For the occasional fry-up, a traditional fryer may be enough if its pan is compatible with your hob. An electric deep fryer frees up the hob and is better suited to regular frying, but you’ll still need to manage the oil. An air fryer reduces this hassle and frying odours, but you’ll need space for it on your worktop, and the results differ from chips cooked in oil, as Que Choisir points out.
If you cook in a small space or would rather not filter and store a pan of oil, an air fryer is worth considering. Que Choisir notes that it can reduce frying odours, but doesn’t promise to eliminate them. You’ll also need room for the appliance, and the results differ from oil frying.
If you’re after the taste and crispness of food cooked in oil, look at electric fryers with a capacity that suits your portions. A removable pan and filtration system can make cleaning easier, but you’ll still need to store and replace the oil depending on how often you use it.
For the occasional fry-up, a traditional fryer may be enough, as Que Choisir points out. However, it takes up a hob ring, so check that the pan is stable and compatible with your hob, especially if it’s induction.
Consider it: for occasional frying, if you have a spare hob ring and a compatible pan.
The trade-off: it takes up a hob ring and calls for extra care when handling hot oil.
Consider it: for regular frying while keeping the hob free for the rest of your meal.
The trade-off: you’ll still need to filter, store and replace the oil, even if the pan is removable.
Consider it: if reducing frying odours and avoiding a pan of oil matter more to you than recreating classic chips.
The trade-off: according to Que Choisir, the appliance can be bulky, and the taste and crispness differ from food fried in oil.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Odours and cleaning | For an air fryer, check how to clean the basket. For oil frying, look at whether the pan is removable and whether it has an oil filtration system. | In a small kitchen, I want to avoid storing a pan of oil and cut down on greasy cleaning. Around 42% of consumers would make this their priority. |
| Portions and results | Compare the amount of food the appliance can cook at a time, rather than just its total capacity. If it has multiple drawers, check the capacity of each one. | When serving chips to a group, I care as much about the amount per batch as the result. Around 33% of consumers would make this a priority. |
| Frequency of use and space | For a stovetop pan, check compatibility and stability. For an electric appliance, measure the worktop space it will need. | If I rarely fry food, I’d rather choose equipment that suits how I cook without taking up unnecessary space in my kitchen. Around 25% of consumers would put this need first. |
According to Que Choisir, the taste and crispness can differ, particularly with fresh chips. Filling the basket more heavily won’t necessarily solve the issue of portion sizes.
If homemade chips are your main reason for buying one, check the recommended amount per cycle and whether cooking several batches will work for your meal.
With an electric deep fryer, some odours may still escape as you lower or lift the basket, even if it has a filter.
If odours are a key concern, weigh this against the odours from an air fryer and make sure your cooking space is properly ventilated.
If the model has a replaceable filter, it will also need maintaining. Filtering the oil takes time.
A traditional fryer may not work on your hob. Que Choisir notes, for example, that a pan made from cast aluminium won’t work on an induction hob.
Before ordering, check the material, the model’s compatibility information and whether the pan is stable.
With a pan on the hob, its stability and the risk of splashes when handling the basket are important factors to consider.
Choose a stable pan, check the handles and lid, and follow the instructions for setting it up and using it.
The range includes electric deep fryers, such as Filtra One and Filtra Pro.
Some electric deep fryers in the range have a filtration system, a removable pan or a container for storing the oil.
The Easy Fry range includes single- and dual-drawer air fryers for cooking without a pan of oil.
If you want to cook without using up a hob ring, these models include electric deep fryers and hot-air appliances. Compare them based on how you want to manage the oil, the portions you need and the space you have available.
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Worth considering if you want to cook two different foods without a pan of oil. The model lists six functions and a total capacity of 7,6 L. Check the quantities that fit in each drawer, how much space it takes up and the cleaning instructions for removable parts.
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Worth considering if you want to keep frying in oil while freeing up the hob. The product title lists a capacity of 3,5 L and a viewing window. Check how to filter and store the oil, and how to clean the fryer, before choosing.
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Worth considering if you want to keep an eye on food as it cooks through the viewing window. The listed capacity is 7 L, but volume alone doesn’t tell you how much food you can cook per cycle. Also check how much space it needs and the basket cleaning instructions.
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Worth considering if you want to cook two batches in oil without using the hob. This 3 600 W model has two independent thermostats, removable baskets and odour filters. The filters won’t eliminate odours or remove the need to maintain the oil. Check how much space the appliance needs.
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Worth considering if you’d prefer a 4 L air fryer to a model with multiple drawers. The product title lists eight pre-set modes, a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C and a reminder to shake the food. Check whether the capacity suits your meals and read the basket cleaning instructions.
Yes, if its pan is compatible with induction. Que Choisir says a cast-aluminium pan isn’t suitable and cites steel as an option. Check the compatibility information for the exact model before buying.
You’ll need to remove food residue, clean the parts designed for cleaning and replace the oil when its condition or the instructions call for it. Que Choisir recommends filtering the oil after every use to remove crumbs that speed up its deterioration.
No. According to Que Choisir, odours can still escape when the basket goes into or comes out of the oil, so a filter isn’t a substitute for proper ventilation.
It may suit you if your priority is reducing frying odours and avoiding the need to manage a pan of oil, provided the portions it cooks per cycle are enough for you. If you often make chips for several people and want the taste and crispness of oil-fried food, Que Choisir points out that the results may differ.
Check the instructions for connecting, cleaning and handling hot parts in the model’s manual. For products covered by the relevant European rules, the DGCCRF explains that the CE mark represents the manufacturer’s commitment to regulatory compliance; it isn’t a comparative certification of quality or performance.