Deep fat fryers vs air fryers: Which is best for you?

Deep fat fryers and air fryers are both great for creating delicious, crunchy and flavourful dishes, but which is right for you? In this blog, we will compare the benefits of deep fat fryers and air fryers to help you decide.

What are the different types of fryers?

The two main types of fryers are deep fat fryers and air fryers. Both quickly cook the food, producing a crispy, crunchy outside and a juicy, succulent inside, but use different methods to do it.

A deep fat fryer uses hot oil to fry food and typically consists of a heating element, a basket, and a pot to hold the oil. However, an air fryer uses hot air to cook food and typically consists of a heating element, a fan, and a basket.

So which one should you buy? It depends on what you're looking for in your fryer. Below, we've broken down the benefits of both to help you choose.

Flavour

When it comes to flavour, deep fat fryers are often the preferred choice. Deep frying food in oil produces a unique, crunchy texture and helps to preserve the moisture and flavour of the food. 

This is because the oil cooks the food quickly, which prevents it from drying out. Deep fat fryers also produce a slightly stronger and more robust flavour, as the oil helps to enhance the natural flavour of the food. Check out some of the other top features in our deep fat fryer buying guide.

Healthy eating

When it comes to health, air fryers use significantly less oil than deep fat fryers, which helps to reduce the amount of fat and calories in the food. Deep fat fryers, on the other hand, require large amounts of oil for cooking.

Want to find out more about the health benefits? Check out our guide to air fryers and why everyone wants one!

Ease of use

When it comes to ease of use, both deep fat fryers and air fryers are relatively straightforward. Both deep fat fryers and air fryers quickly cook food without you needing to get involved, though with a deep fat fryer, you will need to pre-heat the oil.

For more gadgets that are easy to use, check out our time-saving small kitchen appliances blog!