"Health" fryers

[bstw]

I've given up trying to clean our deep fat fryer and its gone in the bin. As much as Im tempted by an Actifry or similar I've not found one where the reviews indicate it's any good at making chips.

Has anyone got one that they'd recommend? If not I'll save ~£100 and get a bog standard fryer again

Although chips are the main staple of our old fryer it did occasionally get used for tempura and other bits.

[rustyabarth]

We bought one of these a few weeks ago to replace our old smelly chip pan. Im very impressed with it and its easy to clean. http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/household-appliances/...

[BlackVanDyke]

What the hell is a 'health' fryer? Is this a real thing?!

[bstw]

rustyabarth said:

We bought one of these a few weeks ago to replace our old smelly chip pan. Im very impressed with it and its easy to clean. http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/household-appliances/...

Thanks, how well does it do chips and how many portions do you get out of 0.8Kg?

[ali_kat]

bstw said:

Thanks, how well does it do chips and how many portions do you get out of 0.8Kg?

I've got one too, fabulous for roasties too! I've started experimenting away from their methods now

Here's the ones I did earlier in the week, pre-boiled as I would normally



Chips are great, I'm trying it with triple cooked today, will report back.

You'd easily be able to feed 4 from the size of it, although as its only 2 of us I'm basing that on our portion sizes!

[fizz47]

ali_kat said:

I've got one too, fabulous for roasties too! I've started experimenting away from their methods now

Here's the ones I did earlier in the week, pre-boiled as I would normally



Chips are great, I'm trying it with triple cooked today, will report back.

You'd easily be able to feed 4 from the size of it, although as its only 2 of us I'm basing that on our portion sizes!

Which one do you have? I just got the philips actifry..


Those potatoes look good... If you don't mind me asking what method / recipe are you using to make them?

I tried homemade chips once but they didn't turn out great.

Frozen packaged chips come out great- better than deep frying or oven..

[ali_kat]

The Phillips AirFryer

I Par boiled til outside was soft, put them in an old Margerine plastic tub with a spoonful of olive oil & shook it to cover them, pre-heated it to 160 then cooked for 15mins, then 200 for 3mins

Fluffy & Crispy

Chips are trial & error but have come out well enough now for me to try triple cooked today.

I'll post pics later when done

[sgrimshaw]

+1 for the Philips Actifry

[ClassicMercs]

ali_kat said:

Chips are great, I'm trying it with triple cooked today, will report back.

We have a previous model Tefal which I note has been improved in the newer models by a better lid design - smaller ''window'' section with less risk of the top lifting at the join of the two sections causing lots of heat and moisture to escape.

Haven't used it in a while but started two weeks ago and did some twice cooked chips - by accident due to poor timing. Best ever.

Did some more again next night - not as good - different cheap spuds rather than Maris Pipers.

It copes well for two (hungry) people - not sure about larger batches.

[ali_kat]

Sorry for the delay, Flickr didn't want to play, nor did PhotoBucket!

Method

Soaked for an hour, then followed Heston for Triple Cooked with variations

Didn't boil til crumbly, boiled until outside edge were soft

Froze

130c for 20 mins (in batches of 5 mins to test) to form a crust

Froze

180 for 20 mins (again in batches of 5 mins to test)

Crispy outside & fluffy inside, without tasty 'greasy' IYKWIM - not bad for 1st attempt

080 by ali_kat_xx, on Flickr

081 by ali_kat_xx, on Flickr

[tvrforever]

Which is the best model to buy?

Does it leave any aroma / smells in the room? easy to maintain & clean?

And how's the perfected chip recipe looking?

[davek_964]

I've had the Phillips model for a few months. I'd say chips have been OK, and roast potatoes are also OK - although since the normal oven would be on for the roast meat there isn't usually much point in using it for those. However, I've now found its best secret!

"Fried" chicken. Last night I basically did home made KFC, and since I had a couple of bits of chicken left today I just did plain old chicken. Both attempts were superb - tastes like you're eating fried chicken but without the deep fat frying.

Before last night I'd say it was useful. Now, I wouldn't be without it!

[Burwood]

BlackVanDyke said:

What the hell is a 'health' fryer? Is this a real thing?!

Exactly. Fool yourself anyway you wish but even oven chips are bad for you. Anything with the word fry is evil. In moderation anything is ok

[ali_kat]

I did sausage, bacon, hash browns & mushrooms in mine last weekend

With no added fat and it was

Only thing I had to cook elsewhere was poached eggs