If cooking smells are a problem in your home, an air fryer is a better choice than a deep-fat fryer for keeping them down, although it won’t guarantee odour-free cooking. You’ll need to put up with fan noise and check how much food you can actually cook at once. A deep-fat fryer is still worth considering if you want the results of traditional frying, while an oven you already own could save you from adding another appliance if its functions and capacity meet your needs.
If your kitchen shares space with your living area, you may prefer a cooking method that limits the smells associated with deep-fat frying. Think about where you’ll place the appliance, too: UFC-Que Choisir points out that fan noise is particularly noticeable in an open-plan kitchen or a small home.
If you’re preparing several portions or two parts of a meal, look at the cooking surface and the layout of the drawers, not just the stated capacity. UFC-Que Choisir’s tests distinguish between the amount of food cooked and the advertised capacity.
If the taste and texture of chips fried in oil are what matter most, compare the results you can expect before switching cooking methods. UFC-Que Choisir notes that chips cooked with hot air may not taste the same as those cooked in a deep-fat fryer.
Worth considering: if reducing cooking smells is your priority and you’d also like to roast or grill in the appliance.
Bear in mind: the fan is audible, and the results may differ from deep-fat frying, as UFC-Que Choisir points out.
Worth considering: if traditional frying results matter more to you than reducing cooking smells.
Bear in mind: handling, cleaning and disposing of used oil, as well as the smell of frying.
Worth considering: if its functions and capacity suit the dishes you make and you’d rather keep your worktop clear.
Check: the recipes you plan to make and the available cooking space before ruling out a dedicated appliance.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking smells | Compare hot-air cooking with deep-fat frying, then think about where to place the appliance. Reducing smells doesn’t mean eliminating them. | When smells spread into my living areas, my main aim is to reduce those from frying in oil. Around 33% of consumers would put reducing smells at the top of their list of priorities. |
| Portions and results | Check the recommended amount for each batch and the shape of the cooking compartment. Compare the results you can expect for chips, too. | To serve a meal without cooking batch after batch, I need a suitable cooking surface and results I’m happy with. Usable capacity and cooking performance would be the top priorities for around 27% of consumers. |
| Noise | Look for a noise measurement that states the distance; UFC-Que Choisir measures noise from the air fryers it tests at 0.50 m. | In an open-plan kitchen, I want to use the appliance without its fan disturbing quiet moments. Around 20% of consumers would put noise ahead of other criteria. |
| Cleaning and space | Check how easy it is to reach the parts that need cleaning and the appliance’s external dimensions. With a deep-fat fryer, you’ll also need to plan how to dispose of used oil. | If the appliance needs to stay on the worktop, I want to be able to store it or clean it without too much hassle. Around 20% of consumers would make these factors their priority. |
UFC-Que Choisir describes hot-air cooking as a way to reduce the smells associated with frying in oil, not to eliminate them in every situation.
Start by choosing the cooking method that addresses your concerns, then consider where you’ll place the appliance and how well your kitchen is ventilated.
The stated capacity alone doesn’t tell you how much food will cook well at once. UFC-Que Choisir’s tests assess the quantity cooked and the results separately.
Before choosing a large model, compare the basket shape and recommended quantities with the portions you usually cook.
A bulky appliance could take up valuable worktop space without saving you from cooking in batches.
Circulating hot air comes with an audible fan. UFC-Que Choisir says this is particularly worth considering in smaller spaces.
Look for a test that states the distance used to measure noise rather than relying on a brief demonstration in a shop.
With a deep-fat fryer, cleaning doesn’t stop when the cooking is done. ADEME advises that used oil must not be poured down the sink or toilet, or dumped outdoors.
Check your local council’s collection arrangements and have a sealed container ready for transporting cooled oil.
Storing the oil and possibly taking it to a collection point are both part of using a deep-fat fryer.
These hot-air models are for households looking to reduce the smells associated with deep-fat frying. To choose between them, start with your portion sizes and available space, then check the noise level in use if your kitchen opens onto a living area.
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Worth considering if you regularly prepare two parts of a meal in separate drawers.
Advertised total capacity of 9.5 L and six functions. Compare the recommended quantities for each drawer with your portion sizes, then check the appliance’s footprint and noise level in use.
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Worth considering if you’d rather prepare two separate dishes than use one large basket.
Advertised total capacity of 7.6 L and six functions. Check the suitable quantity for each drawer, the dimensions and a noise measurement relevant to your kitchen.
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Worth a look if you want to keep two foods separate while preparing a meal.
Advertised total capacity of 9 L and two compartments. Make sure your planned portions fit in the cooking space, and check the required space as well as the noise level.
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Worth considering if you’d like to see your food cooking without having to open the basket every time.
Advertised capacity of 7 L, digital display and cooking window. Check the usable capacity, the space needed for installation and the noise level before choosing this size.
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Worth a look if your usual portions will fit in an appliance with a more modest stated capacity.
Advertised capacity of 4 L, rated power of 1 500 W, eight modes and a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C. Check the recommended quantities, cleaning requirements and noise level for your needs.
No. UFC-Que Choisir refers to a reduction in smells compared with deep-fat frying, not a guarantee that there won’t be any. If smells are your main concern, also consider where you’ll place the appliance and how well your kitchen is ventilated.
Start with the number of portions and the dishes you prepare in one batch. Then compare the recommended quantities, basket shape and external dimensions. UFC-Que Choisir assesses the amount cooked and the cooking results, not just the advertised capacity.
No. A brief listen won’t necessarily reflect the noise you’ll hear at home throughout the cooking time. If you have an open-plan kitchen, look for a test that states the measurement distance. UFC-Que Choisir measures air fryer noise at 0.50 m as part of its testing process.
Let it cool, put it in a sealed container and follow your local council’s collection instructions. ADEME advises that it must not be poured down the sink or toilet, or dumped outdoors.