If you only make a few batches of chips, doughnuts or breaded food each year, start by considering what your oven or hob can already do: an extra appliance may not be worth it. Que Choisir says a traditional fryer may be sufficient for occasional frying; an electric deep-fat fryer is more appealing if you want to keep your hob free, while an air fryer is mainly worth considering if you’ll also use its other cooking functions.
If you only make chips, doughnuts or breaded food now and then, storage space between uses matters just as much as the cooking itself. Que Choisir says a traditional fryer may be sufficient in this case; if you have an induction hob, check that the pan is compatible.
If cleaning could put you off using an appliance, check which parts can be removed and whether they’re dishwasher-safe. For a deep-fat fryer, also look at how to care for the bowl and oil: an odour filter doesn’t necessarily mean the oil is filtered.
An air fryer makes more sense if you plan to use it for dishes beyond occasional frying. However, Que Choisir points out that it may duplicate what your oven can do. Weigh up the space it will take against how often you expect to use it.
For occasional frying, choose a cooking method first, then check whether its space, portion-size and cleaning requirements work for you.
Consider this if: your existing equipment can already handle the few dishes you have in mind.
Bear in mind: you won’t have the basket or dedicated functions found on some specialist appliances.
Consider this if: you want to deep-fry for occasional use. Que Choisir considers this sufficient for that scenario.
Bear in mind: it uses a hob ring and you’ll need to manage a pan of hot oil.
Consider this if: you want to keep your hob free while still deep-frying.
Bear in mind: you’ll still need to store and clean it; filtration and dishwasher-safe parts vary by model.
Consider this if: you’ll regularly use hot-air cooking for other dishes too.
Bear in mind: it doesn’t deep-fry food and, according to Que Choisir, its functions may overlap with those of your oven.
| Consideration | What to check | What consumers say |
|---|---|---|
| Space and frequency of use | Think about how often you’ll use it and where you’ll store it, then compare this with your oven or hob. | If I only fry food occasionally, I’d rather not have a new appliance taking up cupboard space the rest of the time; around 31% of consumers would put this concern first. |
| Cleaning and oil | Check which parts can be removed and washed; for deep frying, distinguish between oil filtration and an odour filter. | After cooking, I want to minimise the work involved in handling the oil and washing the parts. Easy cleaning would be a priority for around 31% of consumers. |
| Cooking method and portions | If you want to deep-fry, compare the recommended load with your usual portions, not just the maximum capacity. | When I make doughnuts or breaded food, I care most about deep-frying and batches that suit my household; around 23% of consumers would make this their top priority. |
| Keeping the hob free | Check how much worktop space you have; for a traditional fryer on an induction hob, make sure the pan is compatible. | If the rest of the meal is already using the hob, I want to be able to cook fried food alongside it. Keeping the hob free would be the main priority for around 15% of consumers. |
A traditional fryer sits on a hob. According to Que Choisir, an aluminium cast-iron pan isn’t suitable for induction, unlike a compatible steel pan.
If you cook on an induction hob, check the material and the stated compatibility of the model you’re considering.
In its testing procedure for electric fryers, Que Choisir distinguishes between the stated optimum quantity of chips and the maximum quantity. So a model’s advertised capacity alone doesn’t tell you how much to cook in each batch.
Compare your usual portions with the load recommended in the model’s instructions, and consider how much storage space you have.
The bowl, removable parts and filtration systems vary from one model to another. Even if some parts are dishwasher-safe, a deep-fat fryer still requires you to deal with the oil after use.
Read the care instructions for the specific model and check which parts can actually go in the dishwasher.
Que Choisir notes that an air fryer may perform functions your oven already handles, while also taking up space.
Before buying one, think about what else you’ll cook in it and how often you’ll use those functions.
When comparing electric deep-fat fryers, look at the features of each model rather than the brand name alone. Tefal’s range includes the Filtra One, which features oil filtration.
The Easy Fry range includes a variety of hot-air models, including a Dual model with two drawers, as presented by Moulinex.
The Series 1000 NA154/00 featured by Philips is an example of a hot-air model whose baskets can be joined to create one cooking zone.
These models illustrate two options for a dedicated appliance: an electric deep-fat fryer and an air fryer. If you rarely fry food, first compare them with the oven, frying pan or traditional fryer you may already use.
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Worth considering if you want an electric deep-fat fryer rather than a pan that sits on the hob.
Stated capacity of 3.5 L and an extra-large anti-fog viewing window. Check the recommended quantity of chips, the space available and the cleaning instructions before choosing this model.
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Worth a look if you’re after an electric deep-fat fryer for small batches.
Stated power of 900 W. The bowl is fixed, so check the cleaning instructions, the recommended load and how much storage space you’ll need.
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Worth considering if you’ll also use hot-air cooking for other dishes; this model doesn’t replace deep-frying.
Stated power of 1,150 W, a non-stick basket and a 60-minute timer. Check that the basket size suits your portions and that you have room for the appliance in your kitchen.
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Worth considering if you want to deep-fry two different foods separately; if you only fry very occasionally, check that this setup justifies the space it will take up.
Stated power of 3,600 W, two independent thermostats, removable baskets and odour filters. Compare the recommended cooking loads with your usual portions.
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Worth a look if you plan to use two baskets regularly for different hot-air-cooked dishes, rather than just making the occasional batch of chips.
Stated nominal capacity of 9 L. Check the portion sizes each basket can handle and the external dimensions before deciding where to put it.
Not necessarily: Que Choisir says a traditional fryer may be sufficient for occasional use. An electric deep-fat fryer is worth comparing if you want to keep your hob free; if so, check portion sizes, cleaning requirements and how much space it will take up.
Yes, provided the pan is compatible with induction. Que Choisir says a suitable steel pan will work, while an aluminium cast-iron pan won’t; check the product details before you buy.
Check which parts can be removed and how to wash them for the model you’re considering. For a deep-fat fryer, also look at the bowl and whether it has an oil filtration system; for an air fryer, check the basket, rack and drawer separately.
It can be if you plan to use it regularly, but it won’t automatically be worthwhile for a few batches of fried food a year. Que Choisir notes that an air fryer may perform functions your oven already handles. Compare how you plan to use it, portion sizes and the space it will take up before adding another appliance.