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Difference between deep frying and air frying

Luuk3 NOVEMBER 2025
Crispy chicken pieces sit near an open orange air fryer with fries. Two yellow peppers lie below on a brown surface.

Are you looking for an air fryer or a deep fryer so you can prepare your favourite snacks? We’ve listed the differences to help you make the right choice. Read all about the possibilities of air fryers and deep fryers here.

Why buy a deep fryer?

A white deep fryer sits on a wooden counter next to a bowl of onion rings, fries, and mozzarella sticks on a cutting board.

With a deep fryer, you can make the tastiest snacks at home. Like some fries or a croquette? Want bitterballen for during the football match? You don’t need to go to a fast-food joint if you have a deep fryer at home. Deep fryers let you quickly prepare large quantities. Put frying fat or oil in the deep fryer, let it heat up and then place the food you want to prepare in the frying basket. Within a few minutes, you’ll have your favourite snacks on the table.

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What can you do with an air fryer?

A family is in a white kitchen. A woman uses tongs by a black air fryer. Two kids sit by a man on a wood counter.

Do you love snacks but want to eat healthier? Then an air fryer might be for you. With an air fryer you can prepare not only fries or snacks, but also other meals. In addition to frying, you can also bake, grill, roast and braise with an air fryer. You don’t use frying fat. Instead, your food is prepared by circulating hot air. This makes your food less fatty and the appliance easy to clean.

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What are the differences between an air fryer and a deep fryer?

Black air fryer with fries inside stands on a marble counter. A vase, fruit bowl, and plate of fries sit nearby.

With both an air fryer and a deep fryer, you can prepare chips and fried snacks. The method of preparation is different, however. With a deep fryer, your food is prepared in frying fat or oil, whereas an air fryer uses circulating hot air. As a result, snacks from an air fryer are healthier. In addition, an air fryer is safer, since you don’t use hot oil or fat. On the other hand, a deep fryer creates the typical deep-fried taste that an air fryer cannot replicate.

With an air fryer you can also prepare more than just fried snacks; you can also cook meat, fish and vegetables. You can bake cakes or muffins too. An air fryer is easy to clean; you can wash the removable parts by hand or put them in the dishwasher. Cleaning a deep fryer takes a bit more time. A deep fryer can prepare a lot of food in one go, whereas an air fryer usually has a smaller basket (depending on the model). Which kitchen appliance suits you depends on your needs.

Property nameDeep fryerAir fryer
Preparation

Frying fat or oil

Hot air

Cooking options

Deep-frying

Deep-frying, baking, grilling and roasting

Preparation time

Short

A bit longer for deep-frying, but quicker with other meals

Costs

Cheaper to purchase, but frying oil or fat is relatively expensive

More expensive to purchase

Healthy
Unavailable
Available
Frying smell
Available
Unavailable
Amount (1x)

A lot, especially if you have a double fryer

Less (depending on the capacity of the model)

Cleaning

It takes time because of the fat that remains

The removable parts are easy to wash

What’s best for you: an air fryer or a deep fryer?

A person is using a black air fryer in a kitchen. The counter has a laptop and plates. Utensils hang on the wall.

Whether an air fryer or a deep fryer suits you best depends on what exactly you want to do with the appliance. Do you only want to deep-fry? Then a deep fryer is very suitable. Do you also want to bake, grill and roast? Prepare full meals? Then an air fryer is very suitable. If you’re watching your weight, you’d be better off choosing an air fryer. Do you want the same taste as food from the snack shop, or do you want to prepare a lot of chips or snacks in one go? Then go for a deep fryer. If you don’t want frying smells in the house or want to spend as little time as possible on cleaning, take a look at the air fryers.

Information about air fryers

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