If your hob is already in use, choose a standalone electric appliance: a traditional fryer that sits on a hob won’t free up the space you need. An electric deep fryer is a good choice if you want to cook by immersion and don’t mind handling oil. An air fryer avoids the oil bath, but you’ll still need to check that you have enough worktop space and consider the basket size and cleaning.
You’re making a sauce or side dish on the hob and want to cook chips or breaded food without interrupting the meal. An electric deep fryer or an air fryer works independently, while a traditional fryer still takes up a hob ring.
If filling, filtering or storing oil puts you off, compare the removable bowls and oil collection systems on each deep fryer. An air fryer avoids the oil bath, but you’ll still need to clean its baskets.
Measure the space available on your worktop and in your cupboards. Also compare the shape of the baskets, removable parts and cleaning instructions: the stated capacity alone won’t tell you how convenient an appliance will be for everyday use.
If you need to cook while using the hob for other dishes, rule out a hob-top fryer first. Then compare the two standalone appliances based on whether you want to cook by immersion, how much space you have and how much cleaning you’re happy to do.
Consider it: if you want to free up a hob ring while cooking food by immersion.
The trade-off: the oil needs to cool before you handle it, then be stored, filtered or disposed of depending on how you use it and the instructions.
Consider it: if you have a free hob ring and the model is compatible with your hob.
The trade-off: it takes up that hob ring while frying, even if it’s compatible with induction.
Consider it: if you want to free up the hob without using an oil bath.
The trade-off: UFC-Que Choisir notes that these appliances can be bulky and noisy. Check the basket size too, to make sure it suits your portions.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Hob availability | Heating method and a stable space near a socket. | When the pans are already using the hob rings, I want to cook chips without moving another dish. Around 24% of consumers put being able to cook independently of the hob first. |
| Oil management | Removable bowl and the model’s draining or filtering process. | If I choose to cook by immersion, I want to be able to deal with the oil after the meal without too much handling. This is the top priority for around 24% of consumers. |
| Smells and cleaning | Any filter, washable parts and care instructions for the coatings. | Frying smells and washing up can put me off using the appliance regularly; around 19% of consumers put these concerns first. |
| Capacity and size | Overall dimensions and the capacity of each basket or bowl. | I need to prepare my usual portions without leaving an oversized appliance on the worktop. For around 14% of consumers, getting this balance right matters more than the other criteria. |
| Heat and handling | Stability, the model’s safety features and cooling instructions. | In a kitchen where people move around near the appliance, I pay closest attention to hot oil, steam and accessible surfaces. Around 19% of consumers make these precautions their top priority. |
A traditional fryer that’s compatible with induction still uses a hob ring while it’s cooking. It won’t solve the problem if every ring is already in use for the meal.
If freeing up the hob is essential, compare an electric deep fryer with an air fryer instead.
A washable bowl or basket doesn’t mean you can skip letting the appliance cool down. A deep fryer also requires you to manage the oil, while a coated basket needs to be cleaned with care.
Check the instructions to see which parts are actually dishwasher-safe and what to do before emptying or cleaning the appliance.
Filtering, storing or replacing the oil also takes time and involves extra handling.
The total capacity doesn’t tell you the size of each compartment or how much worktop space the appliance takes up.
Compare the overall dimensions and basket shape with your usual portions, the location of your socket and your available storage space.
The features advertised vary by model. They don’t remove the risks associated with hot oil, steam or splashes.
Place the appliance on a stable, clear surface, then follow the instructions for filling, opening and cooling it before cleaning.
These examples highlight features worth comparing; the features listed won’t necessarily apply to every model from each brand.
Worth considering if you’re looking for an electric deep fryer where cleaning depends on the bowl and oil collection system.
Worth comparing if you’re looking for a deep fryer with removable parts and model-specific safety features.
Worth considering if you need to coordinate several dishes in a dual-basket air fryer.
Worth comparing if capacity or cooking in two compartments is important to your choice of air fryer.
Only worth considering if you have a free hob ring and want a traditional fryer that’s compatible with your hob.
These appliances let you cook without using a hob ring: air fryers avoid the oil bath, while the electric fryers featured here cook by immersion. Compare their capacities with your usual portions and their cleaning requirements with the way you plan to use them.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you want to cook two foods without using the hob or an oil bath.
Total capacity stated in the product name: 9 L. Check that you have enough space and that each basket is large enough for your portions.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you want to free up the hob while still cooking by immersion in two bowls.
Each bowl has a stated capacity of 3 L. Allow enough space and let the oil cool before handling it.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you want to cook without using the hob or handling an oil bath, provided it fits your kitchen.
Stated capacity: 10 L. Compare the appliance’s dimensions, basket layout and care instructions with your needs.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you want to cook by immersion without tying up a hob ring.
The 3.5 L refers to the stated oil capacity, not the amount of chips. Check the food capacity for your usual portions and allow for managing the oil after cooking.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if two bowls for cooking by immersion would be useful while the hob is in use.
The stated capacity is 3 L per bowl. Check the overall size, cleaning requirements and oil management before choosing.
An electric deep fryer or an air fryer heats up without using a hob ring. A traditional fryer still sits on the hob, even if it’s compatible with induction.
No. These features don’t remove the need to fill the fryer, let the oil cool or manage it after cooking. Check the features of the specific model and its draining or filtering instructions.
Follow your model’s instructions and let it cool down before cleaning. For its relevant air fryer models, Philips recommends allowing around 30 minutes for the appliance to cool and advises against using metal utensils or abrasive products on non-stick surfaces.
They can be useful if you regularly cook two foods at the same time and have enough space. Some models let you synchronise the cooking times, but check the capacity of each drawer rather than relying on the total capacity alone.