Moulinex Easy Fry Infrared 7L Review

Introduction

With the Easy Fry Infrared 7L, Moulinex is betting on an unprecedented heating technology for its XXL air fryer. The programme includes infrared cooking, large capacity, and the promise of crispier dishes prepared more quickly. We put it through its paces to verify what it truly has in the basket.

Overview

With the Easy Fry Infrared 7L, Moulinex adds a new string to its bow by integrating infrared heating technology into a large-format air fryer. This XXL model stands out with its dual heat source: infrared radiation from the top, which sears food directly for rapid, uniform crisping; and hot air convection from below to ensure even cooking without needing to stir.

The Moulinex Easy Fry Infrared 7L positions itself as an ally for quick home cooking, suited to large gatherings or batch cooking enthusiasts, with its 7-litre basket, intuitive touchscreen display, and eight automatic programmes covering most everyday uses.

About Infrared Cooking

Related Reviews

Philips XXL HD9285 Review: Family-Sized Airfryer

★★★★☆ 4.0

This is somewhat the signature feature of this model, which differentiates itself from more conventional air fryers through the presence of infrared technology. As nothing is truly explained in the manual or online product sheet about how this infrared is produced, we sought clarification from various sources.

Technical information proved limited, with vague descriptions stating the technology "combines infrared from the top and convection from below for crispier, more golden cooking without frequent shaking." However, the manual indicates that certain foods, particularly chips, still require regular stirring.

Infrared cooking functions through heat rays emitted by an infrared heating element located in the unit's upper section. These rays heat the food surface directly—rather like the sun—without needing to warm the ambient air as long as a traditional oven would. The result: temperature rise is nearly instantaneous, cooking is faster, and food browns and crisps without drying the interior. In the Easy Fry Infrared, this heat source is complemented by hot air flow from below (convection), enabling uniform cooking.

Indeed, unlike typical air fryer heating elements, the Moulinex Easy Fry Infrared's element has a distinctly different appearance. The convection space below probably helps maintain uniform heat, as we shall see in the cooking section.

Design and Build Quality

A Large Format to Master

Related Reviews

Ninja AF500UK Review: Versatile Oil-Free Air Fryer

★★★★☆ 4.0

The Moulinex Easy Fry Infrared has quite an imposing aspect, but maintains a reasonable width of 28 cm with controls positioned on top. With a generous 7-litre basket, one can envisage preparing dishes for several people. A pity the manufacturer did not consider providing a rack to cook different foods simultaneously.

At nearly 40 cm depth, you'll need to plan for suitable worktop space. The lug at the rear of the appliance reminds users it requires this space for ventilation, and Moulinex indicates this element must not be used to wrap the cable during operation.

The touch-control panel isn't in French, but remains comprehensible and intuitive. We note the absence of a stirring reminder button. There is also no regular audible reminder, leaving it to the user to remember when necessary, for chips for example. The rather succinct manual indicates which programme type among the eight offered is suitable depending on the food to be cooked.

The button with a bulb icon activates the basket lighting. The window is modestly sized but allows monitoring of cooking progress without having to remove the basket.

Build Quality Concerns

The assembly is predominantly plastic and enjoys satisfactory build quality, with one exception. From the first cooking sessions, we noticed traces on the lower section. We initially thought these were food pieces left inadvertently, but it was a small black component disintegrating, with a portion even having melted. A defect requiring correction in future versions, even if it doesn't appear to impact the appliance's functioning.

Ease of Use

Simple to Clean, But Rather Solitary

Moulinex did not deem it necessary to provide accessories, such as tongs for grasping food at the bottom of the basket or a soft brush for cleaning. Maintenance is nevertheless very simple with a sponge and washing-up liquid for the basket and its removable inner grill. The brand specifies in the manual that this grill must always remain in place during use.

These two elements are also dishwasher-safe, a welcome convenience. For the rest of the machine, simply use a slightly damp cloth without immersing it. The ensemble is minimally soiling, except for the glossy control panel, which tends to retain fingerprints and dust.

Cooking Performance

Stable and Well Calibrated

Before preparing several dishes, we wanted to observe how the Easy Fry Infrared's temperatures and thermostat behave. Our three strategically placed probes recorded very rapid temperature rise. Heat is well distributed across the entire plate with minimal variations.

At 200°C, the maximum temperature, results are very close with excellent stability and uniformity. The thermostat appears well-tuned, and the combined heating from the infrared element and convection delivers good results.

In the Kitchen!

A recipe card for crispy chicken in fast-food style was included in the package. Those tempted can find the recipe on the Moulinex website or in the application. Beware, advance planning is required as the chicken must marinate in seasoned milk and be refrigerated for a minimum of 5 hours. Afterwards, coat the chicken pieces in a mixture of flour and crushed cornflakes. The result isn't bad, though not quite identical to the fast-food chain product. It's somewhat dry and benefits from accompanying sauces.

After this first trial, we naturally tested the perfect food for an oil-free fryer: chips. Allow 20 to 22 minutes cooking time whilst stirring regularly to enjoy uniform cooking. Once again, we regret that an audible stirring reminder isn't offered.

For a dish with chicken and grilled sweetcorn, we used the Crispy function which adds 2 minutes of cooking during which the Easy Fry Infrared appears to give full power to its infrared element. The result meets expectations with a successful grilled appearance on the outside and tender interior.

Application

The Moulinex Easy Fry Infrared isn't a connected appliance, but the My Moulinex application can be used for several purposes. The first is finding suitable recipes since no paper booklet is provided for this purpose. You personalise the experience by indicating which appliance you intend to use and the type of meal you typically prepare.

Beyond recipes, the app allows automatic shopping list creation with required ingredients, or favouriting certain recipes. Some are offered by the manufacturer, others by the authorised user community who contribute.

Recipes are rated, ingredients clearly indicated, and instructions simple to understand. There's even a function to follow preparation at each stage.

We couldn't resist the temptation of a chocolate soufflé. Whilst preparation takes somewhat longer than a simple fondant, the result is very successful both visually and taste-wise. Suggested cooking times were respected to the minute.

Noise Levels

Tolerable to the Ear

With 51 dB measured at 1 metre from the appliance during cooking at 200°C, noise emitted by the Easy Fry Infrared 7L is tolerable and ranks average for this type of appliance. The beeps are actually quite discreet and may not be heard if you're in another room.

Verdict

The Moulinex Easy Fry Infrared 7L generally delivers on its promises. Its dual infrared and convection technology ensures uniform, rapid, and well-controlled cooking, whilst the Crispy function adds genuine value for finishing certain dishes. The viewing window, comprehensive recipe app, and cleaning simplicity reinforce its everyday appeal.

Some shadows remain, such as the absence of a stirring reminder, lack of programme explanations, and especially the defect observed on a component which tarnishes an otherwise well-conceived ensemble. Despite these reservations, the Easy Fry Infrared 7L establishes itself as a capable air fryer, temperature-stable and pleasant to use, designed for those wanting to cook quickly without sacrificing quality home-cooked results.

Against the Competition

As we lack other infrared cookers in our comparison testing, one must seek alternative common points with the Moulinex Easy Fry Infrared to find alternatives. The Cosori CP158-AF has the advantage of offering a stirring reminder and is moreover priced under £100 at the time of writing. If you want both stirring reminders and a viewing window, the Braun MultiFry5 might interest you, even though it offers less temperature stability and uniformity.