The Actifry 2 in 1 model is a larger version of the Actifry Classic, and can handle coated and battered foods.

Like the Actifry Family, the Actifry 2 in 1 handles 1.5 kg (3.3 pounds) of chips / fries at a time, compared to 1 kg (2.2 pounds) for the Actifry Classic. It also comes with a top grill pan. In it you can grill vegetables, meats, seafoods, fish, etc, as well as doing the holy grail of coated and battered food which the paddle in the pan below would wreck.

The top pan does a very nice job of grilled pork chops, chicken breasts, steak, hamburger patties, grilled scallops, shrimp, calamari, etc. It produces some of the juiciest coated foods such as Shake ‘n Bake ™ . It is also very fast: everything mentioned in the line above will cook in 12 minutes, max, or less, and, come out moist and juicy.

Available in black, this model is sold in Europe, the UK, Australia and North America.

Model numbers are in the YV960xxx range in Europe and in North America.

Like the Actifry Classic, it uses 1400 W of power.

It really doesn’t take up much more counter space than the Actifry Classic does.

This machine is an upgrade from the Actifry Classic in that:

• It has a 50% larger capacity;
• The timer controls the machine, starting and stopping it automatically;
• It has a second top level for gentler handling of food and grilling of food.

It’s a downgrade from the Actifry Family, perhaps, in a few small ways:

• The timer is not as “nice”: it can be quite complicated, as it’s meant to control two separate cooking times for the two levels. I personally only ever use the timer on the main menu and don’t switch menu to the secondary timer; it just made my mind go whoozy. I just set timer, it beeps done for the bottom pan, then insert the top pan, set timer again for a second, shorter time, and it tells me when done;
• The timer requires you to press a “Go” button after setting the cooking time — unlike the Actifry Family which just gets on with it the second you finish setting the time;
• The timer is also fainter than the timer on the Actifry family;
• This model does not come with a grey collar for the pan that the Actifry Family does — likely because that would interfere with insertion of the top grilling pan;
• The handle is not quite as comfortable as that on the Actifry Family pan.

The handle has a funny detachable layer to it, which is meant to be what you detach and hook onto the “pedestal” of the top grilling pan to lever it upwards and lift it. I instantly distrusted the whole concept of lifting something so scalding hot with something so flimsy, and consequently never detach this silver layer for use: I use an oven mitt instead to lift the hot, top grilling pan for more control over the lift.

There is a choice of two buttons to open the lid, one on either side of the handle.

Actifry 2-in-1 power switch is at back right of machine

The power switch for the 2-in-1 is at the back right-hand side of the machine. The way the machine is placed in my kitchen, it’s actually more convenient just to plug and unplug the machine from the wall rather than having to reach over the top of a potentially-hot machine to turn the power off. I do always power it off completely when not in use to save electricity.

The 2 in 1 model machine has an auto turn-off, according to the UK manual: “When you are not using it, the appliance will automatically switch itself off after 10 minutes.” ^[1] Actifry 2-in-1 manual. UK Edition, p. 10 . The model as distributed in Canada, though, does not do this.

On some other Actifry models, you can store the green measuring spoon that comes with on top of the paddle; on the 2 in 1 model, because the top tray goes on top of the paddle, you store the green spoon instead on top of the “pedestal” in the centre of the top tray.

On this site, we have provided step-by-step directions on how to remove the paddle from an Actifry 2-in-1.

The accompanying 2 in 1 recipe book, as distributed in Canada, has 20 recipes in it.

For a while, I like some other people thought that the bottom paddle didn’t turn while the top pan was in. About a year after I made that observation (repeatedly, and was convinced, as I would even place an object like a quarter on top of some risotto and it didn’t move), I know notice a year later that it seems at random times to be turning and moving stuff while the top tray is in. I cannot explain or be certain of what I am observing.

You do not need to use the upper grilling pan; you can use the machine with or without it.

You can also use the top tray without anything in the lower bowl. (You just still need to have the empty lower bowl in to hold the tray up and turn it.)

More information is available on the Tefal UK web site or the Canadian web site (links valid as of August 2014.)

To be clear, the Actifry Snacking Basket accessory CANNOT be used with this machine, but it’s not needed as you have the top tray which provides the same functionality.

If you do any kind of entertaining ever, or routinely cook for more than two people, if your budget stretches to this model as compared to the Actifry Classic model, then you won’t regret having the added capacity of this machine. And, if you want the larger capacity but also need to be able to do coated / battered foods or grill meats and seafoods , then consider choosing this 2 in 1 model over the Actifry Family model, if your budget stretches to it.

A few friends upgraded from the Actifry Family to this 2 in 1. While they miss the simpler control panel on the Actifry Family machine (and the Family recipe book), they say they could never go back to cooking without the top grill tray: after you have used that top tray once or twice, you are hooked and it’s indispensable.

* Actifry™ is a registered trademark of SEB, France.

T-Fal Low Oil Air fryer YV960151 Actifry 2 in 1, 1.5kg, 2 Cooking Zones, Black, YV960151, 1KG