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A urgent recall order is affecting almost 60,000 air fryers from popular brand Tower.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has also issued a ‘do not use’ order, after reports of models catching on fire in the UK.
The air fryers were sold at various retailers including Amazon, Argos, Tesco Ireland, DID (Ireland), Dealz, Lidl and the Tower website.
Models affected by the recall:
- T17023 Tower 2.2L Manual air fryer
- T17061BLK Tower 4L Manual air fryer
- T17067 Tower 4L Digital air fryer
- T17087 Tower 2L Compact Manual air fryer
- T17129L Vortx 8L Dual Basket air fryer
If you do think your model is affected, you should stop using your appliance immediately and visit the Tower Safety website, following instructions from there.
I’ve been reviewing and using air fryers in my own home for years and have some favourites I have used almost every day for the past three years with no issues.
If you’ve been considering a Tower air fryer before this urgent recall or have been left without one because of it, I’ve listed some suggested alternatives below.
A staple in my household, I used the Ninja dual drawer for years.
It’s a fantastic all-rounder and the ability to cook two things at once even at different times and temperatures is such a great feature to have, especially on oven dinner days.
Regular maintenance and cleaning will keep this in great condition for years to come.
As someone who reviews air fryers for a living, a lot of models come and go from my home. One that’s stuck around though, is the gorgeous Our Place Wonder Oven.
While not technically an air fryer, it does have an air fryer setting, as well as tonnes of other great baking features. It makes great pastry and pizza
It has a permanent place on my countertop due to its stylish design and excellent performance. Quicker and cheaper than turning the oven on, too.
For solo and couple households who need a small air fryer, this is the best you can buy.
While Instant isn’t up there with the most well known brands, it’s always been a solid performer in my tests. It’s also surprisingly roomy and can fit a small chicken or around 800g of chips.
There are just enough settings without it being overwhelming and you can cook for up to an hour at 205C.
This particular model is the perfect balance between price and performance and best of all, its compact size means it is easy to clean.
Are air fryers safe?
Air fryers are generally considered very safe, especially when bought from a reputable retailer and brand.
Of course, occasionally things can go wrong with manufacturing but these events tend to be rare and are dealt with swiftly by manufacturers if things do go wrong.
There are also some things you can do to ensure your air fryer is as safe as possible. This includes regularly cleaning both the drawers and inside of your fryer, where oil, fat and debris can build up. Residual fats and food can pose a fire risk, so this is important.
What foods can’t I put in an air fryer?
You should also avoid putting certain things in an air fryer such as liquids, including water, soup broth and curry.
Leafy greens, including fresh spinach, can also pose a risk, as the powerful convection fan can suck them up, causing debris to get lodged in the heating element.
You should also avoid using cooking spray, as this can get into places it shouldn’t and cause a build up of grease.
Lightweight air fryer liners and baking paper should also be weighed down with food, to ensure the hot air doesn’t push them up towards the element, causing them to burn.
What brand of air fryer is best?
There are plenty of great, reputable air fryer brands out there such as Ninja, Tefal, Russell Hobbs and Tower – despite the recent news.
A big brand name doesn’t necessarily mean a product will offer the best performance. User reviews and recommendations from people that regularly test air fryers or have a had a product for a long time are a good indicator of quality.
