The T fal Air Fryer promises ease of use, and it promises to be healthier than traditional frying. This T-fal Air Fryer review will look at it in detail to help you determine if it’s worth investing into those promises. Right off the bat, I can say the former is definitely true; it’s indeed healthier. It is a much healthier way to enjoy all of my favorite fried foods, and even foods that aren’t fried.
Perfect for Two
The T-fal air fryer has a capacity of 2.2 pounds; which is perfect for cooking for two people. It cooks the outside crisp and the inside deliciously moist. Not only does it cook 2.2 pounds, it also claims to cook them with less than a tablespoon of oil. I wouldn’t say that the food tastes identical to traditionally fried foods, but it is definitely shaking it up from baking, or roasting; and much tastier too. This gives me the feeling that I am eating traditionally fried foods while skipping a lot of the calories.
Simple to Use
The ActiFry AirFryer by T-fal is very simple to use. It has a basic on off switch and a manual timer that buzzes when the time is up. This simplistic design has its pros and cons. The basic on/off switch also controls the temperature; which is set at a constant 338-degrees Fahrenheit. This takes the question out of what temperature to set it at for the perfect meat every time.
However, this pre-set temperature doesn’t mean that you will get the perfect meat every single time. Most meats (and different cuts of meat) cook best at different temperatures. Since you can’t change the temperature setting, you can’t adjust it to the best temperature. Being unable to control the temperature makes it somewhat limited for other uses. I would’ve liked a little more flexibility and control over the temperature at which I’m going to be cooking my food. Set up is very simple, no preheating is necessary and very simple to disassemble for cleaning.
Cleaning is a Breeze
Being able to break down the fryer and clean it inside and out it in under 20 minutes is quite impressive. Usually with a traditional fryer, you have all the oily mess and you never can quite get the deep fryer completely clean.
All of the detachable plastic parts like the stirring paddle, lid, pan, and filter are all dishwasher safe, but I have found that they are best cleaned if you soak them in warm, soapy water for about 15 minutes and then just wipe, and rinse them clean. I definitely wouldn’t recommend throwing it straight in the dishwasher from use, just like the rest of your dishes, make sure they are free from any debris or oil. The stirring arm can accumulate a few stains, but as with any cooking utensil, I’m not too worried about stains. My mind is more concentrated on the good food that will be coming out of it.
Stirring Paddle Both Good and Bad
The stirring paddle, while very convenient also poses as many problems as it solves. The stirring paddle makes the T fal Air Fryer almost fool proof. The stirring paddle eliminates the need for constant stirring by stirring it for you. However, I have a big problem with this since the stirring paddle can be a little harsh on more delicate foods.
With the stirring paddle in place, you can forget tater tots, fried chicken, or almost anything with breading. What is even worse is when the food gets jammed in the stirring paddle because if you do not stop it and free the paddle, it can burn up the motor. For most things, I would actually recommend detaching it all together, so that it eliminates that issue. But the hassle of having to stir/turn the food manually comes up. I guess you’ll have to experiment with this and decide what’s best for you. For me, I would leave it off most of the time.
Cooks a Variety of Foods
The T-fal Air Fryer can cook anything from meatballs, roast, chicken, vegetables, tofu, granola, and so much more. It blows my mind all the different things you can cook in this air fryer, but it does bother me that you can’t change the temperature to accommodate different cooking temperatures required for various meats and other dishes.
Like I said before, with the stirring paddle, it makes it very difficult to have foods that are easily crushed or breaded. Breaded coatings seem to get scraped off by the stirring paddle. Also anything that is predominantly liquid isn’t suitable for obvious reasons. However, fresh French fries and other traditionally fried foods are quickly cooked using just a tablespoon of oil. With other options like the oven, it’s hard to simulate the taste of deep fried French fries because they usually lack that perfect combination of crispiness and softness. The T-fal Air Fryer makes them nice and crispy on the outside while maintaining a perfect soft consistency on the inside; just the way it should be when you deep fry something.
Recommendation
This T fal air fryer is great in so many ways, and although it has some downfalls, I don’t think it is necessarily a bad buy. I saw that a lot of people gave this fryer a five-star rating and I can see why. Many people complained of a plastic taste transferring onto their food, but I don’t think this is a common problem; plus, there’s always that break-in period where you have to use it for a bit first to break it in and get rid of odd smells/tastes from the components. Seeing it as a potential problem, I recommend taking precautions to ensure that won’t happen. Wash the plastic pieces in warm, soapy water before use. Otherwise, try running it through the dishwasher first to help get rid of that brand new plastic smell and keep it from transferring to your food. Overall, it is still a good buy if you are looking for a very specific product; a low-fat, healthy air fryer. If you are, be sure to check prices on Amazon first.
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