To choose an appliance for frying at home, start with the foods you want to prepare and how often you’ll use it. A pan on the hob may suit occasional use, provided it’s compatible with your hob. An electric deep fryer keeps the hob free, but you’ll need to manage the oil. An air fryer can also be used for other hot-air cooking, but you’ll need to make room for it and, according to UFC-Que Choisir, put up with some noise. None of these options is guaranteed to produce fewer smells or use less energy than the others.
If you only make chips, doughnuts or breaded foods now and then, a traditional pan may be enough, as UFC-Que Choisir points out. Do check that it’s compatible with your hob and consider how much space it will take up while you’re cooking.
An electric deep fryer leaves your hob free. You’ll also need to think about filtering, storing and replacing the oil, as well as cleaning the appliance.
If you want to make chips and try other types of cooking without a bath of oil, consider the usable capacity and the number of drawers. UFC-Que Choisir also recommends taking the size and noise of air fryers into account.
These three methods suit different needs. First choose the cooking method that works for the food you make, then consider whether each appliance fits your available space and the level of maintenance you’re happy to take on.
Worth considering: for occasional frying, if the pan is compatible with your hob.
Bear in mind: it takes up a cooking zone and requires you to handle a bath of hot oil.
Worth considering: for frying in oil while keeping the hob free for something else.
Bear in mind: you’ll still need to filter, store and replace the oil; a filter won’t necessarily get rid of smells.
Worth considering: if you want to cook chips and other foods with hot air, without using a bath of oil.
Bear in mind: this cooking method may not replace all the ways you use a deep fryer. You’ll also need to make room for it: UFC-Que Choisir notes that these appliances can be bulky and noisy.
| Consideration | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Food and cooking method | Make a list of the foods you usually cook, then check the uses recommended in the model’s instruction manual. | If I mainly cook food that I want to submerge in oil, or I’d rather try different hot-air cooking methods, the cooking method will guide my choice. Around 36% of consumers prioritise the food they want to make. |
| Smells and maintenance | Check which parts are washable and, for a deep fryer, how to filter and store the oil. | If cleaning and managing the oil might put me off using the appliance, I’ll prioritise how easy it is to handle day to day. For around 29% of consumers, smells and maintenance come before other considerations. |
| Portions and space | Compare the usable capacity with the portions you plan to make, and measure the space available for cooking and storage. | If I cook several portions but don’t want to leave an appliance on the worktop all the time, I need a capacity that suits the space I have. Space and portion size are the main priorities for around 21% of consumers. |
| Occasional use and hob compatibility | For a traditional pan, check that its material is compatible with your hob, particularly if it’s induction. | I only fry food occasionally and would rather use my hob than make room for a dedicated appliance, as long as the pan works on it. Around 14% of consumers prioritise occasional use and compatibility. |
For induction hobs, the material is crucial: UFC-Que Choisir says that a cast-aluminium pan won’t work.
Check what type of hob you have and look at the pan’s material in the product details or instruction manual before ordering.
According to UFC-Que Choisir, filters vary in effectiveness. Smells can also escape when you lower the basket into the oil or lift it out.
Check the type of filter, the installation instructions in the manual and how easy it is to clean.
Depending on the model, replacing the filter may also be part of its maintenance.
A comparison based on one particular food and appliance isn’t enough on its own to decide between an air fryer, an electric deep fryer and cooking on the hob.
When comparing test results, look for the same food and quantity, along with details of preheating, cooking time and energy used per quantity cooked. For example, UFC-Que Choisir reports the energy used in its electric deep-fryer tests to cook 1 kg of chips.
Oil residue and parts that need cleaning mean extra jobs after cooking, even when a model has a filtration system.
Before buying, check the manual to see how the oil is filtered and stored, and which parts can be removed for cleaning.
Tefal’s air fryer range includes both single-drawer appliances and dual-drawer models.
SEB makes electric deep fryers, including Oleoclean models designed to filter and store the oil.
Philips’ Airfryer range comes in several formats, with support documents available for each model.
These Joybuy models cover two of the options discussed here: electric deep fryers and air fryers. Compare their capacities and formats according to the food you want to make, the portions you cook and the maintenance you’re comfortable with.
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Worth a look if you want to fry in oil without using up a cooking zone on your hob.
Stated capacity: 3.5 L. The model name mentions an XL anti-mist window; don’t take this as a guarantee against smells.
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The two baskets and their independent thermostats are worth considering if you want to prepare two foods separately.
Stated capacity: 2 × 3 L; stated power: 3 600 W. Check the external dimensions to make sure you have enough space.
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Worth considering for hot-air cooking if you’re looking for a stated capacity of 7.6 L.
Compare this capacity with the portions you usually make and check the dimensions before setting aside space for it.
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The single basket may suit you if you prefer hot-air cooking for one or two portions.
Stated capacity: 4.7 L; stated power: 2 000 W. This model isn’t designed for deep-frying in oil; check how much space you’ll need, too.
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The two tanks are worth considering if you want to split your frying between two different foods.
Stated capacity: 2 × 3 L; stated power: 3 300 W. Check the manual to see which parts can be removed for cleaning, and make sure you have enough space.
Yes, if the pan’s material is compatible with induction. UFC-Que Choisir recommends choosing a steel pan rather than one made from cast aluminium. Check the exact material and the manufacturer’s instructions before you buy.
No, a filter can’t guarantee that there will be no smells. UFC-Que Choisir notes that filters vary in effectiveness and that smells can escape when the basket goes into or comes out of the oil. Also check the manual for installation and ventilation requirements.
Check how to filter and store the oil, which parts are washable and whether any filters need replacing. Follow your model’s manual when it comes to replacing the oil, rather than relying on a schedule recommended for a different fryer.
Compare measurements for the same food and quantity, taking preheating and cooking time into account, rather than looking only at the stated power. UFC-Que Choisir reports the energy used in its electric deep-fryer tests to cook 1 kg of chips. A measurement compared with an oven isn’t enough on its own to draw conclusions about a deep fryer.