We always make an effort to eat healthy which means deep frying is something I avoid. I had heard of T-Fal Actifry and was always curious if it would be a good substitute for a deep fryer. I was excited when I got the opportunity to test one out!
T-Fal ActiFry is a low oil multicooker. There is no need for preheating resulting in faster cooking times. The stirring paddle mixes the food and distributes the oil evenly. The T-Fal ActiFry is not just for fries. As I found out, there are so many uses! You can download the My ActiFry app on your phone for access to recipes that have been tested and approved by nutritionists. There is a section for making notes on the recipes and there are also videos of cooking techniques available. The app is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play. I would suggest reading the recipe over thoroughly before proceeding as I found some to have ingredients listed multiple times and one recipe was missing a step. It is definitely a source of inspiration for me to find more ways to use my ActiFry.
For the past few weeks I’ve been testing out a variety of items in the T-Fal Actifry. I’ve tried frozen samosas, frozen fries, regular and sweet potato fries, boneless chicken, vegetables and tortilla crisps.
My favourite way to use the ActiFry was to make vegetables. I’ve made cauliflower, broccoli, corn and green beans. I normally roast cauliflower and broccoli in the oven. Using the ActiFry meant I didn’t have to wait for the oven to heat up and there was no need for turning over as the blade in the ActiFry ensures that the vegetables get turned over. It is now my favourite way to make vegetables.
Somethings didn’t work very well like the frozen samosas. I cooked them with 1.5 spoons of oil for 20 minutes. They did get crispy but didn’t get the golden brown colour you would expect from a samosa. I think brushing them with oil would have resulted in a better colour.
Following the instructions in the T-Fal Actifry I made French Fries. I loved the colour they got but they didn’t have the crisp texture you would get from deep frying. Drying the fries very well would probably have resulted in more crisp fries. I plan on trying this again soon.
The items that turned out really well were the Frozen Fries, chicken, vegetables and tortilla crisps. The frozen fries got very crispy. They were so easy to make. No having to turn them over. Clean up was also a breeze.
When I received my ActiFry I was expecting it to now make it possible for us to eat a healthier version of deep fried foods. It didn’t turn out that way. You cannot put items that have been coated in a wet batter in the ActiFry. For me, I loved the ActiFry more as a cooker than as a deep fryer substitute.
The ActiFry is a big appliance. If you have a small kitchen like mine, it can make things a little crowded. Clean up was very easy. I don’t have a dishwasher and found hand washing was a breeze. It has now become an appliance I regularly use.
