You’ve landed on the right article if you want to know all about the Kalorik FT 42139 Air Fryer, as we are going to put it under the spotlight right here, right now.
This model is the largest size in this range from Kalorik, holding up to 2-pounds of food. The smaller sizes each have different control panels and a different general design, so this review is specific to this particular size.
What are the “cons” to look out for? Is it easy to use and clean? How does it compare to other brands? Is it a worthy choice for you?
Kalorik 3.5 Quart Matte Black Digital Air fryer Pro
Table of Contents
What Interesting About The Kalorik Air Fryer?
The Kalorik Air Fryer is an affordable pod style air fryer (as opposed to an oven style) with manual dials and a simple layout. This is a departure from more modern models with digital buttons and screens. It has a drawer-style basket that pulls in and out of the unit.
It features a rack that you can pop into the basket and use for dual-layer cooking. What’s more, the rack and the basket are all dishwasher safe which makes for an easy cleaning process and a pretty low-maintenance air fryer.
What do other customers and reviews say?
More than half of customers have been really happy with their experience with the Kalorik Air Fryer. Here are the top pros and cons that emerged from their reviews.
Positive
Crispy food: a good number of people have specifically noted that their Kalorik Air Fryer has resulted in very crispy fries, baked potatoes, and roast chicken. The overall flavor and quality of the food produced have been really well received, so that’s a big plus.
Really easy to clean: people have been thrilled at how easy the Kalorik Air Fryer is to clean. For one, being able to put the baskets and rack into the dishwasher is a huge help for customers who have a dishwasher. But even without a dishwasher, the baskets are easy to give a quick soak and a wipe down. There are no fiddly little parts to scrub at the end of each cooking session.
Negative
The coating on the basket peels off: Some unhappy customers have found that the non-stick coating on the basket starts to peel and chip after a while. This a complaint I have come across when trawling the reviews of quite a few different air fryers. It’s really unfortunate because the last thing you want to corrode is the surface you are cooking directly on.
Basket too small: Many customers in the negative review sections have lamented the size of the basket compared to the size of the unit itself. They feel that the whole unit is far too big for the amount of food it can cook in one go (it has a maximum capacity of 2-pounds of food).
Some people have said that the machine is just fine, if not great, but the capacity is too small for their needs. This is only an issue for you if you have limited bench space, or/and you need to feed at least 3 people. If you’re feeding 2 people it’s just fine.
What are the technical specifications?
General
Power (watts) | 1400 watts |
Cooking capacity | 3 litres/3.2-Quarts
It can hold up to 2-pounds of food |
Timer (yes/no) | Yes, up to 30 minutes |
Temperature control (yes/no) | Yes, from 175 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit |
Filter Type | |
Colour | Black |
Special features | This is a simple air fryer without too many features to get your head around. The control panel is self-explanatory and the accessories are minimal. Here’s a little intro to the controls and features so you know what to expect if you were to own a Kalorik Air Fryer:
Timer dial: the timer dial sits on the out-facing side of the unit and it can be set from anywhere between 0 minutes and 30 minutes. When the time is up, the unit will shut down automatically. Temperature dial: the temperature dial sits on the top of the machine and can be set from 175 degrees Fahrenheit to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Power light: the power light is green and it comes on as soon as the timer is set. Preheat light: the preheat light is orange and comes on as the unit heats up, and at times during the cooking process. Dual-layer rack: the dual-layer rack slots into the basket and allows you to cook two layers of food at once. You can use it as a platform for your ingredients to allow maximum air circulation around the food. Dishwasher-safe rack and baskets: the rack, fryer basket and outer basket are all safe to go in the dishwasher for fuss-free cleaning. |
Dimensions & Weight
Size | 13.6 x 11.5 x 13.5 inches |
Weight | 10.3 pounds |
How do you use it?
When you first take the brand new unit out of the box: Kalorik recommends you turn the unit on without any food inside and let it run for about 20 minutes. This is to clear out any plastic smell.
When you’re ready to cook: take the basket and basket holder out of the unit and place your ingredients into the basket. Slot the basket back into the unit. Choose your time and temperature by turning the corresponding dials. The unit will start heating up as soon as the timer is set, and the green and orange lights will come on.
When the temperature reaches the level you’ve chosen, the orange light will switch off. You can take the basket and basket holder out of the unit at any time during the cooking process to give the food a good shake.
You can also use the dual layer rack to cook two layers of food at one time. It’s easy, you just place the rack into the basket and place the food on and under it as you please.
That’s about it. Then you eat, clean the machine and wait till your next air-fried meal.
How do you clean it? Is it easy to clean?
Yes, it’s really easy to clean. For the unit itself, you just need a damp cloth and some light cleaning spray or detergent to give the interior and exterior a wipe down.
The baskets and rack are dishwasher safe, so you can just throw them in with the next load. Otherwise, give them a gentle hand-wash but don’t use anything abrasive as it might wear away at the non-stick coating.
Top marks for ease-of-cleaning.
How Does It Compare to other models?
Kalorik Air Fryer vs. Philips XL
The Philips Air Fryer XL is much more expensive than the Kalorik Air Fryer, and it has a similar design. Side by side, they could be related. They’re both black and rounded, but the Philips is more shiny and the Kalorik has silver accents. The Philips has a digital control display, whereas the Kalorik has manual control dials. They both have a simple philosophy when it comes to controls: a temperature control and a timer, that’s it.
They both have a drawer-style basket and dishwasher-safe parts. The Philips XL has a capacity of 3.5-Quarts, so it’s a little larger than the Kalorik. Another thing to note is that the Philips has 2100 Watts worth of power, which is a lot more than the Kalorik which comes in at 1400 Watts. The Philips XL is a really popular model, but the Kalorik is good too, especially for smaller budgets.
Which one’s for you?
Well, they both offer really similar cooking experiences, but at differing prices. If you need something a little more affordable and you like the design, go for the Kalorik. However, if you want to stretch the budget and you prefer a digital control panel, consider the Philips XL.
Where can I find a replacement basket?
The best thing to do is contact Kalorik if you need a replacement basket. Hopefully, you can contact them within your warranty period, as it’s proving very difficult to find anywhere to purchase replacement parts.
Are there other replacement parts or accessories? Where do I buy them?
Replacement parts are hard, if not impossible to source online. Contact Kalorik directly to ask them how and where to get them.
What’s the warranty?
1 year.
Does it come with a recipe book or cookbook?
Yes, a small recipe booklet with around 25 recipes is included.
Verdict: Is This Air Fryer For You?
It depends on what your needs are and what you are willing to risk in terms of “cons” for the money you spend. Here’s a quick checklist to help you decide. If you can say yes to these points, this could be perfect for you:
- You have a smaller budget for your air fryer.
- You only need to feed approximately 2 people
- You have a decent amount of counter space to spare
- You don’t mind risking a peeling fry basket
- You like manual dials as opposed to digital
- You’d like a dual-layer rack for cooking 2 levels of food at one time (like with Paul's pork chops and brocollini)
- You like the drawer-style air fryers as opposed to oven-door style models like this Cuisinart.
- You don’t need or want preset functions and features
- You want something with dishwasher-friendly parts
However, if you need a larger capacity and some more features, you could go for something like the Farberware Air Fryer. It’s really similar in design and function, but it is larger and has had better customer reception.
Leave a Reply