Sur La Table Air Fryer seems like one of those deals that look too good to be true. For a limited time, you could have gotten this incredible appliance at Costco for just $79! Now, the price is a bit higher, but it is still cheaper compared to other similar air fryers on the market. But does Sur La Table air fryer live up to the hype?
What is Sur La Table?
Sur La Table is a retailer of kitchenware with over 100 stores across the U.S. They offer quality cookware, bakeware, cutlery, appliances, tools, and more for the home cook and professional chef alike. Their offer includes renowned brands like Breville, KitchenAid, Lodge, and Wüsthof. Sur La Table also carries their own line of cooking essentials, designed to make the kitchen more fun.
Sur La Table is also known for organizing cooking classes, both in-store and online. The cooking class program provides active, hands-on cooking classes for all ages and skill levels to learn professional techniques.
Is Sur La Table a Costco brand, like Kirkland Signature?
No, Sur la Table is not a Costco brand. Sur La Table is a retailer that specializes in kitchenware and cooking classes, and they carry products from a variety of brands, not just their own private label. However, you can find Sur La Table branded products at some Costco locations for a great price.
Costco has a policy that in order to be sold at a Costco, a product has to be superior in some way to similar products outside of Costco (better price, quality, ingredients, bonus item, etc.) We believe that the Sur La Table air fryer does live up to the policy.
Sur La Table 13-Quart Air Fryer Review
Sur La Table Air Fryer is an oven-like 13 Qt hot air fryer with tons of accessories for preparing different kinds of food. It is one of the bigger air fryers that you can prepare a meal for the whole family in at once. The size is not the only thing that makes this air fryer stand out. It comes with a lot of features and accessories that make it a versatile kitchen appliance.
Technical Specs
Sur La Table air fryer features a 1700W heating element combined with 360 Airflow technology. This results in faster and more even cooking of tender inside, crispy outside air-fried foods such as fries, onion rings, and wings with little to no oil required. You can set the temperature from 170F to 400F and the timer from 1 to 60 minutes.
Features:
- 7-in-1 functionality: Air fry, bake, roast, dehydrate, rotisserie, reheat and broil
- LED digital display panel with automatic shut-off
- 1700 watts of power
- 360° airflow technology
- XL window for easy viewing
- Interior lighting
- Extra-large easy-grip handle
- Easy to follow video recipes and recipe book included
Build Quality
Though it looks like it’s made of stainless steel, most of the parts are plastic. The oven cavity walls are made of ceramic-coated aluminum. It is not a heavy-duty appliance, but it can stand up to regular daily use.
Ease of Use
The controls are very straightforward, and the machine does most of the work for you. There are just a few things to keep in mind when using it. Make sure to preheat the air fryer for 3-5 minutes before adding food. This will help ensure that your food cooks evenly. Also, be sure to shake or flip the food halfway through cooking to prevent sticking and ensure even crisping.
The included recipe book has a lot of great ideas to get you started. The only downside is that the manual does not have many troubleshooting tips, so if you run into any issues, you may need to do some research online.
Cooking Performance
The Sur La Table air fryer did a great job of cooking food evenly and quickly. We were very impressed with how well it cooked frozen foods like french fries and chicken wings. The food came out crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, just it should. For best results preheat the oven to 400°F for 5 minutes.
Here are some foods we have cooked in the Sur La Table air fryer:
French fries
It was crinkle fries, to be exact. Just like on most air fryers, there is a ‘french fry’ preset, so we just hit the french fries button and brought the timer up to 20 minutes. We took the basket out to shake it up a couple of times and after 20 minutes the fries were done. They were great: crispy on the outside but not dry on the inside.
Fish sticks
We used the tray to air fry fish sticks because they need to be turned over for even frying, and the basket is too deep to do that without breaking them. The results were amazing, nice and crispy on the outside and evenly cooked on the inside.
Pork loin
Roasting is a true-and-tried method for cooking pork loin, but we wanted to try how would the Sur Le Table air fryer match up. The rotisserie function is what pleasantly surprised us the most. We used the rotisserie spit and forks, which was not too hard thanks to the stand included. Just make sure that you tighten the screws really well to hold the forks in place, it’s best to use a screwdriver. The result was fantastic. The pork loin was evenly cooked throughout and had a crisp, golden-brown exterior.
All in all, this air fryer deserves high marks for its cooking performance. We suggest sticking to the instructions in the cooking book until you get a grip of how the air fryer works, and then you can start experimenting on your own.
Accessories
The Sur La Table air fryer comes with a lot of accessories, giving you lots of options for cooking different foods – from side dishes, desserts, to a whole rotisserie chicken.
Here is a list of accessories Included:
- 2 Air frying trays
- 1 Drip tray
- 1 Rotating drum basket
- 1 Air fryer basket with a detachable handle
- 1 Rotisserie handle
- 1 Kebab set that includes 8 scewers and a rack
- 1 Rotisserie stand
- 1 Rotisserie spit and forks
All the accessories are dishwasher safe.
What do customers say?
The Sur La Table Air Fryer seems to have positive reviews overall by the customers. People like how easy it is to use, the variety of functions, and how well it cooks food. Some people have issues with the plastic build quality and others find it hard to find replacement parts.
Should I buy the Sur La Table Air Fryer?
If you are looking for an air fryer that is big, easy to use and produces great results, then we say go for it. It has a great price to performance ratio, and if you use it with care, it will last a long time.
Pros:
- Great cooking performance
- Easy to use
- Comes with a bunch of different accessories + a recipe book
- One of the most affordable large air fryers.
- Covered by Costco’s warranty
- It doesn’t give off a ‘plasticky’ smell when you first use it, as many other air fryers do.
Cons:
- Build quality is not the best
- There are no extra features you can find on some other air fryers, like automatic preheating or controlling via an app.
Alternatives
NUWAVE Brio Air Fryer Smart Oven
The NUWAVE Brio Air Fryer is a great alternative to the Sur La Table air fryer. It is a bit more expensive, but it is also bigger. It has lots of adjustments, including wattage, so you have complete control over the cooking process.
Why is it better: The Brio has much more pre-programmed presets, and it comes with an integrated temperature probe, which allows you to control the cooking cycle based on the food’s internal temperature.
Why is Sur La Table better: The Sur La Table air fryer is easier to use and it’s not as bulky. It is also much cheaper.
Ninja Foodi DZ401
The Ninja Foodi DZ401 is another great alternative to the Sur La Table air fryer. It comes with a dehydrator and a broil function, so it’s a bit more versatile. It has two separate baskets, so you can cook two different foods, in different ways, at the same time.
Why it’s better: Everyone knows how good Ninja Air Fryers are. The overall build quality is unmatched, and they can endure heavy-duty use.
Why Sur La Table is better: The Sur La Table is more affordable and has more accessories.
Final Thoughts
Now you know everything there is to know about the Sur La Table Air Fryer. It is a great choice for those looking for an affordable and easy to use air fryer. It has great cooking performance and comes with a bunch of accessories.
