T-fal Actifry: A Healthy French-Fry Maker?

The product: T-fal Actifry ($299.99, t-falusa.com)

The claim: This faux fryer promises to prepare two pounds' worth of fries with just one tablespoon of oil.

The tester: Editorial assistant Karla Walsh

The bottom line: "Can guilt-free fries measure up to the real thing? I began washing, peeling, and slicing spuds to find out. I put them inside the countertop machine, which looks like a cross between a popcorn popper and a rice cooker, and added a tablespoon of oil. I closed the lid, pushed the start button, pressed the timer, and then watched as a rotating blade moved the taters so they cooked evenly on all sides. Thirty minutes later, crispy, golden fries were ready for a taste test. The consensus: Flavor? Yum. Texture? Crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. But because baked fries taste like these, unless you constantly crave restaurant fries and have extra counter space and cash, you can probably skip the Actifry."

Originally published in FITNESS magazine, November/December 2010.

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