Air fryers have been making serious waves recently, and it’s no surprise. They’re convenient, quick, and easy to use. Plus, they allow you to cook up your favorite fried meals in a healthier, less greasy way.
With this in mind, we decided to put together a thorough review of one of the most popular fryers out there, the Elite Platinum 1506D.
What Is An Air Fryer?
Air fryers are small convection ovens. Unlike the traditional fryer, an air fryer uses convection technology, circulating hot air around your food at high speeds. Circulating air in this way is another method of producing the Maillard reaction.
The Maillard reaction is a fancy name for a common phenomenon. It is the chemical reaction responsible for the taste and appearance of browned, toasted, or fried food, and it applies to steaks, fries, and even bread.
- 6 pre-set cooking functions
- Can air fry, bake, grill, and roast
- Very large capacity
With the use of convection technology, air fryers replicate the best part of fried foods without submerging your food in oil. Most can also roast, bake, or grill.
Why Use An Air Fryer?
You might be asking yourself: why should I buy an air fryer? Well, there are a few perks to this sought-after kitchen appliance that is worth noting.
For many people, one of the big advantages of an air fryer is that it recreates some of your favorite fat-filled dishes more healthily. Air fryers cook low fat and low cholesterol meals because, generally speaking, you only need to use a light brush of oil in the basket to prevent your food from sticking.
Another advantage is that air fryers are simple. They are very easy to use. All you have to do is put your food in the basket, set the temperature, and wait. Many are even self-cleaning.
Lastly, air fryers cook well. Because they use convection technology, you do not need to turn or flip your food once it begins to cook. Instead, the air circulates around the basket to ensure an even and consistent cook.
What Can You Cook In An Air Fryer?
Air fryers can cook a lot of things, but the specifics come down to the air fryer you have. Make sure that you’re familiar with the temperature range and size of your fryer before planning elaborate meals.
Air fryers can cook everything from chicken to fish. Some favorite foods for this type of oven include:
- Vegetables, from brussels sprouts to green beans
- Meatballs
- Mushrooms
- Hamburgers
- Steak
- Shrimp
- Salmon
- Chicken
- Pork
- Fries
- Onion rings
To help you get started, we’ve included a handy recipe after the review.
What To Look For When Buying An Air Fryer
With any unfamiliar product, it’s useful to know what you should be looking for when making your buying decisions.
With an air fryer, there are several things worth considering. Most of them also depend upon personal preference and usage of the oven.
Think about how you’ll be using the air fryer. Are you likely to use it daily, or are you planning to store it away and pull it out for special occasions?
Here are some basic things to look for:
- Size: This one depends upon personal preference. Think about the type of meals you’re likely to cook in your oven. Are you planning to use it to make a small basket of fries, or do you need to fit an entire family dinner inside?
- Temperature: Make sure that your air fryer has a temperature range that you can use to cook the foods you’re planning to make. Some air fryers intended for light use cap out at lower temperatures.
- Functions: Function is important to consider. Make sure you know what your particular model can do. Can it cook everything you plan to cook? Does it have pre-set cooking options? What insert options does the fryer have?
- Controls: Take a look at the control panel. Some fryers are entirely digital, and others use mechanical knobs. How is the air fryer controlled? Is it easy to use?
Review
Now that the basic information is out of the way, we can dive straight into the review itself. We heard a lot about this machine and wanted to see if this air fryer lived up to the hype.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Elite Platinum 1506D.
Elite Platinum 1506D
The Elite Platinum 1506D is a digital air fryer. It comes in a range of sizes, from 3.2 quarts to seven quarts. The size that we reviewed was 3.5 quarts.
Pros:
- Very large capacity
- Can reach up to 400F
- 6 pre-set cooking functions
- Can air fry, bake, grill, and roast
- Removable basket and pot
Cons:
- Must be stopped to adjust the temperature
What Buyers Have To Say:
Reviews of the 1506D are very encouraging. Buyers stand by this fryer. Comments suggest that it is easy to clean, easy to use, and well made. The size of the basket has also received a serious commendation. People find that they have no difficulty cooking full meals in the fryer.
Features:
The Elite Platinum 1506D has a lot of features.
It has a 60-minute timer with an automatic shut off, six pre-set menu functions to cook the most common meals, temperature control up to 400F, and an interchangeable basket and pot. Plus, the basket and the pot are both non-stick and dishwasher safe.
The handle on the basket sits outside of the fryer. It is also insulated, which means you can remove the basket immediately when your food is done cooking without worrying about burning your hands.
What’s Great About This Fryer:
We loved the simplicity, versatility, and size of this fryer.
This oven can air fry, bake, grill, and roast. Also, its temperature range of 150 to 400F means that you really can cook just about anything. To top it off, the sizes of the basket and pot are convenient for cooking large meals. As the manufacturer claims, it can fit an entire chicken.
The digital touch screen is another handy feature. To use the fryer, all you need to do is turn it on, set the temperature, and let it go. If you’d like, you can also set a timer or hit one of the pre-set options.
Finally, we liked the non-stick pot and basket. One of the big perks of an air fryer is the fact that you can make your favorite meals more healthy, from french fries to hamburgers. Since you don’t have to lather your basket in oil to prevent sticking, the Platinum 1506D doubles down on this principle.
Drawbacks:
We liked almost everything about this fryer. But, if you’re looking for something small and compact, there may be better options. This fryer is a bulky piece of equipment. If you’re short on counter space or don’t have anywhere to store it, it might be worth looking at the 3.2-quart option, for instance.
Our Final Word
The Elite Platinum 1506D is a great air fryer. It is simple, convenient, and highly functional. We loved the temperature range, the digital panel, and the ability to cook large and small meals. Also, we liked the pot insert, which allows you to make the most out of the roasting and baking capabilities.
If you’re in the market for an air fryer, the Elite Platinum is a great way to start.
Recipe
To help you get started, we’ve included a bonus recipe, which is one of our favorite meals and is a simple and fun twist on a classic.
Crispy Pork Chops
This recipe is good for the whole family. It goes great with green beans and potato wedges, both of which you can also cook in your air fryer!
Ingredients:
In the spirit of simplicity, we’ve whittled this recipe down to the essential elements. As a result, this is a list of the necessary ingredients. Feel free to experiment with it once you get it down.
If you need to cook for a larger or smaller group, it is simple to adjust the amounts accordingly!
- 4 to 6 pork chops
- 1 egg
- ½ cup milk
- 1½ cups crushed saltine crackers or bread crumbs
- Rosemary, salt, pepper
Directions:
- Preheat the air fryer to 350F.
- Beat the egg.
- Combine the egg and milk in a wide bowl.
- Add salt, pepper, and rosemary, and feel free to mix and match your favorite spices.
- Pour the cracker crumbs (or bread crumbs) into a separate dish.
- Dip uncooked pork chops in egg and milk mixture.
- Dip the egg-coated pork chops in the bread crumbs.
- Place chops in the fryer basket so that they are not touching.
- Cook for approximately 10 minutes.
- Remove from the fryer.
- Serve!
