The Air Fryer Conundrum: Do You Really Need One If You Have an Oven?
check_circlePros
- Cooking time is significantly faster than my oven, which is a total win in my book.
- The compact design takes up minimal counter space, making it perfect for small kitchens.
- Cleaning is a breeze, and the non-slip feet keep it stable on my countertop.
- The digital touchscreen is intuitive and easy to navigate, even for a tech newbie like me.
- The see-through window lets me monitor the cooking process without opening the lid.
- The air fryer is surprisingly quiet, which is a nice bonus when cooking late at night.
- It's easy to get a crispy exterior and a tender interior with minimal oil.
- The air fryer is perfect for cooking a variety of foods, from fries to chicken to vegetables.
cancelCons
- The 6-liter basket can be a bit small for larger families or groups.
- The air fryer requires some trial and error to get the perfect crispiness.
- The basket can be a bit tricky to remove and clean, especially when it's full.
- The air fryer doesn't come with a built-in timer, which can be a minor inconvenience.
- The air fryer's power consumption is slightly higher than my oven, which might be a concern for eco-conscious cooks.
- The air fryer's compact design means it can get hot to the touch, so be careful when handling it.
- It can be a bit tricky to cook larger items, like whole chickens or turkeys.
- The air fryer's non-stick coating can wear off over time, which can make cleaning more difficult.
Editor's Summary
I've been on the fence about air fryers for a while now, but after using one for a month, I've got some honest thoughts to share. In this review, I'll dive into the pros and cons of air fryers, including their speed, compact design, and ease of use. I'll also discuss whether they're worth the investment, especially if you already have a good oven. One thing's for sure - air fryers have definitely changed the way I cook. They're faster, healthier, and way more convenient than traditional deep-frying methods. But are they worth the hype? Keep reading to find out.
Specifications
Hello!
I've been eyeing air fryers for a whole year now, reading reviews that occasionally pop up here, and I just couldn't make up my mind - do I really need this kitchen gadget or not?
I've got a perfectly good oven for baking, pans for frying, and I've even had a multi-cooker and bread maker in the past, but they never really took off and eventually found new homes. Would an air fryer suffer the same fate, only to end up being a useless addition to my kitchen?
I was still unsure even when friends started getting air fryers, with mixed reviews to boot! Some people swore by them, while others claimed they were only good for making fries. I'm an eternal optimist, always believing in the best, so I decided to take the plunge and get an air fryer for my dad (after checking the model, of course). I got it, and now, after using it for nearly a month, I'm excited to share my thoughts and conclusions.
Getting Started
Demiand LEO MAX DK-2500 5-in-1 - that's a mouthful, but I'll get to what it is in a minutePower: 1500 watts - that's a lot of juice for a small kitchen applianceCapacity: 6 liters - I was expecting a bit more, but it still gets the job doneControls: touch-sensitive - I like the modern feel of thisTemperature control: 80-200 degrees - that's a pretty wide range, and just what I needed for some of the recipes I triedTiming: from 1 to 60 minutes - I was worried I'd forget to turn it off, but it's actually pretty intuitiveNumber of programs: 8 - I'm not sure what all the programs do, but it's nice to have optionsCord length: 1.2 meters - long enough to put it in a corner, but not so long it gets in the wayWhere I bought it and how much: I picked it up at WB for around 7,000 rubles - not the cheapest option, but it seemed worth itFirst impressions and usability
I was excited to get my hands on the Demiand LEO MAX DK-2500 5-in-1, and it arrived in a sturdy box that seemed to have withstood the shipping process just fine.
What's in the box:
Non-stick panNon-stick grill grateShish kebab stand with skewersCookbook
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What the manufacturer says:
The Demiand LEO MAX DK-2500 5-in-1 is a multi-functional kitchen appliance that combines the functions of a deep fryer, microwave oven (without microwave radiation), grill, oven, and mini-oven (roaster).
One of the standout features of this air fryer is its 360-degree hot air circulation technology, which has already won over thousands of our customers. It's seriously fast - you can cook your meals up to 30% quicker than with traditional ovens and deep fryers, all while using a fraction of the oil. Plus, you'll be saving around 70-80% on your energy bill.
Controlling the air fryer is a breeze, thanks to its intuitive touchscreen interface. The panel is laid out with clear buttons for turning it on and off, starting a cook, and selecting a program.
The air fryer comes with eight pre-programmed settings that cover all the basics - from fries to chicken to veggies. But if you need more flexibility, you can manually set the time and temperature to suit your needs. I've only had to use this feature a couple of times so far, but it's definitely a nice option to have.
One of the things I appreciate about this model is the built-in window that lets you check on your food without having to open the lid. Plus, you can turn on the light for added visibility. The air fryer also gives you audible signals when it's time to shake or flip your food, and when the cooking cycle is complete.
One of the things I love about this air fryer is that it just keeps on going even if you pull out the basket in the middle of cooking. No need to worry about pressing any buttons or messing up the settings.
It's worth noting that the back of the unit gets some airflow during cooking, so you can't just stick it right up against the wall. I'd recommend thinking ahead about where you're going to put it - ideally a dedicated spot so you don't have to keep moving it around the kitchen.
The body of the unit stays pretty cool, and the handle you use to pull out the basket is even cooler - it doesn't get hot at all. The handle is comfortable to hold, and the basket slides in and out easily.
When it's working, the air fryer does make a bit of a noise, but it's not too loud. It's the kind of sound that doesn't even make you raise your voice when you're talking.
Using it is pretty intuitive - you can figure it out quickly.
Cleaning the air fryer is a breeze - the basket, grill, and skewer tray are all dishwasher safe. But honestly, I find it easier just to wipe down the basket with a paper towel and give it a quick rinse. The non-stick coating does a great job of preventing food from sticking, so I don't see the point in running it through the dishwasher.
My overall experience
I'll cut to the chase - even after using it for a month now, I'm still totally stoked about this air fryer!
For me, this air fryer is on par with a dishwasher in terms of its usefulness and benefits. Like a dishwasher, it's not something you need right away, but once you have it, you realize how amazing it is and how convenient it is to use. The same goes for this air fryer – it's not an essential item, but now I wouldn't trade it for the world.
I'll give you the short version of why I'm so stoked about this air fryer.
First and foremost – I'm not sure what's behind this, but any meat (pork, chicken, duck) or meat product (sausages, kielbasa, meatballs) cooked in an air fryer turns out 100 times tastier, juicier, softer, more caramelized, and less greasy than when cooked in the oven or on a pan.
During my time using this air fryer, I cooked all the chicken parts – legs, wings, thighs, and breasts – and even half a chicken. Everything turned out incredibly delicious. And the shashlik? It's just like the real deal, like when you're cooking on a grill, but without the smoke.
And the best part? The air fryer makes veggies taste amazing too! We roasted potatoes, eggplants, and bell peppers.
I've noticed that the automatic program, like the steak setting, doesn't always allow me to achieve the perfect level of doneness. Sometimes I need to add an extra 30 seconds to a minute to get it just right. This usually happens when I'm cooking a large amount of food - basically, if I overcrowd the tray, the hot air circulation can miss some spots. All I need to do is flip the food and give it a bit more time.
Secondly, I love that when cooking meat in the air fryer, there's virtually no mess or smoke. Nothing's burning, there's no smoke, and no fog in the oven that even a good exhaust fan can't handle. I don't need to monitor the temperature or baste the food to prevent it from burning or drying out. I can just walk away and check the display, and the air fryer will let me know when it's time to flip the food.
Thirdly - it's a breeze to clean. I don't need to scrub the baskets, and washing the air fryer takes mere minutes. I just pour out the excess grease, wipe down the pan with some paper towels, and give it a quick rinse.
Fourthly - the cooking time is significantly shorter compared to other methods. We really appreciated this convenience after the holiday break and got back to work.
Fifth-in-one air fryer Demiand can actually replace several kitchen devices: oven, microwave (the products heated in the air fryer taste way better, and thawing is also possible), toaster, grill, fryer, shawarma maker!
And to top it all off – the dishes cooked in the air fryer not only taste better, faster, but also healthier! Thanks to the reduced use of oil during cooking. By the way, I'm surprised by how much fat is actually contained in meat products...
Aside from meat and meat products, vegetables, I've also cooked pizza, lasagna, shawarma, hot sandwiches, pancakes... And fish – salmon steaks.
I haven't mastered sweet baking yet, review to be updated with this positive experience.
By the way, Demiand air fryers have an app with recipes where users share their experience. I actually prefer it over the manufacturer's recipe book. Finding any recipe in the app takes just five seconds, and the daily feed is filled with new ideas on how to use the air fryer.
If I had to change something now that I've had experience using the air fryer, I might've opted for a slightly larger capacity – 7-8 liters. Our family of three manages with the six-liter air fryer, but a slightly bigger one would be more practical.
Verdict
If you're thinking about buying an air fryer but wondering if you'll need it with your oven - let me tell you, you do. Since we got our air fryer, we've hardly ever turned on the oven, and we're totally happy with just using the air fryer, even though it's got a relatively small footprint. This thing is a total win in my book - with it, meals are seriously more delicious, faster, and easier to make. I'm giving it a solid 5 stars, and I highly recommend picking one up!
