Looking for healthier ways to cook without sacrificing taste and flavour? Look no further than the Swan Retro Air Fryer!
Are you looking for an easy and convenient way to create healthier meals without compromising on taste and flavour? Look no further than the Swan Retro Air Fryer! Discover the benefits of this super practical kitchen gadget that will save you time and money, creating healthier, more flavourful meals!
Whether you’re looking to cook up some crispy vegetables, delicious sweet potato chips, or even bake, this versatile appliance has got you covered.
The Swan Retro Air Fryer uses hot air circulation to cook your favourite foods to crispy perfection with little or no oil. With its sleek and stylish design, it is a must-have addition to any kitchen.
Since the 1920s, British brand Swan has always been at the forefront of design innovations for kitchen appliances (including air fryers) and housewares. It was Swam that invented the first electric kettle back in the 1930s.
The Swan Retro Range is a collection of kettles, toasters, pots, pans and appliances with classic retro designs that can be mixed and matched to add some vintage flair to your kitchen. The range is available in 10 colours to match any retro colour palette.
In this post
What is an air fryer?
In spite of the name, an air fryer is in fact more like a mini oven rather than a deep fryer. It uses hot air circulation to cook food, giving it a crispy texture similar to deep frying but without the need for excessive oil. It works by circulating hot air around the food at high speeds, creating a convection effect that cooks the food evenly and quickly.
Once cooked in an air fryer, food tends to be crispy on the outside and soft on the inside without the oiliness that usually coats deep-fried food.
Benefits of Using an Air Fryer
There are several benefits to using an air fryer in your cooking. Firstly, it allows you to achieve that crispy texture similar to deep frying, but with much less oil. This means you can enjoy your favourite fried foods without the guilt and added calories.
Additionally, air fryers are much safer to use compared to traditional deep fryers, as there is no risk of hot oil splattering or spills. They are also much easier to clean, as most air fryer baskets and trays are dishwasher safe.
Another benefit is that air fryers cook food faster than traditional ovens, saving you time and money. The energy savings from cooking with an air fryer are even more noticeable if you are preparing small batches of food or cooking for 1 or 2 people.
Lastly, air fryers are versatile and can be used to cook a wide variety of foods, from chips, meat, and fish to vegetables and even bread and cakes. At low temperatures (about 50°C/ 125°F), they can even double up as food dehydrators.
Tips for Using an Air Fryer
Using an air fryer can be a game-changer in the kitchen, but it’s important to know how to use it properly to get the best results. Here are some tips for using an air fryer:
1. Don’t overcrowd the basket: It’s tempting to fill up the basket with as much food as possible, but overcrowding can lead to uneven cooking. Leave some space between the food items so that the air can circulate evenly.
2. Shake or flip the food: To ensure even cooking, shake the basket or flip the food halfway through the cooking time. This will help prevent any parts from getting overcooked or undercooked.
3. Use a little oil: While air fryers require less oil than traditional frying methods, adding a small amount of oil can help achieve that crispy texture. Fat also helps carry flavour, resulting in better-tasting food. Use a cooking spray or brush a thin layer of oil onto the food.
4. Experiment with cooking times and temperatures: Every air fryer is different, so it may take some trial and error to find the perfect cooking times and temperatures for your favourite recipes. Start with the recommended times and temperatures, and adjust as needed.
5. Clean the air fryer regularly: To keep your air fryer in top shape, make sure to clean it regularly. Most air fryer baskets and trays are dishwasher safe.
6. Get creative with recipes: Don’t limit yourself to just chips and bacon. Air fryers can be used to cook a wide variety of foods, so get creative and try out different recipes. From crispy vegetables, cupcakes, and bread to homemade muffins and doughnuts, the possibilities are endless.
7. Avoid batter: Any food covered in liquid batter will get very messy when cooked in an air-fryer and also will not crisp well.
The Swan Retro Air Fryer
The Swan Retro Air Fryer is the perfect example of where retro style meets modern technology. This stylish and functional air fryer combines the best of both worlds, with a sleek and chic design, reminiscent of the days of diners and drive-ins, and modern air frying features that make healthy cooking a breeze. With its large capacity and easy-to-use controls, the Swan Retro Air Fryer is perfect for cooking up all your favourite meals with up to 80 per cent less fat. This is a manual air fryer so there are no fussy pre-set digital settings.
Key Features
- EXTRA-LARGE CAPACITY: this is a 6-litre air fryer large enough to cook 4 portions. It is suitable for up to 3kg worth of food.
- SQUARE BASKET: that conveniently accommodates square and rectangular shape food like bread, salmon filets, bacon etc…
- SETTINGS: easy-to-use manual dials for the timer (0 to 60 minutes) and thermostat (0 to 200°C).
- AUTO-STOP FUNCTION: auto-stop function and count-down memory allow you to keep an eye on your frying by pulling out the pan, and once you place it back in, it picks up where it left off.
- NO PRE-HEATING NECESSARY: saving on your energy bills
- CONSUMPTION: 1,800 Watts
- WARRANTY: 2 years
Is the Swan Retro Air Fryer worth the hype?
I am a bit late to the air fryer party, and for the past few weeks, we have been putting the Swan Retro Air Fryer to the test.
First of all, this is a fairly large countertop appliance so looks are important. I love the retro style and the cream colour matches my Kitchen Aid food mixer perfectly.
This is a very easy-to-use appliance. There are no complicated digital settings or programs, simply set the temperature and timer via the manual dials and you are good to go.
The Swan Retro Air Fryer comes with guidelines on how to cook different types of food. However, as with any other kitchen appliance, I have gone through a trial-and-error phase to get to know my new kitchen gadget. Frozen chips took a bit longer while mushrooms cooked much quicker than anticipated. As a general rule, I now set the timer for slightly less time, checking (and shaking) halfway, and adjusting towards the end in case it needs a little bit more time.
Easily removable, the basket has a nice capacity perfect for our family of four, and can easily be cleaned in the dishwasher. This is so much easier than cleaning an oven or deep-fryer!
What we have cooked so far with the Swan Retro Air Fryer …
We have tested the Swan Retro Air Fryer with different types of food. The whole family got involved. My son made a tasty kung pao chicken and kung pao tofu dinner and is also enjoying his “new & improved” bacon sandwich. My daughter air-fried some potatoes as well as salmon filets.
I have made a variety of veggie food, such as crispy tofu, halloumi, roasted asparagus, mushrooms, cauliflower, broccoli, snap peas, Brussels sprouts, chickpeas, and jackfruit as well as muffins, and a small loaf of bread.
Everything has turned out really well so far. French fries were a bit disappointing at first, but playing around I found that thinner fries turn out crispier than thicker fries.
Overall, I am very impressed by the Swan Retro Air Fryer. It is versatile, in fact, you can pretty much cook anything in it that you would otherwise cook in an oven. I love that it requires no pre-heating (even for baking), and cooks food so quickly, saving me time and money. It is also really easy to use and clean. So far I have not missed having the preset functionalities of a digital air fryer, and we have been able to cook a wide variety of food simply using the timer and thermostat. This is a great addition to my kitchen.
I leave you with a delicious recipe for Air Fryer Roasted Cauliflower & Chickpea Wraps that makes a delicious lunch or light dinner. I make my own wraps but if you are in a rush, simply use some storebought flatbreads.
The Swan Retro Air Fryer (SRP £89.99) is available from the Swan website as well as from different retailers.
Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. All thoughts and opinions are my own and completely honest.
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