I've owned an Actifry for about three weeks and used it a dozen times. It DOES make good fries. But they're not as good as the best fries you've ever eaten. In fact, I can make better fries at home using the Belgian double fry method. But the clean up and unhealthiness of double frying had made french fries at my house a rare event.

　　Color and Taste:

　　Actifry fries come out with a beautiful color. They look like they should be perfect fries. Instead, they're about 90% as good as really good fries. As you might imagine, they taste kind of "dry". They're not actually dry at all, but since they contain so much less fat you have that sensation. As a benefit, they also feel less heavy.

　　Texture:

　　The texture isn't quite right. Imagine deep-fried, really crispy fries that have been left to sit for five minutes. That still doesn't quite describe the texture as actifry fries don't have the heaviness. The outside of the Actifry fry is crispy, but the fry itself is less rigid - if that makes sense. The texture is quite good, but just not as crispy as the best fries out there.

　　Results:

　　It really does make good fries. Better than most restaurants out there. But it won't replace your favorite Belgian Gastro Pub or the McDonald's fry straight out of the frier. But the equation (90% as good and 90% healthier) works out.

　　Technique:

　　For best results, definitely use a mandoline and rinse off the extra starch and dry - I use a salad spinner. Don't overfill the machine and, despite what the instructions say, it takes about 38 minutes for a batch to come out. I also use just slightly more oil (about 1.25 tablespoons)

　　Concerns:

　　I do have some concerns about the longevity of the machine. I had to send one back after it stopped working on the fourth use. I've used the replacement seven or eight times.

　　Cost:

　　I paid $220 for the machine. That's definitely expensive for a single use machine, though I might discover other recipes. If it lasts long enough, it will pay for itself - but that's a lot of batches down the road. But the health benefits make up for the financial cost. We plan to use it to replace nearly every take out order of french fries. That's probably a couple of time per week. Hopefully our waistlines will thank us.

　　Bonus:

　　I haven't tried the other recipes. But I have used it to "fry" some 1/4 inch tofu cubes a couple of times. The texture came out perfect! In fact, it actually came out better than pan frying or deep frying. The perfect amount of crisp on the outside with the right chew on the inside. It makes the tofu much more useable for a stir-fry.

　　If you love fries like we do, I think you won't be disappointed. The Actifry isn't magic, you definitely know it's a healthier fry as you're eating it. But it's so close to a great fry experience that you probably won't even mind.

　　EDIT:

　　Eight years later the Actifry is STILL working. It looks a little worse for wear, but I'm really impressed. On average, we probably use it once per week. Well worth the $220 we paid. Given that they're now $120, it seems like a no-brainer purchase.

　　I'm bumping it from 4 to 5 stars.