Air fryers have been taking over people's kitchens for several years now. They promote healthier eating, lower calorie content in food because they don't require oil for frying, and they also cook food faster than a traditional oven.

The range of products is dazzling, and the recipes and tips constantly published on social media may make it seem like a deep fryer is a must-have in every home. But is it really? Is it something that will change everyone's kitchen?

If you, like me, are confused about these questions - this review is for you. I invite you to get acquainted with the Chefree AFW01 hot air fryer with me, discover all its advantages and, of course, disadvantages.

First impressions and build quality

The Chefree AFW01 arrived safely in a relatively small box, surrounded by foam. Inside the box, in addition to the fryer, I found a grill, a bread toasting rack, an English user manual, and some examples of how long certain dishes should be cooked.

The air fryer itself is quite minimalistic, and its design is simple and unobtrusive. It's completely black, with touch-sensitive buttons and the Chefree logo on the handle.

The 5-liter cooking basket is removed by pressing the button on the handle and pulling, which requires absolutely no force. When viewed from the front, there is a glass window behind the handle through which you can see the food being cooked. When you put the basket back in, you will hear a click.

Functionality

Traditionally, I don't read the instructions and connect the device for the first test. You need to get used to the control, which is really very simple and convenient. According to the layout, you want to press the place where the function is written, but the latter are switched with one button. 

Chefree AFW01 has 6 cooking modes - air fry, bake, air roast, grill, reheat and dehydrate. Once you select the desired mode, the air fryer will automatically select the time and temperature by default, and if everything is OK, just press the start button. 

To change the temperature or time, it is easy to do with a few button presses (up and down arrows on different sides for each function). The temperature can also be changed during cooking in 5°C increments, and the time in 1 minute increments.

Often products have their own quirks - this is not the case with AFW01. You cannot press the pause button during cooking and to open the basket, no matter how natural this sequence of steps seems. If you select pause and remove the basket, the cooking function "fails" and when you put the basket back in, you will have to set everything up again. 

However, this can be easily circumvented - without using the pause button, you can simply pull out the basket while the fryer is operating, and when you put it back in, the previous function continues. This air fryer also has lighting, and there is a separate button to turn it on. Although the window is not the largest, it and the lighting are enough to see the dish being cooked.

Baking

One of the best features of the Chefree AFW01 is its fast heat-up time. So, if you want to cook something quickly, you'll save time and enjoy your meals much faster than cooking in a conventional oven. The baking basket fits a whole chicken. 

When frying, it is often recommended to turn it over to brown all sides. This is because the heating element is only on the top. I did not use this recommendation, but this hot air fryer coped with this task perfectly - although the bottom was slightly less browned, it did not affect the final result at all.

I was also impressed by the fact that you don't need to use any oil or other "seasonings" to achieve appetizing browning. However, to ensure that all the fries are browned, you have to pull out the container from time to time and stir them or shake the basket itself.

Roasting

For those who love toasted bread, the Chefree AFW01 is perfect. You can comfortably toast 4 slices of bread at a time, which will toast on all sides. In terms of time, the whole process takes only a little longer than toasting with a traditional toaster, but they only hold 2 slices as standard.

Drying

Drying is another great feature that I have used. I dried apples and pears, and the Chefree did a great job. The only downside is that the basket capacity is too small. Of course, you can buy accessories or additional compartments for the cooking basket, but a dedicated fruit dryer will do the job faster.

Maintenance

This air fryer is very easy to use and clean. After more than a month of cooking, the inside of the fryer did not get dirty, and the heating element did not get greased. It is true that grease began to accumulate on the top of the heating element, but it is easy to clean.

The frying basket and the grill itself can be washed under running water, and strong detergents are definitely not needed. According to the manufacturer's advertising, the latter can also be washed in the dishwasher. However, I have heard from people who own such fryers that the rubber grill supports get damaged after washing in the dishwasher, and it is difficult to find replacements.

One of the advantages of using an air fryer is that it doesn't waste oil - it's simply not used in the production process. Usually, frying fries uses a lot of oil, and disposing of it properly isn't that easy.

What we didn't like?

It is quite difficult to find flaws in the Chefree AFW01. Low price, good quality, and during all tests it worked flawlessly. The only drawback was the idea of what else this model could have. So, it would be nice if this fryer had a timer with a choice of when to start frying, i.e. it would turn on for example at 5 pm, and when we returned from work, we would already have a hot dish.

Verdict

In conclusion, a hot air fryer is a great appliance for those who want to eat healthier, or those looking for a wider variety of flavors or dishes. Throughout the testing period, I had to try different recipes and cook different dishes, and the Chefree AFW01 never disappointed.

This is a great kitchen appliance that teenagers can handle - whether it's heating up food after school or frying fries on their own. Extremely easy to use, controlled with just a few clicks, this air fryer is suitable for everyone. 

Could it replace the ovens you have at home? If the 5-liter capacity is enough and you don't plan on baking cakes, then yes. Is this fryer enough for a family of 3? Yes! The Chefree AFW01 is a great hot air fryer that will complement every homeowner's kitchen.