My Air Fryer Purchase Was a Disaster: Poor Instructions and Lackluster Design

I'll be honest - I agonized over buying an air fryer, weighing the pros and cons, and even asking friends for their opinions.

After hours of research, I decided to splurge on a high-quality model that would make cooking a breeze.

I bought the Bosch air fryer from DNS for 15,199 rubles, hoping it would be worth the investment.

I didn't have high expectations, but I wanted to cook healthy dishes with minimal effort.

Product type: air fryer

Brand: Bosch

Model: MAF671B0

Place of purchase: DNS

Price at the time of purchase: 15,199 rubles

📦 Packaging

The air fryer comes with extra protective packaging to safeguard it during shipping.

The packaging itself is lightweight but bulky, making it a challenge to store in my kitchen.

As you can see from the picture, the Bosch MAF671B0 air fryer comes in a large box.

BOSCH MAF671B0

🏷️ Accessories

I found some leaflets with a QR code on top of the box, which I was supposed to scan to access recipes and instructions.

Unfortunately, I couldn't access the recipes - the website gave me an error when I tried to scan the QR code.

However, I did find a recipe book that came in a separate package, which was a nice touch.

BOSCH MAF671B0 recipe book

The box only includes the aero grill itself, without any accessories, which was a bit disappointing.

However, I did find the user manual and a separate package with additional instructions, which was helpful.

BOSCH MAF671B0I had to install the handle myself, which was tucked away inside the basket, and only after that could I start using it.

This was a bit of a hassle, but I managed to figure it out.

BOSCH MAF671B0One thing that caught my eye was the extra leaflet with user instructions that came in a separate package.

This was a nice touch, as it provided additional guidance on how to use the air fryer.

BOSCH MAF671B0 corzina

BOSCH MAF671B0🔎 Exterior Design

At first glance, the aero grill's dimensions seem compact, but in reality, you'll need to dedicate space on your kitchen countertop, and if you have a small kitchen, that might be a challenge.

As you can see, the Bosch MAF671B0 air fryer is quite large, measuring 30.9 cm x 31.4 cm x 38.8 cm.

30.9 cm x 31.4 cm x 38.8 cm

When I brought it home, I immediately wondered where I'd put it on my kitchen countertop, and I had to clear some space to make room for it.

If you have a 45 cm wide cabinet, there's barely room for anything else besides the aero grill.

BOSCH MAF671B0 reviewI ended up putting it on my countertop, and I'm not a fan of the grill's super-smooth surface - it shows every smudge and stain especially well.

The black color looks great, but the glossy finish is a real pain to keep looking decent.

However, I do like the design and shape of the grill, it's sleek and modern-looking.

BOSCH MAF671B0One thing that would make the grill even better is a matte finish, it would be easier to clean and less prone to fingerprints.

But the matte finish only covers the top, and for some reason, it seems to attract dust like crazy.

BOSCH MAF671B0You can see the heat exhaust grate and the safety stop in the back, which prevents you from pushing the grill too far against the wall.

This is a nice safety feature, as it prevents accidents from happening.

Grill reviewTechnical Specs

The air fryer's power is relatively small, and you don't need a three-phase socket to plug it in, but the device is a pretty heavy power consumer, so if your apartment has old wiring, it's not a good idea to plug it in with your electric kettle.

However, I didn't have any issues with the power consumption, it worked fine with my electric kettle.

Power: 1800 W

The air fryer's bowl is quite spacious - you can easily fit a whole chicken in there, and it's a great feature.

As you can see, the bowl capacity is 7.2 L, which is plenty of space for cooking.

Bowl capacity: 7.2 L

Number of heating elements: 1

Although there are now air fryers with two heating elements, this model has just one, which is located above the bowl, and it looks like a standard spiral heating element, nothing particularly exciting.

However, the build quality is top-notch, with not a single loose screw, rough edge, or anything like that.

BOSCH MAF671B0The bowl is also a single unit, not divided into sections for different dishes, which is a bit of a drawback.

However, the non-stick coating on the grid and the bowl makes cleaning a breeze.

There's a viewing window, which lets you see how your food is cooking, and it's a nice feature.

BOSCH MAF671B0The manufacturer has pre-set 8 cooking programs, which you can use right out of the box, and you can manually set the cooking time and temperature, with the maximum temperature being 200 degrees.

I found the cooking programs to be quite useful, they made cooking a lot easier.

No smartphone control is available, and in this case, that's actually a plus, as I've heard that some Bosch devices in Russia won't work without a smartphone app, and there are some major issues.

At least here, there's no risk of the device suddenly stopping working, since it's designed for Russia.

❗❗ User Manual

I was in for a nasty surprise when I found out that there's no Russian-language manual included with the device, which was a major letdown.

You won't find it on the store's website either, which is a bit of a problem.

However, the images in the manual were helpful, even though I don't speak foreign languages.

BOSCH MAF671B0 user manualOne thing that annoyed me was that the manual is a generic one for two models, one of which does have a grill.

This was confusing, as I was expecting a manual specific to my model.

BOSCH MAF671B0 manualSince an air fryer is a device that maintains high temperatures inside, it's absolutely crucial to study the manual for safe operation, and there are some important safety precautions to keep in mind.

❗ Do not use the air fryer:

Place it right up against the wall Install the grill under the kitchen cabinets Position the grill near heat sources Overfill the basket with water Equip the device with an external switch: timer, remote control, etc. Put a hot cup on the countertop without a heat-resistant mat Allow the power cord to come into contact with hot parts of the device Place the device on hot surfaces or near them Clean the air fryer in a dishwasher Use a steam cleaner or pressure washer to clean it Cover the device with fabrics Heat up spirits or spirit-based liquids Overfill the basket with oil or grease Use dry herbs Use loosely fitting paper

If you understand why you need to maintain a gap between the device and the wall, and why you should move it away from hanging kitchen shelves, then for example, you'll realize that you shouldn't just put a cup on the countertop - the air fryer itself should be placed on a heat-resistant mat.

I got it only after an hour of searching, when I found out that there are no mats for air fryers in the world.

Always maintain a safe distance from walls and other objects - 10 cm

Actually, the hot air can be felt up to 20 or 30 cm from the grill, depending on the temperature set inside it.

Imagine what would happen to surfaces if hot air was blowing directly onto them.

So, it's better to move the grill away from the wall as much as possible.

❗ You've got to be careful when using the air fryer:

Make sure to unplug it from the socket after every use, especially when you're not around, before cleaning, and if you notice any issues Keep an eye on the device when it's plugged in Fill the basket to the MAX mark with your food Use wooden or heat-resistant plastic kitchen utensils Get a heat-resistant trivet for the air fryer basket

One thing to note about water usage:

I've seen some devices where you can add water to the basket, but not this one. The basket isn't sealed, so all the water will just leak out.

Plus, the air fryer isn't designed to work under pressure like a pressure cooker, and it doesn't have a steam release valve, so you can't add water.

If you do, the device will definitely break.

🔔 My Experience with the Air Fryer

Short story: if I had a built-in oven with a convection grill function, I probably wouldn't have bought a separate air fryer, but since I've got a gas stove with a gas oven, I decided to get an air fryer because I was disappointed with the grill function on my microwave.

How the air fryer works:

The air fryer has a built-in fan that pulls air from the room, and this air gets heated up by the heating element, passes through the basket with your food, and then gets blown back out through the grill into the room.

Your food gets cooked by the stream of hot air, and voilà, you've got a nicely cooked meal.

Nothing too complicated.

One thing that struck me about this electric air fryer is that it's essentially a mini oven with a fan that boosts heat circulation.

BOSCH MAF671B0 reviewThere's a catch before you start using the air fryer for the first time - you need to preheat it without any food.

This might seem obvious, but I did it anyway.

Remove all packaging materials Take off all stickers and plastic wrap Make sure the window is open and let the appliance heat up without using any food for 30 minutes, then let it cool down Before first use, clean all parts that come into contact with food

And then I got started.

I loved how the air fryer is essentially a mini oven on steroids.

Everything cooks in a mode where hot air blows over the food.

The standard programs are fine, but sometimes they require tweaking. It's way easier to set the time and temperature manually.

A dish in the air fryer

BOSCH MAF671B0Occasionally, the food was done before the timer even went off.

And sometimes, it needed a bit more time.

The cooking basket is big enough for me - four portions fit comfortably inside.

Potatoes in the air fryerI've got to say, the taste of the food is just as good as you'd get in a cafe.

It all comes down to my personal preference.

Duck breast in the air fryerMy only gripe is that you have to flip the food manually - and that's when the grill starts beeping and the 'shake' symbol lights up.

You've got to take out the basket and flip the food yourself. Or at least open and close the basket, but one side will end up more burnt than the other.

BOSCH MAF671B0And it's especially problematic with meat chunks.

The surface really is non-stick - nothing sticks, and everything comes off easily.

Turkey in the air fryerThe grill surface gets scorching hot during operation.

So be careful not to get hit by the hot air stream - or you might end up with a burn.

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xa0Cleaning the grill

Wipe it down with a microfiber cloth, no abrasive sponges

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Cleaning is pretty straightforward - the basket can be washed in the dishwasher or by hand.

I tried washing it by hand, and it's not rocket science.

First, you've got to wipe down the grill with a sponge soaked in dish soap, then rinse the sponge and wipe off any remaining suds.

The grill itself needs a good wipe-down, but don't turn on the water.

BOSCH MAF671B0 instruction😑 The Verdict

I have to say, I really liked the air grill - it's a great alternative to my old oven.

It's amazing how you can cook up delicious and healthy food with minimal oil.

I knew the grill would take up some space, but I found a spot for it. The size is actually a plus, not a minus.

To me, the grill is pretty compact.

The pan is dishwasher-safe, but the glossy surface of the grill and the lack of a Russian translation in the manual were major letdowns.

The air grill is one of those appliances that you can't just leave unattended, like a slow cooker.

You need to keep an eye on it, and to understand how it works, you'll have to study the manual.

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