With its brand new Moulinex Easy Fry & Grill XXL air fryer, the French champion of small household appliances promises us the best air fryer on the market, with an above-average capacity. A companion application adds a fine digital touch, but does not influence the frying. Here is his complete test!
After testing the Xiaomi Smart Air Fryer Pro 4 L connected hot air fryer, we now move on to the French champion of small household appliances Moulinex with its Easy Fry & Grill XXL. The manufacturer promises a “frying» with larger-than-life air, great versatility and above-average cooking capacity.
This test was carried out using a product loaned by the manufacturer.
Design and features: compact, elegant and connected
We find the shape common to all AirFryers, with particularly neat and balanced lines here. The Easy Fry & Grill XXL is only available in black, with a dress that alternates between shiny black plastic and black brushed metal effect plastic. Touches of silver color on the top of the product and its handle bring even more elegance to the beast. A large sensitive panel with an LCD display completes the owner’s tour.
We benefit from a heating power of 1,830 W and Moulinex adds Extra-crisp technology supposed to reproduce the crispiness of foods usually cooked by frying. It is important to remember that an air fryer remains above all a mini-oven with rotating heat.
The cooking tray has a comfortable volume of 6.5 l, which can be divided into two thanks to the separator supplied with it. The latter allows you to cook two different foods in a single batch. For example, you can cook fries and breaded fish simultaneously. Priced at 199 euros, this product is positioned as a high-end model, an impression confirmed by impeccable manufacturing quality.
Installation and configuration: simplicity from start to hunger
The Moulinex Easy Fry & Grill XXL occupies a volume of 36.1 x 30.3 x 43.2 cm for a weight of 5.5 kg and a capacity of 6.5 liters. The overweight of the latter is therefore very controlled, especially if we consider the choice of a large touchscreen control panel. The fact remains that it will take up significant space on the work surface and requires a storage unit that is quite spacious in depth and especially in height. Before positioning it, remember that a flow of hot air is evacuated from the back.
The controls are all located in the control panel located at the top of the front panel. It occupies almost the entire width of the product and offers eight pictograms giving access to pre-programmed cooking modes. The AirFry and Grill function can be activated manually, just as it is possible to change the temperature and cooking time on the fly. In use, it’s very pleasant, the controls respond perfectly. In comparison, the wheel of its competitor Xiaomi is less fast and efficient.
Now let’s move on to the application Moulinex, recipes and more. It has only one role, to centralize all the recipes and tips necessary for this product. Connectivity is simply non-existent, a disappointment from this manufacturer.
From an aesthetic and ergonomic point of view, the application is well thought out. We have a homepage that offers recipe suggestions. By going through the tab “Recipes» you access the complete catalog of 64 recipes…
This is very little and we expected a greater choice. Moulinex offers additional thematic packs such as Bread, Vegetarian, or Chicken and many others. However, when we tried to access it, the pages remained sadly empty…
This doesn’t sound very serious, whereas for other of its products, the brand does much better. Especially since the recipes are presented in a very educational way and are accessible to as many people as possible.
Positive point, it is possible to search for recipes by ingredient or even filter them by ingredients that you do not like or allergens for you.
In use: effective and practical
The cooking bowl is very well made, the handle does not absorb heat at all, ensuring trouble-free handling. As long as you avoid touching its metal edges, there is no risk of burns. In addition, the non-stick tank is a model of its kind, maintenance is extremely simple. A sponge with soapy water will restore its original shine. This also applies to the other accessories such as the grid and the separator.
Source: Yazid Amer for Frandroid
Source: Yazid Amer for Frandroid
The manufacturer announces a power of 1,800 Watts, for a temperature range from 80° to 200°. With a 6.5 liter tank, it is possible to prepare 1 to 1.5 kg of fries, enough to satisfy a family of four to five people. If you use the divider, the portions will fit one or two people.
We followed the app’s recipes and used the pre-programmed cooking modes to make frozen and fresh fries, fresh squid fritters, fresh chicken nuggets, turmeric and honey roasted chickpeas, and roasted broccoli. Let’s start with frozen fries where we used the fry mode, which does not distinguish between fresh and frozen. It took us 20 minutes to obtain a convincing result. We even have an appreciable crispness, but the interior lacks a little fondness with a good third of the fries a little floury inside.
With fresh fries, we have a result that holds up perfectly after 25 minutes. They have a decent golden color and a crispy texture, although less pronounced than that of frozen fries.
Then, it’s time for squid fritters and fresh chicken nuggets. We cooked them simultaneously to assess the possible impact of this joint cooking. In terms of smell and taste, we did not notice any cross-contamination and enjoyed perfectly cooked products, displaying a beautiful golden hue and a very appreciable crispy texture.
Source: Yazid Amer for Frandroid
Source: Yazid Amer for Frandroid
For roasted broccoli we get a significantly better result than the Xiaomi air fryer. Cooking is more even, and the appearance and roasted flavor are more pronounced. We also roasted chickpeas, with turmeric and others with honey. In the first case, the roasted appearance is very uneven, while in the second, the honey allows for more successful caramelization, thus providing more crunchiness.
In terms of fish, cooking was successful. Be sure to check the cooking progress periodically to avoid ending up with overcooked flesh. A precaution which must also be applied to white and red meats. If you’re aiming for a truly roasted look, take the time to brush the ingredients with oil or a marinade. Please note, in all these cases, the use of the grill plate is essential. It ensures better air circulation and allows light marking.
Note that this product comes with a measuring spoon for the oil and that the quantities requested are much lower than those requested by the Xiaomi Air Fryer Pro 4 L. Here we have a real fryer.almost» without oil. Finally, unlike a real fryer, you must regularly stir the ingredients to obtain truly even cooking. The air fryer alerts us with a beep to inform us of the moment(s) you need to perform this action. However, do not hesitate to perform this operation more frequently than recommended to achieve optimal results.
Price and availability of the Moulinex Easy Fry & Grill XXL
The Moulinex Easy Fry & Grill XXL is available at the price of 149.99 euros on the Xiaomi website and partner resellers.