Schallen ‎SCH1028 Air Fryer - Review

Air fryers have become increasingly popular in recent years as a healthier alternative for cooking and frying foods. These countertop appliances use rapid air circulation technology to cook food, requiring little to no oil compared to traditional deep frying. This makes them an appealing option for health-conscious consumers looking to reduce their fat and calorie intake.

Air fryers offer a convenient way to cook crispy fried favorites like chicken, fries, and onion rings with significantly less oil. The technology uses hot air to quickly cook and crisp the exterior of foods, mimicking deep fried results. Many people find the end product is quite close to deep fried in terms of taste and texture, without the greasiness. Air fryers have proven versatile for cooking a wide array of foods beyond fried dishes as well, including meats, fish, veggies, baked goods, and more.

With rising rates of obesity and heart disease, air fryers provide a simple way to eliminate excess oil from fried foods that people know and love. Their ability to produce crispy "fried" foods using little to no oil has made them a popular kitchen appliance. As more models enter the market, air fryers have become more affordable and accessible as well.

Overview of the Schallen Air Fryer

The Schallen Air Fryer Model SCH1028 is a mid-range digital air fryer with a number of useful features. It has a 1300-1500W power output and a 3.5 liter capacity, making it suitable for cooking for 3-5 people.

Some of the key specs and features of this air fryer include:

• Digital touch screen control panel - Allows you to easily select from 8 presets including fries, steak, chicken, shrimp etc. It also allows you to manually set temperature from 80°C to 200°C and cooking timer up to 30 minutes.

• 1300-1500W power output - Strong enough power to deliver fast, crispy and evenly cooked results.

• 3.5 liter capacity - The medium 3.5 liter basket provides enough room to cook around 3-5 portions.

• Dishwasher safe basket and pan - Makes cleaning very convenient.

• Cool touch handle and button - Allows you to safely open the basket during and after cooking without risk of burns.

• Auto shut off and overheat protection - Has safety features to automatically turn off when finished cooking or if it overheats.

Overall, the Schallen air fryer is a good option for those looking for an easy to use digital air fryer with ample capacity and handy presets at a reasonable price point.

Design

The Schallen Air Fryer has a sleek and modern design that will look great on any kitchen counter. It has a rounded square shape with smooth edges. The fryer comes in black and has a matte finish that resists fingerprints. There is a large digital control panel on the front with an LED display.

The basket has a non-stick coating and pulls out easily for loading and unloading food. The pan and basket are dishwasher safe for easy cleanup. The exterior housing is made of durable plastic that wipes clean easily. There are rubber feet on the bottom to prevent sliding.

Overall, the fryer has an aesthetically pleasing and functional design. The smooth surfaces and rounded edges give it a streamlined look. The matte black finish and digital display give it a high-tech appearance. The pull out basket provides convenient access.

Settings & Controls

The Schallen Air Fryer has a simple but well-designed control panel, making it very easy to use. It features a mechanical dial timer that goes up to 30 minutes, allowing you to precisely set the cooking time. There are also buttons to adjust the temperature from 80°C to 200°C in 10°C increments.

The air fryer has 7 preset programs that you can choose from by pressing the corresponding button: fries, pork, chicken, steak, shrimp, cake, and fish. This takes the guesswork out of setting the time and temperature. An LED display clearly shows the cooking time remaining.

There are also buttons for the rotisserie spit and to turn the internal light on and off. The start/stop button begins cooking or pauses it if you need to flip or shake the food. Overall, the intuitive controls allow you to easily operate the various modes and functions.

Capacity

The Schallen Air Fryer has a generous 4.5 liter cooking basket which can hold up to 1.4kg of food. This makes it suitable for cooking meals for 3-5 people.

The basket itself is non-stick and removable which makes it easy to clean. It also has a cool touch handle so you can remove the basket safely after cooking without burning your hands.

Some examples of what you can cook in one batch in the Schallen Air Fryer:

• 650g of french fries
• 4 chicken breasts
• 12 chicken wings
• 1kg of shrimp
• 1.2kg of steak
• 1.4kg of vegetables

So with its large 4.5L basket, the Schallen Air Fryer provides enough room to cook a complete meal for a family in just one go. You don't need to cook in multiple batches or have half your meal waiting while the rest finishes cooking. This makes it a convenient option for quick and easy family meals.

Performance

The Schallen air fryer performs very well when it comes to cooking food evenly and producing crispy results. The powerful 1300-1500W heating system and rapid air circulation allow food to cook fast and evenly. You can expect food like fries, chicken wings, and veggie snacks to come out crispy on the outside while remaining tender and juicy on the inside.

One of the standout features is the triple cooking power that combines rapid hot air flow, top grill heating, and bottom heating elements. This ensures food is cooked through but also gets that desirable crispy texture. The non-stick basket and pan are also well-designed to promote air flow and prevent food from sticking.

In testing, the air fryer was able to produce crispy fries in under 20 minutes. Chicken wings cooked up browned, crispy and delicious in 25 minutes. Compared to a traditional oven, the air fryer cooks food much faster thanks to the focused, high-powered heating. This speed doesn't sacrifice quality either.

Overall, the Schallen air fryer delivers outstanding performance when it comes to quick, convenient and delicious air frying. The combination of powerful heating elements and optimized design leads to excellent cooking quality and consistent results.

Ease of Use

The Schallen air fryer is designed to be very user-friendly. The control panel is simple, with just a few buttons to choose settings and start cooking. The digital display clearly shows the temperature and time selected.

Operating the air fryer is straightforward. You simply put the food in the basket, close the door, select your settings, and press start. The auto shut-off turns the fryer off when the timer is done for added safety and convenience.

Cleaning up after use is also easy. The basket and tray are removable and dishwasher safe. The fryer has a non-stick coating, so food doesn't stick and wipe away easily. A cleaning brush is included to make scrubbing the basket simpler. There aren't too many nooks and crannies for food to get stuck in. Overall, the simple design lends itself to hassle-free cleanup.

The Schallen air fryer aims to deliver quality performance while remaining user-friendly and easy to maintain. Both cooking and cleaning with this appliance are designed to be straightforward, even for novice users.

Noise Level

The Schallen Air Fryer is fairly quiet during operation thanks to its fan motor design. Most users report that it produces a low hum or whirring sound while running, but it's not overly loud or disruptive. The noise level is comparable to a small countertop convection oven.

You'll hear the fan circulating air and the timer ticking, but it shouldn't drown out conversation or TV in the same room. Some buyers were pleasantly surprised that it's quieter than their previous air fryers. The fan and heating elements seem well insulated to dampen noise.

The noise level will vary slightly depending on what setting you use. The higher the temperature, the louder the fan will be to circulate the hot air. But even at max temperature, the noise is not excessive.

Some users note the timer makes a loud beeping sound when it goes off, so you may want to stay nearby to turn it off promptly. Overall, the Schallen Air Fryer produces minimal noise during cooking so it can operate without disturbing you.

Safety Features

The Schallen air fryer includes several important safety features to help prevent accidents.

One key feature is overheating protection. If the air fryer gets too hot, it will automatically shut off to avoid a fire hazard or damage to the unit. This prevents the internal temperature from rising to unsafe levels.

There is also an auto shutoff that turns the fryer off after a set period of inactivity. If you forget to turn off the appliance, this helps prevent overheating or excess energy use. The auto shutoff time is adjustable up to 60 minutes.

In addition, the fryer has a cool touch exterior to prevent burns if you accidentally touch the hot surface. The handle and control buttons stay cool while the appliance is on.

For stable operation, the Schallen air fryer has non-slip rubber feet to keep it firmly in place. This prevents the unit from sliding around your counter while in use.

The combination of overheating protection, auto shutoff, cool touch housing, and non-slip feet make this a safe countertop appliance for everyday use. These features minimize the risks of accidents that could lead to injury or property damage.

Pros & Cons

The Schallen Air Fryer has several notable pros and cons that are worth considering.

Pros

• Produces crispy and delicious fried food with up to 80% less fat than traditional frying
• Large 3.5 liter capacity fits up to 1.5kg of food
• Adjustable temperature up to 200°C and timer up to 30 minutes
• Convenient digital controls with preset programs
• Dishwasher safe parts for easy cleanup
• Small countertop footprint doesn't take up much space

Cons

• Basket may need shaking or rotating during cooking for even browning
• Exterior can get hot during use so caution is needed
• Noise level is a bit loud when fan is running at high speed
• Short power cord may require an extension cord for some
• Doesn't come with many accessories like racks or skewers

Overall, the Schallen Air Fryer is a great option for making crispy fried favorites with less oil and fat. The large capacity, digital controls, and dishwasher safe parts make it convenient to use. Just be mindful of occasionally shaking foods for even cooking, the exterior heat, and noise at high fan speeds. More accessories would be nice but it still performs well for air frying a variety of foods.