Tefal Actifry or Air fryer – my thoughts
I often see people asking whether people recommend spending a bit extra on the Tefal Actifry or if a basic air fryer is just as good. After trying both I thought I would share my thoughts with you. Of course, you may have tried both and feel differently!
Whilst there are so many things which can be cooked in an air fryer we all know the most common one is chips. If you cannot cook tasty chips in it then it will easily be put away and never used again. What a waste!
The difference between a Tefal Actifry and drawer based Air Fryer
If you’re looking for an easy way to make delicious, healthy meals, air fryers are a fantastic choice! But which air fryer is the right one for you? Today, we’re comparing the Tefal Actifry and a drawer-based air fryer to help you decide. Both have their own perks, so let’s dig in!
What Are They?
Tefal Actifry is a unique air fryer that uses a stirring paddle to cook food evenly. It looks like a little spaceship and works a bit differently from other air fryers.
Drawer-based air fryers are more common and look like a small oven with a drawer at the bottom. You pull out the drawer, put your food in, and push it back in to start cooking.
Cooking Style
- Tefal Actifry stirs your food with a paddle as it cooks. This means you don’t have to shake or flip your food halfway through cooking. It’s great for making chips or stir-fries, where you want everything cooked evenly.
- Drawer-based air fryers need you to shake or turn the food halfway through for even cooking. But don’t worry, it’s not hard! These are perfect for foods like chicken wings or small snacks.
Size and Capacity
- Tefal Actifry can be a bit bulky and takes up more space on your counter. It usually has a larger capacity, so if you’re cooking for a family, it might be the better choice.
- Drawer-based air fryers are more compact and fit nicely on most kitchen counters. They’re great if you have a smaller kitchen or don’t need to cook large amounts at once.
Cleaning
- Tefal Actifry is usually easy to clean because the parts are dishwasher-safe. However, the stirring paddle can sometimes be tricky if food gets stuck.
- Drawer-based air fryers, depending on the model, often have non-stick baskets that you can pop into the dishwasher. Easy peasy!
Price
- Tefal Actifry is generally a bit pricier because of its unique stirring feature. But if it fits your cooking style, it could be worth the investment.
- Drawer-based air fryers come in a range of prices, from budget-friendly to high-end models. There’s something for every budget!
If you love making big batches of evenly cooked meals like chips or stir-fries, the Tefal Actifry could be your best friend. It’s a bit larger and pricier, but it saves you from flipping food.
On the other hand, if you want a more versatile and compact option, a drawer-based air fryer might suit you perfectly. It’s great for smaller kitchens and offers a wide variety of cooking possibilities.
No matter which you choose, both will help you enjoy healthier, crispy meals. Happy cooking!
Do I prefer a basic Air Fryer or Tefal Actifry?
I have used both and have found the Tefal Actifry to be far better than a basic air fryer for chips. Whilst it still works, the air fryer involved lots of shaking the food around to ensure relatively even cooking.
The Actifry does this for you and also as is continuous there is definitely no danger of a raw chip hiding in the bottom. This means there’s less for you to do.
I would, however, say that if money is an issue then you will get a lot of use from a basic air fryer and it will help you to make healthy chips.
If you are likely to use your gadget for other things then an air fryer would be much better as it has a bigger basket and is easier to choose the temperature to cook at.
If you do have the extra money though and generally will only use it for chips, it will be well spent on the Actifry.
My Actifry
I have the Tefal Actifry Genius XL 1.7kg. I had previously owned two different older models but both were bought around 5+ years ago and had lasted well with lots of use.
The Tefal Actifry genius models have some preset functions to cook certain items and you can also use them manually and change the temperature and cooking time yourself.
I love the glass lid so you can see how your food is doing and the whole thing feels as sturdy and robust as the previous models we had.
If you do accidentally drop and break it then you can order parts separately online too.
Some of the parts are dishwasher-safe. The cover, latch, paddle, cooking pan and removable filter can all be popped in the dishwasher to clean, saving you even more time.
Cooking in the Actifry or Air Fryer
If you think of what you usually cook in the oven then most of these things can be cooked in an air fryer or the Actifry instead. The Actifry app has some great ideas too for some delicious dinner inspiration.
If you are struggling with what to make with certain ingredients you can search the app using the ingredients too which I think is pretty cool.
Now I have so many more things to try and the Actifry will get used for even more than I do now.
If you have a basic air fryer, some of these recipes may be suitable for that but a lot will depend on the style of the cooking basket used. Silicone liners are perfect for this.
Some have holes which obviously don’t suit some recipes which have spices!
Do you have any favourite recipes you have cooked using hot air technology with these kinds of appliances? Do let me know your favourites so I can get experimenting!
Please note that I have purchased this with my own money and all opinions are my own.
