According to Que Choisir, an air fryer reduces the risk of unpleasant smells associated with deep-fat frying, but it doesn’t make cooking completely odour-free. It’s worth considering if your main aim is to handle less oil and avoid splashes. A deep-fat fryer is still an option if the texture of fresh chips matters most, despite the extra cleaning it involves. If you only fry occasionally, try recipes suited to your oven or frying pan first. Before buying another appliance, consider how much space you have and how much food you need to cook at a time.
If your kitchen has limited ventilation and you’d rather handle less hot oil, compare air fryers. Que Choisir notes that they reduce the risk of unpleasant smells compared with deep-fat frying, but don’t eliminate them.
If you value the texture of traditionally fried chips and want to serve them all at once, a deep-fat fryer is worth considering. You’ll need to be comfortable with the smells, cleaning and oil management. An air fryer may require several batches.
If you only make the odd batch of breaded or roasted food, check what your oven or frying pan can already do. How often you’ll use an appliance and where you’ll store it are important considerations before buying another one.
Worth considering: if avoiding the drawbacks of deep-fat frying matters more to you than recreating the texture of food cooked in a deep-fat fryer.
Bear in mind: it takes up space, can be noisy, and results vary between models and foods, as Que Choisir points out.
Worth considering: if you prioritise fresh chips cooked in the traditional way. An electric deep-fat fryer frees up the hob, unlike one that you use on it.
Bear in mind: both types involve smells, splashes and oil management. According to Que Choisir, a filter doesn’t trap all the smells when you handle the basket.
Worth trying: if you only cook these foods occasionally and don’t want to make space for a fryer.
Bear in mind: these cooking methods won’t necessarily recreate the texture of food cooked in a deep-fat fryer.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Smells and cleaning | Cooking method and cleaning of removable parts; with deep-fat frying, how you’ll collect and dispose of used oil. | In a kitchen with limited ventilation, I want to prepare foods that are usually fried without dealing with as many smells or splashes. Around 36% of consumers would put this need first. |
| Texture and quantity | How many fresh chips you can cook in one batch and the basket’s usable surface area, rather than just its stated capacity. | If I’m serving fresh chips to several people, I’d accept the drawbacks of deep-fat frying if texture mattered most. This would be the priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Meal planning | Basket sizes and, when cooking two dishes, whether you can set them independently. | When several foods need to be ready at the same time, I’d rather not cook one batch after another. Around 21% of consumers would make this their main criterion. |
| Space and how often you’ll use it | The appliance’s dimensions and storage requirements, as well as recipes you can already make in the oven or frying pan. | If I rarely cook these foods, keeping space in my kitchen matters more than adding another appliance. This would be the priority for around 14% of consumers. |
According to Que Choisir, hot-air cooking can reduce the smells associated with deep-fat frying, but it can still produce some. A filter on a deep-fat fryer won’t trap all the smells released when you handle the basket either.
If smells are a key factor in your decision, consider how well ventilated your kitchen is, whatever type of appliance you’re thinking of buying.
The stated capacity and number of portions don’t tell you on their own how many fresh chips or breaded items you can cook at once. Que Choisir notes that fresh chips may need to be cooked in smaller batches.
Compare the shape and usable dimensions of the baskets with your usual portions, then measure the space available for the appliance.
Cooking successive batches also takes longer, so it’ll take more time to serve the whole meal.
A deep-fat fryer means letting the oil cool, then storing it until you can dispose of it. ADEME says not to pour it down the sink, flush it down the toilet or tip it out into the environment.
Before buying, make sure you have a sealed container and find out where your nearest suitable collection point is.
An air fryer takes up space even when you’re not using it. If you only make these recipes occasionally, your oven may already meet some of your needs, although it may not give you the same results.
Make a note of the dishes and quantities you actually plan to cook, then try what your oven or frying pan can do before making space for another appliance.
These examples showcase different types of air fryer. The features mentioned apply to the models listed, not every fryer made by each brand.
Philips offers the Premium Airfryer XXL HD9650/90, which the brand says has a 7.3 L capacity and can serve up to 6 portions.
The Easy Fry range includes various sizes. For one Easy Fry Compact model, Moulinex states a capacity of 7.5 L, enough for up to 8 people, and a removable front panel that’s dishwasher-safe.
Ninja also offers the DualZone DZ300EU, a two-drawer model with a stated capacity of 7.6 L.
These air fryers let you cook without a deep-fat fryer, with options ranging from a 2 L basket to models with two cooking zones. Choose according to your portion sizes, whether you want to cook different foods at the same time, and how much space you have. None can guarantee an odour-free kitchen.
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Worth considering if you want to cook two foods with separate settings, without using a deep-fat fryer.
Two drawers; stated capacity of 7.6 L and six functions. Check how much worktop space it needs and how much you can cook in each drawer.
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Worth considering for smaller portions if you want to avoid deep-fat frying. Make sure the basket size suits your recipes.
Non-stick basket stated to be dishwasher-safe, with a 60-minute timer. Check the external dimensions to make sure it will fit in your kitchen.
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Its two baskets are worth considering if you plan to cook different foods at the same time and have enough space.
Stated total capacity of 9 L, 2400 W power, eight programmes and independent temperature control. Check the external dimensions and how much you can cook in each basket.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for an air fryer with a window so you can see your food as it cooks.
Stated capacity of 7 L and a digital display. Compare the basket’s usable size with your usual portions and check the external dimensions.
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Worth considering if you want to try different hot-air recipes without having an appliance with two baskets.
Eight pre-set modes, temperature settings from 35 to 200 °C and a reminder to shake the food. Check the external dimensions and cleaning instructions before you decide.
No, an air fryer can’t guarantee odour-free cooking. Que Choisir notes that it reduces the risk of unpleasant smells compared with deep-fat frying. If your kitchen has limited ventilation, bear this in mind. A filter on a deep-fat fryer won’t trap all the smells when you handle the basket either.
Let it cool, put it in a sealed container and find a suitable collection point. ADEME says not to pour it down the sink, flush it down the toilet or tip it out into the environment. Taking it to a waste and recycling centre is common, and some local authorities have dedicated collection points.
No. Check the basket’s usable dimensions and how much you’ll cook for each recipe too. Brands’ stated portion numbers aren’t directly comparable: Philips says the 7.3 L HD9650/90 can serve up to 6 portions, while Moulinex says one 7.5 L Easy Fry Compact model can serve up to 8 people.
Not necessarily. Try recipes suited to your oven or frying pan first. If the results aren’t what you’re looking for, consider how often you’ll use an air fryer, how much space you have and how many portions you need to cook before choosing one.
First, check whether it can be repaired. If you need to get rid of it, find out about a suitable collection service for electrical and electronic equipment. Information from the French ministries responsible for ecological transition points people towards repair, reuse or a collection point rather than household rubbish.