Households cooking several dishes at once
You want to cook a side dish while a saucepan or frying pan is already taking up a hob ring. As Que Choisir points out, a freestanding electric fryer frees up the hob for other dishes.
Who is this choice for?
Households concerned about smells and cleaning
Before making room for a dedicated appliance, you’ll want to know how to clean its parts and, if it uses oil, how to handle and store the oil. Instructions vary between models, so the manual is more useful than a general claim that it’s easy to clean.
Small kitchens where every bit of space counts
Freeing up a hob ring won’t help if the appliance gets in the way on your worktop or won’t fit in the cupboard you’ve set aside for it. Compare its external dimensions with the space available, then check that its capacity suits the portions you make.
How do the options compare?
First decide whether you need to keep a hob ring free throughout cooking. A traditional fryer and a frying pan both take up hob space; a freestanding electric appliance or the oven leaves the hob free, but may not cook food in the same way.
| Factor | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Keeping the hob free | Choose an appliance with its own heat source if all your hob rings are already in use, and check that you have space for it on the worktop. | If a sauce or another dish needs to cook at the same time, keeping a hob ring free matters more than the fryer’s format. Around 31% of consumers would put this first. |
| Smells and cleaning | Check which parts can be removed and washed. For a deep-fat fryer, also look at how the oil is filtered and stored. | If cleaning the basket and handling oil make mealtimes more difficult, ease of cleaning becomes the deciding factor. Around 25% of consumers would put this first. |
| Food you want to cook | Know the difference between immersion frying and hot-air cooking. Compare the capacity with your portion sizes and look for test results for the model you’re considering. | If you mainly make doughnuts or breaded food, you’ll want to know whether the cooking method suits those recipes. For other dishes, the option to bake or roast may matter more. Around 25% of consumers would prioritise a cooking method suited to the food they prepare. |
| Space and storage | Measure the space where you’ll use and store the appliance, taking into account the clearances required in the manual. | In a kitchen with limited worktop space, keeping the hob free shouldn’t make the appliance difficult to put away after a meal. Available space would be the main concern for around 19% of consumers. |
The oven is also worth considering if you don’t want another appliance to store. It leaves the hob free, but it doesn’t replace immersion frying. Que Choisir notes that air fryer cooking results vary considerably between models, so you shouldn’t base your choice on the promise of crispy food alone.
Mistakes to avoid
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Choosing a hob-top fryer to free up a hob ring
A traditional fryer takes up a cooking zone while you prepare food. It won’t solve the problem if you need all your hob rings for the rest of the meal.
If keeping the hob free is essential, compare a freestanding electric fryer, an air fryer and using your oven.
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Assuming ‘dishwasher-safe’ means ‘maintenance-free’
This may only apply to certain parts. Philips, for example, gives separate instructions for removable parts and cleaning the relevant Airfryer models.
Check the manual for the exact model to see what can be removed, what is dishwasher-safe and what needs to cool down before cleaning.
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Choosing an air fryer based only on the number of programmes
A wide range of programmes doesn’t guarantee the results you want for your food. Tests published by Que Choisir in 2024 found that cooking performance varies between models.
Start with the recipes you make and your portion sizes, then look for tests relevant to the model you’re considering and check its dimensions and which parts can be cleaned.
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Forgetting how much space it takes up away from the hob
A freestanding appliance frees up the hob, but takes up space elsewhere. Que Choisir draws particular attention to the amount of space air fryers can take up.
Measure the worktop and storage space before choosing a capacity, and follow the clearance instructions in the manual.
Brands to know when comparing models
SEB
The range includes electric deep-fat fryers, including Oleoclean models designed to filter and store oil.
- SEB says that the relevant Oleoclean models filter the oil and store it in a sealed cassette. This is worth considering if handling the oil is a concern for you.
- These features aren’t available across the whole range. Check the capacity, dimensions and cleaning instructions for the model you choose.
Tefal
The Easy Fry range includes hot-air cookers in different formats, including compact models and models that combine hot-air cooking with grilling.
- Tefal says the basket for model EY130815 is dishwasher-safe, and that the removable parts for model EY501815 are dishwasher-safe.
- These details apply to the models listed; they don’t tell you how noisy another Easy Fry is, how well it cooks or how to clean it.
Philips
Philips support guidance can help you assess how to clean an Airfryer before choosing a model.
- For the Airfryer models covered by its support guidance, Philips says to let the appliance cool down and explains how to clean the pan and basket.
- Always check the manual for the exact model: cleaning instructions alone won’t tell you how well it cooks.
Appliances for cooking without using the hob
These Joybuy models offer two ways to keep your hob free: electric deep-fat frying and hot-air cooking. First choose the method that suits the food you want to prepare, then compare capacity, cleaning and the space required.
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TEFAL Clear Duo 3.5L, XL Anti-Fog window
An electric deep-fat fryer for cooking food by immersion without using a hob ring. Its name indicates a 3.5L capacity and an XL Anti-Fog window. Check that it will fit on your worktop. The oil and appliance need to cool down before cleaning.
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Hkoenig DFX600, two baskets, 2x3L, 3600W
Worth considering if you want to deep-fry two foods while keeping the hob free. The product name specifies two independent thermostats and removable baskets. Check how much space you’ll need before buying; the odour filters listed for this model don’t mean you can skip ventilating the room.
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Livoo DOC240, 1.5l, 900w
This electric deep-fat fryer lets you keep the hob free for other dishes. Its stated 1.5l capacity means it’s worth checking whether it suits the quantities you usually cook. The bowl is fixed, so check the manual for cleaning instructions and measure the space you have for it.
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Livoo DOC217, two bowls, 2x3L, 3300W
Another deep-fat frying option for cooking two foods without using the hob. Its two bowls and separate controls are suited to this, but check its dimensions before making room for it. Consult the manual to see which removable parts can be washed and which can’t.
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Ninja Dual Zone DZ300EU, two drawers, 7.6L
Worth considering if you want to cook two foods using hot air while keeping the hob free. The product name lists two drawers and six functions; hot-air cooking won’t necessarily produce the same results as deep-fat frying. Check the space and clearances required in the manual, and consider the noise level if that matters to you.
Frequently asked questions
Can a traditional fryer keep the hob free?
No. It heats on a hob ring and takes it up while cooking. If you’re still considering this type, check that the material of its bowl is suitable for your hob. Que Choisir notes, for example, that an aluminium cast bowl isn’t suitable for induction hobs.
How do you compare the cleaning requirements of an air fryer and a deep-fat fryer?
Check each part individually rather than relying on a claim that it’s ‘easy to clean’. For an air fryer, check the basket, bowl and instructions for cleaning the inside of the appliance. For a deep-fat fryer, also look at the filter, whether the oil needs draining and how it should be stored. In both cases, follow the cooling instructions for the exact model.
Is an air fryer useful if I already have an oven?
Not necessarily. You may already be able to cook some dishes in the oven, which also leaves the hob free. Before adding an air fryer, compare the food you cook, your portion sizes, how much space the appliance would take up and how noisy it is.
Is the CE mark enough to establish that an electrical appliance is safe?
No. The Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control explains that the CE mark indicates the manufacturer’s commitment to meeting applicable European requirements, but it isn’t a certification mark. If you’re buying an appliance in France, also check its manual and the seller’s details; don’t judge its safety on the logo alone.