Making healthy choices with T-fal Actifry

My family loves fried foods! They love the texture, the smell and the taste. However I dislike deep fryers, I always have. They scare me and they make my home smell. Once my parents even had one catch fire. Add in the fact that deep fried food is not the healthiest option, what is a mom to do? For years I have ignored my teens requests for a deep fryer and then one day a friend told us of a healthier option. He told us about the Actifry his family uses. Instead of frying foods immersed in oil you only add a small amount of oil. Sometimes you add none at all. I had to check this out!

Oh yeah! This is about to happen #whatsfordinner

A photo posted by Gingermommy (@rantingginger) on

All the yummy taste of fried foods with less fat and less chance of kitchen hazards sounded good to me. They say changing your life takes baby steps and making changes to your diet are not always easy. I did a little research and was soon sent out a T-Fal Actifry Family to test out. I honestly had no idea what to expect! We have now had this Actifry for a few weeks and love it! I am using it often for dinner as it is so easy. Food takes a bit of time, but once you start it, it needs very little supervision. I set it up and then carry on with whatever else I am doing in the kitchen. Where a deep fryer or frying pan needs constant monitoring, this does not.

Features of the Actifry Family

  • Large LCD screen with 60 minute timer and auto shut off
  • Larger to cook for an entire family (make sup to 3lbs of french fries)
  • Prepares a variety of foods
  • Includes Actifry measuring spoon
  • Removable patented stirring paddle for even cooking results
  • Removable cooking pan with ceramic coating
  • Recognized by the Canadian Diabetes Association as a method to encourage healthy eating
  • Only 1 spoon of oil for 1.5kg of crispy French fries and much more
  • Transparent lid with automatic open button
  • Cool touch body for safe and easy handling
  • Removable filter
  • Full colour recipe book  with 60 recipes for great meal ideas
  • Lid, Stirring paddle and cooking pan are all removable  and dishwasher safe
  • 1400 watts

Now with 50% more capacity! Cook delicious home made fries just as you like them: the fries are golden and crispy thanks to unique patented technologies: the mixing arm and the hot air distribution. Just 3% of fat: only one spoon of oil is needed to cook 3.3 lbs of crispy french fries.

I have cooked shrimp, french fries, hashbrowns and chicken wings in our fryer. A few times I adjusted the timing and amount of oil to meet our tastes. However every time the food came out crisp, tasty and making us want more. The handy cook book that came with the fryer is just the beginning. I was able to find endless recipes online at www.t-fal.ca as well as www.nutritious-delicious.ca

Here are a few things we made Homemade french fries with curry mayo french-friesI have experimented and used vegetable oil, corn oil and sunflower seed oil with the fries. We also made chicken wings as you can see below. I chose to make them with nothing as my youngest is not a fan of sauces. They cooked in their own oils and we added Hot sauce after they were done. They took 45 minutes.

Chicken wings chicken-wings   Hash browns hash-browns I loved cooking the hash browns as they used way less oil than I would have needed in a pan. Plus this way freed up stove top space for the other breakfast foods I was cooking. I added them to the Actifry, added 2 spoons of oil and set the timer. So easy!  

 

Just one spoonful of oil #Tfal #whatsfordinner

 

A video posted by Gingermommy (@rantingginger) on


As you can see the food moves around distributing the hot air allowing for even cooking coverage. The possibilities of what you can make in the Actifry are endless. You can create recipes with fruits, vegetables, rice, pastas, meat and more. Once you start you will be inspired to keep going. This unit is very affordable at $199 currently at Walmart.

The parts that come out of the fryers are all dishwasher safe for easy clean up. This has become my new favourite appliance in my kitchen.

How does an Actifry work?

ActiFry has a hot air distribution system. The heat pulse and optimized hot air circulation evenly cooks the food while the paddle gently rotates the food.

Your food is cooked at 338° F

Note- Freshly battered foods and high liquid dishes are not recommended in the ActiFry.

Tips- Make sure food is all cut to the same size for equal cooking time. Dry off any water form foods, especially potatoes after washing off starch for best results.

T-Fal allows you to est healthy without sacrificing flavour while reducing cooking time. What more can a mom ask for?

Do you have an Actifry? What do you love about it?

 

Disclosure- I received the above mentioned product free of charge in exchange for my honest review. No other compensation was provided. 

Comments

  1. lyndac1968 says

    I use mine quite a bit and have made Jambalaya in it too, very good. and if it's raining pretty hard out I will do my grilled veggies in the actifry, all you need is a little oil and spices and oh my so tasty!!

  2. Jennifer Williams says

    I have one of their pressure cookers, they make great products. I would love this – a healthier way to have fried foods – love it.

  3. Terri Baker says

    I use mine all the time. I love it, and my son is able to use it and I don't have to worry about him using the stove or the oven

  4. Laurie P says

    My mother has been wanting one for some time, great birthday gift!

  5. This looks like a fun gadget to use! Will check it out.
    My recent post 15 Spring Wreath Ideas

  6. I have never been one to fry foods, but this product definitely makes me consider doing so.

  7. Elaine Buonsante says

    Thanks for the great ideas for the Tfal Actifry…I have one but so far we have just used it for fries. Hash browns and chicken wings would be great.

  8. mburbage says

    This is neat! I've never seen it before, would be a welcomed addition to our family kitchen
    My recent post Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup

  9. kathy downey says

    When my budget allows I will be getting one

  10. julielaura1 says

    I really want one of these as hubby loves fried foods but I try not to make them too often as they are so bad for you!

  11. I do not have an Actifry but I have been wanting one. I have been waiting to hear about the smell! Currently hubby deep fries outside (lol) and I had to make sure the Actifry would not stink up the house. Thanks for the information.
    My recent post [Giveaway] What is Causing Your Pooch to Itch? #ItchyPetSeeYourVet

  12. Well I think I need to look closer at these. I don't get how they can cook like a fryer with that little fat. I am stuck remembering the fryer my Mom had when we were kids and yes it took a vat of lard and it did smell. I remember that fact well. It also made amazing french fries though. LOL. I keep hearing great things about Actifry. I really do need to go look this gadget up because it seems fun and like it might make sense in our kitchen.
    My recent post 5 Handmade Gift Ideas for the Preschool Teacher in Your Life

  13. Very cool! My friend has one of these and I debated getting one – the fries were amazing! Then, over the weekend we had chicken wings made in the Actifry and OMG – they are so good! Now, we are definitely getting one!

  14. I've never heard of this, but I like the idea of healthy and delicious food!

  15. Randa @ TBK says

    Okay 1: that curry mayo sounds awesome. 2: I really like my Actifry, it makes the best wings and chicken strips. It also makes a really good stir fry!
    My recent post 15 Tasty BBQ Beef Recipes To Impress Your Guests

  16. kathy downey says

    My brother has one and the food cooked is delicious

  17. Yes, I do have one. I love that we can eat some of our families favorite foods, with way less fat.

  18. nicolthepickle says

    I don't have an actifry, but I really like the idea of one.
    Also, was that curry Mayo homemade? I'd like the recipe if you're sharing, pretty please.

  19. Wanda Tracey says

    I wish I had one.It looks amazing and the food is so much healthier too.Thanks for the great review.

  20. Elva Robertsf says

    This Actifry sounds like the perfect 'fry' dish for people like us who really want to eat healthier foods but like a little fat for flavor. It sounds like a wonderful appliance to have at one's disposal. The fact that one does not have to constantly be stirring and watching the food is a huge bonus. Thank you so much for telling us about this kitchen aid to healthy cooking.

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