Chicken bald back

[Eggasperated]

My daughter wants a deep fat fryer for Christmas, I've looked at both the ordinary fryers and the Tefal Actifry and can't decide which is best. I know they do different things and imagine you can't make donuts in an Actifry, but I am also concerned about the Actifry reviews which seem to give it quite a short lifespan.

Has anyone any recommendations? I'm leaning towards the ordinary fryer but even then I wouldn't know which make to go for .

[CatieB]

I have an actifryer and love it. We use it on average once a week and I've had it ages. No idea how long that is so it doesnt really help but I'd say its an original one and had it since they first came out if that gives you an idea. I've had no problems with it.

 

IMO the one you should go for is dependant on what its to be used for. We have never tried anything other than potatoes (chips, roasties and flavoured ones or wedges- there is a recipe book for other uses but thats not why I got it) I personally wouldnt deep fry so its perfect for our needs but if you want a deep fryer its not a real comparison.

 

BTW it does make lovely chips and I stick all the bits in the dishwasher.

[Egluntyne]

The only negative aspect to the Actifry is the amount of room it takes up. I brown mince and cook sausages in mine as well as making chips. I'm petrified of deep fat fryers. They seem so dangerous.

[chickencam]

We looked at the Actifry, but decided that we would still need a fat fryer for making things like spring rolls and we also use ours to make prawn crackers from the dried ones and for frying uncooked popadums. It depends what she will be using it for most.

[Eggasperated]

It depends what she will be using it for most.

 

Yes, I do think I need to talk to her, what make is your deep fat fryer?

 

And where do you get your dry prawn crackers from? I used to get them in my Morrisons but they have stopped stocking them now and I can't find them anywhere .

[Cinnamon]

Loooooooooove my Actifry ....................... I would never have a deep fat fryer I am afraid...they scare me!

[chickencam]

It depends what she will be using it for most.

 

Yes, I do think I need to talk to her, what make is your deep fat fryer?

 

And where do you get your dry prawn crackers from? I used to get them in my Morrisons but they have stopped stocking them now and I can't find them anywhere .

 

We have a small Tefal Maxi Compact, it is quite small but we can just about carefully cook enough chips for 5 of us. We bought it for about £30 in Tesco last year, it is quite basic, no removable bowl or oil draining, but it does only use 1.6 - 1.8l of oil at a time. The only dishwasher safe parts are the basket and it's handle, but it doesn't seem to hard to keep clean.

 

We buy both our prawn crackers and popadums in local Asian grocers, but I think that large Tesco stores stock them still. We are very lucky to have several good Asian grocers in Cheltenham.

[Eggasperated]

DD has decided she wants the Actifry type (no donuts for me then ), but has seen the Philips Airfryer - has anyone any experience of this model?