Prestige AirFlip Two-in-One Air Fryer and Grill review: Flippin’ good

Rating: 4/5

The wellness revolution reached our kitchens when air fryers changed home cooking. As consumers shifted to eating organic, they also increasingly sought alternatives to traditional frying methods even as air fryers transitioned from novelty gadgets to essential appliances. People desired for crispy textures without drowning food in oil, forcing the companies push the boundaries of what ultra-modern air fryers can do. This created a market filled with options, each promising healthier cooking without compromise. But Prestige went further ahead, designing an airfryer to do more.

Prestige launched the AirFlip 4.5L Air Fryer – an intriguing proposition in the competitive market. Priced at Rs 12,600 on its website, the air fryer is basically a 2-in-1 offering with the ability of air frying and grilling. We spent some time putting this appliance through its paces, preparing everything from breakfast items to party snacks to see whether its innovative design translates into practical cooking advantages. And here’s what we found.

Prestige AirFlip Air Fryer: Design and build

The Prestige AirFlip commands attention with its different design approach. Unlike conventional air fryers that commit to a single cooking method and setup – a fan, heating element and a basket – this model embraces slight versatility through its flip mechanism. The ‘Flip’ in the AirFlip is its ability to turn 180-degree or flip, exposing the fan and heating element, facing up – just like in a stove. This means that the mechanism that is used to air fry can be used for cooking food like kebabs and/or shallow fry tikkis or smiley snack.

The appliance's most striking feature is its transparent glass basket that provided an advantage while airfrying. The 4.5-litre capacity container provides a complete 360-degree view of your food as it cooks, eliminating the guesswork that is a problem with opaque models. This way, we were able to more accurately judge the frying level of the food – proving valuable when experimenting with unfamiliar recipes or monitoring delicate items that can overcook quickly.

The glass construction of the cooking container in the Prestige AirFlip Air Fryer has a dual-layer design with the inner bowl separated with an outer layer, addressing safety concerns that arise with high-temperature cooking.

However, we identified two minor design flaws in Prestige AirFlip Air Fryer: First, the fit of the cooking container is overly tight, which means you require significant force to remove it from the main device. This caused some users, specifically those who are more protective of high-end appliances and elderly like mothers, to avoid the product due to the physical struggle involved. Second, the lack of internal lighting made it somewhat difficult to monitor the food's progress like how brown it is when cooking in low-light environments.

Now coming to the grilling feature, Prestige has included dual-functionality in AirFlip. There is a knob on the right side of hinge of the air fryer. You pull it, and with the help of a clip, you turn it 180-degrees. Prestige is also providing a grilling pan and a glass lid that sits perfectly on the fryer.

The control interface combines modern aesthetics with functional design. A touch panel paired with a digital display allows precise adjustments across a temperature range spanning 80°C to 200°C as well as timer. The function selector allows for quick transition between food types and other basic functionalities. Once the orientation of the heating apparatus is flipped, the control buttons essentially reorient themselves allowing for comfortable operation.

The overall build quality of the appliance appears solid and the materials used in the construction feel substantial. The appliance is heavy, suggesting thoughtful engineering, and the components fit together without noticeable gaps or loose sections. One of the best kitchen appliance designs are the ones that occupy reasonable counter space, and the AirFlip has a moderate footprint that should accommodate most kitchen layouts without dominating available workspace.

While some may feel that the 4.5-litre capacity is less but we feel that this capacity represents a practical middle ground, sufficient for small to medium-sized households (4-5 people) without requiring excessive storage space when not in use.

Prestige AirFlip Air Fryer cooking performance

Testing an air fryer properly requires multiple cooking scenarios that loosely cover a large selection of food prepared in it. So we went beyond basic frozen foods, and prepared a variety of dishes to evaluate performance across different cooking challenges. The five modes: fries, grilling, fish shrimp and pizza – provided quick starting points, however, manual adjustments are needed to control cooking as per personal needs.

When it comes to air frying frozen products like chilli garlic potato shots, cheesy pizza fingers and fries, the Prestige AirFlip Air Fryer delivered impressive outcomes consistently. These foods emerged with golden exteriors and cooked interiors, achieving that satisfying crunch without submerging them in oil. While frozen food do not require oil but a light misting of oil during cooking enhanced browning and flavour.

We even tried to air fry products like pizza samosas that are not recommended to be cooked in air fryers but it turned out that a little hit and trial, and customised cooking produced desired results. Similarly, the appliance handled frozen non-vegetarian food and delicate proteins well. It is to be mentioned that in some cases like fish and chicken, the preset provided a reasonable foundation but they often required timing adjustments like cooking beyond the preset timer. The visibility through the glass basket proved invaluable here.

Homemade preparations like vegetable fritters and cutlets were well cooked but they needed constant inspection in first few tries. These items required slightly more oil application to improve crisp and prevent drying. The airfryer is not recommended for reheating but it can be used to salvage some food items like pizza and frozen food that quickly went cold in Delhi winters.

A special mention on how to use the air fryer. The 1500-watt motor provides adequate power for consistent heating. As usual, you are required to preheat it for approximately four to five minutes to ensure proper cooking temperatures. Cooking durations vary by item: frozen fries typically need 12 to 15 minutes, homemade one needed up to 18 minutes, chicken nuggets take 20 to 25 minutes depending on size, and vegetables usually finish within 12 to 15 minutes.

The grilling process is closely similar to using a gas stovetop, as the food still requires a coating of butter or oil for even browning. We tested the unit with both chicken and mutton seekh kebabs, and the results were impressive as the meat remained juicy and were cooked thoroughly.

However, flipping functionality becomes cumbersome when preparing multiple types of food, such as transitioning from air-frying nuggets to grilling kebabs. Since the heating element becomes exposed and extremely hot, the constant flipping requires manual effort and extreme caution to avoid accidental burns.

The appliance generates slight operational noise with a consistent hum audible throughout the kitchen in silent environments like during late-night cooking. Though it isn't disruptive enough to prevent conversation.

Overall, the results closely approximated traditional frying, though experienced palates and first time air-fried food eaters detected difference in texture and flavour compared to oil frying. The food was not ‘juicy’ and sometimes was too dry but it’s a compromise that comes with health advantages.

Further, cooking with the AirFlip takes longer than traditional deep frying. Items requiring four to five minutes in hot oil extend to 15 to 20 minutes in the air fryer. So for rushed meal preparation, go for traditional frying but an air fryer is the superior choice if you are multitasking during a party because it requires no constant monitoring and lacks the hazards of a stovetop filled with hot oil. Additionally, its portability allows you to set up a cooking station anywhere with a power outlet.

Cleaning and maintenance remain manageable as most surfaces on the appliance can be cleaned by simple wipe. However, after cooking marinated or sticky foods, the air fryer required scrubbing.

Verdict

The Prestige AirFlip 4.5L Air Fryer delivers solid performance with its innovative dual-mode design providing genuine versatility rather than gimmicky features. The transparent glass basket offers practical advantages that improve cooking outcomes but a light source could have been better. Build quality is durable enough for regular use, and the safety features demonstrate consideration for real-world kitchen environments.

Having said that, this appliance makes sense for specific user profiles like those who are health-focused, who reheat leftovers and those who prioritise effortless cooking without constant monitoring. The dual grilling and frying capability benefits households that frequently prepare both food types – saving both money and space. However, certain groups might find limitations problematic. Those prioritise authentic deep-fried characteristics above health considerations may find the textural differences unsatisfying. Further, cooking for large gatherings is hit by capacity constraint and extended preparation time.