Shayne Humphrey
I have seen hundreds of commercials for the next great kitchen appliance that is supposed to revolutionize how we cook in the kitchen. So when I saw the ads for the T-Fal Actifry I dismissed it as just another gimmick appliance destined to become nothing more than a waste of valuable counter space. That was until my girlfriend, having received it as a Christmas gift, brought it into our home. The Actifry's trademark is that it can cook a variety of meals, using just one tablespoon of oil per cook. Not only that, the Actifry also stirs your food constantly while it is being cooked to ensure that everything is cooked evenly. The appliance even comes with a handy little cookbook filled with healthy recipes, ranging from stirfrys to meat dishes, and even desserts. If you are looking for an easy way to eat healthier meals, especially after stuffing yourself at the Super Bowl buffet on Sunday, the Actifry could be worth trying out.
After cooking several meals in the Actifry, I have to admit it is very easy to use. So far, I have tried a couple of the stir-fry recipes from the cookbook and they were very simple to follow and the food tasted great. For most recipes all it takes is a few minutes to prep your food, and then you toss it in the Actifry, add the oil, set the timer and let it do its thing.
Being able to make healthier meals with the Actifry is great, but that pales in comparison to its greatest feature... it can make French fries. Glorious French fries with just one tablespoon of oil! It almost sounds too good to be true, but rest assured I have experienced it firsthand. French fries also happen to be the easiest things to make in the Actifry. All you have to do is chop up your potatoes and toss them inside the Actifry, add a tablespoon of oil, and let it cook. Inside the appliance is a kind of pot with a plastic stirring stick in its center. While the food cooks it is constantly being stirred, which allows your food to be cooked evenly all the way around. This is especially nice when cooking the fries because it ensures that all their sides will be crispy, which is pretty much what we are always looking for in our fries.
Being able to make healthier meals with the Actifry is great, but that pales in comparison to its greatest feature... it can make French fries. Glorious French fries with just one tablespoon of oil! It almost sounds too good to be true, but rest assured I have experienced it firsthand. French fries also happen to be the easiest things to make in the Actifry. All you have to do is chop up your potatoes and toss them inside the Actifry, add a tablespoon of oil, and let it cook. Inside the appliance is a kind of pot with a plastic stirring stick in its center. While the food cooks it is constantly being stirred, which allows your food to be cooked evenly all the way around. This is especially nice when cooking the fries because it ensures that all their sides will be crispy, which is pretty much what we are always looking for in our fries.
The first few times I used the Actifry to make fries I was blown away. I caught myself gawking at the fries like I had just witnessed some amazing magic trick. I had to hold up a fry to the light just to make sure my eyes were not deceiving me, but it was not a trick, the fries had come out perfectly golden brown and crispy. It was at that moment that I realized just how powerful this appliance sitting in front of me really was. Needless to say, that first batch of fries, and honestly every batch since then, has been devoured in a fraction of the forty minutes it took to cook them.
he Actifry's ability to make awesome tasting French fries is by far its greatest strength, but beware for it can also become your greatest weakness. Once you discover how little effort is needed to produce these great tasting fries, you may find yourself cooking them more and more often. If you are not careful you may soon find yourself eating fries as a side to all your meals, or having them on their own as daily snacks. You will justify this behavior by telling yourself potatoes are vegetables, which are good for you, and with only one tablespoon of oil being used to make them, these fries are actually healthy. Please take heed, and do not fall into this trap of ill-conceived logic. While the French fries you can make using the Actifry are much healthier for you than the fries you would get at a fast food joint, or even the frozen fries you make in the oven, that does not mean they are healthy for you. So if after reading this you decide to go out and get yourself an Actifry, do not blame me if you start going through potatoes by the sack full. You have been warned.
Now if any of you think you have the willpower to own this fine machine, and not over indulge on fries, the regular size runs about $199 retail. That is a decent chunk of change, but I would have no problem spending it on the Actifry. For the French fries alone it is worth it! All jokes aside, it does seem to be a high quality appliance and it also comes with a lifetime warranty. I found it very easy to use and I cannot argue when they say it is easy to clean. There are only two removable parts, which are simple to take apart and clean. I love having the Actifry in my kitchen, and I would recommend that everyone make room in their kitchens for one as well. Not only can it make delicious French fries, but it can also be used to make an assortment of healthy meals, or just French fries, I will leave that decision up to you.
Submitted by Shayne Humphrey
@theRealShayno
Submitted by Shayne Humphrey
@theRealShayno