In this section of the blog, we will be looking at various pieces of equipment that are used or mentioned in some of the posts – such as coffee machines, BBQ’s etc..
For each new post that includes a kitchen appliance or a piece of equipment, that helps you get the best results, we will endeavour to find a review for you, so that you can make your own mind up whether or not to buy. If you want more information on any of the appliances shown, click on the photograph.
Click here to submit your review.
Morphy Richards 48810
There are some excellent reviews already for this product, but I felt I had to add one of my friends opinions too!!
Its incredible. There is hardly any washing up and whilst it looks complicated it honestly is so simple to use. I get chips within minutes! They make risotto\'s, steam my vegetables and cook meat all in one pan!! Obviously you need to keep the food warm whilst you cook the next lot but it is soooooooo quick! I love it! You can set the timer and it switches itself on and lunch is ready when it bleeps!
This has replaced so many of my larger appliances and has made my life so much easier and safer. Large saucepans are dangerous, but the cooking dish is so light and is easy to remove with oven gloves! I just love this machine and recommend it to smaller households!
What lets it down though is that steam and gunk from cooking stick to the lid and the rim and its near impossible to get a cloth in all the nooks and crannies so you can never get it properly clean. If the lid could have been lifted off to run under the tap it would be a huge improvement. Maybe the next model will be better. I like the machine but the time it takes me to clean it after every time I use it is a real pain.
Tefal ActiFry
Tefal ActiFry Low Fat Electric Fryer
This is a great addition to any kitchen. It allows you to fry crispy, healthier chips and other foodstuffs, using little or no fat. e.g. one spoonful of oil is enough to cook upto one kilogram of chips. There is no need to pre heat. it takes a maximum of one kilo and has a unique paddle system which rotates the food to ensure even cooking with no need to shake or stir. The disadvantage I have found is with the paddle when it comes to frying eg something coated in breadcrumbs, this tends to fall apart. However this is a great item.
Easy to clean!
It has a large steam free viewing window, a digital timer with an audible warning at the end of the cooking period. The bowl is dishwasher safe as is the removable lid. Non slip feet and cord storage complete the set up.
Philips AirFryer
The Philips AirFryer is a revolutionary kitchen appliance that uses superheated air to fry food giving that fatty taste - but without the oil (mostly, more on that later...)
The Airfryer uses Rapid Air Technology to cook the kind of meals that traditionally would have been done with a deep fat fryer. The machine uses a grill and a fan to blast very hot air around food at high speeds.
The air reaches temperatures up to 200°C around the food inside - browning with up to 80% less fat. This browning and crisping process where the food is fried, roasted, toasted or baked is known scientifically as 'the Maillard effect'.
The food is placed in a large (700g capacity) slide out tray - this can be a mixture of different types, chicken and chips for example. The tray is slid back into the AirFryer and 12 minutes later the meal is
ready. The Airfryer can be used for meats and fish and even has the ability to bake cakes. And in case you are concerned about cooking different types of food together there is a Food Separator accessory to stop your chicken nuggets and fish ending up as a Fillet-O-Nugget.
The problems with the safety of traditional deep fat frying are also largely removed by the Airfryer. The days of the huge vat of oil reaching Chernobyl-like temperatures ready to ignite your house or burn little children or pets are long gone — the Airfryer is self-contained and has very little oil.
However, it is acknowledged that you will need to add a little oil to certain types of food to get that freshly fried taste - so for chips you will need to add half a tablespoon of oil; not really a significant amount compared with traditional frying, and a large reduction in the fat content of the finished article.
Bill & Sheila’s Verdict - The Philips AirFryer is most definitely a large step in the right direction for the health and safety conscious amongst us. But do not forget you are still going to need a little oil to
satisfy the desire for that fried food taste - particularly with chips.
The Philips AirFryer costs from €13O to €2lO depending on the model. So chips are the new celery: a little less weight-watchers a bit more double portions!
