The air fryer market has exploded in recent years, and for good reason. Offering a healthier and more energy-efficient alternative to traditional cooking methods, air fryers are becoming a kitchen essential. The Tower T17100 Vortx Vizion 9L Dual Basket Air Fryer is one of the latest models promising convenience, versatility, and outstanding performance.
Straight out of the box, this air fryer makes an impression. It has a modern, sleek design, with a digital touchscreen interface and transparent viewing windows on each drawer. The inclusion of internal lights is a thoughtful touch, allowing users to monitor cooking progress without interrupting the process.
Setup is effortless – simply wash the baskets, plug it in, and it’s ready to go. One minor issue noted is an initial burning plastic smell when first used. However, after allowing it to run empty for about ten minutes, this disappears entirely, leaving only the delicious aroma of cooking food.
This model is packed with features that make meal preparation easy and efficient. Here’s what makes it stand out:
Exclusive to Tower, Vortx technology circulates hot air rapidly, ensuring food is cooked evenly and up to 30% faster than a conventional oven. This also means meals require little to no oil, making them significantly healthier without compromising on taste or texture.
With two 4.5L baskets, this fryer provides 9L of total capacity, making it perfect for families or entertaining guests. The ability to cook different foods simultaneously is a major advantage, as one compartment can handle crispy chips while the other roasts succulent chicken.
The fryer features 10 pre-set cooking programmes, covering everything from air frying and roasting to grilling and baking. Each setting automatically selects the ideal temperature and time, but users can also adjust these manually.
A particularly useful feature is Match Cook, which synchronises the temperature and time across both baskets, and Smart Finish, ensuring foods with different cooking times finish at the same time.
Tower claims that its air fryers use 70% less energy than a standard oven, potentially saving up to £259 per year on electricity bills. Given the rising cost of energy, this could make a significant difference in the long run.
Cleaning is a breeze, with the non-stick coating preventing food from sticking. However, care is required—avoid abrasive sponges, as they can damage the coating. A gentle wash with warm soapy water is all that’s needed to keep it in top condition.
This air fryer delivers impressive results across a variety of foods. Users have successfully prepared crispy southern fried chicken, bacon, sausages, chips, fish, jacket potatoes, roast vegetables, meat pies, and even desserts like cakes and crumbles.
The cooking speed is remarkable, with meals ready significantly faster than in an oven. Food emerges with a crispy exterior and a moist, flavourful interior. The transparent viewing windows and built-in lights make it easy to check progress without disrupting the cooking process.
One drawback is the size of the compartments—while they fit convenience meals and smaller food portions easily, a whole large chicken won’t fit. This is something to consider for those who frequently cook larger cuts of meat.
✔ Fast cooking times – meals are ready quicker than in a conventional oven.
✔ Energy efficient – can significantly reduce electricity costs.
✔ Dual cooking – allows two different foods to be prepared simultaneously.
✔ 10 pre-set functions – easy one-touch cooking.
✔ Smart Finish and Match Cook – synchronises different foods perfectly.
✔ Transparent windows and internal lights – monitor food without opening baskets.
✔ Easy to clean – non-stick surfaces make washing up simple.
✔ Good value for money – offers premium features at an affordable price.
❌ Slightly noisy – the fans generate a noticeable hum.
❌ Initial plastic smell – requires a brief burn-in period before first use.
❌ Limited manual control – temperature and time can only be set after selecting a preset function.
❌ No dedicated recipe book – only five recipes included in the instruction manual.
Many users who previously owned Cosori models found this Tower fryer to be a great alternative at a much lower price. While Cosori models may offer additional features like full manual controls and extensive recipe books, the Tower T17100 still excels in cooking performance, ease of use, and value for money.
For those in search of an affordable, feature-rich dual basket air fryer, the Tower T17100 Vortx Vizion 9L is a fantastic option. It delivers fast, efficient cooking, allowing users to prepare meals with minimal effort while saving on energy costs. The inclusion of viewing windows, built-in lights, and multiple cooking presets adds to the overall convenience.
While it does have minor downsides—such as the initial plastic odour, slight noise levels, and lack of a full recipe book—these are far outweighed by its performance, versatility, and value for money. Highly recommended for anyone wanting a powerful, efficient, and easy-to-use air fryer without breaking the bank.