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Furthermore, another issue is that frying is one of the most dangerous activities that can be carried out in the kitchen. Don't forget that an open pan of oil on the stove is a major fire hazard while even a thermostatically controlled chip man contains more than enough oil to give terrible burns.

In operation, chips (or whatever else one wants to fry) are placed in the 25cm diameter pan in which there is a rotor arm, the small amount of oil is drizzled on them, the clear perspex lid closed, and the Actifry switched on. There is no time wasted in pre-heating. The chips are churned over by the slowly turning rotor so that they get evenly cooked. There is a built-in timer, but it is just that so one has to be on-hand to switch the machine off.

Reviews : Kitchen

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The maximum recommended chip size is 9cm long by 13mm x 13mm with the instruction guide pointing out that the thinner the chips "the more crunchy they will be". It suggests cooking times of about 40/45 minutes for 1kg of freshly cut chips down to 24/26 minutes for 250g with added oil being 1 spoon (14ml) and quarter-spoon respectively.

In practice, I found that slightly longer cooking times were required. In addition, being sceptical about the recommended quantities of oil, I added more with my first attempt which was with 250g. The results were better when I followed their recommendation. If one wants to take a sample chip, the power is cut off while the lid is lifted.

The guide also gives recommendations for frozen chips, chicken drumsticks and a range of other items. In addition, there is a 60 page recipe book which also has guidance on cooking a variety of foods and suggestions for healthy eating.

The Actifry is ideal for those who like their cooking to be "cut-and-dried" as one can follow the instructions and get consistent results. Furthermore, as long as one is not using strongly flavoured oils or ingredients, it probably only needs a quick wipe over with a piece of kitchen roll after use -- ideal for both the bachelor and the busy mum.

Being roughly 30cm in diameter with a further large extension to the rear to accommodate the heater etc, it does, however, take up a fair amount of workspace. Consequently, the Actifry only comes into its own if one has a fairly large kitchen and is going to use it regularly.

The Actifry is available for £134 including delivery from Amazon.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000T76UOE?ie=UTF8&tag=gadge0a-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634

The Actifry is available for €179,90 including delivery from Amazon.

http://www.amazon.fr/gp/product/B000RVYJ9A?ie=UTF8&tag=gadge04-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1642