Tefal Actifry

[ClassicMercs]

Anyone else got an Actifry and have fun cleaning it ?

We use minimal oil, as intended, but find the lid, plan and arm are all requiring work to try and keep them clean. Not the 'easy clean' that Tefal suggest.
The lid and the sides of the pan seem to gather grease which doesn't come off in the dishwasher. I have just used Mr Muscle to clean the deposits.
The arm, and other grey plastic areas gain a dark brown grease covering which is proving near impossible to keep clean.

Are we doing something wrong - or do others have some special tips please ?

[Jimmy Two Times]

I've had mine for about two weeks and as the novelty hasn't worn off yet, it's been chips for me every night so far.

Not having a dishwasher, it's been washed by hand. I'd say Tefal's claim of easy cleaning is spot on for me. About as much trouble to clean as a dinner plate. What on earth are you cooking/doing with it that you need Mr. Muscle to clean it?

[SwanJack]

What oil are you using? When we had ours (before it caught fire)we only used crisp and dry and had no problem with cleaning whatsoever. If your using olive oil, then this might be the cause, as I find it tends to go sticky when used for frying.

[oilandwater]

No problem with mine either, and I use olive oil. I only use it for chips though. I'm on my second Actifry, on the first one the paddle stopped revolving. Fantastic machine.

[ClassicMercs]

Thanks - it might be that MrsMercs has been a touch lazy with cleaning directly after each use. It may be baking on after being wiped around - the dishwasher is only every couple of uses / as space allows.
Its usually a dash of sunflower oil - but maybe that's a point - a heavier one compared to what you have used - probably Morrisons own.
And yes - the novelty of chips - you could try roast spuds - although we have even done 'roast' new spuds.
The excuse is we need the spare chips to hide the (approx) 10 pills we need to get down the oldest dogs throats.

[oilandwater]

I have never put mine in the dishwasher because it's so easy to clean. After use, a soft washing up brush and washing-up liquid under a running hot tap, job done clean as a whistle. I wonder if something is not quite right with the ops machine.

eta

That's immediately after use, perhaps you're leaving it too long and it is still baking.

Edited by oilandwater on Wednesday 22 August 09:51

[manic47]

O&W - an ideal username for this thread

[oilandwater]

manic47 said:

O&W - an ideal username for this thread

Oh Yes! Never been topical before.

[ClassicMercs]

oilandwater said:

I have never put mine in the dishwasher because it's so easy to clean.

That's immediately after use, perhaps you're leaving it too long and it is still baking.

I think that is it - wipe clean with kitchen roll and a proper wash every couple of times is not enough.

[paul_y3k]

No problems to report with ours either ....
So far we've done ....
Spicy Chicken Nuggets
Chips
Roasty's (always done in there now)
Sausages

One trick we have found is that sometimes it's best not to use the paddle as it smoosches up the roasty's. Also not to bother with any oil for the sausages as they have plenty in themselves.

We still not managed to get ships looking like those in the book though. Cant quite get them crispy, but still lots of yum !

[oilandwater]

paul_y3k said:

No problems to report with ours either ....
So far we've done ....
Spicy Chicken Nuggets
Chips
Roasty's (always done in there now)
Sausages

One trick we have found is that sometimes it's best not to use the paddle as it smoosches up the roasty's. Also not to bother with any oil for the sausages as they have plenty in themselves.

We still not managed to get ships looking like those in the book though. Cant quite get them crispy, but still lots of yum !

I've had crispy chips, I think it depends very much on the type of potato you use (I can never remember which ones, I must make a note next time) and not too much oil. I always err on less oil than they say, and always salt.

[Cotty]

Boosting an old thread. Anyone use one of these regularly, any good? Just fancy some proper chips and fried chicken
£89.99
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tefal-ActiFry-Healthy-Frye...

[Muskythedog]

Cotty said:

Boosting an old thread. Anyone use one of these regularly, any good? Just fancy some proper chips and fried chicken
£89.99
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tefal-ActiFry-Healthy-Frye...

Got the Phillips Air Fry, absolutely cracking bit of kit. Use it several times a week and have done since we bought it 2 years ago. Think the Tefal one has a paddle from memory that rotates and moves the food round, we decided against it as we thought it might knock the breadcrumbs off the food. We use it for chips/wedges (small cup of oil and salt and pepper, or boil them first for them to be extra crispy), chicken wings, thighs and drummers (dry rub first, then BBQ sauce for last 5 mins or so) and have done fish in it before (cut an apple or lemon in half, cut the fish into small cubes and stick into the fruit on cocktail sticks).

Would absolutely recommend if it's the same sort of thing, and it looks like it is.

[ClassicMercs]

OP pops his head back up.

Don't use regularly, but did use it tonight for sausage and oven chips (couldn't be bothered tonight doing my own twice cooked ones).

Whilst my original comments are a couple of years old I note some design improvements in the current models that perhaps get over some of the issues in the older models.

I terms of cleaning I believe its key to keep them warm (close the lid - whilst turned off) whilst you eat which means that the grease etc has not set making cleaning an easier prospect - if only we had done that from day one. The ''dirt'' on the rotating paddle is another issue on ours though.

Hopefully things are a lot better now - being an early adopter is seldom a good thing in the long run. Compare the almost ugly initial Sierras <exc XR4i> to the later models - showing my age.

[ClassicMercs]

OP pops his head back up.

Don't use regularly, but did use it tonight for sausage and oven chips (couldn't be bothered tonight doing my own twice cooked ones).

Whilst my original comments are a couple of years old I note some design improvements in the current models that perhaps get over some of the issues in the older models.

I terms of cleaning I believe its key to keep them warm (close the lid - whilst turned off) whilst you eat which means that the grease etc has not set making cleaning an easier prospect - if only we had done that from day one. The ''dirt'' on the rotating paddle is another issue on ours though.

Hopefully things are a lot better now - being an early adopter is seldom a good thing in the long run. Compare the almost ugly initial Sierras <exc XR4i> to the later models - showing my age.

[BRISTOL86]

We got given one of these for Christmas and used it for the first time last night.

Tried sweet potato chips and they were cooked fine, but were the absolute opposite of crisp. Cooked through nicely but limp and floppy. Followed the oil measurement guidelines and timing per the instructions.

For those who are veterans of these contraptions, what's the deal here? I'm guessing either too much oil or not enough cooking time, or both?

[Cotty]

Muskythedog said:

Would absolutely recommend if it's the same sort of thing, and it looks like it is.

It does not appear to be the same sort of thing. But watching a few youtube vids appears to be more versatile like cooking a curry or chili

[Wacky Racer]

DO NOT put the paddle in a dishwasher, wash by hand, the heat cracks them after time.

Common problem with these machines, we have had to replace two paddles, learnt our lesson.

[BrewsterBear]

BRISTOL86 said:

For those who are veterans of these contraptions, what's the deal here? I'm guessing either too much oil or not enough cooking time, or both?

Almost certainly not enough cooking time. When I cook chips I tend to set the timer to 25 minutes, open it and season them well, give it a shake to coat all the chips again and put it back on for 15-20 minutes depending. They crispier than forgotten sock under a teenagers bed. I'd wager they're tastier too.

[BrewsterBear]

These are my chips out of the Actifry;