Air Fryers like the Bella 14538 Electric Hot Air Fryer are popular for their “crispifying” abilities, health-promoting cooking methods and easy, countertop convenience. The Bella Air Fryer has a common aesthetic: the black, rounded unit with a pull-out drawer basket.
This is a convection oven, as described by Bella. That’s nothing to worry about as the difference between an air fryer and a convection oven isn’t too drastic. All you need to know is that the Bella Air Fryer does produce the results you’d want from an air fryer… whether or not it’s technically a convection oven model.
The Bella Air Fryer has a simple design with two control dials and a round basket. The round basket is significant because – as experienced cooks note – this gives less flat cooking surface regardless of the total capacity. Anything that has to be laid flat on a thin layer (like bacon or pork chops) requires surface area, and the Bella is one of the smaller models in this regard.
It doesn’t have the bells and whistles of other popular models, but for some this is preferable. There’s something pleasantly straight-forward about an appliance that doesn’t give you too many options. In fact, an air fryer has one job: cook food to a high standard without the need for lots of oil. And Bella seems to do the trick.
What do Customers Say?
The overwhelming majority of reviews for the Bella Air Fryer are positive, which is odd for an air fryer at this price point. The negative reviews didn’t surprise me as they were consistent with complaints connected to various air fryer models. Let’s check it out…
Positive
Overall, the 4 and 5-star review sections are full of generally gleeful comments regarding “tasty food”, “healthy” options and a lot of “we love it!”. These are the more specific comments to get an idea of the Bella Air Fryer experience:
Crispy without the oil: so many happy customers have been thrilled at how crispy, tender and tasty their food is, but without all the oil. Most people add a spritz of olive oil and find they get a true “fried” result. Reviewers have noted how pleased they are to know that they’re eating in a more healthy manner with this machine.
Great value: many happy reviewers have commented that they’re thrilled with how affordable this machine was to purchase, and that the quality hasn’t disappointed them. Some have noted that the reason they chose this particular model was the low price point.
Easy to use and clean: the simple steps and easy-to-clean design has been a common comment among happy reviewers. There’s really no option but to find this easy to use as there’s only two dials to control. Of course, if you’re unlucky to experience the notorious “loose basket” you won’t find it so easy…but the happy reviewers have had a smooth run. The basket is dishwasher safe so the clean-up has been reported as breezy.
Negative
Won’t stay shut: a very annoying issue many unhappy reviewers have noted is that the basket won’t lock into the unit. They find that after a few cooking sessions the basket won’t shut which in turn stops the unit from turning on. Users have found that the basket dislodges halfway through the cooking process, meaning they have to jiggle it back into place to continue the job.
Quits working: yes, this old story. So many air fryers have a good chunk of negative comments describing an appliance that simply stops working after a month or so. The Bella is no different. Customers have found that the unit simply won’t turn on after a while.
Emits a plastic smell: a controversial complaint. Some people have found that the unit emits a chemical, plastic-like smell that won’t go away. Others, (happier customers) are adamant that the smell does go away after the first use. Either way, some customers have found that their particular units have a permanent unpleasant smell.
How do You Use it?
It’s a simple machine to use once you get the hang of the baskets and the dials (which doesn’t take long).
When you first take it out of the box:
Remove the plastic wrappings and stickers
Release the basket from the basket drawer
Give the basket and basket drawer a gentle wash to remove any dust
Other customers have recommended that it’s helpful to run the air fryer without any food inside before your first use. They have found that this removes any plastic or chemical smell.
To cook your food:
Slide the basket lock to find the basket release button and press it, now you’ll have the separate basket and basket drawer
Place your food into the basket (but don’t overfill the basket)
Click the basket back into the basket drawer so it’s in the locked position
Secure the baskets into the unit
Choose your time using the timer dial (up to 60 minutes)
The blue “heat” light and the red “power” light will come on once you set the timer
Choose your temperature using the temperature dial up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit
Once the blue heat light turns off, the cooking time will begin
How Do You Clean it?
Yes, it’s really easy to clean. Here’s a quick how-to to give an idea of the cleaning process:
Unplug the unit and let it cool down
Hand-wash the basket and basket drawer with a soft cloth and hot, soapy water
OR pop the basket and basket drawer into the dishwasher
Give the unit itself a quick wipe-down with a damp cloth
That’s it
Just note that the fryer basket does have non-stick coating so be careful not to use harsh cleaning brushes.
How Does It Compare to Other Models?
vs Crux Air Fryer
These are really similar air fryers from two different brands. They’re both black, squat, rounded, and have a drawer-style fry basket.
The Crux Air Fryer and the Bella Air Fryer have these similarities:
Capacity (both have a 2.5 liter basket)
Construction: both have a basket and drawer with a handle
Wattage: both have 1500 watts
Temperature: both offer up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit
Timer: both offer up to 60 minutes
Both are of a similar price point depending on where you’re purchasing.
The key difference is that the Crux model has a digital display screen whereas the Bella has two manual dials.
Which Bella Airfryer is best?
We think the Bella Air Fryer is a great gadget for the price, but it’s not without its flaws. It’s worth considering whether you think the lack of digital screen is a deal-breaker.
If not, then we say go for the Bella! It delivers on taste and on price. Just make sure you watch out for any issues with the baskets and keep it clean.
Who makes Bella air fryer?
The Bella Air Fryer is a product from Bella. Bella is a consumer appliance product company founded in 2015 and based in Santa Ana, California, USA. Bella owns several consumer-focused brand names including DeLonghi, KitchenAid and Tripp lite.
The Bella Air Fryer has a lot of positive reviews but there are some negative ones too. In our opinion it’s worth considering the pros and cons before you buy it. Want to read more? Read Bella Air Fryer Reviews to find out why this air fryer got such high ratings!
This post contains affiliate links that might result in compensation for the blogger with no additional cost to the consumer buying the product mentioned in this post at Amazon.
Who is Bella?
Bella is owned by the same people who own Thomson, so you’ll find many similarities between the two brands. The company have been making electrical appliances since 1966, and they have over 50 years of experience in this industry. They’re one of the largest manufacturers of electrical goods in the world; their products are sold in over 100 countries worldwide.
Overall we think the Bella Air Fryer is a great product for the price. It’s not without its flaws but it’s also a good choice if you don’t need a manual digital display.
Yes I think it’s worth buying because to me it’s not expensive at all and I like to cook since I don’t have much time to do it. The only problem is that some of my friends eat American food and they say that they’re sticky and very easy to burn, even in an American restaurant so I feel that they’re not good for everyone.
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