and clean each one. Stick with a deep-fat fryer if immersing food in oil is your priority and you’re happy to deal with the practicalities of using oil.
In a room with poor ventilation, lingering cooking smells can matter more than the choice of programmes. UFC-Que Choisir notes that this drawback leads some people to consider an electric fryer or an air fryer, but does not establish that any particular model will eliminate odours.
If the appliance needs to stay on a small worktop or be put away after use, its depth and the space needed to open the drawer or door matter just as much as its capacity. Tests by Les Numériques on specific models illustrate how much room they can take up.
If you want to prepare other dishes too, you could choose a drawer-style air fryer, an oven-style model or a multi-cooker with an air-fryer function. UFC-Que Choisir describes these different formats. For a multi-cooker, check that its function and accessories are right for the way you plan to use it.
The cooking method is the first thing that distinguishes deep-fat fryers from hot-air appliances. Then choose a format based on what you plan to cook and the space you actually have available.
Consider it: if immersing food in oil is the result you’re looking for.
Be prepared for: handling the oil and cleaning the appliance. UFC-Que Choisir notes that the smell of fried food can put people off.
Consider it: if you want a dedicated hot-air appliance with a basket suited to your portion sizes.
Be prepared for: the space taken up by the drawer and the fan noise, which can vary between models.
Consider it: if you plan to use racks or trays for different types of food.
Be prepared for: a door, walls and accessories that can take up space and need cleaning. Check the details for each model.
Consider it: if the multi-cooker’s other functions meet your needs too.
Be prepared for: a separate lid or accessory that you’ll need to check and store, depending on the model. Moulinex offers different Cookeo configurations in this respect.
| Factor | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking smells | Compare deep-fat frying with hot-air cooking, then look for comments about the odours produced by the model you’re considering. | When the smell of fried food lingers in my living space, I want it to have less influence on my choice of cooking method. Around 36% of consumers would put this concern first. |
| Space and portions | Measure the appliance, its opening and the space you have in mind; compare its capacity with your usual portion sizes. | I need to be able to cook a portion without blocking the worktop every time I open the appliance. Available space would be the priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Cleaning | Check which parts are removable, how they should be washed and whether you can reach areas where food residue may collect. | If the basket and other parts are awkward to wash after every use, I may end up using the appliance less. Cleaning would come first for around 21% of consumers. |
| Noise | Look for a review that covers the noise made by the exact model, particularly if your kitchen opens onto your living space. | In an open-plan kitchen, I want to cook without excessive noise. Around 14% of consumers would make quiet operation their top priority. |
UFC-Que Choisir describes the smell of deep-fat frying as a reason people choose other appliances, but that doesn’t guarantee an air fryer will be odour-free. The food you cook, cleaning and ventilation all play a part.
Look for tests or detailed reviews of the model you’re considering, and clean away residue once the appliance has cooled, following the instructions in its manual.
A large drawer can be difficult to open on a narrow worktop and cumbersome to wash. Les Numériques highlights this issue with the Cosori Dual Blaze TwinFry it tested.
Measure the space and the clearance needed for the drawer or door to open. Check the manual for the required clearances before deciding where to put the appliance.
UFC-Que Choisir recommends taking the fan into account when choosing an air fryer. A list of features alone won’t tell you how disruptive it might be in an open-plan kitchen.
If you plan to cook in your living space or in the evening, look for a review that specifically covers the noise made by the exact model.
Some Moulinex Cookeo configurations include the Extra Crisp lid, while others offer it separately. The product range name alone won’t tell you what’s in the box.
Check the model number and the list of included items, then consider where you’ll store and clean the lid if you choose a configuration that includes one.
Philips offers air fryers in different formats, so check the design and removable parts of the specific model you’re considering.
The brand offers both drawer-style air fryers and Cookeo configurations with an air-fryer function.
Ninja’s two-zone and stacked formats may be worth considering if you’re looking for a capacity that suits the space you have available.
Cosori is worth considering if you’re looking for a large model with adjustable cooking zones.
These hot-air appliances let you compare different formats and capacities if you want to cook without a bath of oil. When choosing one for a small home, compare each model with your portion sizes, the space needed to open it and the instructions in its manual. The product listing alone can’t guarantee how much odour or noise it will produce in your home.
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Worth considering if you want to cook two dishes in separate drawers. Check that there’s enough room to open them and that the space you’ve chosen meets the instructions in the manual.
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If you want to cook two dishes using hot air, compare the stated capacity with your portion sizes before choosing this drawer-style model. Also measure the space needed to open the drawers.
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Worth considering if you prepare two dishes to serve together. Before deciding where to put it, allow room to open the baskets and check the model’s installation instructions.
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If your portion sizes vary, compare its containers with the food you usually cook. Also check the manual to see how much space to leave around the appliance while it’s in use.
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Worth considering if its large capacity suits the amount you cook at a time, provided you have room to position and open it. Also check that you’ll have enough space to wash the basket.
No. Reduced odours aren’t guaranteed for every type of food or in every home. UFC-Que Choisir says the smell of deep-fat frying leads some people to choose hot-air appliances. When choosing a model, look for comments about odours and take cleaning and ventilation into account.
Check how much space the appliance needs, how far its drawer or door opens and what its manual says about installation. In particular, check the air outlets, required clearances and the surface you plan to put it on. Don’t assume the same spacing applies to every model.
Let it cool as directed in the manual before cleaning the relevant parts with accessories suited to their coating. Philips recommends allowing the Airfryer covered in its support guidance to cool for around 30 minutes and using a non-abrasive sponge on the relevant parts. Check the instructions for your own model, including those for the heating element.
No. The function and the parts required depend on the model. Moulinex offers Cookeo configurations that include the Extra Crisp lid, as well as others where this accessory is sold separately. Check exactly what’s included and make sure you have somewhere to store the lid.
Take it to a dedicated electrical equipment collection point rather than treating it as general waste. ecosystem says electrical kitchen equipment should be recycled and provides a way to find a collection point.