If you want the results of deep-fat frying for doughnuts or battered and breadcrumbed foods, choose an oil fryer and be prepared to manage the oil and the cooking smells. If you want to avoid handling oil, an air fryer is worth considering for chips and roasted dishes, though you shouldn’t expect identical results. If you only make these dishes occasionally, first compare what your oven or frying pan can do. UFC-Que Choisir points out that air fryers can be bulky and noisy, and that how well they cook chips varies between models.
You want to make chips, breaded food or roasted dishes without dealing with a pan of hot oil every time. An air fryer is one option to compare, but its fan can be noisy and you’ll need to find space for it in your kitchen, as UFC-Que Choisir points out.
You sometimes make doughnuts, croquettes or breaded food, and getting the right result from frying in oil matters more to you than easy cleaning. A deep-fat fryer is still an option, as long as you’re happy to handle hot oil.
You need to be able to store and maintain any extra appliance. If you only make these dishes occasionally, compare the benefits of a fryer with what your oven or frying pan can do; UFC-Que Choisir advises considering the risk of buying more equipment than you need.
Your first decision is how you want to cook: avoiding a pan of oil, sticking with deep-fat frying or using equipment you already own will all bring different results and practical considerations.
Worth considering: if you want to avoid dealing with a pan of oil when making chips and roasted dishes.
Bear in mind: cooking with hot air won’t necessarily give you the same results as deep-fat frying. UFC-Que Choisir also notes that these appliances can be bulky and noisy.
Worth considering: if you want to deep-fry doughnuts, croquettes or breaded food. For occasional use, UFC-Que Choisir says a traditional fryer may be enough; an electric fryer is another way to cook this way.
Bear in mind: whichever you choose, you’ll need to handle the oil, clean the equipment and take care around hot oil.
Worth considering: if you only make these dishes occasionally and your existing equipment is suitable for the recipes you have in mind.
Bear in mind: results will depend on the recipe and the equipment you use. An oven or frying pan won’t replace deep-fat frying for every dish.
| Factor | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Smells and oil | Compare the cooking method and the parts you’ll need to clean; don’t assume that cooking with hot air will get rid of all smells. | If the smells and upkeep of a pan of oil put me off, I want to cook without having to filter or store the oil after every use. Around 31% of consumers rank this as their main concern. |
| Cooking results | Look for tests using the foods you usually cook, and follow the recommended load for the appliance you choose. | For doughnuts or breaded food, I care about getting the result my recipe is designed for, rather than simply having a ‘fry’ function. Around 31% of consumers would make this their priority. |
| Space, noise and portions | Measure the space available for using and storing the appliance; check its usable capacity and, for an air fryer, the fan noise. | In a small kitchen or open-plan room, I don’t want to cook in several batches or have an appliance that gets in the way every day. Space, noise and portion size would come before other factors for around 23% of consumers. |
| How often you’ll use it | Compare the dishes you genuinely plan to make with what your oven or frying pan can already do. | If I only cook this kind of dish occasionally, I’d rather avoid another appliance to get out, clean and store. Around 15% of consumers would make avoiding unnecessary purchases their priority. |
Results depend on the food, the quantity and the model. UFC-Que Choisir found that chips did not cook evenly in some air fryers. And testing a model with chips won’t tell you how well it cooks doughnuts.
Work out which dishes you’ll make most often, then look for tests or cooking instructions covering those specific foods.
You’ll need somewhere to use, ventilate and store an air fryer. UFC-Que Choisir notes that these appliances can be bulky and their fans may be intrusive, particularly near a living area.
Measure the space available, leave the clearances specified in the instructions and check noise measurements if this is important to you.
An appliance that’s difficult to get out and put away can also take up valuable worktop space all the time.
If your oven or frying pan already covers the recipes you have in mind, another appliance will take up space and need cleaning without necessarily offering anything new. UFC-Que Choisir recommends considering the risk of buying more equipment than you need.
Before you buy, weigh up how often you’ll make these dishes against the extra cleaning and storage space the appliance will require.
RappelConso has published recalls in France for air fryers that pose electrical or burn risks. A recall applies to specific models, not an entire category of appliances.
Keep a record of your model details, check RappelConso before using it for the first time and follow the instructions on the recall notice if your model is affected.
The Easy Fry range includes air fryers in different formats, including dual-zone models and models with a grill function.
Philips offers air fryers in different capacities, including models HD9252/90 and NA330/00.
The Actifry range includes hot-air fryers with a stirring paddle, including models designed for cooking chips.
These Joybuy models let you compare air fryers with an electric deep-fat fryer, based on the dishes you make, the space you have and how much cleaning you’re happy to do. If you’ll use it only occasionally, also compare buying an appliance with using your oven or frying pan.
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An air fryer to consider if you want to avoid a pan of oil when making chips or roasted dishes.
Advertised capacity: 7,6 L. Check how much space you’ll need and the recommended load for the portions you prepare.
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Its two drawers may suit a household that wants to cook two dishes without using a pan of oil.
The model name indicates two drawers, six functions and an advertised capacity of 9,5 L; the baskets are also described as dishwasher-safe. Check how much space you’ll need and the cooking instructions for the foods you plan to make.
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A hot-air model to consider if you’re looking for another way to cook foods usually fried or roasted, without expecting the results of deep-fat frying.
Check that the capacity suits your portions and follow the handling instructions: containers must be left to cool before cleaning.
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With an advertised capacity of 2 L, it’s worth checking whether your usual portions will fit in one batch before choosing this hot-air model.
The product name indicates a power rating of 1150 W, a 60-minute timer and a non-stick basket described as dishwasher-safe. Check its dimensions too, to make sure it will fit in your chosen spot.
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Worth considering if deep-fat frying matters more to you than avoiding a pan of oil.
The product name indicates a capacity of 3,5 L and a viewing window described as anti-mist. You’ll still need to handle the oil and let it cool after cooking; don’t assume this will eliminate cooking smells.
No, the results aren’t guaranteed to be the same: hot air and deep-fat frying cook food in different ways. UFC-Que Choisir found that chips cooked unevenly in some air fryers. Look for tests covering the recipes you make and follow the recommended load for your chosen model.
Check which parts are removable and how they can be washed for the exact model, rather than relying on a feature listed for the range as a whole. Philips says the removable parts of the HD9252/90 are dishwasher-safe. Moulinex also describes its Easy Fry baskets as dishwasher-safe, but check the specific model.
No. According to France’s Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control, the CE marking is not a certification mark. When choosing an electrical appliance, check its exact model number and read the safety instructions; the marking alone tells you nothing about its cooking performance.
Yes. Search for your appliance’s exact model on RappelConso and follow the notice if it’s affected. Recalls published in France for some air fryers mention risks including electric shock, fire and burns; they don’t apply to every model.
No. In France, the Directorate-General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control distinguishes between the legal guarantee of conformity, the guarantee for hidden defects and any commercial warranty. Check the duration and terms of the commercial warranty separately: it adds to your statutory protections but doesn’t replace them.