Tefal Actifry

[Sue]

Hi
Just got one of these. Had a "normal" deep fat fryer but dreadful waste of oil and I hate all that straining, very messy.
this one does chips in about a dessertspoonful of oil, and when they're cooked there's no oil left, the non-stick bowl just needs a rinse and dry.
It has a spindle in the middle of the bowl with a hooked bar that sweeps the chips round and tumbles them in the oil Gorgeous chips too.
It's expensive but it can be used for stir-frying etc and the recipe book shows plenty of other ways to use it. I was just pleased to not have to strain and filter oil and then find a way to dispose of the waste - and it's another way to use up my vast potato store and a godsend if you're ovenless - as I am at the moment.
Sue

[Shortie]

Sue, how many chips does it do in the dessert spoonful and does it smell like a chip pan?

I haven't used one for years because of the smell and health aspect, but sometimes it's just nice to have 'proper' chips!

[Alice]

Thanks for the recommendation Sue. Have had a look at it. At £150 it is quite expensive. How is it on smell ? I just can't stand the smell of deep fat frying.

[Shortie]

£150??!!

[Alice]

Yes, £150 from Amazon Shortie. Might be less elsewhere but I'm sure it will still be expensive. Think I'll pass on this one.

[Hazel at the Hill]

Well for me the price will have to come down a bit, but I have to say that am tempted.

I've chucked out my cute one-person sized chip fryer as even with minimum oil and not overloading the basket, the oil finds a way to overflow - which, frankly, can't be right.

But I do like proper chips...

[shirlthegirl43]

Well for me the price will have to come down a bit, but I have to say that am tempted.

I've chucked out my cute one-person sized chip fryer as even with minimum oil and not overloading the basket, the oil finds a way to overflow - which, frankly, can't be right.

But I do like proper chips...

That can happen if your chips are wet when you drop them into the hot oil. Rinse the potatoes well in cold water and dry with a clean teatowel and the problem should vanish.

[Hazel at the Hill]

That can happen if your chips are wet when you drop them into the hot oil. Rinse the potatoes well in cold water and dry with a clean teatowel and the problem should vanish.

I thought that I had washed/dried them properly, but perhaps I hadn't.

Anyway, bloody thing's in the bin now - it's not the first time that I've had a lake of 170 degree oil spreading over the work surface, there must be safer ways to cook!

[shirlthegirl43]

My mum's fryer used to overflow now and again but I can't say I have ever had that problem - I have a rotofry but am thinking of changing it for one which comes apart and can go in the dishwasher.

[Tracey]

Hi

I had a look at the Tefal Actifry at Lakeland today. It looks like a good idea, but it's quite big and heavy and i'd either have to find worktop room for it or cupboard space and i'm short of both. I don't like to deep fry as it's not healthy to keep reusing the same heated oil repeately and to change it after each use would be too expensive. What I prefer is to toss potato wedges in a bit of oil, spread on a baking tray and bake in a hot oven. Time isn't as critical as it is for the chip pan and the kids love them.

Tracey

[Sue]

Hi
With a dessert spoon of oil you could do chips for two easily, would be about a tablespoon for 4 people.

It is quite big, but I've got under the counter room otherwise I couldn't cope with it.

I haven't noticed any smell at all, and it's very easy to clean, the bowl comes out, the sweeping arm pulls out of the middle and a quick wash and that's it. There's no oil left in the pan either, and as commented above, it's the waste and reuse of oil that is so off putting with the ordinary fryers. And like pressure cookers they seem rather dangerous.

The motor makes a whirring noise and someone on Amazon commented that the timer bell wasn't loud enough above the whirring and best to set your own timer as the Tefal doesnt cut out when times up.

More guilt free too, with the cut in fat and I do love chips and it's so easy to make just a small portion - say two potatoes worth.

Sue