So you’ve heard about air fryers and the mouthwatering foods they produce. And in your search for a capable air fryer, you’ve heard about this brand and now it’s time for a reliable Power Air Fryer XL review. It’s quite possible that you first heard about this air fryer by the infomercial on television. Or, maybe you heard about it from a friend or colleague. Whatever the case may be, it’s time to look beyond the hype and to dig into the details.
Power Air Fryer XL Review – Is This Air Fryer Any Good?
It seems solid and substantial. With a user-friendly interface, there isn’t much of a learning curve, so chances are you’ll be up and running in no time. By the way – the Power Air Fryer XL is actually available in two different sizes: 3.4 quart and the most popular 5.3 quart.
But in this review, we will primarily focus on the last one – the 5.3 quart version since it’s the most practical of the three models.
At 5.3 quarts in size, you can fit a considerable amount of food in the basket. And the nonstick coating makes it reasonably easy to cleanup when all is said and done. Digital controls are user-friendly, with seven one-button preset cooking options.
These presets are just a quicker way to jump right into cooking some of the more popular food choices around. Of course, you’re always free to set the temperature and time as you see fit.
Easy Way To Cook Two Foods At Once
One thing we love about the Power Air Fryer XL is the divider insert that’s provided. This allows you to separate the basket into two distinct areas – so you can cook two totally different foods – like burgers and fries, or steak and onion rings – at exactly the same time.
If you have never used an air fryer before, you’ll be delighted at how this tool can save you both time and countertop space. The Power Air Fryer XL takes just a few minutes to reach the desired cooking temperature. Once there, food cooks faster than any full-size oven. And yet the food comes out tasting absolutely delicious.
Since cleanup is a relative breeze, there’s no long and drawn out process for getting rid of the mess in the kitchen after cooking. But what draws most people to air fryers is the irresistible crunch factor (with zero to little oil) you get from a quality air fryer like this one. It’s an affordable way to cook a wide variety of tasty foods and this is what makes this air fryer a terrific purchase.
How Big Is It?
This 5.3 quart air fryer measures 15.9 inches wide by 14 inches deep by 13.8 inches high. And this model uses 1700 Watts of power – so it’s a beast.
If you’re having trouble visualizing how much space it will occupy on your counter, measure it out and mark it with masking tape. But keep in mind that the overall shape is round and not square – so it may take up less space than you thought. It’s reasonably compact and yet big enough to accommodate a whole chicken (small) as well as French fries simultaneously in the nonstick basket.
More Important Details
This air fryer comes with a built-in 60 minute timer with an auto shut off feature. So you never have to worry about leaving your food and possibly burning it. The temperature range goes from 180° to 400°F which is on par with many other air fryers out there. The digital control panel is easy to use and the large handle to open the drawer is comfortable to grip. And since the PowerXL fryer boasts a large capacity nonstick basket – it can handle a wide variety of foods and in considerable quantity.
You might find that this air fryer is a good option for serving up to about six people – although that really depends on serving size. It is the biggest of the two models under the Power Air Fryer XL label and that’s something to keep in mind. If you typically serve fewer people at your dinner table, don’t let that deter you from getting this larger model. It just makes sense to gain the most space you can inside the cooking chamber because there will be times when having a little more room inside can save the day in your kitchen.
Another huge advantage of this brand is that the price is affordable. Given the size of this air fryer – you’re getting genuine value. You could easily pay as much or more for an air fryer that’s much smaller in capacity and would only cook one or two servings per cycle.
It’s Not Perfect (no product is)
If there’s a notable downside to the Power Air Fryer XL it would be that the warranty. This product warranty is only good for 60 days. But it’s probably not something the vast majority of buyers need to worry about.
Operational costs for this air fryer are minimal. Consumer Reports estimates that if you were to use it for just one hour per week all year long – your total cost in terms of electricity (for the year) would be about $6.50. Obviously, that price is dependent on electrical costs at the time and may vary in your area. This estimate is simply to give you an overall idea. Truth is… once you start using your new air fryer – you’ll likely want to use it more and more. But it’s good to know that it’s economical to do so.
A reliable air fryer gives you a healthier way to enjoy popular foods like mozzarella sticks, chicken wings, tenders, onion rings and tater tots. That’s just for starters. You can cook a wide variety of additional foods too that come out just as crispy and delicious.
Multipurpose Air Fryer
With the Power Air Fryer XL – you can also bake, steam, roast, sauté, or even grill your meals.
Whatever it is you like, whether that’s steak, wings, fries, chicken, salmon, cauliflower bites or the best asparagus you’ve ever tasted. It’s all doable and everything seems to taste better when it is air fried to perfection. Another thing this air fryer is great for is reheating leftovers. You’ll get a taste that is far superior to the microwave. In fact, you may end up not needing to use your microwave ever again to reheat meals.
What Else Can You Cook in The Power Air Fryer XL?
– Barbecued ribs that are juicy and delicious
– Variety of roasted veggies including broccoli, green beans and asparagus
– Spinach and Feta Spanakopita
– Chicken thighs that are always juicy (and never dry) with a crispy crunchy skin
– Coconut Shrimp
– Pork Chops
Not only will you save money in energy costs (compared to using a conventional oven) you’ll also save in on cooking oil. That’s because you’ll use so much less. If you used expensive oils – those savings add up quickly.
What’s great about this air fryer is that you can enjoy all your favorite foods – even fast food – without that greasy taste. That’s right. The XL air fryer will crisp your food beautifully by only using a fraction of the oil – or none at all.
Mix It Up
How much time it actually takes you to cook food depends on how much you’re cooking at once and the specific type of food. You can cook foods like fries without shaking the basket midway, but you’ll find that the fries on the bottom come out more cooked than the rest. It’s always a good idea to shake the basket once or twice during the cooking cycle. This helps ensure that whatever is in the basket is cooked evenly and comes out tasting the best.
With many foods you can simply follow the guidelines provided. Of course you’re always free to adapt so that the food comes out exactly the way you like it. With other foods not covered in the cookbook, it really comes down to experimenting with cooking times and temperatures.
It’s important to treat this or any other air fryer with care. Essentially, what this means is taking care of the nonstick coated basket. Preserve and protect the finish and it will performed the way it’s designed and you’ll extend the life of the appliance.
Quick Tips For Optimal Results
For some reason, several people have had difficulty getting the drawer back in place after shaking the basket. But there is a simple solution. Insert the drawer in a slight scooping motion. In other words, put the front end in first with the back tilted up slightly. Once the front is in, you can lower the back of the basket and slide it into place. When you do it this way, the basket should slide in easily without resistance.
It’s important to leave the silicone tips intact. You’ll find these under the basket and holding the basket divider in place. Lots of people wonder if they should remove these and it’s an issue that doesn’t seem to be mentioned in the manual. Always leave them in place.
With any air fryer, it’s a good idea to line the bottom of the basket with tinfoil or parchment paper when cooking marinated, battered or breaded foods. Just be sure to allow adequate space around the outside edge so that air can circulate from the bottom. When you do this you can reduce cleanup by a significant margin.
The Verdict
This brief Power Air Fryer XL review has equipped you with the kind of information you need to know to make an informed purchase decision. If you’re looking for a quality all round air fryer that delivers solid value and versatility – while being large enough to be useful to you and your family on a regular basis – this is it.
