In a small kitchen, if you only fry food occasionally, start by comparing what you can already make in your oven or frying pan with the space a new appliance would take up. An oil deep fryer is designed for deep-frying, while an air fryer can also roast or grill. In either case, check its dimensions, how easy it is to clean and whether the model suits the portions you usually make. If you have an induction hob, make sure any traditional deep fryer or frying pan is explicitly stated to be compatible.
If you only fry food now and then, first compare your oven or frying pan with a traditional deep fryer that you could put away after use. UFC-Que Choisir says a traditional deep fryer may be sufficient if you rarely make fried food. However, check how much space it will take up and whether it is compatible with your hob.
If you’re considering a dedicated appliance, check which parts can be removed and how they should be cleaned. With an oil deep fryer, also consider handling the oil, splashes and smells. A filter or lid won’t necessarily get rid of them.
If this is your main cooking requirement, an electric deep fryer lets you look for features such as a thermostat, lid or filtration system, depending on the model. You’ll also need space for the appliance, and to think about handling the oil and cleaning up afterwards.
Worth considering: for occasional frying, if you have space on the hob and are happy to deep-fry in oil.
What to bear in mind: you’ll need to keep an eye on the hot oil and handle it carefully. On an induction hob, the pan must be explicitly stated to be compatible.
Worth considering: if you want a dedicated appliance for deep-frying with a thermostat, without using up space on the hob.
What to bear in mind: you’ll need to store the appliance and handle the oil. Removable parts and filtration features vary between models.
Worth considering: if you also plan to roast or grill, and your usual portions fit in the basket of the model you choose.
What to bear in mind: you’ll have another appliance to find space for and put away. UFC-Que Choisir notes that air fryers vary in how well they cook chips.
Worth considering: if you can already make your occasional dishes with the cookware you own.
What to bear in mind: an oven or frying pan won’t necessarily reproduce the results of deep-frying. If you use a frying pan on an induction hob, check that the specific model is compatible.
Once you’ve chosen a cooking method, weigh it up against the space you have, your cleaning preferences and how much you want to cook at a time.
| Factor | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Measure the space you’ll need to use and store the appliance. Consider whether that space is justified by how often you’ll use it. | I don’t cook fried food often, so I don’t want a deep fryer taking up space on my worktop all the time; around 30% of consumers rank size as their top concern. |
| Cleaning and smells | Check which parts are removable and dishwasher-safe. Find out how to clean the lid or filter, if there is one. | After a small batch, I want to keep cleaning and lingering smells to a minimum; for around 40% of consumers, this is their main concern. |
| Cooking method | For deep-frying, compare capacity and temperature control. For an air fryer, check the basket’s usable surface area and look for cooking tests of the model. | What matters most to me is being able to control the temperature when deep-frying, even if I have to handle the oil afterwards; around 20% of consumers prioritise this cooking method. |
| Appliances you already own | Check whether your oven suits your usual portions, or whether your frying pan is right for the dish and your hob, especially if it’s induction. | My oven or frying pan does the job for occasional dishes, and I’d rather not add another dedicated appliance; this is a priority for around 10% of consumers. |
UFC-Que Choisir points out that the two appliances can have overlapping uses. In a small kitchen, buying a second appliance for occasional cooking may simply create another storage problem.
Think about which dishes are awkward to prepare in your oven or frying pan, then check whether the air fryer’s capacity and ease of cleaning would make a difference for those dishes.
A basket’s capacity in litres doesn’t tell you how much room the food has inside it. UFC-Que Choisir found that cooking results vary between air fryers, particularly for chips.
Compare the basket’s usable surface area with your usual portions. If evenly cooked chips matter to you, look for a cooking test of the exact model you’re considering.
A filter and lid are features on some models, not a guarantee that deep-frying won’t produce any smells.
Check whether the model has these features and read the care instructions. Also consider whether you’ll be able to ventilate your kitchen.
A pan that works on other types of hob may not work on an induction hob. For example, De Buyer says its La Lyonnaise frying pan is not induction-compatible.
Before choosing a pan or frying pan for an induction hob, check that the exact model is marked as compatible with induction.
These brands offer examples of different cooking methods. The features mentioned apply to the specific models listed, not necessarily to their entire ranges.
The Easy Fry range includes air fryers for preparing dishes such as roast food and other hot-air-cooked dishes.
The range includes electric oil deep fryers, with cooking and filtration features that vary by model.
The 3000 Series includes the HD9252/90 air fryer, which Philips France presents as suitable for smaller households.
The brand offers cookware for use on the hob, which you can compare with a dedicated appliance for occasional frying.
These products let you compare two types of air fryer, a frying pan suitable for induction and two electric oil deep fryers. If your kitchen is short on space, consider how each option fits your usual portions, the space you have and how much cleaning you’re prepared to do after cooking.
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Worth considering for small batches if the basket’s usable surface area suits your portions.
The product name lists a dishwasher-safe non-stick basket and a 60-minute timer. Check the external dimensions before setting aside space for it in your kitchen.
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Worth comparing if you’re looking for a hot-air appliance for occasional frying and other dishes.
Before choosing this model, check how much space you’ll need to use and store it, how much food it can cook in one batch and how to clean its parts.
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Worth considering for occasional hob cooking if you’d prefer a frying pan to a standalone deep fryer.
The product is listed as induction-compatible and comes with a lid. Check that its 28 cm diameter suits your hob and portions, and follow the care instructions for the coating.
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Worth considering if you want an electric deep fryer for cooking in oil and have space to store it.
The listed capacity is 3.5 L. The product name mentions an XL Anti-Fog window, although this doesn’t guarantee consistently clear visibility. Check the appliance’s dimensions and which parts need cleaning, and plan how you’ll handle the oil afterwards.
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Worth comparing for small batches of deep-fried food if you’d prefer an electric deep fryer to cooking on the hob.
The listed capacity is 1.5 L. Check the dimensions for storage, how much it can cook in one batch and the cleaning instructions for its removable parts. You’ll still need to handle the oil.
Choose one that suits your portions and the space available in the basket, rather than focusing only on its stated capacity. Philips France presents its 4.1 L HD9252/90 as suitable for two people and up to four portions. To find out whether your food will cook evenly in one batch, compare the usable surface area and look for tests of the exact model.
Not if you specifically want to deep-fry in oil. An air fryer cooks with circulating hot air and can also roast or grill. If chips are your priority, look at the results for the model you’re considering: UFC-Que Choisir found that they vary from one air fryer to another.
Find out which parts can be removed and clean each one according to the instructions for your chosen model. Moulinex says the parts of the Easy Fry Deluxe EZ401D10 are dishwasher-safe, while Tefal says the heating unit of the Filtra Pro FR519170 is not.
Only if the pan is explicitly stated to be compatible with induction. De Buyer says its La Lyonnaise frying pan is not, so check the exact model of any cookware you plan to use on an induction hob.