Tefal Actifry - any good?

[Witco]

I'm considering getting one of these but are they any good?

Excellent for chips/wedges and far healthier. Makes lovely home-made chips but also makes oven chips much crispier.
Because of rotary arm softer foods like breaded prawns tend to get broken up.
All parts are dishwasher friendly.
Have been using well over a year but probably only about once a fortnight.

Dishwasher friendly? Even better!

I have the Halo grill (owing to an ugly scene in Currys where they wouldn't sell me the Actifry at the advertised price )

I actually prefer it now because the rotary arm is removable and it also has a wire rack so you can cook breaded foods on there, or on the base of the bowl.

Also makes fab cheese toasties, put on rack in lower position.

Yes, makes lovely chips, potato wedges and cubes.
I admit I haven't tried any of the other recipes in the book it came with.
I have a thing for chips

I hated it
Dm used it once and the chips came out disgusting x

Too late, I've ordered it now! Will post when I have tried it

Actually the rotary arm is removable. It didn't occur to me to try that. Will report back

Do they leave that awful fried food smell in your house? I have a real aversion to deep fat fryers for that very reason even if I could eat chips til I blow up like a balloon

No they don't leave any smell at all! That's the reason I bought one as opposed to an ordinary electric deep fryer.

I use mine every day - it makes a fab bolognaise sauce!

You really have to tell me how you make sauce in one?
Smell is minimal due to filter or something.

It's really easy - put about 500g of mince in and cook for 10 mins. Drain off the excess fat and then add tinned tomatoes, garlic, tomato purée, herbs, stock melt and a splash of water and cook for another 10-15 mins.

The paddle motion ensures it's all mixed in well and the sauce is beautifully reduced.

Wot no onions?! Doesn't it gloop and bubble and splatter up on to the lid/heating element?

Oh yes - I forgot the onions I use frozen chopped ones

No, it's fine as long as you don't overfill it. I did once. Once. :)

Sausages are amazing done in the actifry - perfectly cooked all the way round as constantly turned. And you can just put it on for 20 mins and forget about them!

It did take a while to get chips right - Found the best potatoes to use were big jacket potatoes, and make sure they are quite fresh. But others have said they prefer Maris Piper or Desire Potatoes. I do them in little cubes rather than chip shapes as I find they come out better. I love that you can add seasonings and they come out perfectly too as it's stirred the whole time.

I also have done spag bol in it and it's great as again, it's constantly being stirred. So I can shove the mince in, and turn in on while I chop the onions, then put them in while I prepare the next bit and so on - so it gets the prep done quicker and easier and less stress.

I love my actifry!

It has arrived and I have just done chips - yum and although it took 40 mins, they were v good. Hadn't thought about sausages or spag bol so will try those at the weekend. Has anyone used it for stir fries

Sweet potato chips were a bit limp. What did I do wrong? Have used it for lots of things do far and it's a great gadget. No nasty smells either and the 'pan' goes in the dishwasher

Where did you order it from, I am tempted and they seem to be cheaper now.

Ordered from Amazon and delivered in a few days

It's brilliant and you can put almost anything in it. Very happy with it!