HEALTHY eating is important and never easier than it is now, with the wide selection of air fryers and mini ovens available that enable you to cook delicious food with minimum oil.
As well as being great for ‘fried’ food these ever-more sophisticated kitchen gadgets allow you to roast, bake, dehydrate fruit and even cook authentic homemade pizza in a fraction of the time it takes in a conventional oven.
Which means of course they also save you money on your energy bills.
We’ve reviewed three of Salter’s cookers/ air fryers — the Rapid Cook 400, the Digital Hot Air Fryer and the Aero Grill Pro — to see how they fare in cooking a variety of foods.
Salter Rapid Cook 400 Digital Air Fryer Oven, £199.99 £169.99
Pros: High temperatures available, large capacity, 15 functions, comes with a range of accessories
Cons: Rather large to store
Rating: 4/5
I’m not a great cook so I welcome anything that makes my life easier in the kitchen and the Salter Rapid Cook Oven certainly does that.
It has 15 pre-set programmes and is designed for everything from oven chips (yes, it’s an air fryer as well) to cakes and roast chicken.
The combination of high temperature (up to 400°C) and hot-air technology in the Salter Rapid Cook 400 cuts cooking times so you save on energy and on slog in the kitchen.
What’s more, the easy-read LED display and oven light lets you keep an eye on timings and on the food while it’s cooking without having to open the door.
Pizza is one of my favourite dishes and with this oven I have been able to make homemade versions in minutes.
Salter Rapid Cook 400 Digital Air Fryer Oven, £199.99 £169.99
It took a little tweaking of timings to get the end result the way I wanted it – I like my food well done and the pre-programmed fresh pizza setting wasn’t long enough for that, however it was easy enough to extend the cooking time.
Since then I’ve realised there’s also a hotter, wood-fired pizza setting – which is probably the one I need to use – as well as a crust pizza function specifically for shop-bought pizzas on those nights when I want something easy.
The air fry programme cooks good oven chips, but again I think I need to adjust the temperature to get them well done enough for my tastes.
I think the pizza setting on its own warrants the cost of the appliance as it’s cheaper than a pizza oven and you can use it indoors, so it’s going to get more use over the winter than it would if I could only use it outside.
I love that it also comes with accessories, including a pizza stone, pizza paddle, cast iron tray, air fryer basket and crumb tray, making it even better value for money.
The 18L capacity means you can fit a lot in, but the downside to this is you have to have a big space on your countertop, as well as somewhere to store it if you don’t want to leave it on display when you’re not using it.
Apart from that, my only niggle is the need to pre-heat – I never do this so having to wait for the oven to count down as it heats up came as a bit of a surprise.
However, I can forgive this as the Salter Rapid Cook 400 also does the most amazing cheese on toast!
Salter Rapid Cook 400 Digital Air Fryer Oven, £199.99 £169.99
Capacity: 18L, Power: 2000W, Functions: 15, Accessories included: seven
Review by Lisa Burn
All-in-all, this air fryer was easy to set up and use and provided crispy food with that fried, crunchy texture we all crave.
From fried chicken to steak, prawns and pork chops — plus perfect chips — the air fryer is versatile and can open up a whole bunch of new recipes to try.
I really liked the healthy air fried recipe ideas provided in the full user manual, with leaner ways to make fried snacks or child-friendly foods like chicken goujons and breaded fish from scratch.
It’s not a huge investment price-wise and it’s handy to have a separate cooker that’s easy to use and with compartments that you can quickly wash up if you want to throw together a quick family meal.
The main negative was the space it takes up in the kitchen — the XL large family size fryer I tried is massive and I wasn’t sure where to put it!
Also, there are question marks over the health benefits of air-frying more generally. it’s healthy compared to frying in oil and there are lots of from-scratch healthy recipes to choose from but there are other ways to cook that use no oil at all.
However, if you’re someone who uses a deep fat fryer, or you pan-fry a lot of meals, you’re sure to find the Salter air fryer a useful addition to your kitchen.
The Salter Digital Air Fryer comes with a quick-start guide with 10 easy steps from plugging in your fryer to serving your meal.
The steps are easy to follow and include setting the time and temperature and pre-heating the air fryer before you cook.
The full instruction manual and suggested cooking times and recipes are all found online.
It’s environmentally friendly not to produce a paper manual with each fryer but finding the full manual took quite long and it’s not quick to access, particularly from your mobile.
I decided to keep things simple and tried some home-made air-fried chips, which turned out to be very crispy and the kids didn’t complain.
To air fry chips from scratch:
Alternatively, you can cook frozen chips in your air fryer by adding 400-800g to the air fry basket and cooking for 16-18 minutes for thin chips and 18-20 for thick cut chips, still shaking the basket every six minutes to make the chips cook evenly.
The Salter digital air fryer online full instruction manual includes a cooking guide for potatoes and chips, meat and poultry, snacks and sides and bakes and cakes.
One of the most popular foods to air fry is potatoes with different options for chips, potato wedges and roast potatoes.
But you can air fry frozen foods such as chicken nuggets and spring rolls – and fresh meat such as steak, pork chops and burgers.
There is also a range of Salter ‘Let’s go healthy’ air fryer recipes so you enjoy fried food with little or no oil.
My favourite air fry recipes were the grilled prawns and Japanese-style fried chicken, but I also loved the range of easy child-friendly recipes for freshly made foods that you would usually buy processed and frozen.
The recipes offer from-scratch, no-fuss recipes for family freezer favourites such as chicken nuggets, breaded fish, chips and chicken goujons.
Air frying certainly makes a great alternative to the traditional deep fat fryer and a healthier way to cook fried foods.
The Salter digital air fryer itself is simple to set up and use and it’s a quick and easy way to make meals without using the hob or oven.
The XL version was plenty big enough to make family portions but it does take up a lot of space and storing it when it’s not being used is tricky.
I was sceptical about the health benefits of air frying but my mind has been opened up to the many options available – particularly the child-friendly meals that could be created from scratch with fresh ingredients but a crispy, fried finish to keep the kids happy.
If you’re a fan of fried foods, air frying offers a healthier way for you to keep enjoying your favourite meals in 2022.
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IF you like delicious hearty meals that can be served quickly and easily to the whole family, then chances are you’ll love Salter’s Air Fryer, the Aero Grill Pro.
With its five different settings that enable you to grill, bake, roast, air fry and dehydrate, it’s an air fryer with a difference. We reviewed each one to see how the fryer fared…
Air fryers have become a popular kitchen gadget thanks to their ability to make easy, quick dishes for all the family.
The Salter is a multi-functional marvel that has the ability to grill, roast, air fry, bake and dehydrate all-in-one: perfect for those who want to cook easily with minimum fuss.
We found the settings very easy to use, although a thorough read of the booklet is recommended. You simply select the type of cooking, temperature and time. The booklet is a lifesaver, as it has full instructions for every type of food possible.
We also loved that the cooking time is significantly reduced (sometimes to even less than half of that in a traditional oven) and while you do need to clean each bowl between uses, it’s worth it for air fried food that is delicious, flavourful and much healthier than traditional frying.
We found the unboxing and setting up of the Aero Grill a simple and easy process and although the machine doesn’t take up a lot of space (much less than a small microwave) it is quite heavy and is best kept in one place rather than moving around.
You’ll also want to ensure there is some room at the back as some circulated air can be released from the fans, so for safety leave a little room.
Measuring 30.5 x 39 x 28 cm, the grill fryer has a sleek stainless steel body that will look stylish on any worktop.
The instructions recommended washing before use – after that our hardest decision was deciding what to eat first.
Luckily, the Salter Aero Grill comes with a handy booklet that gives specific cooking times for each type of food as well as a nifty recipe book to give inspiration for unique meals. You can cook everything from chips, steaks, grilled fish and chicken to dehydrated fruits — it even bakes bread and cupcakes.
With a generous six-litre capacity, it comes with a selection of trays and bowls to cook in, all of which are dishwasher friendly.
We decided to try air frying roast potato wedges; we simply sliced up our spuds before popping them in the fryer and pressing the correct setting. Using the included booklet for the times made it super easy.
The air fryer pre-heats and alerts you when to put food in.
A tip: Don’t make the same mistake we did and think you have to press any buttons after food is inserted – it will just reset the whole air fryer.
So simply insert food and it will automatically cook without having to lift a finger. It even alerts you on completion.
The result? Perfectly cooked roasted wedges that tasted absolutely scrumptious.
There are many great benefits to dehydrating food.
Not only does it reduce food waste, but it’s also great for hungry kids who want healthy on-the-go snacks. You can also use dehydrated fruit and veg for topping salads or cereals, mixing with yoghurt and even making meaty snacks for your pet.
It can also save you money in the long run by using leftovers that may normally have been binned.
We decided to use a bunch of bananas that were about to turn, cutting them into thin slices and layering them into the supplied tray. Tip. Add a dash of lemon juice to stop them turning brown.
It does take about six to eight hours for them to fully dehydrate – but you can check back an hour or two before if you want them super soft or chewy. It was worth the wait as they tasted absolutely divine!
You can also dehydrate a number of other fruits including strawberries, apples, mango, tomatoes and even meats and herbs which can be stored for a longer amount of time.
Grilling foods has always been a healthier alternative to frying as it uses less oil and melts the fat from meat. In the long run grilling meats, fish and veggies is a lighter option that helps prevent heart diseases and is better for the body.
And since cooking time is reduced, the nutrients, minerals, vitamins, and all-important flavours are retained when grilled.
We grilled a piece of cod with lemon and herbs which took just ten minutes and we only had to turn it once on the grill.
It turned out flavourful and golden, and kept its moisture and taste.
Gone are the days of slaving over the stove for the perfect roast. Now all you need is the air fryer and a dash of oil (approx. one tablespoon).
The process for roasting in an air fryer is much the same process as air fried foods. While the setting may require a little longer time, it is worth it for that classic taste.
We roasted some sweet potatoes which required minimum set-up. You simply insert them onto the roasting rack and make sure your food has adequate spacing in between. No need to cover with foil, or check the timing — you can even keep them warm for a while before serving.
We also think this would be a game-changer when it comes to making a full meat roast complete with veggies.
Like baking but hate the mess? Then the Aero Grill is great for effortlessly cooking full-size cakes, bread, rolls or cupcakes.
While the Salter comes with a recipe booklet, there will obviously be some of your favourite recipes that aren’t included.
Luckily, the tips for converting a normal oven recipe to an air fryer bake are simple.
Start by reducing the suggested temperature by 25°F/14°C and also reduce the baking time by 20%. Whilst you normally never have to check the air fryer to see if your food is done, if it’s your first time doing a particular baking recipe using the device, it’s worth checking periodically.
We opted to make a batch of chocolate cupcakes and they cooked to perfection in twelve short minutes.
The fryer also comes with a temperature probe so you can check how hot your bakes are and if they are fully cooked (we also think this is a great tool to use with meat and fish).
We loved that this is a fun, quick and easy activity to do with a little one, too, without waiting long to see the final result (just make sure only an adult touches the Aero Grill).
The Salter Aero Grill Pro is a great machine if you want easy food with loads of flavour. As it has a built-in timer and food selection buttons, you simply use the booklet to check times and temperatures for the type of food you are cooking.
For example, potato wedges take 20 minutes at 190 degrees, so you would simply select the air frying button at 190 degrees, preheat and then insert the food.
If you were cooking meats, you would do exactly the same but insert the temperature probe once done – which will tell you how cooked it is in the middle.
The booklet also explains all the different timings and how to use the settings for air frying, baking, roasting, grilling and dehydrating.
The Salter Aero Grill Pro has a splashback tray over the heating compartment that can easily be clipped out and cleaned.
Luckily for those that hate hand washing, the air fryer’s removable components are dishwasher safe, so they can be placed in a dishwasher if you would prefer.
Alternatively, warm soapy water and a bit of elbow grease will clean just as well.
Make sure the pan, tray, and basket are completely dry before putting them back into the air fryer and that there is no excess food or oil left on the cooking tray.
We think these Salter air fryers and ovens are perfect if you are a solo household, family or have little ones who just can’t wait.
Although you have to clean the bowls and racks thoroughly in between each use, the good news is that they are dishwasher friendly which saves a lot of time in the long run.
The price tag puts the Salter into the upper end of the market but as it offers multiple ways of cooking this can be more beneficial than buying several cooking devices.
We really rate the dehydrator function too, which allows you to use up kitchen leftovers to create dried fruit snacks to be eaten later. This is particularly handy if you buy packs of fresh fruit, veg or meat that would otherwise be wasted.
Aluminium foil can go in the air fryer basket as a base for certain foods but only use a small amount and only in the basket of the air fryer. Never wrap or cover the food or use an excessive amount of foil as the less foil you use, the more airflow you’ll have.
While foil is a great idea to help with the excess mess, the air fryer can adequately cook without and was designed to not be used with lots of aluminium foil.
Overall, Air frying is healthier than deep frying in oil – cutting calories by around 70% and a lot less fat.
Also, air-fried dishes can be just as healthy as if you had oven-baked them if you use no oil – and there are lots of healthy from-scratch recipes available with the Salter air fryers.
However, many of the traditionally deep-fried foods you would put in an air fryer are not the healthiest options so you should consider what you’re choosing to eat and ensure it’s part of a balanced diet with plenty of nutrient-rich fruit and vegetables.
There are plenty of deals on air fryers in the January sales.
If you like the Salter Aero Grill Pro review then why not see our top air fryers you can buy right now?
Fancy some baking? Then see our favourite bread makers
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