Advice needed on low fat fryers

[Melbourne12]

We're planning on buying a fryer for my sister's Christmas present, but I need some advice from experienced users!

What she wants to do is make tempura and similar things like bhajis, but as low fat as possible.  We have a traditional deep fat fryer (one of the easy clean ones where the bowl lifts out) and I know from experience that however much you drain such things on kitchen paper, there's still a lot of fat left in the batter or coating.

So we're thinking of either a halogen oven, or maybe pushing the boat out and getting a Philips Airfryer (similar to Tefal Actifry but with fewer problems).

Does anyone know whether either of these machines will cook tempura or similar battered foods?

Thanks!

[Melbourne12]

[tomatoada]

I was hoping for replies to your post as I am needing to replace my fryer.

[Jayb]

I was hoping someone might give a recommendation too 
Would love to have chips once in a while and I'm dying to make Jeannine's fried chicken- though I'm sure I could do this in the oven, just looking for excuses really!

[Melbourne12]

I was hoping for replies to your post as I am needing to replace my fryer.

I've been reading reviews of the Airfryer and Actifry on various blogs.  One or two people have tried battered foods, and some bloggers have contacted the manufacturers.  Neither Philips nor Tefal recommend cooking freshly battered food in their respective machines.

In the Airfryer, the batter cooks onto the basket, so you can't remove the food without tearing the bottom layer of batter off.  In the Actifry, the rotating paddle promptly wipes the batter off, leaving the food to grill, and the remnants of the batter to burn onto the machine.

So that's those two out (for what my sister wants, anyway).

I haven't really found any definitive information on battered foods in a halogen oven.  I'll keep looking!

[Tandrash]

I have used a low fat fryers for quite some time now and it works great for things like potatoes, chips/fries but sadly not tempura. Low fat fryers do not cook batter as well as deep fat fryers. However, I would never replace my low fat fryers as it works great.

Edit to remove link.

[Melbourne12]

I have used a low fat fryers for quite some time now and it works great for things like potatoes, chips/fries but sadly not tempura. Low fat fryers do not cook batter as well as deep fat fryers. However, I would never replace my low fat fryers as it works great. If you want to find out more, I read all about these on 'link removed' where they explained all about them and compared each model and brand.

That's rather strange, Tandrash.  There aren't actually any comparisons on that site, and not much information, either.  I was a bit disappointed. 

[caroline7758]

I notice that was Tandrash's first post. (Can't find the Wink or Roll-eyes smileys!)