I Tried TikTok’s Favorite Air Fryer — And the Results Shocked Me
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To be honest, I’d love to cook more, but find it challenging to make time for it. As a result, I often turn to quick-to-prepare meals and even quicker snacks (if I’m not ordering takeout). Air fryers have become one of my trusted kitchen companions based on speediness alone. I also like that I can bypass the greasy foods and have something that tastes just as satisfying in much less time. I was slow to take the leap into buying an air fryer, and even though I use them now, I’m still pretty slow when it comes to selecting one. However, while scrolling through TikTok a while ago, there was an air fryer that caught my eye immediately. The Fritaire Air Fryer was colorful, had an interesting design, seemed to cook well, and best of all, it cleaned up after itself. Of course, when an opportunity came up to try it firsthand, I couldn’t pass it up.
Fritaire Self-Cleaning Glass Bowl Air Fryer
Design Features That Stand Out
Just one look at the Fritaire Air Fryer lets you know that it’s not like the other appliances. It has a round, futuristic shape and comes in four different colors, including black and white, to match any home aesthetic. The 5-quart glass base can be viewed from any angle to see what’s cooking inside, and with a halogen heater and vortex convection that reaches up to 400°F, food gets cooked thoroughly. The air fryer comes with multiple attachments that expand its range of cooking functionality. Most impressive is the battery-operated rotisserie turner that can be used in tandem with the tumble basket for fries, vegetables, chicken, and more. The self-cleaning function also helps to lessen your cleanup time and ensure that the air fryer is ready to use as quickly as possible between meals.
How It Performed
The colorful and sleek design of the Fritaire Air Fryer is what first caught my attention, so I was thrilled to see that my sage green appliance arrived packed in a matching box. The air fryer is just as stunning in person, sporting its bright color resting atop the clear base. Even with the instructions, it took me a few minutes to get used to the settings and controls, which are on the very top of the fryer lid. Once I got the basics down and cleaned the air fryer bowl and its attachments, it was time to give it a real test with a small batch of chicken wings.
I used the air fryer’s recommended settings for cooking the chicken, and it wasn’t until I started it up that I was hit with a realization. Thanks to the glass bottom of the appliance, I’d be able to see my food cook in real time, which meant I wouldn’t have to open up the air fryer to make sure I wasn’t leaving the chicken inside too long or not longer enough. Though the auto-cook setting wasn’t too far off, I still let the meat cook a little while longer just to achieve a crisp outer coating. The chicken tasted amazing when all was said and done, and all that was left was the cleaning.
Admittedly, I was a bit skeptical about the Fritaire Air Fryer’s self-cleaning feature because how is that possible? But it all made sense when I gave it a go. As instructed, I added an inch of water and a splash of dish soap to the air fryer base, turned it on its highest setting and let it run for 10 minutes. The water sloshes around, then swirls around the bowl, collecting crumbs and grease as it goes. Afterwards, I dumped the dirty water, dried the inside of the bowl, and that was that! I wouldn’t say the bowl is as clean as it could be if you manually do the job by hand, but it gives you a significant head start.
What I Loved
Space-Saving Design: The pod-shape of the Fritaire Air Fryer makes it more compact than others I’ve used. It really scales the air fryer’s surface area down to its necessities.
360° Glass Base: I love being able to see all of my food as its cooking. My biggest pain point when it comes to other air fryers is having to open it to see if my food inside is actually finished, and with the Fritaire, I don’t have to stop it to check the status.
Self-Cleaning Function: Most of the time, I’m not cooking major meals in the air fryer. For me, they’re good for quick snacks and small servings, so I’m usually using the flat rack. The self-cleaning function on this air fryer makes cleaning up afterwards super easy so it’s ready to use again almost immediately. However, when cooking larger, greasier, messier foods, I still clean it by hand.
Good to Know
For reference, the Fritaire Air Fryer has a higher wattage than my microwave. If you live in an older house or apartment, use of a surge protector is highly recommended to prevent the air fryer from suddenly shutting off or any other electrical issues. Chances are, if the air fryer isn’t working when plugged directly into a wall outlet, it’s not necessarily an issue with the appliance, it could just be too powerful for your space without some help. Use of a surge protector might be good even in newer homes, just to ensure the appliance runs smoothly.
Should You Buy the Fritaire Air Fryer
If you’re in the market for a new air fryer, this appliance from Fritaire is as cool as it gets. However, I’d especially recommend this product for those who are looking for an air fryer that:
Is under 6 quarts
Has a rotisserie feature
Significantly cuts down cleaning time
Can be tucked neatly into tight corners
Adds personality to your space
Where to Buy the Fritaire Air Fryer
Walmart (Sage Green), $199.99
Walmart (Lily White), $199.99
Macy’s, $285.99
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