The Air Fryer That Lost Its Luster

The Air Fryer That Lost Its Luster

Hello there!

I'm not sure if you've managed to avoid the aggressive native ads for this air fryer yet, but I got hooked after seeing all the rave reviews from bloggers across the web. I finally caved in and bought it.

Fast forward to six months later, and I'm excited to share my thoughts on this popular kitchen gadget that claims to replace your oven, stovetop, grill, and microwave.

I picked it up from Ozon at the end of last year for a price just under 20,000 rubles. The main requirement for me when choosing an air fryer brand was a large cooking basket that could handle meals for a family of four, or in my case, a family of three that loves to eat.

This review will be a bit different from the others, as I'll be skipping the packaging and user manual since I've long since gotten rid of them. The recipe book is still hiding somewhere in my closet, but that's a story for another time.

Let's get started. The air fryer looks pretty decent: it's got a metallic body, a ceramic cooking basket with an extended size, and a touchscreen interface.

With a 9-liter capacity, this is the ideal option for a family of three. You can fit a whole chicken and some fish, plus a big batch of homemade fries to feed the whole crew!

One thing that caught my eye is that the grill pan often comes with a removable grate, which is a must-have if you want that perfect crispy crust on the bottom.

The grate's coating is the same as the pan's - ceramic, which makes it a breeze to clean in seconds.I've noticed that the pan itself gets scorching hot (as it should), while the handle always stays cool to the touch. The handle's made from a comfortable tactile plastic with a metal trim for a bit of extra flair.

I've got to give a shout-out to the steamer function. There's a dedicated water reservoir that automatically kicks in during the chosen program. The aegir's smart enough to know when to add steam, resulting in juicy, perfectly cooked burgers that aren't dry at all.

When it comes to power, this device packs a punch at 2200W - it's a blast of heat that cooks your food in no time. I've got to say, the heating elements are a game-changer too - there are two of them, one on top and one on the bottom. For me, that's a major plus, as it allows for even cooking without having to flip your food mid-prep.

I've gotta say, the mode options are pretty impressive - you've got grains, baking, veggies, pizza, skewers, burgers, fish, chicken wings, chicken legs, and fries. And if that's not enough, there are also defrost, reheat, and dry options to boot. Honestly, I've only used half of these modes, because you can also manually adjust the temperature and time to your liking.

So, what's not to love, right? I mean, this thing can do it all - or almost all.

The first major drawback is that the basket and grill pan aren't dishwasher safe, which is a bit of a letdown compared to some of the competition.

I have to admit, I did try to follow the recipe book that came with the grill, but after making about 5-6 dishes, I got a bit bored with the repetitive recipes and ended up just Googling the dishes I wanted to make instead.

About the food:

At first, I was blown away by the flavor of the grilled potatoes and sausages – it was seriously the best I'd ever had. But as I kept using the grill, I started to notice that it couldn't quite live up to the promises made in the social media videos. It just couldn't handle all the tasks that were shown off so effortlessly.

I've got a go-to recipe that I make pretty frequently – it's a super quick and easy fruit and regular pizza. It's a lifesaver when I'm short on time in the morning. The pizza dough recipe is actually from the cookbook that came with the grill, and to be honest, it's the only thing I've really used from it.

Sausages - whether homemade, store-bought, pork, chicken, or turkey - all turn out perfectly. I think the main difference from a regular grill is that the sausages aren't squished by the top plate, so they end up evenly cooked with a crispy crust.

One thing I've mastered is a complex dinner with meatballs or burgers. I saw a video on social media with a recipe for cooking rice with meatballs, and I decided to give it a try. I've always struggled to get the perfect result, and the rice was either dry or covered in an unpleasant crust. But I wanted to have a delicious meal ready in 20 minutes, so I perfected the technique, and now it's a lifesaver on busy days when I have no time to cook.

Pies are a hit with us, especially the small ones with fruits or cottage cheese. It does take some effort to adjust the program during cooking to get it right, and the taste isn't like a traditional oven-baked pie. But we love them.

I've gotta say, the chicken drumsticks and wings always turn out perfectly, with a crispy exterior that's just right. I think the secret to this is getting the marinade just right, and cooking them at the perfect temperature!

And let's not forget the sandwiches - they're a cinch to make, and only take 5 minutes to whip up, perfect for a quick snack while watching a movie!

Homemade mashed potatoes are a staple in my household, and they're always a hit. I love that they're a bit more rustic than fries, and you can really taste the difference in quality. This time, I didn't even get a chance to take a photo, because they were devoured in seconds!And finally, for all you sushi and Asian food lovers out there, these crispy rolls with crunchy tempura bits are a must-try. They're so easy to make, and only take 8 minutes to cook - just be prepared for the amazing aroma that'll fill your kitchen!

I think that's a wrap!

At first, this air grill seems like it can do it all. That's the 'wow' factor that wears off really quick when you're cooking it every day.

So, you just open up the internet and start searching for new recipes you want to try. But that's where the problem lies. Most recipes online are far from the truth, and the cooks intentionally leave out the prep work, showing you only the finished product. In reality, it's not that simple. Often, instead of the promised 20 minutes, you end up spending 40 minutes constantly adjusting the settings and flipping the food over. Or you have to cover it with foil so the top doesn't burn. And when this happens repeatedly, you start wondering if it's just easier to throw some food in the oven and forget about it for an hour to avoid getting frustrated with another fail recipe that's trending but doesn't work out.

The biggest examples are complex meals and closed pies. Believe me, I've tried a ton of recipes from different sources, including the official Telegram channel. So, I've ruled out the possibility of my own ineptitude.

The main issue with this air fryer is that its primary function - cooking without using a lot of oil - just doesn't quite cut it. Yeah, it does make a great crust, but inside, the food often ends up undercooked. I mean, a cake-flip can't possibly cook through in 20 minutes, no matter how you slice it! And multi-layered dishes are just as likely to end up with raw layers. Sure, you can fiddle with temperature, flip the food, and cover it with foil, but do you really want to do all that when you can just pop it in the oven and walk away?

After six months, I've come to realize that I've been using this air fryer way less often. The food I've been making has started to feel repetitive, and the thought of cooking something else while staring at the cooking basket just doesn't appeal to me. So, in my opinion, this air fryer isn't as indispensable as I thought it'd be, and it's been getting edged out by my trusty oven more and more.

Would I recommend it as a must-have appliance? No way. But if you're looking for a bit of variety and have the space on your countertop, why not? It's not a bad thing to have around.