If your priority is to handle less oil and reduce frying smells, start by comparing an air fryer with your existing oven. According to Que Choisir, an air fryer can reduce smells, but it takes up space and results vary between models. A deep-fat fryer may still be worth considering if you specifically want to cook by immersing food in oil and need batch sizes that suit your household. If your oven already meets your needs, you may not need another appliance.
If you cook chips or breaded foods but want to handle and store less oil, compare an air fryer with your oven. Que Choisir notes that frying smells put some households off, but hot-air cooking does not guarantee an odour-free kitchen.
If you often cook for several people, start with the amount of food you need to cook per cycle. Capacity in litres, the weight of chips and the number of people served are not the same measure, so check each appliance’s loading instructions.
If you’re short on worktop space, try your oven’s existing settings for the dishes you usually make first. An AirFry tray may also be an option if Electrolux confirms that it’s compatible with your oven.
Choose based on what matters most to you: handling less oil, avoiding an appliance that duplicates your oven, cooking larger quantities or making the most of your available space.
Consider it if: you want to cook by immersing food in oil for your usual batch sizes.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to handle, store and clean the oil, and Que Choisir reports that frying smells can be an issue.
Consider it if: you want to cook with hot air and handle less oil than you would with a deep-fat fryer.
Bear in mind: it’s an extra appliance that Que Choisir describes as bulky and somewhat noisy, with results that vary between models.
Consider it if: its settings and batch sizes already suit the chips or breaded foods you cook.
Check: the results you get with your recipes before deciding that an air fryer would offer something different.
| What matters | What to check | Who is this for? |
|---|---|---|
| Oil and smells | Cooking method, parts to clean and tests of the smells produced by the model you’re considering. | I want to cook chips or breaded foods without managing a deep-fat fryer, while accepting that cooking smells may linger; around 33 % of consumers prioritise using less oil and reducing smells. |
| Duplicating your oven | The settings on your current oven and the results you get with your usual portions; whether a potential AirFry tray is compatible. | My oven already cooks these foods and I don’t want another appliance unless it offers a different use; avoiding duplication is the main concern for around 27 % of consumers. |
| Batch size | The permitted quantity for the same food and the loading instructions, rather than just the stated capacity in litres. | When several people eat together, I prioritise the amount I can cook per cycle or cooking by immersion; around 20 % of consumers put this need first. |
| Space and cleaning | Dimensions, including required clearance, storage and which parts are actually washable according to the instructions. | In a small kitchen, I need an appliance I can set up, store and clean every day; space and cleaning are the top priorities for around 20 % of consumers. |
Results vary from one appliance to another: Que Choisir found that the air fryers it tested performed inconsistently. The product category alone won’t tell you what texture your chips will have.
Look for tests of the specific model using the foods you cook, then follow the quantities and mixing instructions in its manual.
Capacity in litres, the weight of chips and the number of people served can’t be compared directly. The shape of the basket and its loading limits also affect your batch size.
Compare the stated quantity for the same food and check the permitted fill level in each appliance’s manual.
Que Choisir highlights the overlap between air fryers and fan ovens. If your oven already gives you the results you want, it may meet your needs without another appliance.
Try your recipes using your oven’s existing settings. If you’re considering an AirFry tray, confirm with the manufacturer that it’s compatible with your oven model.
An extra appliance also takes up storage or worktop space.
RappelConso lists recalls affecting certain air fryers, including those involving risks of electric shock or fire. A recall for a specific model does not apply to the whole category.
Keep a note of the full model number, read the manual before use and check RappelConso for the relevant model if you’re looking for a recall or notice a fault.
These ranges show different approaches to frying at home. Compare the features of the model you’re interested in rather than drawing conclusions based on the brand alone.
Tefal offers both deep-fat fryers and air fryers, making the brand worth comparing if you’re choosing between cooking by immersion and hot-air cooking.
Electrolux offers two options to explore: a countertop air fryer or an AirFry tray designed for certain ovens.
Ninja is one of the air fryer brands to consider when comparing the formats and features available for your recipes.
These models cover two of the options discussed here: air fryers in different sizes for cooking while handling less oil, and a deep-fat fryer for cooking by immersion. Before choosing, compare their size, power supply and the quantities that suit your recipes.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a 7,6 L air fryer for your usual batch sizes. Before buying, check the amount of food permitted per cycle, the external dimensions and whether the electrical supply is suitable for your home.
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Its stated 2 L capacity is worth considering if you cook small batches; check that it’s enough for your portions. The product name states that its non-stick basket is dishwasher-safe. Measure the space you have available and check the plug type before buying.
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The two drawers may suit households that want to cook different foods separately. The 7,6 L capacity is stated for the appliance as a whole, so check the permitted quantity in each drawer, the worktop space required and whether your electrical supply is suitable.
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This 4 L model is worth comparing with your portion sizes and the space you have available. Its name states that it has eight preset modes and a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C; check the manual for the right settings for your food, loading limits and electrical compatibility.
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This deep-fat fryer is designed for households that want to cook by immersion using two baskets. Its name states that it has a power rating of 3600 W, two independent thermostats, removable baskets and odour filters; these filters don’t guarantee that there will be no smells. Bear in mind that you’ll need to handle the oil, and check the dimensions and plug type.
No. Que Choisir reports that it can reduce smells compared with frying in oil, not eliminate them. If smells are a key reason for your purchase, look for tests of the model you’re considering and make sure you can ventilate the room while cooking.
There is some overlap: according to Que Choisir, an air fryer uses circulating hot air and can do some of the same jobs as an oven. Before buying another appliance, try cooking your usual dishes in your oven, then compare the portions you cook, the results you want and the space you have available.
Start with the amount of the food you usually cook that each appliance allows per cycle. Litres, kilograms of chips and the number of people served are not equivalent measures. For example, Tefal states that its oil-powered Méga XXL holds 2 kg of chips, while its hot-air Easy Fry Mega has a capacity of 7,5 L.
Read the manual for the exact model, especially the instructions on the power supply, installation and cleaning. In France, you can use RappelConso to search for recalls affecting a specific model; risks reported for certain appliances should not be assumed to apply to every air fryer.
No. According to the French Ministry of the Economy, the legal guarantee of conformity applies to new, second-hand and refurbished goods sold by a business to a private individual. If goods are not as described, for example, you can make a claim to the seller. A commercial warranty is separate and does not replace this right.