Air fryers really do feel like a dime a dozen these days and have easily become one of the more convenient ways to whip up some quick meals around the house, instead of relying on a conventional oven or oil-based deep fryer.
Most of them set themselves apart with larger or smaller capacities, a range of preset cooking options and unique design options like viewing windows, but Tefal’s Easy Fry Silence 5L Air Fryer takes things in a slightly different direction, attempting to take the noise out of air frying almost entirely, which sets it apart.
While the 5L capacity might not suit larger families or even larger meals and portions, it still feels like an incredibly robust and functional alternative that still provides all the best features of a premium air fryer, without the racket.
Design
The Tefal Easy Fry Silence 5L Air Fryer sits on the smaller side of air fryers due to its capacity, but I’m a fan of its design. It’s incredibly minimal with a predominantly grey and black colourway and smaller silver accents. The handle up front pulls out and locks in just fine, even if it feels a little flimsy, highlighting the plastic panelling around the front of the basket. That being said, it pops out relatively easily and never feels like it’s going to break or warp.
The touch display is easy enough to read and use, with two options based on a range of 10 presets, highlighted by a chef’s hat symbol on the left, and standard time and temperature settings, highlighted by a thermometer and stopwatch symbol on the right. The time and temperature are front and centre on the display, making it easier to read from afar when checking in.
There’s also a small vent on top of the unit and one around the back, which also leads to the top. I like this design choice as it means the air fryer can be pushed against a wall or corner without disruption and block any heat distribution or outlets. I’ve used air fryers before that include vents that spit out heat directly from the back, heating any walls or surfaces it may sit against.
Tefal’s neat design and smaller size feel like a double-edged sword. It’s a great size for smaller kitchens and spaces, but it also feels like a common advantage for smaller air fryers, so it’s worth weighing up what you might need, if you’re cooking for more than 3-4 people.
Performance
The Tefal Easy Fry Silence 5L Air Fryer primarily sells itself on just that: its silence. While it’s not exactly silent, it’s incredibly quiet compared to most conventional air fryers. Tefal suggests this runs at under 50dB, which is still incredibly impressive. To put that into perspective, a quiet office setting produces around 40 dB, while a vacuum cleaner produces around 70dB. The average air fryer also produces around 60-70 dB, and you can notice the difference here.
Of course, it all depends on what you’re doing. If you’re preparing food across a range of appliances, like an oven or stove with the range hood on, overall noise levels might not concern you. But if it’s late at night or you simply live in a house with others, including kids, overall noise levels can make a huge difference.
And that’s where I feel the Tefal Easy Fry Silence 5L Air Fryer excels. But at the same time, it’s not missing much either. It’s still offering you 10 preset programmes to cook things like French fries, chicken nuggets, bacon, shrimp, roast chicken, pizza, steak, vegetables, fish and cake. It also produces a wide range of temperatures from 40°C to 220°C, making it incredibly versatile.
Some of the presets do feel a little inaccurate, though. For example, the French fries preset suggests a 190-degree temperature, which is fine, but also suggests a 30-minute cooking time. It immediately felt a little too long, but for this review, I gave it a chance. I’m only in a household of two people, and use the air fryer accordingly. While a few more chips might justify the cooking time, it’s just too long for a serving of chips for two people.
I do love the non-stick plug-in frying tray, which gets rid of any rubber feet or padding. Air fryers I’ve used in the past have included rubber feet on the outer corners of the tray, for you to help stabilise the tray when cooking. The tray simply helps air circulate under the food for a more even cook, but creates more trouble than it’s worth. These rubber bits eventually split, crack and fall off the tray, and can become lost altogether. This then creates larger issues, as the tray can scratch the inner lining of the basket.
The tray on the Tefal Easy Fry Silence 5L Air Fryer plugs into the basket and is held in by the internal bumps and ridges, making it easy to pour the contents of the basket out into a bowl, for example, without that hot tray falling out.
Given it’s doing the basics so well, there’s not much to complain about. Priced at A$269.95, it’s also a decent value, but at the time of writing, we’ve seen the Tefal Easy Fry Silence 5L Air Fryer go on sale for as cheap as A$149. While you might be lacking larger capacities, dual frying zones and baskets and smart functionality, it’s a great option if you’re looking to enter the world of air fryers.
Verdict & Value
For its asking price, the Tefal Easy Fry Silence 5L Air Fryer is already doing so much well that its quiet nature feels like a bonus. With 10 preset options and a wide range of cooking temperatures, it’s a solid all-rounder for smaller families and couples.
While the plastic panelling around the basket feels a little flimsy at times, and the presets can feel a little inaccurate at times, there’s not much else I can complain about here.
You can’t ask for dual baskets and frying zones, but at this price, the Tefal Easy Fry Silence 5L Air Fryer provides some solid value for money, all while contributing to a quieter household.
FOUR STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Highlights: Incredibly quiet; 10 cooking presets; Range of cooking temperatures; Frying tray is easy to plug in with no rubber lining or attachments
Lowlights: Plastic panelling around the frying basket handle can flex when pulling the basket out; Some presets feel a little inaccurate
Manufacturer: Tefal
Price: A$269.95
Available: Now
Review based on unit supplied by Tefal and can be purchased at a range of leading hardware retailers, including Tefal’s official website.
