Hey dads! Dale here with another appliance review for TheKitchenApplianceDad.com. Lately I’ve been getting a lot of questions about air fryers – namely whether the Sur La Table Air Fryer is worth the investment. As you guys know, I’m always on the hunt for appliances that make cooking easier and more fun without breaking the bank.
So I was excited to get my hands on the Sur La Table Air Fryer and put it through its paces. In this post, I’ll give you my full review after testing it for a few weeks. I’ll cover how it works, its features and performance, ease of use, and most importantly – is it worth the price tag? Let’s dive in!
First things first – let’s do a quick 101 on how air fryers work in case you aren’t familiar with this trendy appliance. Air fryers use super hot air and convection to crisp up foods, essentially mimicking deep frying but with little to no oil needed. The high heat helps remove moisture from the food’s surface and promotes browning through the Maillard reaction. This gives you that crispy, golden texture without being submerged in fat.
Air fryers utilize a basket design and heating elements to rapidly circulate hot air around the food at high velocity as it cooks. This allows the heat to penetrate food more evenly and quickly than a traditional oven. The result is crunchy, fried-like texture with up to 80% less fat than deep frying. Pretty cool kitchen hack!
Now onto the main event – let’s look at what sets the Sur La Table Air Fryer apart:
Capacity: 5.3 quarts
The Sur La Table air fryer typically offers a generous cooking capacity suitable for families. It’s important to consider the size of the air fryer in relation to your kitchen space and storage options.
Wattage: 1700 watts with advanced heating system for fast cooking
Temperature Range: 170°F – 400°F with digital controls
60-Minute Timer: With auto shut-off for safety
Dishwasher-Safe Parts: Basket and crisping tray are easy to clean
This air fryer checks all the boxes for me – decent capacity, wide temperature range, digital precision, and easy cleanup. The 1700 watt heating system delivers super hot air up to 400°F to really crisp and caramelize foods. And the 60-minute timer with auto shut-off gives you peace of mind if you happen to forget those chicken wings are cooking!
Sur La Table isn’t just a retailer of high-end kitchenware; they have now brought their own branded air fryer to the market, and the design screams sophistication. With a sleek, brushed stainless-steel exterior, this appliance isn’t just about functionality; it’s a statement piece for your countertop. The compact design is perfect for smaller kitchens, while still offering ample cooking space inside.
The build quality is solid, with a sturdy feel to the touch controls and basket. It’s clear Sur La Table has put thought into the durability of this air fryer, ensuring that it stands up to frequent use.
When it comes to capacity, the Sur La Table Air Fryer is right in the sweet spot. It’s large enough to prepare meals for a family, but not so bulky that it dominates your counter space.
The digital touch screen interface is intuitive, making it easy to select from the various cooking functions. Apart from air frying, this versatile machine also allows you to roast, bake, and reheat, making it a multipurpose tool that can reduce the need for other appliances.
Performance is where the Sur La Table Air Fryer really shines. It heats up quickly and maintains a consistent temperature throughout the cooking process, which is crucial for even results. The appliance circulates hot air around the food, creating that crispy exterior we all love about fried foods, without the excess oil.
Cleaning is often a hassle with kitchen appliances, but that’s not the case here. The non-stick basket is dishwasher safe, making the cleanup process a breeze. This ease of use is a significant plus for anyone who dreads the post-cooking tidy-up.
But how does it actually perform? I put the Sur La Table Air Fryer through a series of tests over the past few weeks making everything from french fries to fish fillets. Here were some of my favorite recipes and results:
Crispy Chicken Wings: These came out juicy on the inside with an amazingly crunchy exterior in just 20 minutes at 380°F. Way better than my oven baked wings!
Brussels Sprouts: Tossed in olive oil and seasoning, these sprouts got perfectly browned and caramelized at 400°F in 15 minutes. Great veggie side dish.
Homemade French Fries: I’m pretty picky about my fries but these exceeded expectations. Cut potatoes, coated in oil and cooked at 390°F for 20-25 minutes makes the perfect fry every time.
Frozen Foods: Frozen apps like mozzarella sticks and potato skins crisped up nicely at the maximum 400°F temp. An easy weeknight dinner made easy.
Overall, the Sur La Table Air Fryer delivered on that crispy, crunchy texture for anything I could think to cook in it. The results were very similar to deep fried with just a teaspoon or two of oil for most recipes. I’d call that a win!
Usability is make or break for me when recommending appliances to dads and busy parents. I’m happy to report the Sur La Table Air Fryer is very straightforward and simple to use, even for beginners. Here are some of the ease-of-use highlights:
Between the intuitive design and dialed-in digital controls, anyone can get restaurant-quality results from this user-friendly air fryer. It takes the complexity out of crispy fried finishes.
Now for the big question – with an MSRP around $200, is the Sur La Table Air Fryer worth investing in?
In my opinion, yes – the performance, features, and quality of this air fryer make it well worth the price tag. The large capacity can feed a family, the digital controls offer precision cooking, and the advanced heating system delivers on crispy “fried” recipes fast.
While it’s not the cheapest model, I think the extra power and capacity make it worthwhile if air frying will be more than just an occasional cooking method for you. When you consider how often you may use it for weeknight dinners, homemade fries, and all kinds of crispy delights, the cost per use makes sense.
For the quality and results, I think Sur La Table is one of the best air fryer brands on the market. And the 2-year warranty provides peace of mind on the purchase.
While I think the Sur La Table Air Fryer is one of the best options out there, a few alternatives worth mentioning are:
Ninja Foodi Digital Air Fry Oven:
At around $230, this is a combo air fryer and convection oven with a flip-up design. It has a slightly larger capacity at 6.5 quarts. The Ninja also features digital controls and multiple cooking functions beyond air frying. If you want an all-in-one cooker, this is a great choice.
Cosori Air Fryer:
For a more budget-friendly pick, the Cosori 5.8 quart air fryer costs just $100. It has 11 presets, a non-stick basket, and boasts 1500 watts of power. While not as robust as the Sur La Table model, the Cosori still produces crispy results if you don’t need all the bells and whistles.
Cuisinart Compact AirFryer:
This has a smaller 3 quart capacity but costs only $75. The compact size is ideal for smaller households. It’s simple to operate with an auto shut-off function. Not as powerful at 1100 watts but could suffice for quick snacks.
Instant Vortex Air Fryer:
This 6 quart air fryer costs around $100 and has 1500 watts of power. It doesn’t have digital controls but does have one-touch programs. The Instant Vortex gets good reviews but has a cheaper build.
All in all, these alternatives have their pros and cons compared to the Sur La Table model. For our family, the larger capacity, cooking performance, durable build quality, and digital precision are worth paying more. But one of the less expensive options could be a good fit based on your needs and budget!
To wrap up this review, here are my key takeaways on the Sur La Table Air Fryer:
So if you’re looking to add some crispy crunch to your home cooking with less fat and mess, I definitely recommend the Sur La Table Air Fryer. It’s built to deliver delicious fried results and makes mealtime a little more fun. Give it a try dads – I think you and the family will love it!
