If cooking smells are your top concern, air frying is the best-supported choice: Que Choisir says it significantly reduces the risk of unpleasant smells, especially in a small kitchen. However, it is not completely odour-free, and its capacity may limit how many batches of fresh chips you can cook. A deep-fat fryer is still an option if you are happy to handle and clean the oil. And if you rarely cook this kind of food, consider how you could use your oven before adding another appliance.
In a poorly ventilated kitchen or one that opens onto your living space, reducing cooking smells may matter more than getting exactly the same results as deep-fat frying. Air frying is worth considering, but don’t assume it produces no smells at all.
You make chips, breaded food or doughnuts, but want to avoid storing, filtering and cleaning a pan of oil as much as possible. Remember to check how easy the parts of your chosen appliance are to clean, too.
If you’re cooking several portions or two dishes, the amount of food you can cook at once matters just as much as the advertised capacity. Compare the cooking space, baskets and the room the appliance takes up.
To keep smells to a minimum, start by choosing between air frying, deep-fat frying and using the oven. Then consider capacity, cleaning and the space you have available.
Worth considering: if reducing the smells and oil handling associated with deep-fat frying matters more to you than cooking large batches.
Bear in mind: Que Choisir notes that you may need to limit the amount of fresh chips in the drawer; cooking smells are still possible.
Worth considering: if you want a dedicated deep-fat fryer without taking up a hob ring.
Bear in mind: a filter or cool zone, if fitted, won’t eliminate possible smells or the need to handle hot oil.
Worth considering: for occasional use if you have a compatible hob and are happy to keep an eye on the cooking.
Bear in mind: Que Choisir highlights the risk of splashes and the need to check that the pan is stable, particularly on a gas hob.
Worth considering: if you rarely cook chips or breaded food and don’t want to store another appliance.
Bear in mind: an oven doesn’t offer the compact format of an air fryer. Don’t assume the two methods will give the same results for every recipe.
| Factor | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking smells | Compare air frying with deep-fat frying. If you choose a fryer that uses oil, check whether the specific model has a filter, but don’t treat it as a guarantee that there will be no smells. | In an open-plan or poorly ventilated kitchen, I mainly want to stop the smell of frying from spreading; around 36% of consumers would put this at the top of their list. |
| Cleaning and oil | Look for removable parts and check which ones are confirmed as dishwasher-safe. For a deep-fat fryer, also check how the oil is drained and whether the appliance can be taken apart. | If storing, filtering and then cleaning the oil makes every meal more of a chore, I’d prefer a simpler routine; cleaning would be the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Capacity and batches | Compare the stated food capacity for your recipes, the cooking surface and the choice between two baskets or one large cooking area. | When cooking for several people, I want to avoid making too many batches; around 21% of consumers would make capacity their main consideration. |
| Space and compatibility | Measure the space where you plan to put the appliance, including room to open a drawer. With a traditional fryer, check that its pan is compatible with your hob. | When worktop space is limited or my hob requires a particular pan material, the appliance first needs to suit my kitchen; this would be the main consideration for around 14% of consumers. |
Que Choisir describes air frying as reducing the risk of unpleasant smells, not eliminating them. Reviews of the SEB Actifry Advance FZ727800 in the Darty community have mixed opinions on smells.
If smells are a deciding factor for you, make sure you can ventilate the room and don’t choose a model based on that claim alone.
According to Que Choisir, you may need to limit the amount of fresh chips in the drawer. The advertised capacity alone won’t tell you how much you can cook for a typical meal.
Compare the stated food capacity and basket layout with the dishes you make most often.
A basket that’s too small may mean cooking in several batches.
An odour filter won’t remove the precautions needed when handling hot oil or the cleaning involved in deep-fat frying. Features vary from one fryer to another.
Check the filter, cool zone, oil drainage, dishwasher-safe parts and stability of the model you’re considering separately.
The DGCCRF notes that electrical equipment can pose risks including electric shock, fire and burns. For products covered by EU regulations, the CE marking indicates the manufacturer’s commitment to meeting the applicable requirements; it doesn’t replace the need to read the safety instructions.
Before buying, identify the model and seller, then check the instruction manual, warnings and warranty information.
The Easy Fry range includes several sizes of air fryer.
Some Philips Airfryer models have flexible basket configurations for different dishes.
Some Actifry models combine hot-air cooking with a stirring paddle.
No, it can’t guarantee odour-free cooking. Que Choisir says air frying significantly reduces the risk of unpleasant smells, especially in small kitchens. However, reviews of a SEB model in the Darty community show that how much you notice the smell can vary.
Choose based on the amount and type of food you cook, not just the number of litres. Que Choisir notes that you may need to limit the amount of fresh chips in the drawer. If you also want to cook two dishes at once, compare a large cooking area with two separate baskets.
Removable, dishwasher-safe parts can make everyday cleaning easier, as long as dishwasher compatibility is confirmed for the model you choose. Moulinex confirms this for the basket of the Easy Fry Max EZ2468F0; Darty’s product details state the same for the bowl, paddle and lid of the SEB Actifry Advance FZ727800.
It depends on the material of its pan. Que Choisir notes that a cast aluminium pan isn’t suitable for induction; check the product details to confirm that the fryer you’re considering is compatible with your hob.
For an appliance covered by the applicable EU regulations, check the CE marking, exact model and safety instructions. The DGCCRF explains that the CE marking indicates the manufacturer’s commitment to meeting essential requirements; it doesn’t replace checking the instruction manual, warnings and seller information.