Xiaomi Mi Smart Air Fryer, analysis: a design ally in the kitchen for frying (almost) without oil and with application

The airfryers are trendy. These mini convection ovens are postulated as the “healthy” alternative to classic fryers because they do not use oil and, thanks to their small size, they use less energy than turning on the oven.

On the one hand, one of the most popular brands in technology. On the other, the fashionable kitchen appliance. The combo sounds promising: we have tested the Xiaomi Mi Smart Air Fryer thoroughly and this has been our experience.

Design: as attractive and minimalist as it is unintuitive

If you have a designer kitchen, the Xiaomi Mi Smart Air Fryer is going to be like a glove. Of course, in a kitchen with a respectable countertop, because it is not exactly small. The good news is that thanks to its rectangular prism shape and how well it isolates the chassis from the inside, you can easily store it in a closet until next time. Although we already warn you that it is better to leave it nearby because you are going to take advantage of it.

It is undeniable that the Chinese firm has taken extreme care of the appearance of its air fryer, with some slightly curved lines, glossy finish and minimalism for flag. In fact when you take it out of the box you can ask yourself Where are the buttons?

Well, there are not many: simply the on / off and a so versatile roulette that it works for everything. Thus, you can turn it back and forth to scroll through the menu and press it to “accept”. Even the screen is built into its center. One thing is clear: visually it is eye-catching and pretty. Now, the intuitive handling is another story.

It is true that in a couple of minutes I have gone to the menu and I have managed to cope without problem, but I have carried out this analysis in my family home, with the Xiaomi Mi Smart Air Fryer within the reach of my parents. And here I have noticed that the learning curve was steep for them. Likewise, they too would prefer a paper cookbook.

In this sense, airfryer More basic ones usually use two dials to regulate time and temperature in an analog way, those with a touch panel combine precision and practicality. And the Xiaomi Mi Smart Air Fryer? Although with a little patience and time anyone could manage, this is ideal for the more technological people.

Otherwise, its format is classic: with a side access to extract the basket, whose volume is 3.5 liters. Or what is the same: we have been able to make 4 generous portions of French fries as a garnish and chicken wings for 4 (second course).

In the box you will find the manual, a cooking rack and the deep fryer. And the classic recipe book? It does not come on paper, but in the application you have recipes to bore.

Cooking with the Xiaomi Mi Smart Air Fryer

Once out of the box, plugged in and powered up, you will navigate through an interface (by default in English) where to switch between manual mode, programs and settings.

Although you can use it without application, his thing is to squeeze the connectivity to use it from the mobile. In fact, if you leave some chicken wings (or any other recipe, but the chicken looks great) in the basket before you go to work, you can light it on the way home and eat it fresh. Or simply to access the cookbook.

Also, if you have something from Xiaomi at home, you probably already have Mi Home installed on your phone. If this is not the case, you will have to download it, create an account and access it. Once inside, add the fryer and enter your home Wi-Fi password. The process is very similar to setting up a robot vacuum cleaner and takes no more than 5 minutes.

We have started with a basic: some french fries. As we are not very clear about the time or temperature required, we trust the predefined program: for half a basket, 15 minutes at 200 degrees, with a pause in the middle.

What It does not have “windows” to see how the cooking is going nor does it have an internal paddle to stirIt is time to do it the old fashioned way: pulling the handle to open, looking at its status and shaking. We have opened a few more times to stir and spray some oil.

At the end of the program, we tried one, we considered that it was a little hard and we sinned by lengthening 5 more minutes. Too much: the potatoes have been somewhat dry. Unanimously, we prefer those made in our deep fryer lifelong or in a pan.

Our recommendation to get some good fries: cut them thicker, for example into wedges, add some oil and stir well. Handling it is not difficult, but catching the point has its that.

Second recipe: chicken wings. This dish also has a preset program of 180 degrees and 15 or 25 minutes depending on whether you put one or two layers. For 3 people we have filled half, that is, about two layers. Every 8 minutes it stops to shake, something that we will do simply by removing the basket and stirring like a maraca. In this case we have not added any oil since the skin of the chicken is already greasy.

Absolute success with wings: they are juicier than in the pan, they are made much faster than in a pan and oven and we have not added oil, a notable cut in caloric intake. It is also a point to be able to leave them hot or program them to put them on the table freshly made.

In these days of analysis we have also dared with croquettes – they were somewhat dry -, broccoli, salmon and even crayfish. Although it is not much of a mystery to experiment with temperatures (a good orientation is to use those of the oven) and add minutes, the application’s recipe book is luxurious to go to a fixed shot and only adjust to the point you like.

We have been pleasantly surprised by the results with foods such as meat and fish, managing to maintain the juiciness with a golden touch. Yes indeed, Always keep in mind that except for fatty foods, you need to add some oil and stir thoroughly.

But it’s more than an air fryer (or mini oven): it can also be used as a yogurt maker, to dehydrate fruit or simply to heat food.

It is no more difficult than cleaning a frying pan

As a good foodie, my kitchen is full of gadgets. Some have become essential and others … others are taking up space in the closet. The fine line that marks the frequency of use is in most cases its cleaning, or what is the same, how expensive it is to clean them.

This is not the case with the Xiaomi Mi Smart Air Fryer. The exterior can be cleaned with a damp cloth and once the basket is removed, you can separate it to wash the lower part in the dishwasher and the chassis with soap and water as if it were a frying pan without much complication. The rack can also be put in the dishwasher without problem.

Xiaomi Mi Smart Air Fryer, the opinion of Xataka

The Xiaomi Mi Smart Air Fryer has everything to be in the 11 holder of my kitchen (sorry, food processor and yogurt maker). It is true that it is not a small appliance, but it has managed to leave the oven in the background except for making pizzas or roasts and reducing the role of the pan.

Cook with this airfryer it’s clean and fast: there are no oil splashes and while making some chicken wings can cost you a total hour in a pan or in the oven, with it you will spend less than half the time. Faced with the first, you want autonomy and the second, in energy consumption.

Simply adding a few drops of oil or better yet, spraying it, is also a good news from a caloric point of view.

As we have already noticed throughout the analysis, This connected air fryer is easy for tech people to use, but if this is not the case, they will probably miss more classic panels and the paper cookbook. But everything is a matter of putting on.

If we put its design, power, size and price on a balance, the Xiaomi Mi Smart Air Fryer is postulated as one of the most complete and attractive models in the sector.

The product has been released for testing by Xiaomi. Can inquire our policy of relationships with enterprises.