Inside: Morphy Richards Digital Dual Zone Airfryer Review. Features press sample.
In the world of kitchen gadgets, air fryers have emerged as a revolutionary appliance. They promise to deliver crispy, delicious food with less oil, making them a favourite for households up and down the country.
As a mum of 3, life can be pretty busy and so anything that makes life that little bit easier is definitely a win for me. With that in mind, I have been testing out the Digital Dual Basket Air Fryer from Morphy Richards.
What is an Air Fryer?
You can’t open up social media without scrolling past a post about air fryer recipes. The last few years has seen popularity soar – but what exactly is an air fryer and why do people love them?
Essentially, an air fryer cooks food by circulating hot air around it, creating a crispy layer similar to frying but without the excessive use of oil. There are so many dishes to be made too, from light lunches to delicious desserts – all quick and easy to do!
What are the Benefits of an Air Fryer?
Here are the features that make air fryers such a great appliance to have at home:
Healthier Cooking
Traditional frying methods require submerging food in oil, which can significantly increase the calorie and fat content. Air fryers use little to no oil, reducing the overall fat content of the food while still providing a crispy texture.
Convenience
Air fryers are known for their quick cooking times, making them perfect for busy households. They preheat faster than ovens and cook food quicker too, saving valuable time in the kitchen.
Versatility
From appetisers to main courses and even desserts, air fryers can handle a variety of cooking tasks. This versatility makes them a valuable addition to any kitchen.
Ease of Use
Most air fryers come with preset functions and intuitive controls, making them user-friendly even for those who are not kitchen-savvy. Simply select the desired setting, and the air fryer does the rest.
Energy Efficiency
Air fryers are generally more energy-efficient than conventional ovens, as they require less preheating time and cook food faster. This can lead to lower energy bills and a smaller carbon footprint.
Morphy Richards Dual Zone Air Fryer
To put the Morphy Richards Digital Dual Basket Air Fryer to the test, I wanted to cook a variety of dishes, from classic fries to the more adventurous scones. I need to know that my appliances will be used well, making my life easier with the meals I cook already, not taking up space and gathering dust in the cupboard.
First Impressions
Unboxing the air fryer, the first thing that stands out is its sleek and modern design. It is quite compact and would sit neatly on the kitchen counter or on a shelf in a cupboard if needed.
The two baskets are nice and deep at 3.6L capacity and each comes with a crisping tray insert.
Features
The Dual Basket Air Fryer is packed with features that enhance its functionality and user experience.
Dual Basket Design
The dual baskets allows users to cook two different dishes at the same time, each with its own temperature and time settings. There is also the ability to synchronise end times so that everything is ready to serve at the same time.
Preset Functions
There are 7 settings for each basket: pre heat, bake, roast, roast veg, frozen chips, dehydrate, and defrost. These take the guesswork out of cooking for the most common meals, making life even easier.
Adjustable Temperature and Timer
Of course, you can have absolute control with the ability to adjust the temperature and timings to suit your needs. With a range of 80°C to 200°C and a timer that can be set up to 60 minutes, you have flexibility where you need it.
Digital Touchscreen
The digital interface is easy to use, clearly displaying the selected settings and remaining cooking time. With no physical buttons, the appliance is so easy to keep clean with a simple wipe with a cloth.
Viewing window
This is such a handy feature! No need to open up the baskets to look inside at the food – simply press the lightbulb to illuminate the inside and peek in through the viewing window to check on the progress of whatever you are making.
Match program
A very handy feature is the match program, which matches the selected settings of the left drawer to the right drawer. This saves you having to tap it all in twice each time if you are using the drawers ‘as one’.
Cooking Performance
For me, I am not interested in speed or even health benefits if the food isn’t going to taste as good as an oven cooked equivalent. So, it was important to me that the food came out looking and tasting amazing.
French fries
The air fryer does have a preset function for fries, but the frozen kind. In our house we mostly make our own so I adapted the time slightly and they came out brilliantly!
Crispy and although not as speedy as frozen chips (under 20 mins in the air fryer) they were much easier to make and used a lot less energy than if I’d made them in the oven. A much more even crisp to them too – win!
Lunchtime bagel
The girls make their own lunches each day and usually have to turn our double oven on to grill their bagels, so as to melt the cheese. Can you imagine the energy needed to heat a double oven just for a bagel?
Now they can pop their bagels into the air fryer and in 2 minutes they have a delicious lunch. You just can’t beat that for efficiency!
Chicken & chips
Next, we moved on to BBQ chicken for dinner. Again, the preset function delivered perfectly cooked chicken – tender and delicious.
The dual basket allowed us to prepare a side of potatoes simultaneously, cutting down the overall cooking time and making it a speedy meal for busy days.
Scones
For a more challenging test, I had a go at cooking scones. While air fryers are not typically associated with baking, one of the preset features is indeed baking.
The scones turned out really well and would definitely be something I would whip up quickly as a treat for the kids.
Cleaning
Cleaning is very straightforward with the baskets and crisper plates being dishwasher safe. Or, if like me you prefer hand washing non-stick items, the food residue comes off easily with minimal scrubbing.
Benefits of Two Baskets
The dual basket design is a game-changer for busy households and those who love to multitask in the kitchen.
Time-Saving
With two baskets, you can cook different parts of your meal simultaneously, with a main dish one one side and a side dish on the other. No more having to wait for one dish to finish to start the next.
Separate Cooking
The dual basket design also prevents flavor crossover. This means you can cook fish in one basket and a dessert in the other without worrying about flavours mixing in between.
Additional Considerations
Noise Level
While the air fryer does make some noise during operation, it is not loud at all. It’s comparable to the sound of a microwave or a convection oven.
Price Point
Considering its features and capabilities, the Digital Dual Basket Air Fryer offers good value for money. It is priced competitively compared to other high-end air fryers, especially given the added convenience of the dual basket system.
Final thoughts
The Morphy Richards Digital Dual Basket Air Fryer is a versatile and efficient kitchen appliance. With its dual basket design, multiple preset functions, and ease of use making it a standout choice for anyone looking to simplify their cooking processes.
Discover more at morphyrichards.co.uk