Closer to a convection oven than a traditional fryer, so-called “oil-free” fryers – although a little is often needed all the same – offer sometimes surprising functions. This is particularly the case with the AFW01 from the Chinese brand Chefree. Like many other models now, it promises to cook like in the oven, to reheat or even to dehydrate, but it also offers to grill your morning sandwiches.
A toast rack to replace the toaster
To do this, the Chefree AFW01 does not go so far as to offer a dedicated mode, said modes being moreover six in number: the three already mentioned plus roasting, grilling and frying of course. The device, on the other hand, comes with a “toast rack”. It is more exactly a support for holding slices of bread upright in the drawer. We can imagine being able to pass pieces of chopsticks through it, but it will therefore be necessary to cut it well beforehand.
The hot air should in any case be able to circulate around the slices, but also between them to brown them on both sides. There is certainly nothing to revolutionize breakfast, but it must be recognized that it is a rather clever use of the oil-free fryer. Smart, but not necessarily ecological given the 1500 W of power announced. A standard, two-slot toaster rarely exceeds 1000 W, and it’s a safe bet that it toasts the bread faster, even if Chefree’s toast rack seems to be able to hold four slices… So it will all depend on your toast consumption.
As for fries, the AFW01 would be able to cook up to about 500 g at once thanks to its 5 liter drawer. The brand also mentions the possibility of cooking a 2 kg chicken. To facilitate the circulation of hot air in the bottom of the drawer, a perforated cooking tray is provided, as with the Air Fryer AF160EU from Ninja for example. Less common, this drawer incorporates a transparent window on its front wall, and thus makes it possible to follow the progress of cooking without having to interrupt them by pulling it.
The Chefree AFW01 fryer is currently available for less than €150.