Review: Philips Air Fryer

So the other day we were walking around a mall and a black box looking quiet similar to coffee maker caught our attention. We went and enquired about it and were told its Philips AirFryer. Having a weakness for fried food items, it immediately grabbed my attention.

When it comes to fried foods, my taste buds vouch for the deep oil fries in spite of all the health talks and gyaans i get, read and talk. Still, I have compromised of late taking recourse to microwave cooking for selected recipes and simply limiting the fried food intake. So when the guy who was explaining me about the AirFryer told me it uses a ‘Rapid Air technology that fries the tastiest food without the oil‘, I decided to check it right away excitedly.

It is quiet an uncomplicated setup. In the front you got a temperature controller which reads up to 200 degrees and a timer control knob that sets it up for maximum 30 minutes. You also have an on/off light indicators to the side of the temperature knob, the LED turns from green to red as soon as the desired temperature is achieved.

Pull the handle that you find below the temperature control knob and it releases the container tray with a meshed bottom. You place your fresh potato fingers or cutlets or chicken legs in this tray just with a fraction of oil. I was told all you need is less than a spoonful of oil to make your favourite french fries! Even something like cutlet needs to be just smeared with a bit of oil and its ready to be fried. For the health-conscious it does sound a perfect affair!

Ok my cutlet is getting fried. So place the cutlet in the tray, smear oil and close the tray. Set the temperature and let the air do the frying!  In between cooking you can always open the compartment to check the food and flip it over if needed.

Once ready you simply remove the compartment out and transfer it.

 Philips says

Airfryer’s patented Rapid Air technology enables you to fry the tastiest crispy fries that contain up to 80% less fat than a conventional fryer! Its unique combination of fast circulating hot air and a grill element allows you to fry a variety of delicious fried food, snacks, chicken, meat and more in a fast and easy way. Since you only fry with air it provides less smell and vapours than traditional frying, is easy to clean and safe and economical for daily use.

All sounds good and tempting but what about the real taste of the Air fried food?

Here is our cutlet.

I felt it has to be fried a few more minutes but it had a lovely golden hue!

Ok here is the other scape-goat, Sanjiv tasting it.

For just a small dab of oil required to fry this cutler, it does taste fairly good and definitely healthy deal. For lack of time and the resource in the demo area, I could not get chance to try out various other items but it does seem promising.

Want to cook two items at the same time? Philips Airfryer comes with a food separator that allows you to cook two separate dishes at the same time.

Though I noticed that the cooking compartment volume is quiet small.

Finally it boils fries down to the price. Philips AirFryer is priced at Rs 14,995.

Most good things in life comes at a premium price ha! But if you are a health freak and wants to indulge in some good guilt free oil-free (ok technically speaking sparse usage of oil) cooking, do check this out.