Tefal Actifry
I have looked at the Tefal Actifry in the shops and umm'd and arr'd about buying one, would I use it? do we like chips that much? luckily for me I have had the chance to try one out ... and I have to admit - I love it!
The Tefal Actifry makes real chips using only 1 spoonful of oil. When you compare this to a regular deep fat fryer you can see how much healthier the Tefal Actifry is. The food is crisp on the outside, yet fluffy on the inside - but not dripping with oil or full of fat.
The actual parts of the Tefal Actifry are very sturdy and well made. All parts (the basket, paddle and spoon) can be put in the dishwasher to clean, I just pop mine in the washing up bowl and give them a rinse as being non-stick they clean really well. My only complaint is that food can get trapped in the underneath parts of the paddle, but if you get a scouring sponge the bits of food come out easily.
The unit works by blowing hot air over the food in order to cook it. As the air blows it picks up a mist of the oil which 'frys' on the outside of the chips (or onion rings, wedges, roast potatoes etc..) and crisps the outside. As the food cooks a large paddle turns the food slowly so that nothing gets squashed but all food is evenly cooked. I am very impressed with the paddle as it rotates the food not only around the bowl but also turns the food so that the bottom batch comes to the top etc...
We have had chips most nights since trying the Actifry, I was worried at one point that we would get sick of them, but Andy insists that as we have not had 'real' chips for years its a treat to be able to eat them whenever we like and not worry about weight gain
I have tried various variety's of chips in the unit, frozen thin cut 'french fries' cooked quite quickly and tasted good, frozen crinkle cut chips took 20 minutes to cook but tasted a little dry. We have all agreed that the best chips have been from fresh potatoes - I found that soaking them in water while peeling and chopping, then drying them with kitchen roll before cooking in the Actifry made the best chips. They took around 20 minutes to cook, but were crisp and fluffy - very tasty!
You can use any oil of your choice, I prefer to use olive oil but vegetable is fine.
Now what really surprised me was what other products you can cook in the unit, you get a good recipe book with the product but there are also other recipes online if you do a quick search.
Chicken With Pineapple
• 600 g (1 lb 5 oz) skinless boneless chicken breasts, cut into thin strips (about 1 cm x 3 cm/1/2 x 11/4 in)
• 1 spoon cornflour, plus extra to coat the chicken strips
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 2 spoon sunflower oil
• 1/2 spoon ground ginger
• 1/2 spoon mild curry powder (or choose medium, if you prefer)
• 250 g (9 oz) canned pineapple pieces (drained weight) in natural juice, drained (reserve the juice)
• 2 spoon light soy sauce
• 250 ml (9 fl oz) cold water
• 1/2-1 spoon light soft brown sugar, or to taste
• 2 spoon reserved pineapple juice
In a large bowl, lightly coat the strips of chicken with a mixture of cornflour, salt and pepper. Place the chicken in the ActiFry pan, then drizzle the oil evenly over the chicken. Cook for 5 minutes.• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 2 spoon sunflower oil
• 1/2 spoon ground ginger
• 1/2 spoon mild curry powder (or choose medium, if you prefer)
• 250 g (9 oz) canned pineapple pieces (drained weight) in natural juice, drained (reserve the juice)
• 2 spoon light soy sauce
• 250 ml (9 fl oz) cold water
• 1/2-1 spoon light soft brown sugar, or to taste
• 2 spoon reserved pineapple juice
Mix the ground ginger, curry powder and pineapple pieces with the soy sauce in a bowl, then pour this mixture evenly into the ActiFry and leave to marinade for 5 minutes. Add the water and sugar. Mix 1 ActiFry spoonful of cornflour with the pineapple juice in a small bowl, until smooth. Add this to the ActiFry.
Roquefort DipCook for a further 10 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked and tender. Serve with cooked, seasoned basmati rice.
- 200 g (7 oz) Roquefort cheese, crumbled
- 3 spoon milk
- 115 g (4 oz) crème fraiche
- 1-2 spoon snipped fresh chives, plus extra to garnish
- Salt and ground pepper
Stir in the snipped chives. Season to taste with salt and pepper, if desired.
Spoon the mixture into a small serving bowl, garnish with extra snipped chives and serve with cooked potato wedges or chips.
Variations
Place all the ingredients, except the snipped chives, in a blender or food processor and blend until well combined. Stir in the chives, adjust the seasoning to taste and serve as above.
Use other blue cheese such as Dolcelatte, Gorgonzola or Stilton in place of Roquefort.
Spoon the mixture into a small serving bowl, garnish with extra snipped chives and serve with cooked potato wedges or chips.
Variations
Place all the ingredients, except the snipped chives, in a blender or food processor and blend until well combined. Stir in the chives, adjust the seasoning to taste and serve as above.
Use other blue cheese such as Dolcelatte, Gorgonzola or Stilton in place of Roquefort.
All in all I am very impressed with the Tefal Actifry, I have used it most days and looks pretty swish on my worktop. A highly recommended product!
For more information:
The RRP for the product is £199 www.tefal.co.uk
