If you need to keep the hob free for the rest of the meal, choose a standalone electric appliance: an oil fryer for deep-frying, or an air fryer if you want to avoid a bath of oil and are happy with a different result. A traditional fryer takes up a hob ring, so it’s better suited to times when one is free. Either way, make sure you have enough space for the appliance and check what cleaning and maintenance it requires.
If you’re already using the hob to make a sauce or another part of the meal, an electric oil fryer or an air fryer lets you cook fried or breaded food separately. UFC-Que Choisir notes that an electric fryer frees up the hob for other uses.
If storing and disposing of oil puts you off, consider hot-air cooking. You won’t have to deal with a bath of oil, but you’ll need to be happy with a result that may differ from traditional deep-frying.
If you rarely fry food, a traditional fryer may suit you, provided a hob ring is free while you cook. If you have an induction hob, also check that the pan is compatible before you buy.
If the hob is already in use, the first decision is which type of cooking you want. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes between a fryer that sits on the hob and standalone electric appliances, and highlights that air fryers can take up a lot of space.
Consider it: for occasional use, when a hob ring can be kept free.
Bear in mind: it takes up a hob ring and requires you to manage a bath of oil; the pan must be compatible with induction hobs.
Consider it: if you want to deep-fry while another dish cooks on the hob.
Bear in mind: it frees up a hob ring, but needs space and you’ll have to clean it and dispose of the oil.
Consider it: for cooking away from the hob without a bath of oil, especially if you’ll use the appliance for other dishes too.
Bear in mind: cooking and results differ from deep-frying in oil; check the space available and how much you can cook in each batch.
| Consideration | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Keeping the hob free | Choose a standalone appliance if you can’t spare a hob ring for frying; make sure you have a suitable surface to put it on. | When the hob is already full of pans, I want to start cooking something else without having to move the meal. Around 31% of consumers would make freeing up a hob ring their top priority. |
| Managing oil | For an oil fryer, check which parts can be removed and whether it has a filtration system; for an air fryer, check which parts need cleaning. | If I don’t want to store or dispose of a bath of oil after cooking, I’d rather consider hot-air cooking, even though the results are different. This would be the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Space and storage | Compare the appliance’s external dimensions with your worktop and storage space, and check how much it cooks per batch. | In a kitchen where every bit of space matters, I don’t want an appliance that’s too bulky to keep within easy reach. Space would be the main concern for around 19% of consumers. |
| Versatility | Check which functions you’ll actually use, how many cooking zones it has and their usable capacity. | If I only fry occasionally, I’d also like to use the appliance for other parts of the meal. Around 25% of consumers would put versatility first. |
A traditional fryer uses the very hob ring you need for another dish. So it won’t solve the problem if your hob is already full.
If you need to cook things at the same time, compare an electric oil fryer with an air fryer instead.
Being made of metal doesn’t guarantee that a pan is compatible with an induction hob. UFC-Que Choisir points out that not all cookware is suitable for this type of hob.
Check the manufacturer’s guidance and make sure the base is suitable for the hob ring. A magnet sticking to the underside of the pan can help you check whether it contains a ferromagnetic material.
A fryer with a filter still keeps a bath of oil that will eventually need to be disposed of. ADEME advises that used oil must not be poured down the sink or toilet, or released into the environment.
Keep cooled oil in a sealed container and find out where your nearest collection point is.
Filtering and cleaning take time; dropping off the oil may also mean making a special trip.
The stated capacity doesn’t tell you on its own how much food you can cook in one batch. Two drawers can help you coordinate different dishes, but they also take up more space.
Check the usable capacity of each zone and the appliance’s external dimensions before choosing a dual-drawer model.
Tefal offers electric oil fryers worth considering if you want to deep-fry without using the hob.
SEB offers both electric deep fryers and Actifry appliances, so you can compare them based on the type of cooking you’re looking for.
The Moulinex Easy Fry range lets you cook with hot air away from the hob, without a bath of oil.
These appliances include electric oil fryers and air fryers, so you can cook while the hob is in use for the rest of the meal. Decide between deep-frying in oil and hot-air cooking before comparing their sizes and cooking zones.
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Cook two foods away from the hob while still deep-frying in oil.
The DFX600 model has a stated power output of 3600W, two baskets and two independent thermostats.
You’ll need space for the appliance and will have to manage two baths of oil.
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Cook two dishes using hot air without taking up the hob or using a bath of oil.
The product name indicates a flexible basket, a viewing window, sync mode and dual-zone cooking.
Check its external dimensions and the care instructions for its parts before buying.
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Cook two parts of the meal with hot air while keeping the hob free for other dishes.
The DZ300EU model comes with two drawers and six cooking functions.
The results may differ from deep-frying in oil. Check the manual for instructions on washing the baskets and how much space you’ll need.
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Deep-fry in oil without using a hob ring.
The product name indicates a 3.5L pan and an anti-fog XL viewing window.
Allow time for the oil to cool, then clean the appliance and dispose of the oil after use.
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Cook two foods in oil without taking up space on the hob.
The DOC217 model has two 3 L pans and a stated power output of 3300W.
Check its size and cleaning instructions; you’ll still need to manage both baths of oil.
Yes, as long as its pan is compatible with induction and its base is suitable for the hob ring. Check the manufacturer’s guidance. As UFC-Que Choisir points out, not all metal pans are suitable for induction hobs.
An electric oil fryer or an air fryer works independently of the hob. A traditional fryer, on the other hand, takes up a hob ring while you cook.
Let it cool, then keep it in a sealed container before taking it to a suitable collection point. In France, ADEME advises that it must not be poured down the sink or toilet, or released into the environment. Find out where your nearest collection points are.
It can replace an oil fryer for some uses if you’re happy to cook with hot air rather than in a bath of oil. UFC-Que Choisir notes that the results and quantities you can cook may differ, particularly when making chips from fresh potatoes.
Check which parts can be removed and the care instructions for the model you choose. For an oil fryer, also check the filtration system and how easy it is to access the pan. Even if some parts are dishwasher-safe, you’ll still need to deal with the oil separately.