Test fries: the fryer went on a diet!

How to make fries? There are many known methods, especially for those who do not mind using frozen semi-fries, which can be cooked in the oven, in a pan, in the aerogrill, in the microwave. It’s true that nutritionists are horrified by these methods.

So it is better to use a special novelty of the market – a deep fryer, and stay with your favorite figure and your health at the same time ! are your best friends. It’s true that the choice of such equipment is not very large yet, but the assortment is increasing all the time.

To eat potatoes and not to eat gingerbread

Practically everyone knows what a deep fryer is. This is a pan in which a lot of sunflower oil is poured, at least a liter or a half, and some models require the use of 2.5 liters of oil.

And by all rules of culinary art the oil must be changed after the first use, otherwise each subsequent portion of potatoes becomes more harmful than the previous one.

And then this reservoir and the lid of the fryer have to be washed, and even a dishwasher can hardly cope with such pollution.

After a boom at the beginning of the century, electric fryers are now almost ubiquitous in pantries and balconies, and are rarely used as they should be.

But today we strive for the impossible: to eat potatoes and not to have fat. This is what the new-generation technique is all about. There is no big bowl for oil in it at all!

Meals are cooked either without fat or with a minimum amount of it: 1 spoon 14 g per kilo of potatoes.

It’s all about the principle

Tefal were the first to offer healthy fries to their customers when they introduced the TEFAL ActiFry FZ 7000 low calorie multicooker on the market. RED. .

It works like this: a special stirrer is installed in the center of the round container. Then sliced potatoes are placed there, one spoonful of oil can be poured on it. You pop the lid, press the on button.

The potatoes are placed in an enclosed space, where they are surrounded on all sides by hot air. At the same time the stirrer does not let the potatoes lie idle, so they get fried on all sides.

Naturally, there is also a timer that allows you to control the process. When the set time is up, the buzzer sounds.

PHILIPS HD9220 Airfryer works in a different way – the food is placed into the grid, just like in a regular fryer. But there’s no container for the oil: you can add a spoonful of it directly to the potatoes.

The basket is inserted into the device, the desired temperature – from 80º C to 200º C – is selected on the regulator, the timer is set and the device starts to work. Cooking is done by circulating hot air there is a fan in the air-fryer , and on top the potatoes are browned by the heat from the grill.

Besides, if you suddenly overflowed oil, you can not worry: all the excess will be in the pan and not on the potatoes.

Manufacturers have accompanied each device with a colorful book with interesting recipes. And housewives are encouraged to use the technique not only for cooking potatoes, but also to create original dishes from vegetables, chicken, fish, meat, seafood. In addition, you can even cook desserts in it.

Philips VS Tefal: Strengths and weaknesses

If you compare these two devices with each other, you will immediately notice the differences:

First, the dimensions:

The TEFAL ActiFry FZ 7000 is wider and lower – 30 cm x 40 cm, the appliance height is 20 cm.

The PHILIPS HD9220 is a bit more compact at 28×31 cm, 38 cm high, but much heavier. This air fryer weighs 7 kg.

Secondly, the peculiarities of work:

The PHILIPS HD9220 has a temperature selection option. And the range is quite wide.

The TEFAL ActiFry FZ 7000 cooks all foods at a manufacturer set temperature, you can not change it.

The PHILIPS HD9220 switches the heating off when the timer is off.

In the TEFAL ActiFry FZ 7000 timer only beeps not very loudly when the set time ends.

The TEFAL ActiFry FZ 7000 mixes potatoes automatically.

In PHILIPS HD9220 you have to stir it yourself at least once.

But having an agitator can interfere with other dishes: when cooking chicken nuggets, for example, the layer of breading can fall off because of the constant agitation.

Third, the portion of the dish:

The TEFAL ActiFry FZ 7000 can cook more potatoes at once than the PHILIPS HD9220.

But PHILIPS HD9220 has a separator in the delivery set, thanks to which you can cook two dishes at one time, like French fries and chicken leg. True, there’s only enough portion for one person.

Fourth, control:

The TEFAL ActiFry FZ 7000 has a transparent cover, so you can always see what the food looks like. PHILIPS HD9220 has a basket out to see how it’s doing.

It’s hard to say which appliance is better and which is worse. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages. We have specially talked about all the differences and nuances, so that you can choose with the knowledge of all the subtleties.

Let’s compare features

Parameters	TEFAL ActiFry FZ 7000	PHILIPS HD9220
Power	1 400 W.	1 425 W.
Max. product capacity	1 kg of potatoes 750 grams of zucchinis 6 chicken thighs 400 g shrimp	800 g potatoes 400 grams of vegetables 500g chicken legs 400 g fish sticks
Timer	0-90 min.	0-30 min.
Temperature	No adjustment.	80 – 200 °C
Automatic Switching off	When opening the lid. Pressing on the on/off button on the touch screen takes you directly to the touch screen and makes the appliance easy to read./ off.	When you turn off the timer. When set to 0°C.
Ability to wash the basket in the dishwasher	Yes.	Yes.
Features	Measuring spoon 14g included.	Separator for the product for cooking Two dishes at the same time.
Price, Dollars.	From 5 430 to 7 990	From 4,450 to 6,290
Guarantee	2 years.	1 year.

The taste of potatoes: crunchy like in McDonald’s?

If you want your fresh potatoes to taste like McDonald’s at home, you might be disappointed with the results. You’ll have to try more than once or twice before you get a taste that’s just right for you.

That’s because the fries in cafes and restaurants are made from specialty French fries. First, at the factory, the sliced potatoes are blanched and then dipped for 2-3 seconds in hot oil, which causes the raw vegetable to have a light fried crust.

This product is immediately frozen and shipped to restaurants. When further cooking in a restaurant, the oil can not get inside through the crust. This is how you achieve the result where the potato slices, soft in the core, have a browned crust on top.

That’s why some gourmets suggest making French fries at home in two steps: first, fry the potatoes for 10 minutes and then let them cool or even freeze for future cooking. After the potatoes have cooled, they need to be fried again until cooked.

Peppers are no friend to potatoes? And with goat cheese?

Once again, note that the appliances we have described can be used to cook a variety of dishes, such as stuffed peppers with goat cheese, fried shrimp, fruit desserts, etc..

In general, this equipment will not stand idle in the kitchen of a creative housewife, even if no one eats potatoes in this house.

And the best thing about all these dishes is that there’s a minimum amount of fat: you can add no oil at all.

French fries recipes

Oven potatoes without oil

Oven fries

Microwave oven fries

Air-grill fries

“McDonald’s warns: French fries are dangerous to your figure