By: Shaun BairdA keen "internet" lover, Shaun has a deep fascination for all things tech and more. Shaun has developed over 50 websites in recent years for himself and for others. Recently Shaun has been working hard to help others with their quest for information."On a personal basis, family come first - happiness and knowing you've done a good job bringing up your kids is my main priority!"Google
In our attempt to get healthier we have chosen to review the various juicers available to buy. We purchased this Aicok juice extractor as we had found it to be a brilliant AFFORDABLE juicer for anyone looking to get into juicing for the first time. Everywhere we looked people were saying brilliant things about this juicer so we just HAD to see what the fuss was all about. It might just be the best juicer money can buy, so please enjoy our hands on Aicok juicer review!
The Aicok Juicer – cheap, great looking and makes brilliant juices in seconds using whole foods (no need to chop!)
(For the health nuts out there (like us), we have also conducted an in-depth review of air fryers, and we also did an in-depth review of the Duronic air fryer which you can read and watch here).
So, in this review we have our write up but we also have two videos for you to watch. One is an unboxing video, while the second video shows where we actually put it to use and make some juices!
More and more people are aware of the need to be healthier. More and more people are left feeling tired and lethargic all day long (even after a good sleep).
This ain’t right!
As a nation we are slowly getting more and more overweight, and something needs to be done about it.
Everyone knows that we need to consume more and more fruits and veggies, yet not many of us do.
Instead we’ve become used to eating less, and consuming more and more salt-laden processed food and junk food and less of the stuff that actually makes us feel full of energy.
As a side note, there are very genuine stories online that are helping prove the link between various health issues (and even Cancer) and junk processed food (and also meat).
So it makes sense to try and at least change our eating habits to some degree.
Fat sick and nearly dead
This was a short film I watched online a few weeks back about a guy called Joe Cross who had health issues that had crept up on him, and had enjoyed a high profile life along with some very unhealthy eating and drinking habits.
He turned his life around all through juicing and lost an incredible amount of weight, and got his life back.
I thoroughly recommend you take some time to watch the free film that’s almost 1 hour 40 minutes long.
When you juice regularly you are flooding your body with loads of vitamins and minerals. In literally days people are noticing clearer skin and more mental alertness just from juicing.
You couldn’t physically eat the large number of fruits and veggies in a single sitting to get all the goodness, but you can drink the juice in a few glasses and reap the benefits!
This means you are eating mountains and mountains of fruit and veggies but in a condensed drink. All the vitamins go straight into your body instead of having to be digested first, giving you an INSTANT SHOT of vitamins and minerals for the feel good effect (great for the “morning after” if you want to make a hangover juice!)
So let’s take a closer look at this particular juicer.
It lets you enjoy juicing without breaking the bank.
Aicok juicer pictures
Handsome at any angle
Aicok juicer is very stylish
Aicok juicer label on the rear
Aicok juicer looking down inside
Aicok Juicer from rear view
The Aicok juicer looks good from any angle
2 speeds of operation. 1 is for soft fruits and veggies while 2 is for harder fruits and veggies
The latest model Aicok juicer
What we did and didn’t like about this juicer
THE GOOD:
Cheap and healthy way to get loads and loads of nutrients straight into your body (you’ll hardly ever get a cold!)
It’s REALLY cheap to buy compared to most juicers on the market
It has 2 power modes. 1 is a lower speed and great for softer foods, while the 2nd is for harder foods but runs at higher speeds. This will help the motor life last longer than if it was just running at high-speed all the time.
THE NOT SO GOOD:
We didn’t know till after we had bought this juicer that you have to exercise care not to over use the juicer. They recommend you juice for no more than 1 minute then let it rest for 2 minutes before re-using the juicer. You can do this 3 times but must then let it rest for 15 minutes in order to protect the motor from burning out. In practice it’s not really an issue as you are usually done juicing a good jug full in under a minute.
While the veggie juice was enjoyable and easy to clean the parts after, the fruit version stained the plastic jug with the Oranges we used. See picture below. It will need a good soak with hot water and soap first, whereas other foods can be rinsed off.
Using Oranges stained the jug, so won’t simply rinse off.
Watch as we create 2 separate juices using the Aicok Juicer. Takes seconds to create!
Juicer recipes
There are now hundreds if not thousands of recipes you can create with your juicer.
There are Green tea juices, detox juices, hangover juices, vitamin punch juices, and yes if you can think of it, there will be one made for it.
let’s look at a few:
Juice recipes for energy:
Juice recipes for clear skin:
Juice recipes for weight loss:
So there you have it. A great entry level Juice extractor that looks 4 times as expensive as it really is. Treat it with care and clean it well after each use, and don’t over use it for more than a minute at a time and you’ll be using it for months and years to come!
So, as part of our testing methods, we decided to purchase and review the Duronic Af/1 B air fryer (“B” stands for Black, a “W” would stand for the White model). It consistently scores very very well in our group tests, and wherever we look online others are also saying the exact same. So we bought one, tested it and here you can see what we did with it.
We started out with the box being delivered by Amazon, and at this point decided to create an unboxing video which you can see below. The original footage was 11 minutes long, so we sped up some parts and got it down to around 3 minutes.
Duronic AF/1 Air Fryer Review – Unboxing This Air Fryer
A closer look at the Duronic air fryer
Once that was out of the way we then decided to switch it on and put it to use.
We elected for one of the easiest things to cook, and pulled some frozen chips out of the freezer to conduct the first taste trial!
In under 15 minutes we had some really delicious crispy chips that were very close in taste and feel to McDonald’s french fries (although we did add a fair bit of salt at the end to get closer to that McD’s taste… that in itself will make it less healthy I’m sure, but the end result was a big thumbs up from us, and two kids who happily volunteered to help with the tasting!
Want to see the video where we cooked the chips? You can watch it below (don’t worry it’s not 15 minutes long.)
Enjoy…
Cooking chips with the Duronic AF/1 air fryer video
So, what’s it like?
Well, our model purchased was the Black one, and it received a big thumbs up for its design from my partner (who is very much “on the ball” when it comes to taste!), although they do also make a White version with Chrome handle which does look nice, so there are a couple of options really when you’re picking one that’ll fit in with your kitchen items.
It is a shame there weren’t more colour options like Red, Cream etc. though.
Size wize its roughly 30cm x 20cm x 30cm in size. Bigger than a kettle and similar in size to, yes a deep fat fryer, but without the fatty cooking. Our tested model now occupies it’s own corner in our kitchen and doesn’t look out of place.
Weight wize. Nothing too heavy about it in all honesty. I’d have to hazard a weight guess at something similar to a full kettle or an old deep fat fryer. Two hands and you’ll be absolutely fine.
There is a heat pad made from a kind of silicone rubber that you pop on the counter somewhere. This is to pop the drawer onto when you take it out the fryer to check, serve or shake. It can get quite hot so the pad helps protect your kitchen worktop.
The timer is a 30 minute timer and is an old fashioned timer that ticks down and dings when it reaches zero (and shuts off cooking, so at least you don’t burn your food if you’ve wandered into the lounge to watch Eastenders).
It’s not that bad. It could have been a fancy digital timer, but as this is classed as a budget air fryer you can’t expect all the bells and whistles. At least this air fryer performs brilliantly, so we can overlook some very minor “old fashioned” technologies. But really you don’t really even notice it when it’s cooking.
You can hear the air frying element whirring while it’s cooking. Again, without going on about things like this, it’s not really an issue when it cooks so well.
The cooking label on the front of the air fryer is DIFFERENT to what’s in the cook book. In the book it says to cook at 200 degrees C but on the label it says to cook at 180 degrees. We opted for 180 degrees in our test and it did the trick.
Cooking times need 3 minutes added on when it is first switched on. This is to allow the air fryer to reach the correct temperature before you pop the food in.
Picture gallery
Duronic AF 1 air fryer temperature dial
Duronic AF 1 air fryer cooking label
Duronic AF 1 air fryer front view
Duronic AF 1 air fryer timer dial
Duronic AF 1 air fryer with drawer out
Duronic AF 1 air fryer heat pad
Duronic AF 1 air fryer side view
Duronic AF 1 air fryer back vent hot air release
Duronic AF 1 air fryer mesh metal tray
Duronic AF 1 air fryer drawer tray
Duronic AF 1 air fryer close up of plastic flap you lift to press button release
Duronic af 1 air fried chips
Perfectly air fried frozen chips in under 15 minutes!
Packaging
The air fryer came to us very well packaged. The main Amazon box had the Air fryer box inside it along with some screwed up cardboard. When you get the air fryer box out there is some sticky tape to remove. It comes off easily and with our box it hardly ripped the box at all, so it still looked good (just in case we ever re-sell the fryer).
Opening up the air fryer box there is a moulded cardboard “egg-shell design” piece that sits on top of the air fryer, and another at the bottom to stop it rattling about while the delivery men have their fun throwing it around their vans. Pop these off and the air fryer is then inside a polyethylene bag.
There is an air intake vent on the top, and an air “out” vent routed at the back of the air fryer.
Note:there are two small pieces of sticky tape holding the cooking drawer in it’s place. You’ll need to peel both of these off unlike me who spent 20 seconds trying to work out why the drawer wouldn’t come out.
The Duronic air fryer comes boxed with an instruction manual which is written in easy to understand English as well as a few other languages. The writing is not too small either. Pleasing to note these minor details in today’s modern age!
It also comes with a really nicely presented 77 page cook book for recipes. The book is shiny, glossy and pleasing to hold. It feels of value and not like a cheap throwaway leaflet.
There are a number of included recipes in the book ranging from spicy fries, chicken drumsticks, rosted vegetables, soups, chicken nuggets, roasted cod and a few dessert recipes included too. If you look online you’ll also find a whole host of free air fryer recipes available as well.
A 2 year warranty. For total peace of mind. Cook to your heart’s content.
Cooking with the air fryer.
Straightforward really. No degree in cookery skills needed if you want to cook a wide range of things. Just be aware that if you’ve just switched it on, you’ll want to add 3 minutes to the timer to allow the air fryer to get up to the right temperature.
No oil, or only a tiny bit of oil is needed. Specifically you can add as little as a teaspoon of oil to fresh potatoes to help them crisp up better. Frozen potatoes do not need oil.
Chicken drumsticks take just 20 to 25 minutes, potatoes 15 to 20 minutes etc.
Our second cooking test was to try a mixture of chicken dippers and chips, and cram as many in the basket as possible to see how it came out.
The dippers were cooked first for an extra 5 minutes then the chips were thrown in, so that it would all be cooked together at the end.
The dippers came out soft and very hot. Impressed. The chips, despite shaking halfway through were a little floppy in places and ok in others, but we had literally just squeezed in a large number of items, as we wanted to see how it would cope in full capacity.
So for best results cook smaller quantities. We cooked enough for two very large platefulls.
Extra time might have remedied this, or possibly by buying one of the universal cooking tray systems you can then separate each item out for better air flow and a better end result. They’re typically around the £20 mark so good value.
It can get quite hot
For the first 5 to 10 minutes you can place your hand on the side of the air fryer and be just fine, but as time progresses this does get hotter, to an “uncomfortable” hot towards the end. While it’s not going to cause any sort of damage, it make sense to have the air fryer placed away out of children’s curious hands. In the same instance it might not be ideally placed next to fresh flowers.
Do we recommend it?
Absolutely. We tested this air fryer and 9 others in our air fryer top 10 comparison page, and this was our top rated “budget” air fryer, and even now after many months it’s still our favourite.
What can you cook in the Duronic air fryer?
Just about anything!
Potatoes, fish, meat, vegetables. You can also bake cakes, samosas, spring rolls and to finish things off, even sort out a tasty dessert if you’ve still got room left at the end.
When done you can pop the drawer and wire metal mesh basket in the dish washer and relax. Job done. Food made, full tummies. Sorted.
Have you enjoyed our duronic af 1 air fryer review ? let us know in the comments below so we can improve our work, or feel full of happiness if this helped you 🙂
Roll up, roll up, come on down, take a look at our ultimate top 10 best air fryers for 2018. Watch as we test, read as we explain and choose the best air fryer for your needs.
Simple honest consumer reviews with NO jargon.
Updated for June 2018
Air fryers, oil free fryers, healthy deep fat fryers and a whole heap of other names all referring to the same kind of thing – healthy deep fat frying. After spending more than 20 hours testing and cooking with a variety of air fryers our current “best air fryers” recommendation is theDuronic AF/1 Air Fryer (and it’s a budget air fryer too!!) – perfect for most peoples needs.
Come on… you know (deep down) that it’s better for you to eat healthier food.
…but it tastes so boring.. doesn’t it ?
WELL…. “not so” the case with an air fryer.
It’s really a brilliant way of cooking that offers brilliant tasting food that you will enjoy.
Still trying to stick to your long forgotten new years resolutions?
If you are desperately fighting that eternal battle inside of you to keep fit and healthy we do have a review of the best cross trainers for that – although truth be known using exercise equipment is a fantastic all round way of keeping fit and feeling good about yourself.. so.. let’s get back to our air fryer review.
Below are our “top 3” for high end top spec, medium solid all round, and budget friendly air fryers.
All 3 offer great air frying results. You won’t be disappointed.
Our “secret favourite” air fryer is this Duronic air fryer:
Our Best BUDGET Air Fryer Recommendation:
This perfectly formed, ultra stylish low cost air fryer masterpiece is called the Duronic AF1
Nice and cheap, yet “brilliant”!
Looks superb
Cooks just about any kind of food you could imagine
Look at our unboxing video below. We have the full in depth video and text review right here if you want a better closer look !
Taking the step towards a healthier lifestyle starts with a few basic steps such as changing a greasy regular deep fat fryer for one of the incredible oil free fryers, so let’s take a closer look at what we feel are the top 10 best air fryers 2018 can bring us.
You might just change your mind when you see how good they make food taste (and the health benefits are huge!)
Here Is The Latest Updated List – This Is Our Current Top 10 Best Air Fryers
Image
Product
Brand
Lowest New Price
Link
Duronic Air Fryer AF1/B 1500W Multicooker Mini Oven - Black - Recipe Book Included - Healthy Cooker Food Oven
Duronic
£69.99
Dihl KA-AFD02-RED Air Fryer Rapid Healthy Frying Hot Grill Roast Low Fat Oil Cooker Oven Food, 4 Litre, 1300 W, Red
Dihl
£41.99
PureMate® PM 1312 Air Fryer Oil Free Healthier Low Fat Multicooker Mini Oven - Recipe Book Included - Cooker Food Oven– Adjustable Temperature Control, 4 Litre, 1500W
PureMate
£54.99
Tefal ActiFry AH950840 Family Express XL Low Fat Healthy Fryer, 1.7 kg - Black
Tefal
£160.83
Philips HD9220/20 Healthier Oil Free Airfryer - Black
Philips
£149.99
Philips HD9240/90 Avance Collection Airfryer, 2100 W - Extra-Large
Philips
£213.75
Tower T14004 Low Fat Rapid Air Fryer with Digital Timer, 1400 W, 3.2 L - Black
Tower
£77.99
Jet Hot Air Fryer: Non-Oil/Fat Deep Fried, Grill, Bake & Roast in A Healthy Way
JML
£49.95
Vitinni Digital Air Fryer 1500W 4 Litre - Low Fat Oil Free Healthy Fryer Cooker
Vitinni
£59.99
Salter EK2205 Healthy Digital Hot Air Fryer, 4.5 Litre, 1400 W, Black
Salter
£88.95
“Growing up you kind of knew in the back of your mind that healthy eating was the way to go. Shame it was just kind of, well boring and bland”
If you’d always lived with a deep fat fryer in the house you would know all too well how it smells, and how the food tastes. You would find it hard to beat the taste of “egg and chips” on a Saturday teatime.
On the other hand if you’d always had a healthier approach to eating then the thought of greasy food would probably make you screw your face up and say “eurgh!”
Well, truthfully, electric air fryers are the closest thing you’ll ever get to a deep fat fryer, minus all the fat, smell and health implications.
They’re really pretty good at recreating ultra tasty food that is way cheaper than you’d imagine.
Fancy a “full English” breakfast, air fryer style? Now you can – watch 🙂
How Does An Air Fryer Work?
So are you honestly telling me that people can deep fry food without any oil?
Yep and yep! They’ve been around for a number of years now, and as more people look to switch to healthier eating habits, these air fryers have gained in popularity, especially as the food really does taste superb! You can read a daily mail article here that discusses this very subject.
People have been raving about air fryers because when you cook with them the food still tastes absolutely delicious. Whenever I visit my mums house she always has her Actifry on the go and it keeps the kids happy with some tasty and healthier low fat chips!
So if you’ve not yet convinced yourself at how good they can be maybe now is the time to have a rethink.
In our quest to find the best top 10 air fryers (well, we mean oil-free or very low oil), we had to look at all air fryers and look at their features and reliability (among other things) to find out which was the best air fryer to buy.
I hope our hot air fryer reviews give you all the details you need. let’s start with….
Benefits of an Air Fryer
Healthier food. Naturally your food will not be soaking in oil before being thrust onto your plate. In fact your food has the chance to cook and allow any oils within the foods to drain away OUT of the food, so your food is instantly healthier and less fatty!
Less cleaning! – Nobody “really” likes the thought of cutting through layers of built up grease around the outside of a deep fat fryer (and squeezing your fingers int it each time you pick up the fryer).
No awful smell lingering around. If you’ve ever owned a deep fat fryer you know what smell is left over once a round of chips have been cooked. It’s not nice and fills your head with images of thick gloopy grease!
Less calories! – Naturally there are benefits health wise, but at the same time it will help you in your weight loss efforts (as long as you’re not finishing up with 4 chocolate chip muffins for pudding!)
Hands free cooking. Choose from oil less fryers which have a paddle (that gently turns the food while cooking), or one with a basket (with a drip tray underneath to get the fatty drips). The tray versions will need a little shake halfway through whereas the paddle versions can largely be left unattended – leaving you free to prepare the accompanying food.
Perfect for many people. From those with small cramped rooms through to young people in University looking to throw something together quickly (but healthily!). Busy people can pop something in and leave it largely unattended while tending to something else.
Can replace different devices. With an air fryer you can cook things such as frozen food, vegetables, bake foods and even cook wet battered foods too. So many options you might find you no longer use your conventional oven. You can also reheat leftover food.
Best Oil Less Fryer
So now we know a bit more about them, it’s time to produce our findings. When looking for an oil free air fryer bear in mind as many of the points as possible and what you might be wanting to use it for.
If you simply want healthier chips then you won’t need one with too many fancy extras whereas if you enjoy creating culinary masterpieces then choose one with options you are likely to try out.
As you’d expect, enjoy premium nonstick coating inside all the machines, and look out for fancy extras such as digital touchscreen controls, and enjoy cooking pounds of food in a far healthier way (without all the oil soaked up inside it!)
Ready? let’s dive in with our top 10 best air fryer reviews
Some manufacturers don’t really have to try and wow you with their sales patter because their products speak for themselves. This is the case with the Duronic AF1 air fryer.
Offering a great first foray into air frying, the AF1 is available in both Black and White.
Also available in Black!
Also available in White
Enjoy 2 years of worry free air frying with their generous warranty
Cook delicious food 4 times quicker!
Nice compact design fits any kitchen
Time to get cooking and see what can be produced
No matter which way you look at it, you cannot deny it’s charm and appeal!
Ready, steady, cook!
Good looking and fun even close up
Cook doughnuts, cakes, scones and more with ease
How big is it?
34 x 29 x 31cm
How much can it cook?
It has a 2.2 litre capacity which is enough for 2 to 3 people however with most air fryers you’re never going to squeeze in meat, veg, potatoes etc for 3 to 4 people. Remember it needs very little oil!
What can it cook?
Pretty much most things, but the likes of:
Chips
Chicken Wings
Lamb Chops
Sweat corns
Spring Rolls
Samosas
Spring Rolls
Prawns
Fried Cod
Roasted Vegetables
Roasted Soups
And even desserts!
The main features of the Duronic AF1 (taken from Amazon)
The Duronic AF1 uses air circulating technology on your food with little or no oil making food healthier without compromising on the taste.
Adjustable temperature control ensures food is cooked to the appropriate temperature
Closed cooking system provides a safe odor and splatter free cooking experience with a cool touch exterior
Dishwasher safe fry bowl and basket. Comes in Black and White
Compact size – easily fits on a kitchen counter and blends in with existing appliances
Watch this Video to get a feel for the Duronic AF1
Pro’s and Con’s of the Duronic AF1 Jet air fryer / multicooker
Pros
Great for up to 3 people (2.2 litre capacity)
Will cook 3 chicken breasts at the same time
The price point is “superb!”
Cooks just about every kind of food imaginable!
Easy to clean, easy to use
Fabulously good looks from every angle
Only takes up a small footprint on your counter top
Cook fish, sausages, bacon, burgers, make cakes, scones, doughnuts and many many more!
Cons
Not the largest basket size at 2.2 litres but good enough
With a maximum of 200 degrees it may not be perfect to cook all kinds of foods that require very high temperatures
Take care when carrying the basket / handle to another counter top
Our thoughts on the Duronic AF1 air fryer / multicooker
For well under half the price of the premium branded models and with all the same great features you cannot go wrong.
The AF1 has all the style charm and cooking capabilities you’ll need for most things.
The only drawback is it is limited to 200 degrees so certain foods that require much higher temperatures may not be suited. The vast majority of foods are fine however.
We love it’s hyper drive temperature display dial – it just makes you think you’re the captain of your own spaceship setting warp factor 10!
The only real downside we consider (and it’s very minor) is that the basket may release from the tray IF you are carrying it from the unit over to a new counter top, AND you somehow managed to lift up the safety guard and press the basket release.. but it’s extremely unlikely so just take care where your fingers go.
If this is your first time with an air fryer then this is definitely worthy of attention, as is the Salter and the Berg mainly for the price points and the larger capacities.
Of course, a good air fryer wouldn’t be a good air fryer unless it had an “auto off” function and a sound timer to let you know when the food is done. This has both, so in pretty much every way you just have to decide if this is the style that would suit your kitchen the best.
Click below to find the current best price for this.
In at number 1 in our list is the Tefal Actifry. The latest version of what is arguably the best healthy fryer on the market – although everyone will have their favourite and own opinion, it is hard to beat the Actifry machine. This particular model is the latest and replaces an earlier model.
It’s a 1.2kg capacity electric air fryer. This means it can feed a family of four with ease.
The best Actifry bar none. Feeds generously, looks superb and works very well. This Tefal air fryer is a serious contender for the number 1 best position.
The handsome Tefal Actifry Plus 1.2kg
It’s not “oil free” – although frozen foods do not need any added oil. With this Tefal fryer you simply add a teaspoon of oil and that’s it – fried food without 99% of the fat!
How big is it?
The tfal actifry measures about 9.5 inches high, 12 inches wide and 16 inches long
Does it smell? Air fryer vs deep fryer
To be honest it is pretty much virtually odourless. With a teaspoon of oil you are not going to be bombarded with the smell of oil, so throw out any notions of traditional deep fat fryers and embrace the new!
Traditional deep fryers cook the food in hot oil and the smell is instantly recognizable as “deep fried” whereas a hot air fryer circulates very hot air in a very clever way so that the food cooks evenly from all angles.
Any more recipes for this?
Yes there are hundreds online with a simple search or you can go to the Tefal website to download some more.
What can you cook with the Tefal Actifry?
Pretty much anything – as is the case for most air fryers. We are not just talking about fluffy crisp tasty chips cooked with 100 times less oil, we are talking curries, chilli con carne’s, frozen meats, roast meats, vegetables and so much more. Remember it’s also way more healthier than deep fryers!
Heres the link to those tefal recipes to look at (from an independent website), or direct from Tefal here.
If you fall in love with an air fryer you might just find yourself using it more and more and ultimately replacing your other cooking appliances when it comes to meal ideas.
In the box you get of course:
The Tefal Actifry 1.2kg unit
x1 Actifry oil spoon – for popping oil in (I’m sure any spoon would do though!)
1 Recipe book – so plenty of meal ideas to explore such as Chicken Tikka Masala, a vegetable stir fry and even Mediterranean style calamari recipes.
1 Instruction book to help guide you round it and how to use it.
Cooking with the Actifry is a breeze
Pop your food in and add a spoon of your chosen oil then simply close the lid. The Actifry will cook at a constant 170 degrees C approx. All you need to do is set the timer – and the timer can be set up to 99 minutes.
When done, you’ll hear an audible timer to let you know everything is done.
Besides this 4 person version there is also a larger “family version Actifry that will feed up to 6 people (up to 1.5kg of food) – you can see that one here.
Also, if you want to throw in some extra food halfway through (such as vegetables) you can do. Simply open the lid and the Actifry will pause the cooking to allow you access, and then simply resume where it left off right after you close the lid again.
When you’ve finished, cleaning is just as simple – you can pop the removable ceramic coated pan, plus paddle and also lid straight into the dishwasher – so guess what? No hand washing needed.
Images of the Tefal Actifry:
The handsome tefal Actifry Plus 1.2kg
Good looking from all angles
Inspire your imagination and healthier lifestyle
Dishwasher safe
The Tefal Actifry is a tried, trusted and tested clear winner when it comes to healthy airfry cooking. The vast majority of people who own one of these have indicated they are extremely happy with it.
What’s not to love about tasty healthier food with 100 times less oil, no smells and easy to clean?
Pros
Recommended by Slimming World
Trusted Tefal brand name
Extremely tasty foods
Versatile
Easy to clean and no nasty fryer smells!
Cons
Not really recommended for cooking doughnuts!
Our thoughts on the Tefal Actifry 1.2kg cooker
Really and truly these are hard to beat. This air fryer review showcases one of the most successful air fryers to ever hit the market. The Actifry range uses a paddle that slowly moves the food round for even cooking whereas most others have the food in a pull out tray/basket or lift up tray/basket with an area below to catch drips.
Nobody can argue about the benefits of healthier eating. After all if you could eat food that tastes stunning yet is immeasurably better for you – then it really serves up as a no brainer.
Couple in the fact you can cook a mouth watering array of different foods and really there isn’t anything stopping you!
If you need something a bit bigger then splash out a bit more and opt for the 1.5kg model (known as XL) as this will feed up to 6 average people instead of 4.
There is also an Express model to consider.
Want to find out more? You can by clicking the button below to see why this is one great air fryer machine!
This Philips digital air fryer (model number HD9220/20) makes cooking easier than ever. Switch on, food in, half a tablespoon of oil if desired and set the timer. That’s really as simple as things get, however there are a few things to note when you get yours.
Good looking from any view
Easy to use timer (up to 30 minutes)
Makes perfect healthier party food
Large 800g capacity
Perfect in any kitchen
Hey goiod looking!
Cook chips without the oil
Every home should have one
Approved by GHI in 2010
Dishwasher safe cleaning makes it a doddle to own
Features
Number 1 Brand!
Half way through the cooking you will need to take out the tray and give the food a little shake (for cripsy chips, this is to to stop them sticking to one another).
One other thing to be aware of is that as you pull out the food drawer from the unit, there is a button on the top of the handle (it is hidden when cooking) – make sure you do not press that while removing the food tray (with food in it), as it releases the basket from the tray.
Please watch these two introductory videos that explains these points.
Video 1: General overview video:
Video 2: Cooking crispy chips with the Philips HD9220 20:
And some tips for Cooking Sausages with the Philips air fryer:
So let’s look at some facts:
Taken straight from Amazon:
This powerful air fryer uses up to 80% less fat than a conventional deep fat fryer for the same tasting of chips, without the oil
Fully-adjustable temperature control allows you to pre-set the cooking temperature for your food
Integrated timer to pre-set cooking times of up to 30 minutes and auto-off function includes a Ready sound indicator (add 3 minutes to timer if it’s cold and not been used)
Comes with a recipe booklet containing 30 recipes including brownies and quiches
Ships in certified frustration-free packaging
How big is this?
38.4 x 28.7 x 31.5 cm
Bear in mind that this is a smaller compact version of this machine, yet it still has an 800g capacity (Actifry has 1.2kg up to 1.5kg) – more than enough for 2 to 3 people.
Pro’s and Con’s
Pros
Simply beautiful kitchen appliance
Easy to use
Most parts can be popped in the dishwasher
Uses up to 80% less oil – far healthier
Easy to clean and no nasty fryer smells!
Stops cooking at the end of the time so no burnt food!
Cons
We feel the basket release button is “too close for comfort” to the tray handle although never had a single issue when using it.
Our thoughts on the Philips HD9220 20 healthier oil free airfryer
Overall we really loved testing this machine. It is a beautiful machine that will happily grace the counter top of many a kitchen up and down the UK.
Grill, bake, roast or fry – it’s your choice what you decide to do with this but the versatility is there at your disposal.
We did have a little hesitation when we first opened the box. Instead of saying 100 times less oil (like the Actifry) they focus on the fact it enables you to cook in a healthier way that gives you 23% fewer calories when compared to a regular deep fat fryer.
Yes, while a reduction is good, still 23% less calories is hardly groundbreaking (is it?). However we were initially looking at it wrong. We believe their marketing might have missed the point or benefits, although I’m sure someone from Philips would be keen to put us right!
At the end of the day it is an air fryer and you can (if you want) pop in a tiny bit of oil. To ease our minds we wanted to know about oil use – namely how much oil is needed. For machines that are supposed to be far healthier than regular deep fat fryers we thought this was important to know. Actifry machines are touted as using “just a small amount of oil” whereas the marketing for this Philips hot air fryer is a little different.
Philips focus on telling you other facts. Facts such as: 23% less calories. Their marketing suggests “oil free” as with most air fryers, however many recipes still suggest some oil can be added to change the taste to something more akin to what we “enjoy” (seemingly).
Well, we decided to give this machine a go without any oil. In fact some of us gave the food a light spray with frylight and came to the conclusion that the food was still very nice. Kind of crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. A little like oven chips.
So our conclusion of this machine is that for a start it is one of the best looking air fryers around. It cooks wonderfully. The timer let’s you know when cooking time is done and importantly the air fryer stops, meaning that your food won’t be overcooked if you are out out the room. Thumbs up from us!
You can cook as healthy as you want. Removing all the oil is one of the best things you can do for your health however a small touch of oil or spray oil can be added to suit your taste, and you will still be cooking in a far healthier way.
Click below to find the current best price for this.
A third bigger than it’s baby brother at number 2 in our list, this Philips XL HD9240/90 Avance collection airfryer is bigger and chunkier enough to feed a family of up to 5. When there’s more mouths to feed this is the obvious choice.
Sure it’s bigger. It needs to be for the extra work it’s got to do. Size wise the footprint it will take up on your worktop is 42.3 x 31.5 x 30.2 cm – a nice corner would suit it. Compared to it’s baby brother though there is hardly anything in it size wise, just 3 or so cm on most sides so the additional counter top space taken up is hardly noticeable at all.
Like it’s baby brother the 9220, it has all the benefits of healthy eating but in a larger size to cook for more people or hungrier mouths (if you’ve got kids you’ll know more is always better!)
XL airfryer capacity
Easy to use digital touchscreen
HD9240 dimensions
Larger size, greater capacity
Pro’s and Con’s
Pros
Simply beautiful digital air fryer
Easy to use
Most parts can be popped in the dishwasher
Cook more delicate items than an actifry because there isn’t a paddle to mush the food
Uses up to 80% less oil – far healthier
Easy to clean and no nasty fryer smells!
Stops cooking at the end of the time so no burnt food!
Larger capacity for hungrier mouths
Cons
The philips xl airfryer does “not” contain a basket divider (it’s smaller brother does, but worth to keep checking with Philips)
Even though XL, there’s no way it will feed a whole family with everything they need. Some items will need cooking elsewhere or placed in an oven while you cook the rest.
Our thoughts on the Philips HD9240/90 airfryer
If you expect this machine to the the total chef for all the food for all the family you will be disappointed:
It’s a beautiful machine and the larger size is definitely more welcoming but just bear in mind that if you are seeking to feed a family of 4 to 5 with say chicken and chips there won’t be enough room in this. In realistic terms you could probably cram in about 800g chips maximum but not a deal more. Otherwise maybe 7 to 8 chicken drumsticks or thighs in around 20 to 25 minutes.
It DOES make for a great machine if you’re doing chicken and chips for 2 people – plenty of food, and you can mix your own home made chicken drumsticks with the chips in the same basket.
HOWEVER in realistic terms, as long as you are aware this isn’t a total replacement for “all your cooking methods” you’ll be fine. Use it to cook maybe the most fattening foods in it, to keep the fat content low, and do the rest in the oven, in a saucepan or in the microwave.
On the plus side, all of the above seems irrelevant when you actually get to grips with what you can cook with an air fryer. There are now thousands of recipes around for virtually any meal. Ever tried spring rolls or Moussaka cooked in one? Start experimenting and you’ll soon be cooking up an array of tasty treats and meals in next to no time. French fries? Why not. Add some Paprika to spice things up too!
Click the button below to find the current best pricing on Amazon for this. One of our favourite oilless air fryers on the market.
Our mid priced “air fryer” in this list by a long mile and despite this it still passes many of our tests. We wanted to include this Tower T14004 air fryer because of it’s affordability and the fact that it looks just the part of a “proper” air fryer”.
Let’s explore this.
Healthier air frying cooking
So, first of all, it’s surprisingly good looking (just as good looking as some of the more well known brands like Philips etc.). It does the job.
Benefits of the Tower T14004 “air fryer”:
Eliminates the need for oil for delicious sin free meals with up to 80% less fat than a conventional fryer
Uses significantly less energy and cooks three times faster
Generous 3.2 litre capacity makes it ideal for up to 5 servings – great for large families and household guests
Set and forget with the Tower air fryer. It features a timer that extends up to 30 minutes witha bell sound to let you know when the time has passed.
Pro’s and Con’s
Pros
Large 5 person portion capacity
Simple quicker cooking than regular oven
Easy to clean
Dishwasher safe parts
Cons
No major concerns – most people love it
Our thoughts on the Tower T14004 “air fryer”
It’s never going to be a high end Philips or Tefal, BUT for a mid priced air fryer its really good looking and it cooks food nicely as long as you follow the instructions carefully.
Click below to find the current best price for this.
Next up we have the JML Jet hot air fryer. Perfect as an oil free air fryer for people on a budget.
Ever heard of JML? Well they are the mastermind of “High Street TV”, and they are behind the hundreds of products you seen advertised on TV and in thousands of stores up and down the UK. They were established in 2008, and are based in Harrogate, Yorkshire. You can check them out here.
The JML Jet hot air fryer has the following features and benefits:
Hot, rapid air vortex technology; 360 degree rotating inner base for perfect, even cooking
No oil or fat, just clean, hot air; get deep fried results without the frying
Food is crispy and delicious
Grill, bake and roast
Basket and frying rack allows fat to leave your food and be discarded
Dimensions
Approximate measurements 30cm x 38cm x 28cm height Bowl diameter 22.5cm Capacity 2 litres Weight out of box 4kg
Fairly similar footprint to many other hot air fryers – large enough for the needed use, and small enough to fit in a nice place on your counter top.
Let’s take a look at the JML Jet:
Modern, colourful and healthy!
The JML Jet cooks delicious healthy food
Open sesame, let’s cook some more food!
The JML Jet air fryer in it’s boxed state
The JML Jet air fried food
Is this the perfect air fryer?
Well, from a cost perspective it’s certainly competitive. The capacity of this device is 2.5 litres, which is fairly standard for an air fryer (the capacities cannot be huge as they need to be kept in a tight space for the air frying to be totally effective).
We do have some minor reservations about the build quality, as in how long the lid will last. Pretty sure with a lot of careful use it will be fine but I wouldn’t like to be too heavy handed.
Watch this video to see the benefits for yourself. It’s from an American infomercial however you can see the benefits in the first 5 minutes.
Pro’s and Con’s of the JML Jet air fryer
Pros
Very affordable
A great introduction to air fryer technology
Easy to clean
Parts can be popped in the dishwasher
Cooks a wide variety of foods in under 20 to 30 minutes
Cons
The JML Jet appears to be discontinued in the UK by the manufacturer
Unsure of long term life expectancy as the lid feels like it may break with heavy use
Only comes with a Lime Green coloured handle
Our thoughts on the JML Jet oil free airfryer
For what it is, it’s a good unit. The unit is no longer listed on the manufacturers website, however it is actively sold in the United States. The customer services department do answer you when asking for replacement parts (i.e. lids) so for half the cost of other sleeker designs it’s certainly the unit to gain entry into the air fryer market.
As long as you take care with the JML jet there is no reason why it cannot live happily in your home for a long time – as long as you like Lime Green. The handle colour is not available in any other colours.
Click the button below to find the current best price for this air fryer.
7: BERG 1800W 5 Litre XXL Health Air Fryer – Extra Large (**currently unavailable**)
Here is the Berg Innovations 1800 watt air fryer with it’s huge 5 litre cooking capacity. Berg Innovations are as their name suggest, highly innovative. They were even listed in one of the world’s top 50 most innovative companies.
We like pretty much everything about this air fryer. The capacity is the main feature that families of 4 or more would enjoy and that is why it just HAD to be included in this top 10 best air fryers list!
What’s to like about this air fryer?
More importantly what’s NOT to like? You can do a wide range of things, let’s explore:
Features a temperature range control from 80⁰C – 200⁰C
Safety features include overheat protection, automatic switch off, and automatic standby mode.
So far so good.
During our testing we cooked chips in under 30 minutes before venturing on to two salmon fillets and both servings came out absolutely delicious.
In another sitting we baked a variety of Indian Bhaji’s and they received full marks once again!
How big is it?
The dimensions are 30 x 28 x 36 cm
Images:
Plnety for the whole family thanks to it’s HUGE 5 litre capacity
Easy to transfer to plates
Lift out the pan
and serve!
Good looking from any angle
The front of the Berg 1800 w
Pro’s and Con’s of the Berg XXL air fryer
Pros
All the features of more expensive counterparts
Family orientated “must have” gadget
Easy to clean
Parts can be popped in the dishwasher
Cooks a wide variety of foods in under 20 to 30 minutes
Innovative machine by one of the world’s top 50 most innovative companies
Larger capacity than most other air fryers
Variable temperature control
Cons
None!
Our thoughts on the Berg 1800 watt 5 litre XXL sized family air fryer
In all honesty this is one of our favourites in this list. Large capacity, perfect air frying and the price isn’t all that bad either. This proves that you are paying more for branded names with the likes of Philips and Tefal, but if you are prepared to look past that brand name, you get something that looks every bit as good, and is more suited to families than any other. Full marks Berg – you are one of our firm favourites!
If you have any sort of family to cook for then this has to be your first choice. Click below to find the current best price for this.
Just before we “dive in”, I wanted to add that this is technically not an air fryer – as in it’s not “frying” the food. Manufacturers are now releasing their Halogen ovens with convection units and infrared capabilities and calling them air fryers when technically they are not. At the end of this top 10 review list I will explain the differences between convection ovens, turbo broilers (which this is), and an air fryer.
This is actually a Turbo broiler. Also known as an oven with infrared aided heat and a convection fan.
So, that said, this machine is one one the funkiest looking units we’ve ever had the chance to review. It looks like a motorcyle helmet or some sort of futuristic spaceship perhaps?
As well as Purple, you can also view it in 3 other colours:
It is extremely handsome and would look incredibly cool in any kitchen. It also makes delicious healthy food.
Even though it’s no “air fryer” it’s not to be dismissed as a healthy way to cook food, however you do need to be aware the food will not have that fried taste that true air fryers attempt to recreate (through “rapid air circulation”).
These machines are merely heat with a convection fan moving the heat round – however a rotating spit with this model enables for a more even cooking experience compared to other “turbo broilers” like the Tower T14001.
Let’s look at it in pictures
Futuristic design, but very handsome
Comes with these accessories
Close up of the cooking basket
Klarstein vitair control panel
A look at the lid and heating element (not a true air fryer)
Good from any angle
In use in the kitchen
Ready to serve!
Plenty of room
Pro’s and Con’s of the Klarstein Vitair
Pros
All round cool looking- a definite talking point
Available in various colours
Better than other “turbo broilers” due to the rotating spit option which helps cook the food evenly
Automatic cut off after time has passed
Cons
Some of the instructions were not well translated into English
Quite large – may not suit small kitchens
It’s not a true air fryer so don’t expect anything like a fried food taste
Our thoughts on the Klarstein Vitair “air fryer”
We ummed and arred for a long time, wondering whether or not to include this unit in this top 10 list of best air fryers as obviously it isn’t one.
Turbo broilers (i.e. Halogen ovens with added infrared) are basically compact Halogen convection ovens with the added benefit of infrared.
The downside is it simply isn’t ever going to fully attempt to recreate that fried food taste – which is kind of the whole reason for this review.
I wanted to include two of these types of machine within this list so that you are aware of the differences between the two types of machine (there is a more thorough explanation towards the end of this top 10 list that explains the distinct differences).
Sure, they are both healthier options and great machines, but a true air fryer will aim for that fried taste through rapid air circulation whereas these take their heat from a Halogen bulb and a fan that assists the flow.
The rotating spit on this model takes it that step further in an attempt to remove the issues with Halogen ovens in that you do need to turn food making this model a very positive one.
Click below to find the current best price for this.
Let’s see what the benefits and features of this unit are (taken direct from the Salter website). With over 20 years experience, the Salter brand is well established and known.
A versatile alternative to deep fat frying, the Salter digital airfryer enables you to cook using little or no oil without losing any flavour.
Featuring 1400 W power, the fryer can heat up to 200° and uses a heat circulation method in order to cook your food incredibly quickly.
Ideal for home-made chips or wedges as well as meat, spring rolls, stuffed vegetables and quiche, it can cook a huge variety of meals.
Brilliantly simple to use, it has a 30 minute timer with automatic switch-off, digital touch sensitive controls and an LCD display.
It contains an easy to clean, removable 4.5 litre non-stick cooking basket which enables you to quickly serve the food after cooking.
This air fryer cooks just about anything you can imagine. You are only limited by your imagination
Images:
A good looking unit that’s suitable in any kitchen design
What it looks like in it’s box
Simple, easy to use and easy to view
The Ek2205 has a large 4.5 litre capacity
How big is it?
35.8 x 31.8 x 31.6 cm
How much power does it have?
1400 watts of power
Why should I have this?
It’s relatively cheaper than the high end Philips and T-fal air fryer models, yet it looks every bit as good, AND it comes with the larger more generous capacity. What’s NOT to love about it?
Pro’s and Con’s of the Salter EK2205 Air Fryer
Pros
Large 4.5 litre capacity – room for larger portions – perfect for families
Sleek and sophisticated design
Easy to use functions via the digital display
More affordable than Philips or T-fal air fryers
Cook all types of food you can imagine
Cons
None!
Our thoughts on the Salter EK2205 air fryer
One of our favourites. The price point gives this air fryer a thumbs up, as does the extra large 4.5 litre capacity. It does what it’s supposed to and looks every bit as good as other main branded oil free air fryers so you can enjoy family portions of delicious healthy food (and a wide variety at that!) at a lower cost.
After you’ve used it, it’s literally just the one pan to remove for cleaning which makes perfect sense when it’s your turn to do the dishes, or you can pop it in the dishwasher too, so it’s a win-win all round situation.
Size wise it’s just about right so can be left out all the time, and it’s good looks contribute to it’s likeability.
Click below to find the current best price for this.
Enter the Vonshef 13/351 healthy digital air fryer. 3.5 litre capacity and 1300 watts of power
So it’s a good looking unit and seems to do all the things you’d want and the price is pretty spectacular as well (half the cost of mainstream branded products). It has an extra divider you can pop in to keep certain foods apart if you want.
Featuring a 60 minute timer and temperature options ranging from 150 to 200 degrees – perfect for most foods. Features non slip feet and a cool touch handle.
‘Forbidden’ foods previously off the menu can make a welcome re-appearance; fries, fried chicken, burgers, steak, spring rolls, sausage rolls, cakes – the list goes on! Thanks to its superb versatility, the VonShef Air Fryer will come in handy for meals throughout the day, whether you’re frying, grilling, baking, roasting or just reheating. (source amazon)
Pro’s and Con’s of the Vonshef 13/262 healthy digital air fryer
Pros
Illuminating indicator let’s you know when the food has finished cooking
Non slip feet
Cool touch handle
3.5 litre capacity
Dishwasher safe cleaning (although best to wash with warm soapy water)
Comes with a free 2 year extended warranty
Excellent instructions
Cons
None!
Our thoughts on the Vonshef 13 351 air fryer
Overall an excellent machine and does what is intended. We couldn’t find any real genuine issues. Pop in the desired food, set the timer and wait for it to cook. Nothing could be simpler. Like most, it is recommended to shake once or twice throughout the cooking (especially when a lot is in, such as chips).
As an affordable good looking air fryer it is hard to find any faults with this and you won’t go too far wrong if this becomes your next purchase.
Click below to find the current best price for this.
A buyers guide to choosing the best air fryers / low fat fryer.
Air fryers do they work?
Well air fryers have been around for a number of years and have proven themselves to work. They cook food quicker in many cases, and use no oil (or hardly any at all depending on your taste requirements). The obvious health benefits should be immediately clear to see.
Besides the obvious health benefits, we needed to show that not all air fryers are “air fryers”.
Huh? What do you mean?
Well, in recent years there has been a big increase in the number of these healthy cooking oil free machines, and to come out into the heath industry we have Halogen ovens and Air fryers. It hasn’t helped when manufacturers often tout “similar” benefit’s to the user (i.e low fat, healthy, faster cooking times) – and the users confuse the terms and think they are similar machines.
Why not just get a slow cooker?
Well a slow cooker does cook wonderfully tasy food that oozes taste, however it is not designed to cook food as healthy as humanly possible. An air fryer on the other hand is designed to cook with hot in in a highly efficient way.
What is the difference between an oven, a convection oven, a “Halogen bulb based” oven and an air fryer / oil less fryer?
To know the answer to “what is an air fryer” you can check out this air fryer wiki entry for the precise details.
So traditionally people would cook in an oven. A heating element warms up to the set temperature and cooks your food.
A convection oven features a fan within the oven which moves the warm air around the oven helping it to cook a little bit quicker.
A Halogen oven simply cooks the food with the heat from the Halogen bulb in far less time than a conventional oven, and yes creates great tasting food. Halogen ovens with infrared in (also now named as turbo Broilers) cook better than just traditional Halogen ovens, however the heat only rises up in the same way as a convection oven.
An air fryer uses super high speed high concentrated air waves (known as “rapid air technology”), and it also requires higher temperatures to “fry” the food, even with a small amount of oil. Specially designed flows of fast powered circulating air rapidly encompasses the food from all angles to cook things evenly and super quick.
The air fryers for home use enjoy the benefit of a nifty combination of both convection cooking and turbo broiling. Air fryers use electrical power to create their heat with a lot of forced power. Super healthy, super tasty and super efficient.
So with a Halogen oven you will find that you often see larger food capacities (for example the 17 litre Tower T14001 cooker). A Halogen oven can cook more food at the same time, however you’ll always only ever get that oven taste.
An air fryer attempts to recreate fried tasting food that is far healthier and is super cooked from all angles just by rapid hot air.
Now let’s look at just what an air fryer really is:
So in general if it’s very large capacity it’s a Halogen oven. Otherwise it’s going to be an air fryer. 8 out of 10 in this list are air fryers. The Klarstein and the Tower are Turbo Broilers the rest are air fryers.
Air fryer accessories
So now you’ve gotten into healthier cooking with an air fryer have you considered how versatile it really can be?
There are quite a few accessories available, some of which are specirfic for your brand of air fryer, and some are “universal” (one size fits all). Although just make sure that the universal sized accessories fit your fryer.
Universal air fryer accessories:
This offering here expands your abilities and will fit up to 7 inches in diameter cooking spaces.
Price wise somewhere in the region of £25 it’s a no brainer, just make sure it will fit your fryer before you buy:
It fits well with the Phillips air fryers (and others). below are the accessories you get.
Our favourite in the list has to be the Berg, however second best would be the Philips 9240/90 with a smaller capacity but you do get the super sleek look and Philips name.
All of the ones in this list are top of their game and hands down are better (in our opinion) than all others on the market. We have chosen them based on how well they work, reliability and also cost factors as well as the aesthetic appeal.
Have you enjoyed reading our review of the best air fryers 2018 can bring to the market? It’s been extremely challenging to narrow things down to these 10 however we feel we have accomplished the goal. One of the best kitchen gadgets money can by for health conscious people. Worthy of an investment. With nonstick coatings and stainless steel components you can enjoy long lasting easy to clean cooking for a very long time.
Ok so you’re on the hunt out for the best tool box and it has to meet your needs. Tool boxes can be all kinds of sizes, but for this write up we will try to address what we believe to be the best in each of 3 categories we have chosen. We’ve chosen categories that make the most sense for most people.
Our category choices are:
* Regular sized tool boxes you would typically carry with you
* Affordable tool chests that can be moved on wheels and finally
* Premium quality “best you can buy” for the money under £1000
Category 1: “best small tool box”
What makes a good small sized tool box then?
It needs to be one you can carry most of your tools in for a start but also:
* Strong
* Portable
* Easy to use
How we chose
We reviewed the current overall market and picked out 3 contenders for this category.
We have already discounted many that weren’t at the top of their games, so any of these 3 would be great
It’s a personal taste decision ultimately.
Price wise, most of these kinds of portable tool boxes are typically under the £50 mark.
Our top 3 small sized portable tool boxes are as follows:
The Stanley Fatmax – a waterproof toolbox that has one of the sexiest names on the planet.
Strong
Portable
Easy to use
Holds most common tools
Measures 71 x 30.8 x 28.5 cm
The Makita 821551 – handy to know, it is part of a small family of storage boxes that can all be latched together when stored.
Strong
Collapsible handles
Stackable
Buy as many of these as you want and you can stack and lock them together(look)
Measures 39.6 x 29.6 x 21 cm
The Stanley STA194858– a tough toolbox with metal locking clamps. It also has top sections suitable for small items like screws etc.
Very strong
Features padlock eye for additional security
Removable tray
Metal locking clamps
Measures 25.5 x 24 x 50.5 cm
Our winner for best small tool box is a joint effort, and not surprisingly it’s both of the Stanley toolboxes.
The two Stanley tool boxes get top recommendations in this category because:
* One offers a larger size and tough rugged waterproof features
* The second is ideal yet tough for most normal tools.
* The Stanley brand is synonymous with quality (almost 700,000 “likes” on their facebook page!)
The Stanley Fatmax is perfect for all your larger tools. Pop the bigger tools and and you’re good to go.
* The half sized tote tray inside is good for a few small bits.
* This tool box is not ideal for storing lots of smaller tools as it will get messy.
The Stanley STA194858 then fills the gap for the perfect tool box for your smaller items.
* It’s a more compact size, yet tough, with metal latches and has waterproof capabilities.
Category 2: “best tool chest on wheels”
Our thoughts we had when choosing which ones stood out
We wanted to look at and identify possible leaders in this area. Obviously on wheels, and must be easy to pull, move and offer good solid drawer action as well when fully loaded. Lockable drawers is also a must have feature.
Price wise, we found that most of these kinds of tool chest are typically under £300, some even under £100. For this money you get what you expect. A tool chest on wheels that does what it’s supposed to and does it fine. (If you really need the best you’ll have to look at the next category for the premium tool chests under £1000 as they are the “no holds barred” models).
How we chose:
* We were on the look out for as many features as possible, but all while retaining solid build quaility.
* We then identified these 3 and made our purchase.
* We filled each drawer and performed a series of opening and closing tests.
* We then looked at their overall appearance and the wheels.
Measures Width: 616 mm x Depth: 330 mm x Height: 1146 mm
NOTES: It has two castor wheels that freely spin and two that are fixed. In an ideal world all 4 castors would freely spin but this isn’t a deal breaker to be honest.
Good for a domestic use for most of your tools, but if you are hoping to use this professionally don’t expect to get a full set of pneumatic tools in it.
Features 5 deep powder coated drawers with a smooth ball bearing movement that won’t stick when fully loaded (here is their 7 drawer model instead). Each drawer has an anti slip foam layer inside and can be locked.
A thick bar helps you to easily move the tool chest around your garage or home workshop.
A good solid tool chest at a low price
Ultra smooth drawer runners with smoothmove ball bearing technology
Comes with two keys for locking when not in use
Measures 68.5cm x 33cm x 79cm
Each drawer measures 51cm x 29cm x 9.5cm
NOTES: The overall dimensions do NOT include the handles. Handles and castors will need asembling when you receive your tool chest. You coould leave the handles off if you were putting these drawers under a worktop for example.
Here is a tough tool chest that features 7 drawers (5 large and 2 small), that are lockable, and there are two lockable wheels to help it stay fixed when at your side.
Very strong tool chest
It comes with 2 keys to lock it when not used
Anti slip EVA mats in the drawers help stop slipping and help mop up any oil spills
Metal locking clamps
Measures 79 x 68 x 33 cm overall
Case Size: 62×33×66 cm (LxWxH)
Small Drawer: 51 x 28 x 3.5 cm (LxWxH)
Large Drawer: 51 x 28 x 8 cm (LxWxH)
Handle Length: 33 cm
Wheel Diameter: 10.2 cm
NOTES: In terms of a rolling tool chest this pretty much is the one to go for. It’s taller than the 5 drawer one above and has 2 locking wheels. It’s also the accepted “Red” colour.
Our winner for best tool chest on wheels is the Popamazing 7 drawer tool chest.
The Popamazing tool chest gets our top rated recommendation for this category because.
In this category the tool chests have to be far superior.
So, we found the ones with high end components and top notch build quality and below are our findings:
How we chose:
* They had to be heavy duty
* We then identified the ones with quality components
* We filled each drawer and performed a series of opening and closing tests.
* We then made an overall decision to find the best 3.
DJM Direct multi drawer combination unitsHere we have the brilliantly affordable totally versatile setup from DJM Direct. You can choose a number of different combinations of units. This combination is the 9 drawer small top section, plus the 3 drawer bigger mid section and the 7 drawer larger lower section. Put them all together for a great set up! You can mix and match different configurations too.
Smoother stronger ball bearings
Tough barrel locks for safer storage when not in use
Rear locking bars for extra security
Top Chest Overall Size (W x D x H): 600 x 260 x 380mm
Middle Add-On Overall Size (W x D x H): 604 x 262 x 252mm
Rollcab Overall Size (W x D x H): 618 x 330 x 830mm
Anti slip mat inside the drawers
Tough metal construction with hi-gloss triple baked enamel finish.
NOTES: There are no drawer liners with these tool boxes however you can buy your own liners and cut them to size. This is also not 100% “professional” as it is made using thin metal, but we included it because it is very low cost and offers great value for money for a lightweight unit.
Through and through this is a very high quality tool chest as used by race teams and professional garages.
Premium grade thick welded steel construction (solvent and rust resistant)
The two parts can be split if desired.
The drawers feature a “soft” shut lock mechanism so no trapped fingers.
Heavy duty castors and side bars
Gas struts make opening of the lid a nice and easy affair
Lock all drawers with a single turn of the key.
Comes supplied with two keys
Every drawer comes with anti slip matting liners
Rollcab Model No: MT6911RC-RD Specification (W x D x H): Overall Size with wheels: 1067 x 472 x 1007mm Top Drawer (x1): 937 x 410 x 122mm Small L/H Drawer (x3): 570 x 410 x 75mm Small R/H Drawer (x3): 313 x 410 x 75mm Large L/H Drawer (x2): 570 x 410 x 153mm Large R/H Drawer (x1): 313 x 410 x 153mm Net Weight: 99kg
Top Chest Model No: MT6908TC-RD Specification (W x D x H): Overall Size: 1051 x 412 x 553mm Small L/H Drawer (x3): 570 x 370 x 74mm Small R/H Drawer (x3): 313 x 370 x 74mm Large L/H Drawer (x1): 570 x 370 x 153mm Large R/H Drawer (x1): 313 x 370 x 153mm Net Weight: 56kg
NOTES: The heavy nature of this product means it will be delivered on a pallet. You will need to be able to move it yourself into position and will need to be available to accept delivery.
Look at your biggest tool you want to put in the tool box or chest and look at the tool box size. See if it will fit.
Do you need to move it around?
If so then be sure to get wheels. Locking wheels are a useful addition.
Are locks a MUST HAVE ?
For many businesses the ability to lock tools is a requirement of an insurance policy
Heavy duty or lightweight?
For spanners and sockets a lightweight model will be easier to move around. For anything heavier then a heavy duty chest will be needed.
Prioritise your “most used” tools.
There’s little point putting a tool in the box that only gets used once a year.
The best tool box for you might not be the same for others.
You need to look at your own personal needs and what tools will be used the most.
Summary
The majority of boxes and chests on this write up are actually inexpensive. Even the high end premium units can be classed as affordable (especially when you look further afield at units that cost £4000 and upwards).
Each unit on this page was very carefully selected for it’s strengths over competing products.
If you’re anything like me, a toast lover (:-)) then a toaster has to be “fairly decent”, so it pays to get the best 4 slice toaster you can within your budget. Although most toasters are fairly inexpensive these days.
Who else loves toast as much as me?
So, let’s talk toasters.
There’s only one way to cook toast.
Toast talk
“Are you as big a fan of toast as I am?”
For me, toast is probably the most important meal of the day.
My favourite slice of toast has to:
Have a good amount of butter
Be cooked to perfection – “medium to well done” for me!
Now, before the healthy eating police get involved I know it’s not good to eat a lot of carbs, BUT toast in the morning has been part of my routine I’d say 90% of the last 45 years and I don’t feel my body has suffered in any dramatic way. Which butter works for you? Now if we are talking about which butter to spread it’s got to be Flora buttery or a Salted butter block (the stuff you find wrapped in foil – although we do reserve the salted stuff for very rare special treats maybe 3 times a year.)
Best value for money
Breville VTT628
A 4 slice toaster without the expense.
Best overall
Dualit 46205
Cook toast just how you like it. In style and with total control.
Almost a winner
De 'Longhi Avvolta
Don’t you agree this is utterly beautiful to look at?
So, let’s look at toaster stuff before we get too deeply involved with butter talk.. cough cough…
Why buy a 4 slice toaster?
Think about it, a 2 slicer isn’t that much smaller than a 4 slicer so you can rule out that as a reason. The ability to cook 4 slices at once just makes so much sense.
When you have guests stopping over or
More than one person wants toast
Or you just feel like going to town and eating half a loaf because you are starving hungry (ever done this??)
It HAS to look nice! Ideally it needs to be in Red / Blue / Silver / Cream / Black / White / Purple / Chrome etc etc etc. It’s got to be able to cook the whole slice, and not have 2 centimetres sticking out of the top! There’s nothing worse than the top bit of bread sticking out of the top of the toaster that’s not managed to be cooked because the slice doesn’t fit in the toaster properly. I mean, what’s the point in cooking 3 quarters of a slice to have to peel off the last quarter and shout your dog out of his bed to come “get it”. That’s going to put you in a grumpy mood for the rest of the day! It’s got to be able to defrost bread Ok so it’s not “essential” if it can’t defrost bread, as I have found you can cook frozen bread but the taste isn’t quite the same as fresh bread, in my opinion. Any other extra’s are just nice but not absolutely necessary, in my own humble opinion
Things such as a pull out crumb tray or high lift lifting mechanisms to help you grab smaller sliced bread without getting your fingers burnt are all nice little extra features.
So we looked at 27 toasters and were able to quickly rule out 15 that didn’t really perform well. We then filtered out the rest and two more left our review as they simply came with poor customer service. That left us with 10 that we have tested. All 10 of us took a toaster home. 10 toasters have all cooked a wide variety of toast for two weeks. That’s 560 slices of toast (some of this toast got shared by family and a couple of family dogs).
You’ve got to admit this is one very funky looking toaster. Measuring 29.01 x 30.99 x 19.99 cm it’s a bit bigger than some toasters but it’s made to be bold and designed to stand out.
Beatiful in any kitchen, this 4 slice toaster looks stunning
The easy pull out crumb tray makes light work of cleaning it out
Buttons for defrosting and reheating along with an easy to follow browning dial
The DeLonghi toaster
Is this the best 4 slice toaster today?
What do we like about it?
It’s got two independent toasting sections. Meaning you can just use one side if you are only cooking 2 slices of toast, and save a bit of energy
It’s one of the most dazzling styles we have seen for some time.
It’s got an “extra lift” feature to help you take out the smaller slices without burning your fingertips at the same time.
It’s got variable width slots for different thicknesses of bread.
What don’t we like about it?
Our toaster didn’t always cook evenly. Further research online showed that the majority of buyers were very happy. If in doubt return your machine within the 1 year warranty.
The simply beautiful Breville VTT702 4 slice toaster.
Available in a range of colours, the Breville VTT702 sits handsomely in any kitchenA simple slider lets you adjust the browning control of your toast.A matching kettle complements the VTT702 4 slice toaster
As you’d expect from a top rated toaster, this toaster will perform the usual reheat, defrost and mid-cycle cancel functions. It also has a “high lift” facility allowing you to lift out those smaller bread slices without burning your fingers. It’s available in a few colour options. It measures 30.9 x 27 x 19 cm What we like:
The style and functions are simply what we have come to expect from a modern day 4 slice toaster.
The matching kettle option means you can dress up your whole kitchen in a similar style and colour if you want to.
What we don’t like: Although it’s only minor, if you only want to cook two slices of toast you MUST use the right hand two slots “first”. I think this is a poor design idea as I don’t know if this could cause the right side to stop working before the whole thing. It would have been better if you could use either side so you’re not over using one side compared to the other. On the plus side, I really can’t say what the average life of a toaster is, and this might not even be an issue anyway. This is also one the of the best sellers on Amazon.
We really liked using the Dualit 46205 toaster (and the optional sandwich cage you can buy extra to make awesome toasties!)
Cook toast just how you like it. In style and with total control.
Available in Black, Cream Gloss, Stoneware Basalt, Canvas White and Stoneware Granite Cook two slices one way, and the other two slices another way, all at the same time. Take a look at the features:
Peek and Pop function to check bread while toasting without interrupting the toasting cycle and giving greater browning control
Defrost and cancel button
Bagel toasting function
High-lift mechanism
Extra-wide slots to accommodate different varieties of bread
Concealed, removable crumb tray
We think this toaster has all the features you could ever need. It’s one of the only toasters we have featured that does a brilliant job at cooking every part of the bread (unlike many other toasters!) With the peek and pop function you can lift the toast whenever you want while it is cooking to look at it.
A close up of the two independent Browning controls
De ‘Longhi, the company formed in 1902 who are renowned for quality, build the Vintage Icona Dolcevita range of toasters for the discerning buyer. This is the Pastel Cream and Mahogany design with a Chrome finish, making this one of the most stylish toasters we have ever seen.
The DeLonghi CTOV4003 BG Vintage Icona toaster oozes sophisatication and style.
It has everything you want from a toaster.
Extra wide slots for thicker or thinner bread.
Variable Browning control – have it toasted anywhere from light Brown, or dark “burnt”, if that’s your preference
Two independant Browning controls
Two separate crumb trays
Options for re-heat, Bagel cooking, Defrost and cancel
(Bagel cooking turns off certain elements so that you only toast the “cut” side of the Bagel) Like the look of this toaster?
What we did like about the toaster.
We love the fact that this toaster is quite a bit more “posher” than your typical toaster thanks to the Mahogany colouring on the buttons
What we didn’t like about this toaster
The crumb trays were a bit pointless, not exactly catching all the crumbs, but that could be said for many toasters in comparison.
Sizes
The slots that you put your toast in measure 3.7 x 14.4 cm Overall size: 34 x 30 x 20.5 cm
Place a Prism in your kitchen for exceedingly good toast!
This is a Purple coloured prism toaster (there are other colours available too). As with all good toasters it has all the features you’d expect from a toaster:
Two independant Browning controls
High lift mechanism
Illuminated control buttons – “Defrost”, “Cancel” and “Reheat”
Removable crumb trays
Variable width deep toaster compartments
What we like about this toaster
The colours and styling are just so striking they really do stand out and enhance any kitchen.
What we don’t like
Although our toaster we tested was faultless, we have researched and found that around 5% of other buyers had a poor experience with it. One fault mentioned a few times was that the toaster element would stop working on one side. Don’t let this discourage you, as there is a 2 year warranty, and be assured that most manufacturers expect a small percentage of their items to develop a problem over time. In addition, a few people have complained about the matching kettle lid to be poorly attached, if you were thinking of buying that. Again, if you buy this, just remember you have a 2 year peace of mind warranty. To get your 2 year warranty be sure to register your product on their website here. This gives you the two years warranty, otherwsie you only get a 1 year warranty.
The 4 slot Vario hand built toaster pays resdpect to the long standing Dualit name. This is the classic design that has carried through a lot of Dualit’s history in a very close form. In essence it is instantly noticeable as a Dualit. Tough and hard working. If you’d like to know more, you can click here to read about the Dualit story and how it all started in 1946.
The classic designed 4 slice toaster from Dualit
Each Vario toaster is hand built. The person who built it puts their name on the bottom on a sticker, to ensure sheer premium quality shines with every toaster made. Sometimes simple is best. Every single part is repairable or replaceable. If you’re old enough to remember, this was how things were made in the 1950’s to 1980’s and then products became more of a throwaway item. This means every Dualit toaster is designed to last a lifetime.
Here are the main features (taken from Amazon itself)
Hand built in the UK since the 1950’s, the Classic Toaster has earned its place as a kitchen essential.
Featuring fully replaceable or repairable parts, timeless styling and the unique, patented Proheat element.
The Dualit Classic Toaster is environmentally responsible, fully repairable or replaceable parts for a toaster that will last a lifetime.
Exclusive to Dualit, ProHeat elements have a protective armour plated layer covering the filament making them virtually unbreakable.
Each toaster is hand-assembled from start to finish. Who made your toaster? Find the assembler’s name on the base plate.
Incorporates our trademark mechanical timer and ejector lever.
The manual ejector lever means your toast doesn’t pop up when done, it sit’s inside keeping warm for much longer, so you simply eject the toast when you are ready for it.
What we like about it
Incredible build quality, feels really strong and well built. Simple in features but very very good at what it does. Cooking perfect toast and defrosting frozen bread ready for toasting. These toasters are the kind that last for 10 to 20 years.
What we don’t like about it
We would have “preferred” a non-mechanical timer but that is just more of a personal taste thing.
Here is the Architect. Another Dualit toaster. It is extremely well built and looks stunning. Not the cheapest toaster around but it looks superb. Even the matching kettle looks beautiful.
The Architect. Geometrically perfect. Stunningly good looking.
Video showcasing the Architect range
It features the following:
Interchangeable panels – select the colour option to suit your taste
Commercial grade heating elements – performs day in, day out without drama
Peek and pop – a Dualit feature to let you check the toast without cancelling the timer
This short 1 minute video gives a basic introduction into the technical stuff that happens inside your humble toaster. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYcw_DcZsak
Pros
Cons
A 4 slice toaster without the expense.
Cook toast just how you like it. In style and with total control.
Don’t you agree this is utterly beautiful to look at?
