What is the difference between a air fryer and a deep fryer?

An air fryer cooks by moving hot air rapidly around food in a basket, while a deep fryer cooks by submerging food in a tank of hot oil. The two appliances differ in cooking method, capacity, and the figures their makers publish, and this site has not tested either type.

How the cooking method differs

An air fryer is a small convection oven. A fan pushes heated air around the food, and the basket holds the food above a drip tray. The Typhur Sync Air Fryer Oven, one of the picks in Best Smart Air Fryers for Cooking to Temperature, uses a 2400 RPM fan and dual heating elements. The Cosori TurboBlaze, from the same guide, publishes a 3600 rpm fan speed and temperatures up to 450°F. Neither maker states that the appliance uses oil for cooking.

A deep fryer heats a tank of oil and lowers food into it. The EGGKITPO Deep Fryer with Basket Commercial 12L, a pick in Best Commercial Deep Fryers for Countertop Kitchens, publishes a 12L oil tank and an 1800-watt heating element. The VEVOR Commercial Deep Fryer, from the same guide, publishes two separate oil tanks with a maximum oil capacity of 8.5Qt each. The makers describe the oil as the cooking medium, not as a coating.

The practical result is that an air fryer produces a drier, crisper surface from the moving air, while a deep fryer produces a fried crust from contact with hot oil. The Cosori maker states that its air fryer achieves crispy fries with up to 95% less oil than traditional deep frying, based on fat content analyzed by SGS lab. That is the maker’s comparison, not a measurement by this site.

Capacity and footprint

Deep fryers are sized by oil capacity and often by basket capacity. The KHTD Commercial Deep Fryer publishes two tanks of 10.7QT each and two baskets of 6.35QT each. The ROVSUN 22.8QT Commercial Deep Fryer publishes a total maximum capacity of 22.8QT, a recommended oil capacity of up to 13.7QT, and a single basket capacity of 4.2QT. The CROSSON 6L Electric Countertop Deep Fryer publishes a 6-liter oil capacity, which is the maker’s stated unit.

Air fryers are sized by basket or oven capacity. The Ninja DZ550 Foodi 10 Quart publishes two 5 Quart baskets and states it can cook up to 8 lbs. of chicken wings. The Typhur Sync publishes a 27 QT capacity and states it handles a 12-inch pizza, a 6 lb chicken, or 2 lb of fries. The Cosori TurboBlaze publishes a 6-quart square basket. The Nuwave Bravo Pro publishes a 21qt capacity.

Footprint figures are published for some picks. The EGGKITPO deep fryer measures 10.6 inches wide, 16.5 inches deep, and 15.3 inches high, and weighs 14.55 pounds. The Typhur air fryer oven measures 17.0 inches wide, 16.7 inches deep, and 14.5 inches high, and weighs 26.0 pounds. The Cosori air fryer measures 11.8 inches wide, 14.4 inches deep, and 11.9 inches high, and weighs 13.2 pounds. The Breville BOV900BSS Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro measures 21.5 inches wide, 17.5 inches deep, and 12.7 inches high, and weighs 30.2 pounds.

Temperature and control

Deep fryers publish oil temperature ranges. The EGGKITPO states its temperature can be adjusted from 122°F to 390°F and that power cuts off if the temperature reaches 464°F. The VEVOR publishes a range from 122°F to 392°F and an automatic shutoff at 446°F. The KHTD publishes a range from 140°F to 390°F. The ROVSUN publishes a range from 140°F to 392°F. The CROSSON publishes a 60 minute timer and states temperature deviation within 7 degrees, without naming the unit of that figure.

Air fryers publish air temperature ranges and fan settings. The Typhur Sync publishes a range of 85°F to 450°F and 3 fan speeds. The Ninja DZ550 publishes a range from 105°F to 450°F. The Nuwave Bravo Pro publishes a range from 50°F to 450°F in 5°F increments and fan speeds from 0 to 3. The Cosori TurboBlaze publishes a range from 90°F to 450°F and a 5-fan speed system. The Breville publishes 13 cooking functions and a 2 speed convection fan.

Smart features separate the two groups in the cited guides. The Typhur Sync publishes a built-in wireless probe with 5 sensors and ±0.5°F accuracy, plus app control. The Ninja DZ550 publishes an integrated Foodi Smart Thermometer and DualZone technology that can finish two foods at the same time. The deep fryer picks publish timers and thermostats, such as the CROSSON 60 minute timer and the VEVOR time and temperature control, but no probe or app control.

Power and installation

Deep fryers in the cited guide publish high wattages. The EGGKITPO publishes 1800 watts at 120V. The CROSSON publishes 1800 watts at 120V. The KHTD publishes 3400 watts total, with a 1700W heating tube for each basin. The ROVSUN publishes 3400 watts and states it needs at least a 16A outlet. The VEVOR publishes 3000 watts for its dual tank model.

Air fryers publish lower or comparable wattages. The Nuwave Bravo Pro publishes 1800 watts. The Breville publishes 1800 watts at 120 volts. The Typhur Sync, Ninja DZ550, and Cosori TurboBlaze do not publish wattage in the fact sheet for this guide, so this site has not compared those figures. The absence is specific to wattage; the makers do publish capacity, temperature range, and dimensions for those models.

Ventilation and clearance are published for some air fryers. The Typhur Sync notes that the maker recommends clearance around the oven for proper ventilation and a minimum countertop depth, but those figures are not in the fact sheet for this guide, so this site has not compared them. Deep fryer picks publish drain valves and swing-up heads for oil changes, such as the CROSSON fryer head swing-up function and the VEVOR front-mounted drain valve.

Which one fits your cooking

Choose an air fryer if you want to cook with little or no oil and you value basket capacity and smart temperature control. The Typhur Sync publishes a 27 QT capacity and a wireless probe that stops cooking at a target temperature. The Ninja DZ550 publishes two independent 5 Quart baskets and a smart thermometer. The Cosori TurboBlaze publishes a 6-quart basket and a PFAS-free ceramic coating. These are maker statements about features, not results verified by this site.

Choose a deep fryer if you want to cook in oil and you need a large oil tank or dual tanks for different foods. The VEVOR publishes two tanks with a maximum oil capacity of 8.5Qt each. The KHTD publishes two 10.7QT tanks and two 6.35QT baskets. The EGGKITPO publishes a 12L oil tank and a 122°F to 390°F range. The ROVSUN publishes a total maximum capacity of 22.8QT and a recommended oil capacity of up to 13.7QT.

Neither appliance is a substitute for the other in method. An air fryer moves air; a deep fryer holds oil. The figures above come from the makers, and this site has not used either appliance. Where a maker does not publish a figure, such as wattage for several air fryer picks, this site states that the figure is not published rather than estimating it.