For occasional frying, a traditional deep fryer compatible with your hob, or simply the oven and frying pan, can help you avoid filling your kitchen with a dedicated appliance. If you regularly cook with a deep-fat fryer, choose an electric model whose bowl, filtration system and dishwasher-safe parts suit your habits. An air fryer can be a practical worktop cooking solution, but it does not automatically replace deep-frying in oil: results vary depending on the model and the food.
You occasionally prepare chips, doughnuts or breaded food and do not want to dedicate storage space and maintenance time to a specialist appliance. According to the Que Choisir guide, several cooking methods remain possible: a traditional deep fryer, or not buying one at all, may be more suitable depending on your hob and how comfortable you are handling oil.
You often cook fried food and want to reduce cleaning, filtering and storage tasks. Compare the removable bowl, filtration system and dishwasher-safe parts for each model; some SEB products advertise these features for the relevant models.
You are looking for a worktop appliance for chips, breaded food and other types of cooking, while also considering capacity and storage. Que Choisir notes that air fryer results can differ considerably from one model to another, so size alone is not enough to make your choice.
Start by considering how often you fry and the type of cooking you want. Then check the maintenance requirements, portion sizes and the space you actually have available.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Oil maintenance | Removable bowl, dishwasher-safe parts, filtration system and any storage container. Check these features on the exact model. | I regularly cook with a deep-fat fryer and want to reduce transferring the oil and cleaning up after each use. |
| Odours and steam | Whether you have an extractor fan or effective ventilation. A filter may trap some of the vapours, but Que Choisir states that its effectiveness varies between appliances. | My kitchen or home is sensitive to odours. I want to plan suitable ventilation rather than rely on a promise of odour-free cooking. |
| Cooking results | Look for tests covering the food you cook, your usual load and cooking consistency. With an air fryer, do not rely on the product description alone. | I want chips and breaded food to cook consistently enough for my usual portions. Que Choisir found significant differences between the air fryers it tested. |
| Capacity and footprint | Compare the litre capacity, number of drawers, external dimensions and storage location. A stated capacity does not replace measuring your worktop. | I want to prepare the right quantity without buying an appliance that is too large for my kitchen or too small for my meals. |
A traditional deep fryer with a cast aluminium bowl will not work on induction, according to the French Que Choisir guide. The appliance would therefore not be suitable for its intended use.
Check induction compatibility on the exact model's product page, as well as the bowl material. A metal or stainless-steel appearance is not enough to guarantee compatibility.
Que Choisir reports that performance varies considerably between air fryers and that some models may cook chips unevenly.
Define the foods, portion sizes and results you expect, then consult tests covering cooking performance, cleaning, safety and noise in particular.
Cleaning, storage and oil disposal are all part of using the appliance. ADEME states that used oil must not be poured down the sink, toilet or into the environment.
For regular use, compare the removable bowl, dishwasher-safe parts, filtration system and integrated storage. Allow the oil to cool in a sealed container, then check the disposal solution available in your area.
Filters vary in effectiveness, and odours can escape when the basket is placed into or removed from the oil, explains Que Choisir.
Make sure you have good ventilation or an extractor fan. If this is particularly important to you, also compare an air fryer or cooking without a dedicated appliance, without assuming the results will be identical.
A brand to consider for electric deep-fat fryers, particularly the Filtra Pro and Oleoclean ranges, which offer features such as a cool zone, removable bowl, dishwasher-safe parts and oil filtration, depending on the model.
A brand to consider for Easy Fry air fryers, available in compact and larger-capacity formats depending on the product.
A brand to consider for single- or dual-basket air fryers, with some products designed to cook two dishes simultaneously and prepare family-sized portions.
This selection brings together an electric deep-fat fryer and air fryers for preparing chips, breaded food and similar recipes at home. Compare their capacity, format and maintenance features with your portion sizes and kitchen space.
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For regular deep-fat frying, with a stated capacity suited to family-sized portions.
Stated capacity of 3,5 L, for up to 650 g of frozen chips or 1,2 kg of nuggets, thermostat up to 190 °C, timer, removable bowl and dishwasher-safe parts.
Stated dimensions: 50,3 × 25 × 26,8 cm. Oil handling, cooling and disposal are still required, and you should also ensure ventilation while cooking.
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Worth considering for larger portions, with several cooking modes.
Stated capacity of 7,6 L for up to 8 portions, shake reminder, temperature and time controls, plus air fry, roast, grill, bake and dehydrate functions.
The baskets and trays are advertised as dishwasher-safe. Check the external dimensions and look for tests covering the foods you prepare most often.
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For cooking two separate dishes with different settings at the same time.
Two independent drawers of 4,75 L each, giving 9,5 L in total, with Air Fry, Max Crisp, roast, bake, reheat and dehydrate functions.
The drawers and non-stick plates are advertised as dishwasher-safe. Its stated dimensions of 32,5 × 41,5 × 27 cm and weight of 8,8 kg mean that it needs a stable position.
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A flexible configuration for one large dish or two separate preparations.
Stated configuration as one 10 L basket or two separate 4,5 L baskets, ten programmes, temperature range from 40 to 200 °C and digital timer.
The baskets are removable and feature non-stick surfaces. Check the space available on your worktop, storage options and how the baskets should be cleaned before buying.
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For adjusting the amount prepared to suit small or medium-sized portions, depending on the meal.
Two borosilicate glass containers of 1,4 L and 3,8 L, with Air Fry, roast, keep warm and crisp reheat functions.
The containers and accessories are advertised as dishwasher-safe. The stated footprint is approximately 30 × 34,5 × 34 cm; compare these dimensions with your usual portion sizes.
Only if its bowl is suitable for induction. Que Choisir recommends a steel bowl rather than cast aluminium; always check the exact model's product page for an explicit statement of induction compatibility.
Do not pour it down the sink, toilet or into the environment. ADEME recommends allowing it to cool, placing it in a sealed bottle or container, then checking the collection or disposal option available near you.
No. Que Choisir states that filter effectiveness varies and that filters cannot prevent odours when the basket is immersed in or removed from the oil. Instead, use the appliance in a well-ventilated room or under an effective extractor fan.
No. Que Choisir tests show significant differences between air fryers and report that chips may cook unevenly depending on the model. Look for tests covering the foods you actually cook.
Check whether the bowl is removable, which parts are genuinely dishwasher-safe, and whether oil filtration or storage is built in. These features vary by model, including within the same brand.