If you want to avoid dealing with a pan of hot oil and cut down on frying smells, start by comparing an air fryer with your oven. Que Choisir associates air fryers with reduced odours, but also notes that they can be bulky and noisy. An electric or hob-top deep-fat fryer is still an option if you want to cook in a bath of oil and are happy to deal with the cleaning and maintenance. If you only plan to use it occasionally, first check whether your existing oven meets your needs.
If you only occasionally make chips, breaded food or crispy vegetables, try cooking them in your oven before making space for a dedicated appliance. If you’re considering a hob-top fryer instead, check that it’s compatible with your hob.
An air fryer lets you prepare these dishes without a bath of oil. Que Choisir associates air fryers with fewer odours than traditional frying, but that doesn’t mean your kitchen will be completely odour-free. Also check that you have enough space and consider how much maintenance the model will need.
Check the stated food capacity and loading instructions, not just the number of litres. For two specific models, Philips France lists a capacity of 0.8 kg for its 4.1 L Series 3000 HD9200/60 air fryer, while Moulinex France states that its 2.2 L Super Uno AM312010 deep-fat fryer can hold up to 1.5 kg. These capacities are for different types of cooking appliance, so they aren’t enough on their own to compare cooking results.
Start with what you cook most often, then check how much you need to prepare, how much space you have and what maintenance each cooking method involves.
| Criteria | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Odours and cooking with oil | Compare hot-air cooking, oven cooking and appliances that use a bath of oil. If a model has a filter, check how it performs on that specific appliance: it won’t eliminate the need to handle the oil. | I want to prepare crispy food without having to store and dispose of frying oil. Que Choisir associates air fryers with reduced odours, not their complete elimination. |
| Cleaning | Check which parts are removable and which are explicitly dishwasher-safe: this could include the basket, drawer, bowl or lid, depending on the appliance. With a deep-fat fryer, you’ll also need to clean the bowl. | After occasional use, I’d rather know exactly which parts need washing than rely on a vague “easy to clean” claim. |
| Portions | Compare the stated food capacity, basket layout and maximum fill level in the instructions. In its air fryer testing, Que Choisir looks at factors including the optimal quantity and a basket filled to two-thirds, with the chips shaken. | When cooking for several people, I want to know whether one batch will be enough or whether I’ll need to cook in several batches. |
| Space and cooking time | Measure the space available for a dedicated appliance and check the cooking times recommended for the food you want to prepare. A traditional deep-fat fryer takes up a hob ring; if you have an induction hob, check that the bowl is compatible. | If I rarely cook this type of food, I can try using my oven before adding another appliance to the worktop. I won’t assume it will cook food in the same time as an air fryer. |
The basket’s capacity doesn’t tell you by itself how much food you can cook in one batch. Que Choisir’s tests take the amount of food and shaking the chips into account; results can vary depending on how the food is arranged in the basket.
Check the model’s stated food capacity and filling instructions, then work out how many batches you’ll need to cook for your household.
A deep-fat fryer with a filter still uses a bath of oil. Moulinex France states that the Super Uno AM312010 has a replaceable carbon filter, but this doesn’t guarantee that there’ll be no odours.
If avoiding a bath of oil is your priority, compare air fryers and ovens too, rather than relying on the filter alone.
If you choose a model with a replaceable filter, factor replacing it into your maintenance routine.
A traditional deep-fat fryer takes up a hob ring, and its bowl needs to be compatible with your hob. Que Choisir notes, for example, that a bowl made from cast aluminium isn’t suitable for induction hobs.
Before buying, check the stated compatibility of the specific model you’re considering and make sure it works with your hob.
Maintaining a deep-fat fryer involves more than washing it. ADEME advises against pouring frying oil down the sink or toilet, or disposing of it in the environment.
Once the oil has cooled, put it in a sealed container and find out where to take it near you. According to ADEME, this is usually a recycling centre.
Cooling, storing and disposing of the oil all take time and space.
These examples highlight features to check on specific ranges or models. They don’t necessarily reflect the products available in the Joybuy selection below.
Philips offers air fryers, including the Series 3000 HD9200/60, listed in France with a capacity of 4.1 L and 0.8 kg.
Moulinex offers both deep-fat fryers and air fryers. Compare the different cooking methods before looking at individual models.
Tefal cookware may appeal to households that prefer to use their hob rather than a dedicated electric appliance.
These five models use hot-air cooking and may suit households looking to avoid a bath of oil. If you’re deciding between an air fryer, a deep-fat fryer, hob-top cooking or your oven, compare the different cooking methods first. The capacities in litres below aren’t enough on their own to tell you how many portions you can cook in one batch.
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Worth considering for occasional cooking if you’re looking for a 2 L air fryer rather than an appliance that cooks in a bath of oil. The product name lists a non-stick basket and a 60-minute timer. Check the recommended amount of food per batch and the dimensions before setting aside space for it.
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The two drawers let you cook separate dishes without a bath of oil. The stated total capacity is 7.6 L. Check the loading limits for each drawer, how much space you’ll need and whether the parts you plan to wash are dishwasher-safe.
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Its two baskets, each listed as 4.5 L, may suit households that want to cook two dishes separately. Check the recommended amount of food per basket, the appliance’s dimensions and the care instructions before choosing this size.
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The cooking window may be useful if you want to keep an eye on your food while it cooks in an air fryer. The stated capacity is 7 L; also check the recommended amount per batch, the dimensions and how to care for the basket.
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Consider this model if you’d like a reminder to shake your food while it cooks using hot air. The product name lists eight cooking modes and a temperature range of 35 to 200 °C. Check the instructions for the recommended amount of food and measure the available space before buying.
No. Que Choisir associates air fryers with fewer odours than traditional frying, not a guarantee that there’ll be no smell at all. If this is a deciding factor for you, don’t choose a model based on a promise of a completely odour-free kitchen.
Alongside the capacity in litres, compare the stated amount of food and the loading instructions. Philips France lists a capacity of 0.8 kg for its 4.1 L Series 3000 HD9200/60 air fryer, while Moulinex France states that its 2.2 L Super Uno AM312010 deep-fat fryer can hold up to 1.5 kg. These figures relate to two different cooking technologies and don’t guarantee the same cooking results.
Only if its bowl is compatible with induction. Que Choisir notes that a bowl made from cast aluminium isn’t suitable. Before buying, check that the specific model works with your hob.
ADEME advises against pouring it down the sink or toilet, or disposing of it in the environment. Once it has cooled, put it in a sealed container and find out where to take it near you. ADEME says this is usually a recycling centre.
If you only prepare these dishes occasionally, it’s worth trying your oven before buying an air fryer. Que Choisir notes that they have broadly similar functions, but that doesn’t mean the cooking time or results will be the same. Try cooking a similar dish and follow the instructions for each appliance.