Tefal YV970840 Air Fryer - Review

Air fryers have become immensely popular in recent years as a healthy alternative to deep frying. Using rapid air circulation technology, air fryers can produce crispy, delicious "fried" foods using little to no oil.

The Tefal ActiFry is one of the original air fryers and remains a top choice for many home cooks. This 1.7L air fryer uses Tefal's patented hot air pulse system to prepare fried favorites with up to 98% less fat. The ActiFry features a completely sealed cooking bowl so oil splatters are minimized. An integrated timer and audible alert makes it easy to get perfect results every time. With a sleek white design and dishwasher safe parts, the ActiFry offers an easy way to enjoy healthier fried foods at home.

Design

The Tefal ActiFry YV970840 air fryer has a unique and innovative design that sets it apart from traditional air fryers. It features a large 1.7kg capacity with an oval-shaped pan and transparent lid, allowing you to easily view food while it cooks.

The pan is made from thick aluminum with a non-stick coating for excellent heat conduction and easy cleaning. It has an angled stirring paddle that slowly rotates during cooking to evenly circulate hot air and prevent food from sticking. This paddle can be removed for cleaning or when cooking delicate ingredients.

Unlike most air fryers, the ActiFry does not have a basket design. The pan sits flat and food is stirred by the paddle rather than shaken in a basket. This unique system requires no preheating and allows you to cook foods using only 1 tablespoon of oil or even no oil at all.

With a sleek white and black plastic exterior, the ActiFry has a modern look and relatively compact footprint. It measures 41 x 31 x 31 cm, so can fit easily on most countertops. The digital touch screen control panel is intuitive and easy to operate.

Cooking Performance

The Tefal ActiFry air fryer delivers excellent cooking performance for a wide variety of foods. Its unique hot air circulation system ensures food is cooked evenly with a light, crispy texture on the outside while remaining tender on the inside.

French fries come out wonderfully crispy and delicious in the ActiFry. The constant hot air circulation means you don't have to shake or toss the fries during cooking like some air fryers. This results in perfectly cooked fries with no burnt spots. Chicken wings also develop a satisfying crunchiness and retain their juiciness.

For foods like chicken breasts or fish fillets, the ActiFry gently cooks them through without drying them out. The finished texture is moist and tender. Even after cooking multiple batches, the flavor and texture consistency remain top-notch.

The 1.7L capacity can hold up to 1.2 kg of fries, making it suitable for cooking for 3-4 people. The see-through lid allows monitoring cooking progress without needing to open it and disrupt the hot air circulation. Overall, the ActiFry delivers excellent and consistent cooking performance across a wide range of foods.

Ease of Use

The Tefal Actifry YV970840 air fryer is designed for simplicity and convenience. The controls consist of an on/off button, temperature dial, and timer dial, allowing you to easily adjust settings with the turn of a knob.

Cleaning the Actifry is straightforward since the pan and paddle are dishwasher safe. The lid can also be wiped down easily. The non-stick cooking pan prevents food from sticking and makes cleaning a breeze. The viewing window on the lid allows you to monitor cooking without needing to open the lid and release heat.

Operation of the Actifry is relatively quiet thanks to its closed design. The appliance produces a low hum during cooking which is comparable to a microwave or fan. Noise levels are not disruptive, making this air fryer suitable for open concept kitchens. Some user reviews did mention a high pitched whistle occasionally, but this was not experienced by everyone.

Overall, the Actifry YV970840 offers simple and intuitive controls, hassle-free cleaning, and quiet operation ideal for everyday use. The user-friendly design makes this air fryer a pleasure to cook with.

Accessories

The Tefal ActiFry comes with a paddle, measuring spoon and recipe booklet. This provides everything you need to get started cooking healthier fried favorites.

Some useful optional accessories include:

• Additional paddle - Handy to have a spare when cooking large batches or if the original gets damaged. Allows cooking multiple foods without needing to wash mid-recipe.

• Splatter shield - Slips over the top opening to prevent hot oils from splattering out when cooking things like fries or chicken wings. Keeps the exterior clean.

• Grill plate - Alternative to the paddle that transforms the ActiFry into a grill. Ideal for making grilled veggies, meat, fish and more. Adds versatility.

• Extra recipe booklets - Provide more recipe inspiration beyond the included booklet. Help maximize use of the air fryer.

• Silicone cooking mats - Non-stick mats that can be cut to size and placed in the pan. Make cleanup easier and prevent some foods from sticking.

The included accessories cover the basics, while optional extras like the grill plate and splatter shield enhance functionality. More paddles and recipe booklets boost convenience and recipe variety.

Safety Features

The Air Fryer Tefal YV970840 has several important safety features to prevent accidents while cooking.

• Auto Shut Off: This air fryer will automatically shut off after a certain period of inactivity. This prevents overheating and fires if you forget to turn it off. The auto shut off will kick in after 20 minutes if no buttons are pressed.

• Overheating Protection: There are built-in sensors that will detect if the air fryer is overheating. If it reaches unsafe temperatures, it will automatically shut down. This prevents fires or other damage from occurring.

• Cool Touch Housing: Except for the cooking basket, the exterior of the air fryer remains cool to the touch while operating. This prevents burns if you accidentally touch the body when cooking.

• Non-Slip Feet: The bottom of the fryer has non-slip rubber feet to keep it stable. This prevents slipping or movement when in use.

• Safety Locking Lid: The lid locks securely into place while cooking. This prevents hot air or oil from escaping and causing injury.

With its multiple safety features, you can feel confident using the Tefal YV970840 Air Fryer. It takes precautions to avoid common accidents that can occur with kitchen appliances.

Pros

The Tefal ActiFry YV970840 air fryer has several notable benefits:

• Large capacity - This model can hold up to 1.7kg of food, suitable for cooking for 4-6 people. The large size allows you to cook main dishes and sides all at once.

• Versatile cooking - The ActiFry can air fry, grill, roast, bake, and reheat. It uses rapid air circulation technology to cook food using little to no oil. You can make fries, chicken wings, fish fillets, steaks, cakes, and more.

• Dishwasher safe - All the removable parts like the pan, paddle, and lid are dishwasher safe for easy cleanup. The non-stick coated pan also makes cooking and cleaning easier.

• Digital display and preset programs - The touchscreen has 9 preset cooking programs including fries, meat, fish, desserts, and more. This makes it easy to get the right time and temperature for different dishes.

Cons

• The basket has limited capacity. The 1.7L basket can only hold about 3 servings of fries or nuggets at a time. This means you'll have to cook in batches for larger families.

• There's no timer or preset functions. You have to manually set the temperature and time yourself, which requires some trial and error to get it right for different foods. An auto shut-off timer would be useful.

• Cleaning can be tricky. The non-stick coating can get scratched if you use abrasive scouring pads. And food bits tend to get stuck in crevices. You'll need to take care when cleaning.

• It's noisy. The fan that circulates the hot air makes a loud whirring noise when operating. This can be distracting, especially for open concept kitchens.

Price

The Air Fryer Tefal YV970840 currently retails for £149.99 on Amazon. This is towards the higher end for air fryers, though not the most expensive model available.

For the price, you're getting a decent capacity 1.7L air fryer made by a reputable brand in Tefal. It can cook enough food for up to 6 portions, making it a good option for families. The oval shape also allows you to cook larger pieces of meat or fish.

In terms of value for money, it offers similar features and performance to other air fryers in this price range of £100-£200. Key factors that impact the price are the brand, capacity, and any "smart" features included.

Compared to a traditional oven, the air fryer can produce similar results using less energy. So you may find this pays for itself over time through electricity bill savings. However, it is still a considerable upfront investment.

Overall, while not the cheapest option, the Tefal YV970840 provides good value given its versatility, brand reputation, and decent capacity. For most households, it's a worthwhile investment if you plan to use the air fryer regularly. But more budget-focused buyers may prefer cheaper alternatives with similar core functionality.

Conclusion

Overall, the Tefal ActiFry YV970840 air fryer is a solid product that offers good value for money. It has a sleek and modern design that will look great on any kitchen countertop. The 1.7L capacity is sufficient for cooking for 1-2 people, making it a good option for small households.

The ActiFry excels at cooking crispy fries and chicken wings with minimal oil, allowing for healthier cooking. It also does a decent job at roasting vegetables, reheating food, and cooking frozen foods. The automatic paddle and timer make cooking easy with no preheating required.

While the cooking performance meets expectations, there are some downsides. The parts are not dishwasher safe, so cleaning can be a hassle. The viewing window is also quite small, so monitoring cooking progress requires removing the lid. Noise levels are also significant, especially when the paddle rotates.

Overall, if you're looking for an air fryer mainly for frying with little to no oil, then the Tefal ActiFry YV970840 is a recommended option. However, if you want something with maximum versatility for cooking various dishes, you may want to consider a different model. At around £150, it offers moderate value given its capabilities. For most households, though, it will meet their air frying needs.