By now, the word air fryer is a common term. It’s the small kitchen appliance that took the world by storm, allowing you to ditch your oven and put dinner on the table faster and with less oil. And now, there’s an affordable new air fryer option on the market with the launch of the Magic Bullet Air Fryer. Yes!
Magic Bullet is beloved for its blenders and juicers, including convenient on-the-go options. The company is expanding its line to include kitchen appliances, and the super sleek Magic Bullet Air Fryer is the first gadget out of the gate.
The Basics About This New Air Fryer
Yep, there are a lot of different air fryers on the market, but Magic Bullet has managed to differentiate itself. This air fryer is more compact than many options out there; it holds 2.5 quarts.
It has a wide heating range from 180 to 400ºF which works for pretty much every air-fried recipe. It also has six preset options to choose from, including settings for vegetables, chicken wings, fries and fish. And if you happen to forget your food in the air fryer? No worries! The built-in 60-minute timer saves the day by automatically shutting it down.
How Well Does This Air Fryer Work?
The second this air fryer was available, Executive Culinary Director Sarah Farmer knew she had to get her hands on it.
Out of the gate, Sarah noticed how small this air fryer was compared to many of its counterparts. With a small 2.5-quart capacity, could this appliance keep pace with oversized competitors?
Sarah says you bet! The smaller size is just right when cooking for two or for smaller prep work. “I found it handy for toasting nuts or reheating leftovers,” Sarah explains.
And this small size ends up being an asset. “Because it takes up so little counter space, I don’t mind having it next to my toaster full-time,” Sarah says.
But enough about the petite size! How does Magic Bullet’s new air fryer work? According to Sarah, “it really packs a punch.” Here’s what Sarah’s been making in this new countertop appliance in our Test Kitchen and at home:
- Casseroles: “I was surprised to find that my oven-safe casserole dish fit,” Sarah revealed. This vegetarian enchilada bake turned out exactly as Sarah wanted: “hot and cheesy!”
- Reheating leftovers: This compact air fryer is a whiz for reheating leftovers. Yesterday’s pizza was gooey and crisp.
- Toasted sandwiches: Yep, you can make toasty sandwiches right in one of these gadgets. Sarah tried both grilled cheese and a homemade Rueben in this Magic Bullet and found them to be toasty and “deeeelicious!”
- Toasting nuts: If you don’t want to wait for your oven to preheat, Sarah suggests toasting nuts right in your air fryer basket. Pop them in at 325ºF for five minutes—shaking halfway through. They turn out perfectly toasted and in less time than it’d take to preheat the oven.
- Veggies: Everyone will want to eat their veggies if they’re air-fried. Sarah found that this air fryer was the perfect size for veggie sides like this lemon cauliflower and green tomato stacks.
What Are the Pros and Cons?
After air-frying everything from Brussels sprouts to burgers, Sarah found a lot to love about this gadget. Here are the biggest pros of the Magic Bullet air fryer:
- The size: Some air fryers can be space hogs, but not this one! The petite size means you can leave it on your counter without sacrificing space. And the more it’s out, the more you’ll use it.
- Intuitive controls: Setting up and using this air fryer was a breeze. With just two knobs—one for temperature and one for time—it was easy to get this model up and running.
- It works so well: There’s no higher praise than that! Sarah had no issues with this air fryer and loved how it crisped up everything from frozen fries to scratch-made recipes.
This being said, the Magic Bullet air fryer isn’t for everyone. Here are a few drawbacks to consider:
- It’s small: If you regularly cook for more than two or three, you’ll likely want to invest in a larger air fryer like the Chefman TurboFry Air Fryer XL—our Test Kitchen’s favorite model for families.
- It’s basic: If you like a gadget with all the bells and whistles, you’ll want to upgrade to something else. This model is a great starting point, but you won’t find a lot of fancy features. Explore our Test Kitchen-Preferred air fryer brands for more options.
The Bottom Line
Simply put: This is a great air fryer! If you’re looking for a more compact model that delivers crispy foods without any fuss or complicated controls, the Magic Bullet Air Fryer is for you. And at $70, it’s an affordable upgrade to add to your kitchen.
Learn more about how to use an air fryer in our cooking guide.
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The post We Tried the Magic Bullet Air Fryer. Is It as Good as the Brand’s Blender? appeared first on Taste of Home.
Lisa Kaminski, Molly Allen