Actifry Snacking Model

Screen capture from T-Fal promotional video

The Actifry Snacking model is a model that was sold in 2012 in some parts of south-east Asia, and possibly the middle East, and introduced into Europe by the summer of 2013, and into the UK by the summer of 2014.

The model range number seems to be FZ70 etc.

The Actifry Snacking appears to be essentially the classic, original Actifry, but shipped with an insertable raised wire-mesh basket grill tray for cooking fragile food items (such as coated or battered food) that are not paddle-safe. The product number appears to be AL8060xx etc.

As of 2014, this model does not yet appear to be available in North America. But the feature that makes it unique, the Snacking Grill Basket, can be purchased as a separate accessory for those who have a Classic Actifry model; you just pop it in for your product upgrade. The accessory is relatively inexpensive. See here for information about the snacking basket accessory.

Screen capture from T-Fal promotional video

It appears to come in black or white colours (screen caps from Tefal’s site).

The food capacity in the cooking pan is the same as for the classic Actifry: 1 kg (2.2 pounds) of chips / fries

Watch the (very) short T-Fal Commercial for the Actifry Snacking:

There is also on Youtube a very good review of the Actifry Snacking by a user named freemasons67, but it’s in German only, so there are two excellent points I want to highlight for those with no German:

One is that to use the snacking grill basket, you remove the paddle but leave the regular cooking pan in, and insert the base of the snacking basket pedestal over top the gear in the centre of the Actifry. To be clear, you can’t use the paddle and the grill basket at the same time.

Screen capture from review by freemasons67 on Youtube.

The second excellent point raised by the reviewer is that the wire mesh of the basket allows grease to drip down through into the pan (which is why you want the pan in, presumably, as opposed to wondering if it can just be left out.) This grease drip-through feature of the basket grill contrasts it with the solid pan that comes with the Actifry 2 in 1, which being solid holds any run-off fat in it.

Screen capture from review by freemasons67 on Youtube.

Here is another video review of the product, which I cite to raise an issue:

The reviewer in the video above cooked chips / fries in the bottom first, then removed them from the pan, inserted the grill basket, and then cooked the fish on the grill for 20 minutes. Which of course raises the question, weren’t the chips / fries stone cold afterward; couldn’t they just be left in the bowl below to stay hot (as you can in the Actifry 2 in 1) or would the pass through nature of the mesh basket allow too much hot air to pass through and overcook the chips / fries?

The main complaint about this model is the same that many people have of the Actifry Classic: the timer doesn’t stop cooking, and is barely audible.

My advice about the Actifry Snacking Model

My advice about the Actifry Snacking model would be as follows:

If you are looking at purchasing a classic Actifry model (i.e. don’t need the higher capacity of a Family Size model), and live somewhere where it is also sold as the Actifry Snacking (that is, bundled with the snack basket), get that — it’s a no brainer;

If you already own a classic Actifry model and can purchase / order the snacking basket accessory, do it. That is also a no brainer for how it will extend the capacity of your machine.

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