My Thoughts on the Weissgauff WAF 726 DS Digital OptiFry Air Fryer

Hello everyone!

I'm excited to share my honest review of the Weissgauff WAF 726 DS Digital OptiFry air fryer, which might help those who are considering this model.

I initially had my heart set on a different air fryer, but my sister-in-law surprised me with this Chinese version instead, saving me some money.

Well, as the saying goes, you get what you pay for!

First Impressions.

The air fryer looks sleek and modern, with a black color, colored display, and sensor control - all very intuitive, even without reading the manual.

I really like the viewing window with internal backlight; it's a game-changer when you don't need to constantly remove the basket and let the heat out to check on your food. For me, that's a huge plus!

Functionality and Modes

The manufacturer claims 6 functions in one device:

1. Air fryer 2. Oven 3. Grill 4. Fritzer 5. Bread maker 6. Dehydrator

You can definitely see this appliance as a great portable alternative to an oven - if you need to cook two portions, just grab this air fryer and you're good to go!

The power of this grill is 1700 W, with two powerful heating elements - top and bottom, respectively - which provide even heat distribution and 360-degree air circulation.

The air fryer comes with 10 automatic programs, most of which are set to around 200°C and 20 minutes.However, it's essential to understand one crucial thing: for real cooking, especially for meat, this time is often not enough.

I had to increase the time to twice the recommended amount almost every time to get the food cooked properly and achieve a nice crust. It's a bit strange, but you get used to it. The lack of freedom to move around while the food is cooking is a bit of a bummer - I'd rather be relaxing at home, but I'm constantly checking on the air fryer.

By the way, let's talk about the programs.

Automatic Programs:

1. Frying - perfect for fries, veggie sticks, and other crispy snacks.

2. Meat - ideal for beef, pork, and other meat dishes.

3. Wings - optimized settings for chicken wings.

4. Vegetables - for roasting and cooking veggies.

5. Shashlik - similar to a grill mode, great for skewers.

6. Poultry - perfect for chicken (legs, breasts, or pieces).

7. Baking - for cakes, pastries, and other baked goods.

8. Fish - for steak, fillets, and other fish dishes.

9. Seafood - for shrimp, squid, and other seafood.

10. Defrosting - for soft defrosting of products before cooking.

These programs automatically adjust temperature and time, but to be honest, they don't always work for me.

Capacity and Ease of UseI've got to give a shout-out to the 7-liter capacity pan. It's huge - I can fit a whole chicken in there, legs and all. No need to cook in batches.

I try to cook without oil whenever possible, and this air fryer is perfect for that. I also always line the pan with parchment paper to make cleanup a breeze.

My Experience Cooking with It

I've been using the Weissgauff WAF 726 DS for a while now, and I've tried cooking:

a whole chicken,chicken legs,meatballs,fries,homestyle potatoes.

The chicken turns out juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside, but I have to say, I always end up overcooking it a bit. Especially with whole chickens and large legs.

The meatballs are delicious, with just the right amount of crispiness on the outside and no excess fat. They're super tender too.

Fries are a whole different story. I cooked them exactly according to the program's instructions, and they turned out great - crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. However, I have to say that they're not as perfect as the ones you get at a fast food joint. This is more of a homemade version - healthier and less greasy. I highly recommend mixing the fries halfway through cooking to prevent some of them from burning while others are still raw.

I have to say, the rustic fries were a major highlight: they were perfectly browned, aromatic, and had a great texture.

And: I was pleasantly surprised to find that there was no plastic smell when I heated it up - that's a big plus, as many new appliances tend to give off a weird odor. The controls are super responsive, the display is bright and easy to read.

Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't say this air fryer does everything perfectly on its own. For meat, you do need to keep an eye on it and adjust the time and temperature to get the best results. But when you do get it right, it's actually pretty tasty.

FINAL VERDICT

This air fryer is a functional, spacious appliance with a ton of features. It's perfect for someone who wants to cook without oil, loves experimenting with different modes, or is looking for a compact alternative to the oven. Yes, the automatic programs aren't perfect, and the fries won't be exactly like the ones at a fast food joint, but it's not the end of the world.

Considering all the extra fuss I had to deal with this grill, I'm lowering my rating to 3 stars - I mean, I want to just throw everything in, press a button, and be done with it.

Thanks to my mother-in-law, I'll be saying BIG thanks and hoping this grill doesn't live with me for too long...