Air fryers have become a common sight in modern kitchens. They promise crispy food with less oil, without the mess of deep frying. At Digit, we have been covering more air fryers to help readers understand what these appliances offer, whether they are worth the counter space, and how well they perform beyond the advertised features. So when we received the Kenstar DuoCrunch 12L Air Fryer, we decided to put it through the wringer. I tested it with French fries, chicken, sliced onions, etc. It has two separate cooking spaces and glass windows that let you monitor food without opening the drawers. It also has a digital touch panel, preset cooking modes, and a reminder to turn or shake food during cooking.
Here’s how these features perform in everyday cooking and, more importantly, whether the results are good. This is our review of the Kenstar DuoCrunch.
The Kenstar DuoCrunch has a large design with two separate cooking drawers. Its 12-litre capacity can accommodate larger portions than a 7.1L air fryer we recently reviewed. You can cook two different items separately, or more of the same food thanks to the dual-drawer arrangement.
The biggest design advantage is the glass viewing window on each drawer. It lets you check how the food is progressing without repeatedly pulling the drawer out. For example, you can check the roasted chicken’s colour and decide when to turn or stop the cooking.
On the side, there is a digital touch panel which shows preset cooking modes, time and temperature adjustments, and controls for operating the appliance.
However, two aspects of the design bothered me a little. The bigger basket size means the DuoCrunch is quite large and takes up considerable counter space. This is worth considering if you have a small kitchen or already have several items or appliances occupying your worktop. The power cord is also short, which restricts where you can place it. Also ensure your wall socket and wiring are suitable for the appliance.
Overall, the dual drawers and viewing windows make sense for everyday use. But the large footprint and short power cord mean you should plan where to keep it before buying.
Also Read: Best air fryers under 10000 in India: 5 options your kitchen will thank you
Kenstar lists a temperature range of 80°C to 200°C and a power rating of 2,800W. The appliance also has non-stick cooking trays and a two-year product warranty.
An air fryer’s main job is to cook food evenly while giving it a crisp exterior. The Kenstar DuoCrunch has 360° Turbo Air Technology, which the company says circulates hot air around the food. However, my experience did not match the consistency I expected from this system.
In two instances, once with sliced onion and the other time with coconut, the food tended to get overcooked or brown too much at the corners, while the pieces in the middle remained undercooked or raw. This made it difficult to get consistent results across the batch.
The issue does not necessarily mean the air fryer cannot prepare these foods well under different settings or with a different arrangement. Generally, with air fryers, you need to shake or turn the items during cooking to spread the heat. And avoid overcrowding or overstuffing to ensure hot air circulates well.
The DuoCrunch’s digital touch panel makes it easy to select a cooking mode or adjust the settings. Its preset programmes provide a starting point for common cooking tasks, while manual time and temperature controls offer more flexibility.
I also found the alert and turn reminder useful. The appliance signals when it is time to turn or shake the food, which is important for dishes that need to be moved during cooking. So, in a way, this feature helps in rearranging the food to avoid uneven cooking. You can also peek through the glass window to see how much the food has been cooked.
At Rs 9,019, the Kenstar DuoCrunch 12L has a unique proposition: two separate drawers letting you cook different foods at once or more quantity, for that matter. Meanwhile, the glass viewing windows, digital controls, and turn reminder make it convenient to use.
However, my testing revealed uneven cooking, with sliced onions and roasted coconut browning too much at the corners while remaining undercooked in the middle. The results suggest that you may need to adjust the cooking settings and rearrange food to get more consistent results. Its large footprint and short power cord are also worth considering before buying.
So at this price, the Kenstar DuoCrunch is worth considering for its capacity and features, but I would not recommend it without reservations. If you care about consistent results, you may want to compare it with alternatives before making a decision. Ultimately, its suitability depends on how much weight you place on its convenience features and cooking performance.
Keep reading Digit.in for similar reviews.
Also Read: Philips 1000-series 7.1L air fryer review