Read Mumsnet users feedback on the Tefal Actifry

[EllieMumsnet]

This is the feedback thread for the 25 testers who tried out the Tefal Actifry Genius XL (RRP: £269.99). Testers used the Actifry in their normal cooking routine and could also try out some of the recipes that came with the product.

Here’s what Tefal have to say about the product: “The latest air fryer, ActiFry Genius XL has 9 automatic programmes that adjust the temperature, cooking time and stirring motion accordingly. The 9 programmes include chips, rolls, breaded snacks, meat & vegetable balls, battered snacks, chicken, desserts, a world cuisine and ‘1-meal-in-1 go’ programme, where you can add all the ingredients at the same time and let ActiFry Genius XL do the work. Using only 1 spoon of oil, enjoy various delicious meals with little to no oil. As UK’s leading low-fat fryer brand. ActiFry uses revolutionary Dual Motion technology to circulate hot air while continuously stirring the food, achieving perfect results without the need to stop or shake. Thanks to its non-stick and dishwasher safe parts, it is a breeze to clean.”

Testers please answer the following questions:

• What were your initial thoughts on the product (design, size, quality, documental guidance)?
• Did you use the recipe book or app and if so which recipes were your favourite?
• Did you face any issues using the product or do you think anything could be improved?
• What type of meals did you cook in your Actifry?
• Where did you store the product when you weren’t using it?
• Would you recommend the product to your family and/or friends?

Selected testers will be required to leave their feedback on a thread on Mumsnet and on the Tefal website. All testers who leave the required feedback will be entered into a prize draw where 3 MNers will win a £100 voucher (each) of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs Apply

[EllieMumsnet]

Congratulations to Redbook, Crochetcrochetcrochet and Shuggas for winning the £100 voucher each

[buckeejit]

Has anyone compared it to the 2nd generation actifry? My first one was great so replaced with 2nd when it broke but there's a big air gap & it spews stuff out all around, well annoying.

Great for granola

[minisoksmakehardwork]

• What were your initial thoughts on the product (design, size, quality, documental guidance)?

Initially I looked at it and thought the genius xl was huge. But it doesn't dominate the worktop, probably because of the lower height and flatter top than older or other brand versions I've seen. It felt very plasticky and like it would break easily initially but using it was fine. I'm still not convinced the handle is entirely stable enough over time though. Documental guidance was limited but clear and enough for us to get started.

• Did you use the recipe book or app and if so which recipes were your favourite?

We used both. But the app didn't appear to be fully set up for this product yet as the various different programmes didn't feature on any of the app recipes. This was really disappointing.

• Did you face any issues using the product or do you think anything could be improved?

I would like recipes aimed specifically at the model we were using to be available more, rather than having to guess and hope for the best. I don't think we really got the full experience we could have had.

• What type of meals did you cook in your Actifry?

We have done a lot of chips! (They're really tasty). I did nuggets for the children and stir fry type recipes for us to try the one meal in one go function. Which was quite successful. Much better than standing over the wok and adding ingredients bit by bit. I was able to get on with other things.

• Where did you store the product when you weren’t using it? It is stored on our worktop, in a corner. I don't feel it dominates and it was much easier than finding cupboard space for it. Ours is white and tbh it's quite nice that it doesn't seem to be dusty like so many black appliances.
• Would you recommend the product to your family and/or friends?

Absolutely yes I would. I would still like more recipes specific to the functions of the genius xl but ours easily coped with chips for a family of 6. The food wasn't greasy and once we had played around with it, crisp food was lovely and crisp too.

[AgentPeggyCarter]

@Shuggas Really recommend it. The only thing is when it goes in the rotating bit has to come out so I have to sporadically shuffle chips about to have them cook evenly but it’s totally worth it (and the basket itself rotates instead so the chicken or whatever cooks evenly).

[Sooner]

• What were your initial thoughts on the product (design, size, quality, documental guidance)?

Can't lie it is huge! But don't mind as it's more important that it's able to cater for large meals. Looks sleek and modern. Instructions could have been better.

• Did you use the recipe book or app and if so which recipes were your favourite?

Yes used both. Honestly chips are the favourite! Also liked meatballs.

• Did you face any issues using the product or do you think anything could be improved?

Takes a bit of getting used to and imagine I'll use more and more as I get more familiar with it.

• What type of meals did you cook in your Actifry?

Chips, meatballs and egg rice. So a mix really. Also made tortilla chips which worked really well!

• Where did you store the product when you weren’t using it? Luckily have a large utility so in a cupboard like I do with slow cooker.
• Would you recommend the product to your family and/or friends?

Yes I would if they have space for it storage wise.

[Shuggas]

@AgentPeggyCarter ooooh a snack basket! I'm off to google! thanks for sharing about that!

[speakfriendandenter]

• What were your initial thoughts on the product (design, size, quality, documental guidance)?

The Actifry is quite big at first glance, however after clearing some space in the cupboard it wasn't as big as I first thought. It sat well on my surface when in use and looked good. Friends of mine had told me good things about their Actifry machines and I was excited to see mine in the flesh.

• Did you use the recipe book or app and if so which recipes were your favourite?

I used the recipe book for the chips and I downloaded the app to look for other recipes. There were a few good ideas on there but I did find the variety a little lacking. However, I found the app really easy to use. You can mark off the steps you have completed, go back up to check the ingredients list. There was also a really useful timer on the app, meaning I was able to walk away from Actifry and get on with my day, whilst keeping an eye on how long my meal had left to cook. My favourite recipe was the 'Pork Country Stir Fry'. It used diced pork, potatoes and parsley. It was really simple to prepare and cook. The whole family really enjoyed the meal, even my 9month old. It was a really tasty dish using minimal ingredients. I have made it a few times already in the last few weeks.

• Did you face any issues using the product or do you think anything could be improved?

I think there needs to be more recipes added to the app. I didn't really have any issues with the Actifry. It was easy to set up & clean. I think in the future, the Actifry could be made lighter/smaller. However, this isn't a huge issue.

• What type of meals did you cook in your Actifry?

We used the Actifry to make chips several times. I made peeled and skin on chips. I loved that these were healthier than the chips we usually eat and they cooked surprisingly quickly. I made some stews and stir fries too. I'm looking forward to branching out and trying some recipes that take longer to cook and using the time delay function.

• Where did you store the product when you weren’t using it?

I cleared a space in the cupboard for the Actifry. It did need a large space, but luckily I have plenty of space in the kitchen. Unfortunately, I think many people could struggle to fit the machine into their cupboards. My cupboards are old and were made to be very spacious.

• Would you recommend the product to your family and/or friends?

I would definitely recommend the product. Lots of my friends with young children were very interested as the Actifry is a healthier way of cooking. My inlaws are interested in purchasing a machine and they enjoyed sampling some of the recipes that I had made. I even shared the app with a friend of mine that has had an Actifry for several years.

[AgentPeggyCarter]

Ooops, I missed seeing this thread hit, sorry for the delay in replying!

First of all thank you so much for the opportunity to try this - I honestly never in a million years would have spent £270 on one of these before but now I've had one I'd get one without hesitation, it's genuinely boggled my mind how much I've been able to do with it.

- What were your initial thoughts on the product (design, size, quality, documental guidance)?
Initially I was just agog at how massive it was. It looked shiny and very swish, although I found the help guide a bit sparse in terms of advice and info - more pictures would have been welcome and some of the recipes didn't make sense. Also, the first time I made chips I didn't know to put the paddle in (although I appreciate that might be user error at my end, maybe it was blindingly obvious to everyone else but I'd never used anything like this before and it didn't occur to me I'd need it).

- Did you use the recipe book or app and if so which recipes were your favourite?
We tried a lot of different things from the recipe book and the app. First up (and repeated regularly since) was fried chicken and chips which was a massive hit with everyone in the family (I was thrilled how much the DC loved the chips - no rubbish in them, virtually no oil, and they turned out brilliantly fluffy and delicious). The only thing that was a bit weird was the fact to make chicken and chips for a family of four we had to batch cook - so chicken first and then keep that warm in the oven while the chips cooked. We tried salt and pepper chicken (delicious), the chicken nuggets (big hit), aubergine with feta (which made my DH eat aubergine happily for the first time ever - no slimy veg here!) and the roast potatoes and roasted carrots which have completely changed our roast routine. No more parboiling now! I haven't tried anything sweet yet (we're on a bit of a health kick, another reason we were so happy to get this to try) but I've got my eye on a churros recipe I found on the Actifry Facebook group. I also found a recipe for roasted chickpeas on there - I'd been making them in the oven as a healthier snack to crisps and the faff of doing that had really put me off even though they were delicious. Now we're having paprika and honey roasted chickpeas a lot in the Actifry!

- Did you face any issues using the product or do you think anything could be improved?
I think the booklet could be better written - as well as some of the recipes being unclear I'd love a bit more info on the different settings and how to use them. The quick settings are fine but when you branch out into your own thing it's a bit trial and error - I'm hazy about whether the different settings are different temperatures etc and how to manually set it.

For me the main barrier to using it initially was feeling like everythnig took AAAGES because of having to batch cook it. Once I started doing one pot things I was happier but then I found out about the Actifry snack basket accessory and that cemented my love for it. We ordered one on Amazon for about £20 and suddenly we could cook chips/veg in the bottom and nuggets/chicken thighs/protein etc in the top. Not only was the food healthy but it was being cooked in less time than it would have normally. Total gamechanger for how I felt about it and, for me, the thing that moved the ActiFry from being a 'nice to have' gadget to something that's fast becoming a kitchen essential.

- What type of meals did you cook in your Actifry?
What surprised me was that while the roast potatoes, nuggets, chips and chicken were all solid family favourites, we're actually using it more as a midweek way of cooking for DH and I once the kids are in bed. Tonight I chucked cubed potatoes in the bottom of it for 20 minutes and have now put the snack basket with fresh chicken thighs sprinkled with a bit of paprika on the top and turned it on for 25 minutes while I sort bedtime. Dinner sorted with no fuss and virtually no intervention at all. Last night I chucked frozen mediterranean veg into the bottom and then put sliced lemon on the bottom of the snack basket and two salmon fillets in the top. Twenty minutes later DH and I both had crispy skinned salmon with veg. Virtually no washing up because everything goes into the dishwasher and I can chuck it in and leave it. It's meaning we're eating a lot more 'real' food during the week with minimal fuss and faff. I did get a bit obsessed with trying loads of different bits in it though. The only fail was broccoli. It went a bit acrid when deep fried. But at least I tried!

- Where did you store the product when you weren’t using it?
In our utility room. It's so massive it wouldn't fit on a worktop in our kitchen as a permanent home and we'd have to give up a cupboard for it virtually which just seemed impractical. Initially we thought we'd keep it in a plastic box in the garage, but it hasn't made it that far as we've used it at least every other night since it's arrived. It'd take up way too much room on the kitchen counter though!

- Would you recommend the product to your family and/or friends?
I have already (we've done fried chicken and chips a couple of time for family friends when they've visited, one of whom went straight out and got one when she saw her DC's reaction to the chips) and MIL has bought one after tasting the roasted veg - she regularly cooks massive roasts and is thrilled to be freeing up her oven space!

[Popcornandbuttons]

What were your initial thoughts on the product (design, size, quality, documental guidance)?
Firstly, I was a bit overwhelmed by how large the Actifry is – but it is the largest model and serves 8 people so I guess it needs to be big! Thankfully I do have some space to store it.
The design is modern and attractive, the display is easy to understand, and overall the functionality and assembly is pretty self-explanatory and intuitive.
The documental guidance wasn’t the best. The recipe book was really useful – glossy, good guidance, interesting recipes and ideas. The small black and white printed instructions were not easy to read or follow – this could do with be redesigned to be more useful.

Did you use the recipe book or app and if so which recipes were your favourite?
I mainly used the recipe book, although I have downloaded the app and had a look through some recipe ideas – I’ve got lots of inspiration for future cooking lined up!

Did you face any issues using the product or do you think anything could be improved?
The cooking area is really large but the guidance booklet says to only put food in on one layer – so it seems like there is a lot of underutilised space if you follow this guidance.
The Actifry itself worked beautifully and with no issues!

What type of meals did you cook in your Actifry?
Chips, chips, and more chips!!! I’m definitly converted on chips – it’s a joy to not need to pre-boil potatoes before cooking them and just rinsing. The chips were always really fluffy and tasted fantastic. I’m following Slimming World so I also cooked SW friendly chips using spray oil rather than olive oil and they still turned out really well and tasted delicious!
I’ve also cooked roast potatoes and various chicken dishes. My family really enkjoyed the chicken nuggets recipe from the booklet – the paddle in the middle and the rotation means they cooked really nicely all the way around the nuggets.

Where did you store the product when you weren’t using it?
I’m lucky enough to have a pantry- so I rejigged some things and have stored it in there. I don’t like having appliances out on the surface if I can help it.

Would you recommend the product to your family and/or friends?
Yes definitely! I’ve spoken to quite a few people about it already and most were surprised to hear about the variety of foods and recipes that can be cooked in the Actifry.

[Bumblebeans]

Just want to add an update. I've just cooked roast potatoes in the Actifry used about half a tablespoon of veg oil.
Now eating wonderful crispy roasties! Amazing result!!!

[gurdev13]

I would like to test the tefal actifry.

[Allhallowseve]

Testers please answer the following questions:

• What were your initial thoughts on the product (design, size, quality, documental guidance)?

It's big but it looks nice.I liked the little recipe book and did find it easy to clean.

• Did you use the recipe book or app and if so which recipes were your favourite?

I have used the recipe book. Home made chips now a favourite in our house.
The chicken fried rice and chicken nuggets were also good.

• Did you face any issues using the product or do you think anything could be improved?

We used it once then went to use again and it wouldn't turn on we checked the fuse etc but no luck. Tefal replaced with no issues.

• What type of meals did you cook in your Actifry?

Mostly chips! But also like the chicken fried rice.

• Where did you store the product when you weren’t using it?

It's actually out on the worktop which to be honest is not ideal. However we don't have the cupboard space for it.

• Would you recommend the product to your family and/or friends?

Yes I would recommend it's easy to make things in it. However i would say you need the space for it.

[Helspopje]

Testers please answer the following questions:

• What were your initial thoughts on the product (design, size, quality, documental guidance)?
  

It is enormous! Really to work out where to store.

• Did you use the recipe book or app and if so which recipes were your favourite?
  

I tried some but the app was more useful as was a Facebook actifry UK users group. My husband liked the spicy wings. The meatballs tasted nice but got bashed up in the machine so looked weird. Fried rice wasn’t as nice as on the hob with an egg added at the end.

• Did you face any issues using the product or do you think anything could be improved?
  

It wasn’t easy to vary the time to cook on the preset cooking settings - had to switch it on at however long it was set to, pause it, adjust, restart. Meant my husband deemed it ‘too complicated’.

• What type of meals did you cook in your
  

Actifry?
Chips, wings, meatballs, breaded chicken and fish goujon (total fail), fried rice

• Where did you store the product when you weren’t using it?
  

Under the kitchen table - too massive for on the surface and doesn’t fit in our cupboard!

• Would you recommend the product to your family and/or friends?
  

Yes and no. We probably aren’t the target market as we don’t fry a lot of food but it certainly works well and uses a minimum of oil so one feels more virtuous about the fried food it makes than that fried conventionally

[Shuggas]

Went to use mine this evening for meatballs and it's broken I'm devastated. The paddle won't go round.

[anxiouswaiting]

What were your initial thoughts on the product (design, size, quality, documental guidance)?
I was surprised as I opened it because the box was so big. When I unpacked it I was impressed with the size of the Actifry itself, I have seen them in other peoples homes but only the smaller versions which don't look like they would be big enough for the whole family. It looks really well made and quite flashy (I have to admit I feel a bit smug having it sitting on my counter top!). The guidance was all really easy to follow as we were able to set it up and use it that same day with no fuss, even with the kids running around causing mayhem - that is important because I don't have time to be reading complicated instructions.


Did you use the recipe book or app and if so which recipes were your favourite?
I lived the recipe book! The app is ok but for me is is not the best option because I don't like to keep going back to my phone to check recipes when I am cooking and getting food smudges on my phone etc Also the kids often run off with my phone to play games so having it in print was much more helpful to me.


Did you face any issues using the product or do you think anything could be improved?
I had no issues at all, it worked perfectly and I am a complete convert to Actifry, I love it! The only improvement I can think of is purely cosmetic, I would love for it to be available in a range of colours as all the appliances in my kitchen are red so I would love a red Actifry!


What type of meals did you cook in your Actifry?
I tried everything in the recipe booklet. The thing we liked best was the chicken nuggets, I often worry about the fact that my boys love nuggets but they are not very healthy and I feel guilty when I give them often. Using the Actifry meant I was actually giving them a really healthy meal without them even knowing it! I also cooked chips, which were perfect and far better than any of the shop bought chips we have had in the past. I also did a few stir fry and now my Wok is redundant as it i so much easier and healthier to use the Actifry.


Where did you store the product when you weren’t using it?
It is on the counter top. That is for 2 reasons, firstly my cupboard are really full, we don't have as much space as I would like and I keep other appliances in the cupboards. But also because it looks really stylish and it feels quite nice having it on display. It is also easier to access because we have been using it a lot.


Would you recommend the product to your family and/or friends?
Yes! I already have been telling anyone who will listen all about it. I found most people thought the Actifry was just for making chips and people were pretty impressed to hear all the things i have been making with it.

[phenomenalcat]

We were very excited when we were chosen to review this product as we'd been considering buying one.

• What were your initial thoughts on the product (design, size, quality, documental guidance)?
  

It is a nice user friendly design but being the XL version is massive. It felt a good sturdy product though and should last a long time.

• Did you use the recipe book or app and if so which recipes were your favourite?
  

Yes we used both, and a couple of websites I found. They were both easy to use but we struggled with finding a wide variety of foods as we don't eat fish, rabbit, lobster, veal. Recipes like Almond-crumbed turnip treats were a hard sell to little kids ;)
However those that we did cook we enjoyed and our favourites were the chips, KFC style chicken and halloumi chips.

• Did you face any issues using the product or do you think anything could be improved?
  

No it was fairly easy to use although you did need to keep an eye on the timings as they sometimes needed adjusting and often the food didn't cook evenly. I'm hoping this will improve with practice.

• What type of meals did you cook in your Actifry?
  

Homemade chips - lovely just like a gastropub and the reason I wanted an Actifry so we could get rid of the dangerous full pan of oil.
Halloumi Chips - simple but very tasty.
Chicken Nuggets - tasty and healthier than deep frying or processed ones.
KFC style chicken - delicious but we had to cook it in two batches for four people as the instructions said it needed to be in a single layer. You also couldn't cook the chips at the same time so they went in the oven along with the first batch of chicken to keep it warm.
Meatballs - these were fine but it was no easier than using a pan if you were going to be in the kitchen anyway. However if you wanted to cook meat and then do something else the advantage is you don't have to stir it.
Mozzarella and Tomato parcels - I added in some pesto to these and they were quite tasty but were more of a snack than a meal. Unfortunately they became stuck together when the paddle started turning.
Doughnuts - these cooked for a little too long and I didn't like the chocolate flavour topping but with a bit of refinement they could be delicious. The ones we made were quite moorish but as with everything I'm not sure if the Actifry made things healthy or just healthier.

• Where did you store the product when you weren’t using it?
  

We left it on the kitchen top for the couple of weeks we were testing it as we used it a lot but it's too big to stay there long term and will have to live in the cellar.

• Would you recommend the product to your family and/or friends?
  

Yes, particularly those stretched for time. I preferred it to my husband as he's a better cook than me, but I prefer the ease of an Actifry.

[MrsArchchancellorRidcully]

I was amazed when I was chosen, and very pleased. Thanks.

What were your initial thoughts on the product (design, size, quality, documental guidance)?

I was disappointed to get a white one as I love the black ones - they look better in my kitchen, but never mind!

The actifry is very big but we have a large kitchen and it is stored in our cupboard when not in use. I'm not sure I'd be so thrilled with it with a smaller kitchen.

It's good quality and easy to take apart. The guidance booklet wasn't great to be honest, but we managed.

Did you use the recipe book or app and if so which recipes were your favourite?

Yes, we used the recipe book for chips and frozen chips, plus used the app to cook a coconut curry. I wasn't expecting it to cook more than fried things, so we're going to do a stir fry next week. The app recipes are a bit bizarre and there seems to be a lot of 'chicken and banana' type things! The curry is lovely though.
The frozen chips weren't great but ours did have the batter coating which the recipe book specifically warned against, so can't complains.
My favourite were proper chips from scratch with barely any oil. That's what I was after (I'm not a fan of frozen chips and DH always overcooks them!) - they weren't quite as good as chippy chips but were very close and everyone loved them I also want to try home made chicken nuggets and meatballs but haven't had the chance yet.

Did you face any issues using the product or do you think anything could be improved?

Being able to only cook one thing at a time was a bit limiting. So cooking chips and chicken nuggets won't be possible. The app is a bit clunky and some of the recipes seem more complex than the hob.

What type of meals did you cook in your Actifry?

See above - mainly chips and curry but I am excited to do more, especially getting ideas from this thread. One pot stuff, stir fries and rice dishes are on my list. I've also heard roast potatoes are good. We're having the coconut chicken curry this weekend again and I'll happily cook chips regularly.

Where did you store the product when you weren’t using it?

We have a massive kitchen extension so very easy to store. It fits in a cupboard and we have plenty of work surfaces.

Would you recommend the product to your family and/or friends?

I would, unless they weren't a fan of one pot type dishes. But I'm certainly impressed and will use it more and more for quick, easy interesting dishes plus chips!!!!!

[redbook]

Thanks for choosing me for this test. I have enjoyed putting the Actifry through its paces.

What were your initial thoughts on the product (design, size, quality, documental guidance)?

My very first thought was ‘wow it’s big’. I think if I had been browsing instore, I would be put off by the size.

I liked the glass top so you can watch the food cooking. I also like that most of it goes in the dishwasher so its easy to clean and keep looking clean.

The product was easy to use but I didn’t find the instructions helpful. It would be helpful if the instructions explained the temperature of each setting and at what point the mixer starts.

Did you use the recipe book or app and if so which recipes were your favourite?

Yes, I used both. Both would benefit from including more recipes. I found the cooking times in the recipes too short, but it does give an idea of what the Actifry is capable of.

Perhaps it’s because I’m a novice Actifrier but I found the recipes which involved more than frying (i.e. risotto and stroganoff) were not good. The recipes involving frying were great. In particular the fried rice with prawns (recipe book) and salmon (from app). In the future I will probably stick to conventional ‘fried’ recipes in the Actifry.

Did you face any issues using the product or do you think anything could be improved?

I found the product easy to use. A large part of the interface is for the different settings, but I don’t understand as yet the differences between these settings. It would be helpful if it was explained.

Not ‘issues’ as such but a couple of unexpected observations. Its probably only as noisy as a loud fan oven, but I did expect it to be quieter than it was. I also expected that it would not leave a smell after cooking, but there is still a subtle lingering smell of fried food after use.

What type of meals did you cook in your Actifry?

I have made chips, sweet potato chips, apple crisps, granola, onion bhajis and falafel. I’ve also made prawn fried rice, risotto, beef stroganoff and tandoori salmon from the app. I want to try roasted carrots, sweetcorn fritters, chicken nuggets (from the recipe book) and the red lentil stew (from app), but haven't had time yet.

The ‘fried’ recipes came out great, particularly the chips, bhajis and falafel. I was really pleased with my salmon too – cubes of marinated salmon in the Actifry without the mixer for 10 mins and I had delicious charred salmon. The fried rice was good too. The granola was quick and simple - I've made it four times on my DS request.

The recipes for meals not traditionally made in a fryer – the risotto and stroganoff - were not as good in the Actifry as they were in a pan/oven. The risotto was in the Actifry for 25 mins but I finished off in a pan as it didn’t seem to be cooking at all in that time. The stroganoff was tough and not flavoursome. It could have been my meat; the recipe called for braising steak which is perhaps the wrong cut for this type of recipe.

Where did you store the product when you weren’t using it?

This is a key question! I currently have space in my cupboard as I lent out my slow cooker. When that returns, I am not sure where I will keep it. It can’t live permanently on the kitchen surface as its too big. If the Actifry was an all round device which you could cook everything in, I’m sure I could find a permanent work surface space for it; however just for frying, its hard to justify a permanent home.

Would you recommend the product to your family and/or friends?

For people who fry a lot, I absolutely would. It’s great at what it does. It’s hard to justify buying (both from a cost and space perspective) if you are only frying once per week or so. I will definitely continue to use it for recipes such as falafel, bhajis and chips.

I think it could also be used it as a substitute for an oven for a lot of the time for meals for singles or small families. Therefore it could also be considered as cost saving in the long run as you save time and money from the time the oven takes to heat. However quite an expensive upfront investment.

[sagethyme]

First huge thank you for choosing us to take part in this product test. My son (7) couldn't wait to get started with cooking.
thoughts on the product (design, size, quality, documental guidance)? Design is funky and practical; I really liked the clear display and the window at the top so you can check the food. The saucepan lifts out really easily. It's a good size for a family of four, but I think if you have a large family you'd need to cook in batches. It's also very easy to clean.
Quality; it's okay, but if I was purchasing this, I think there could be improvements. I don't think the plastic is very strong, and I've been careful to hand wash everything as I think, although all component parts are dishwasher safe, dish washing will shorten it's life span. I think it's a shame that silicon components aren't used (although maybe silicon wouldn't be able to take the heat?)
Documentary guidance was very good, with clear instructions. My first thoughts on unpacking the Actifry was I'd need a degree to be able to use it! But in fact it was very straight forward.

• Did you use the recipe book or app and if so which recipes were your favourite?

I used the recipe book. My son and I had a go at all the recipes. His favourite recipe from the book was the apple, banana and coconut pudding. We also had fun experimenting with a range of foods from my cook books and picnic eggs worked really well. Haven't used the app yet, but it's on my to do list.

• Did you face any issues using the product or do you think anything could be improved?

No major issues, but I found I did need to sometimes stir the food as the paddle bunched it up, I wonder if a two paddle design would help stir the food more evenly? As mentioned above, I'd prefer silicon for the paddle and the removable turn-over ring as I don't think the plastic will last long (I find plastics tend to go brittle when washed in a dish washer).

• What type of meals did you cook in your Actifry?

everything from side dishes, to main meals (stir fry worked really well) and puddings.

• Where did you store the product when you weren’t using it?

we have a teeny kitchen, but the Actifry traded places with the microwave which was nothing more than a dysfunctional bread bin!

• Would you recommend the product to your family and/or friends?

It depends, if I knew anyone with a holiday cottage I would 100% recommend this, because it's a nifty kitchen device and would be fab for simple holiday meals, or where there is only a very basic equipped kitchen. I'd also recommend it in place of a microwave or deep fat fryer, and for infrequent cooking. However I'd prefer to have something a bit more robust if recommending for daily cooking, as I'm not convinced the paddle and the turn-over ring will last many years, although it's good to see you can purchase spare parts.
I should add my son absolutely would recommend the Actifry and indeed he has recommended this to family and friends when last weekend we had an Actifry party to put it through its paces

[octopusrus]

Thank you very much for letting me trial this, really enjoyed it!


- What were your initial thoughts on the product (design, size, quality, documental guidance)?
I liked the fact it was black, looked more modern than a white appliance would have done. Yes it was big!! I also liked the design of the buttons etc, it was pretty much self explanatory in terms of the timer/temp etc so this was all very clear from the start. I did read the book first just in case and that was all well laid out too.

- Did you use the recipe book or app and if so which recipes were your favourite?
Yes I downloaded the app and had a look in the book. Our favourites were the roast potatoes, chips and the plain chicken wings with salt and pepper. Couldn't believe they'd been cooked with no oil! Everyone loved them. We also liked the mint lamb meatballs but I left out the onion and used onion powder so changed the recipe slightly.

• Did you face any issues using the product or do you think anything could be improved?
  No big issues but one slightly annoying thing was that it sprayed little bits of stuff out the sides and back, for instance roast potatoes seemed to create a spray of tiny bits which covered the worktop and the inside of the machine, and when I coated some sweet potato with a little oil and paprika I ended up with an orange coating on everything which was behind the machine! I would also quite like a separate tray/basket for putting two different things in but I don't know if that would be possible with the paddle moving around?
  
  
• What type of meals did you cook in your Actifry?
  Chips (both from scratch and frozen), homemade chicken nuggets, chicken thighs, homemade fish fingers, halloumi fries, sweet potato wedges, lamb meatballs,
  
  

• Where did you store the product when you weren’t using it?

I cleared a cupboard out in the utility room so it goes in there.

• Would you recommend the product to your family and/or friends?

Yes definitely. Quite a few people have been to look at it while we were doing the trial and they were all impressed! I originally thought it would mainly be for people who deep fried things anyway (which we don't) but it's actually really good for most things.

I'm really pleased we tried it - it's very versatile! Looking forward to trying more things in it. I've joined a couple of facebook groups which are full of new recipes so will be working my way through those.
Thanks again!

[babycakes1010]

Thank you for allowing me to take part in this trial.

Upon receiving this product I was shocked at how big it was but after rearranging my kitchen have found a perfect place for it to stand. I loved the design and found the guidance very good.
I did use the recipe book and omg the chips are amazing if I do say so myself! I have looked at the app but prefer to look elsewhere online.
I found on some things I cooked that timings had to be adjusted but other then that I had no other issues.
I cooked chips/wedges and made a curry which went down well with the family.
I've stored it on one of my kitchen work tops which was good as it gave me a kick up the backside to reorganise my kitchen which was much needed!
I would definitely recommend to family and friends.

[PickledWilly]

Testers please answer the following questions:

• What were your initial thoughts on the product (design, size, quality, documental guidance)?

It is huge! Much bigger than I had imagined. I wasn't quite sure when I first opened it - it looked space age! It is very sleek and modern looking, like a space ship! I would've preferred it in black however the white does look good. The recipe book was brief but that's ok. The quality looked good. Both my children were extremely excited at 'The Product' (the name they gave it!) arriving

• Did you use the recipe book or app and if so which recipes were your favourite?

I have only used the recipe book and have also googled recipes. Of course, our favourite had been real chips and sweet potato wedges. Took me a couple of goes to perfect getting the potatoes dry before actifrying them. The chips are absolutely divine.

• Did you face any issues using the product or do you think anything could be improved?

It is very easy to use. The filter is a bit stiff to get out but there is a knack to it. It is extremely easy to clean, love cleaning the non stick pan and the rotating arm goes in the dishwasher. I did find the rim on the pan to have sharp edges when I was cleaning it - I managed to cut my finger on it!
It is quite noisy and smells a bit of plastic when it's on. It could be improved by having two tiers, we found it a pain when wanting to do chicken nuggets and chips as could only do one at a time!

• What type of meals did you cook in your Actifry?

Potatoes - real chips, sweet potato wedges, frozen chips, hash browns

Meals - chicken fajitas, chicken fried rice, homemade chicken nuggets

Veg - roasted veg to have with cous cous, honeyed carrots

We are going to try chilli and a prawn stir fry with sesame oil next

• Where did you store the product when you weren’t using it?

We are lucky to have a lot of worktop, and we have a space for it at the very end. It is actually too big to go inside any of our cupboards! We have been using it lots so don't mind keeping it out.

• Would you recommend the product to your family and/or friends?

Absolutely yes. Some of my friends have seen it in action and have been impressed.

[Crochetcrochetcrochet]

• What were your initial thoughts on the product (design, size, quality, documental guidance)?

It is quite possibly the biggest piece of equipment in my kitchen, save for the fridge. And I've got a breadmaker! I am genuinely not sure where to store it as it takes up about a quarter of my free worktop space. And yes, I do have the world's tiniest kitchen, but still. That said it is very sleek (looks slightly like a UFO) and easy to clean. I love the fact that the parts are all dishwashable and have used it so many more times already because of this. The guidance in the pamphlets may as well be written in gibberish. Now, full disclosure, I'm 15 weeks post-partum and duly sleep deprived but I didn't expect to have to ask my husband to decipher how to cook chips. So much so I since abandoned the directions. Possibly a mistake, but the internet is full of mostly helpful suggestions.

• Did you use the recipe book or app and if so which recipes were your favourite?

I used the recipe book for chips and have my eye on the chicken nugget recipe. The app seems slightly odd given that I was under the impression that this was targeted at families, I mean who really cooks rabbit or veal midweek? The recipes on the app aren't always correct, on one the ingredients ask for oil but there is no mention of when to use it in the method. Others just read a bit clunkily (yes, it is a word).

• Did you face any issues using the product or do you think anything could be improved?

I found it incredibly easy to use and I say that in an utterly sleep deprived state. DH feels like it could be faster, as it is no quicker than oven chips, however given the amount of times both he and I get distracted and burn said oven chips, I'll take the Actifry on account of the automatic timer. Ooh, why doesn't the keep warm function work for chips? Also it should come with a warning that you will become somewhat obsessed with chips.

• What type of meals did you cook in your Actifry?

So far, just chips and the rice dish from the booklet. I want to make the chicken nuggets, but we’ve live on pizza for a couple of weeks as my newborn hasn’t stopped feeding. There’s also some really interesting recipes online for risottos that I’d like to try.

• Where did you store the product when you weren’t using it?

It is currently taking up vast quantities of my worktop, however its testament to how much I like it, that it is still there. I’m thinking of Marie Kondo-ing the rest of my kitchen cupboards just to make space. After all, I’m not sure my cleaning cupboard sparks joy in any way shape or form unlike something that makes me chips.

• Would you recommend the product to your family and/or friends?

Absolutely, especially those with bigger kitchens than me!

[Bumblebeans]

• What were your initial thoughts on the product (design, size, quality, documental guidance)?

My initial thoughts were that it was massive! I didn't appreciate how many people it could cook for though.
I thought the design was modern and quite appealing. I love the window to watch the food cook.

• Did you use the recipe book or app and if so which recipes were your favourite?

We cooked chips first, we also did the meatballs and chicken nuggets. I liked the app more than the book as it had more variety and was very easy to use.

• Did you face any issues using the product or do you think anything could be improved?

I struggled to get the timings right for cooking especially the chips as I cooked less than the recipe said so it didn't take as long to cook. I was therefore had to be quite vigilant when following recipes and keep checking I didn't over cook anything.

• What type of meals did you cook in your Actifry?

We cooked, chips, wedges, meatballs, chicken nuggets, lots of stir frys and fajitas.

• Where did you store the product when you weren’t using it?

We kept it in the pantry. It does take up alot of space though

• Would you recommend the product to your family and/or friends?

I would definitely recommend it to family and friends. I hadn't appreciated how much you can cook in the Actifry. I find the name a bit misleading. I had thought it was purely to replace a deep fat fryer for cooking healthier versions of chips/ nuggets type foods. I am amazed at the variety of meals which can be cooked in it. I love that it makes simple healthy meals like stir fry and fajitas even easier by doing all the stiring. It really made life easier for cooking meals in the evening after work/school, using fresh healthy ingredients.

Thank you so much for choosing me to test the Actifry. I love it and it's really helped us to eat healthily after busy days.
Thank you!

[Shuggas]

Oh I forgot to mention the keep warm option! Some days we are all in at different times- if I have to work late, and my daughter gets a later train home from school after doing a club, the fact it keeps food warm and doesn't dry it out is absolutely fab too, one pot meals have been ideal on days like so this my husband makes the meal and it's ready for when we get home, that is ace!