One minute review
It may not surprise you then that the Magic Bullet brand is an extension of the Nutribullet range, with the Magic Bullet Air Fryer the first air fryer we have seen from the brand. It’s a compact and affordable model that’s an excellent choice for those who are short on space – or for your first introduction to the world of frying. Nutribullet is known for offering a range of personal cup blenders, some of which are among the best blenders and loved by fans of smoothies and protein shakes around the world.
This model lacks some of the bells and whistles that come with the best airfryers we’ve seen; but therein lies a simplicity that will be welcomed by some users. With only one function, namely air frying, you can adjust the cooking time and temperature via a couple of large dials – but that’s really the extent of the controls.
It’s this foolproof design that makes the Magic Bullet Air Fryer suitable for even the most technophobic of cooks, and it shuts off automatically for added peace of mind.
Its compact size provides enough cooking space for just one or two servings, making it ideal for those who rarely feed a crowd. During the test, it proved itself to work, creating crispy and brown foods. While it can’t match more expensive airfryers in terms of speed and evenness, given its size and price, we think it’s forgivable.
Magic Bullet Airfryer price and availability
- MSRP: $79.99 / £69.99 AU$129
The Magic Bullet Air Fryer can be purchased directly through Nutribullet in the US and UK, or from BIG W in Australia. It’s cheap compared to most other airfryers, but don’t forget that the lower price is reflected in its 2.5L/2.5L capacity and limited functionality.
Magic Bullet Airfryer: Design
- Timer doubles as an on/off switch
- 2.5 liter / 2.5 liter capacity
- 180-400°F/80-200°C Temperature Range:
As mentioned, the Magic Bullet is a compact airfryer of 27 x 22 x 25 cm (HxWxD). Also note that the power cord is also quite short, only 31.5 inches for the US model and 75cm in the UK. So you’ll need to consider whether your outlets are close to where you want to use them.
Due to the small size, the cooking capacity is also smaller compared to other airfryers on the market. The basket’s 2.5 liters / 2.5 liters should be enough for up to two servings of most foods. There is a hefty handle on the basket, which is perfect for shaking your fries halfway through cooking; but unlike some rival airfryers, there is no reminder function, so you have to remember to shake or stir for yourself.
The operation is super simple. On top of the appliance is a rotary knob to select the cooking temperature; however, the temperature markers jump up at fairly large intervals, so it can be tricky to be precise. Conveniently, the air fryer includes a guide to the correct temperature for cooking six common foods, printed on the top, so you can see the ideal temperature to cook chips, vegetables, fish and more at a glance.
On the front is a 60-minute timer that also serves as an on/off switch. As soon as the timer is turned, the airfryer starts; it will turn off automatically once the set time has elapsed. Note that the timer makes a ticking sound while on; it’s not too loud but may irritate some people. The Magic Bullet Air Fryer has a glossy black finish, which will probably suit most kitchens.
Like most airfryers, the basket is equipped with a removable perforated crisp plate. Both the basket and tray are made of non-stick aluminum which makes them easy to keep clean. However, neither is dishwasher safe, so should be cleaned by hand.
Magic Bullet Airfryer: Performance
- Slower than other air fryers
- Easy to use
- Preheating is difficult to set on the timer
The Magic Bullet Air Fryer is super easy to use, so much so that we didn’t have to check the manual to get started. But as part of our thorough testing process, we searched it carefully and found that it recommends preheating for three minutes before cooking.
However, it also notes that to set the timer to anything less than 10 minutes, it is necessary to first turn it to 10 minutes and then turn it counterclockwise to the desired time. This is easier said than done – turning the dial counterclockwise to shorten the time is difficult, leaving you with the feeling that you are damaging the dial. In the end we were more comfortable turning the timer past 10 minutes and then setting a kitchen or telephone timer for the three minute preheat.
The first to be cooked in the Magic Bullet was a batch of frozen thick-cut fries. We weighed about 450g of fries – enough for two people. According to the temperature chart on the top of the air fryer, we preheated it to 190°C (our testing was done in the UK).
The US model suggests a cooking temperature of 390°F – which isn’t quite the equivalent of the UK temperature, but it’s close. The fries took 20 minutes to cook, during which time we removed the basket to shake them about three times.
The resulting chips were crispy, with a good fluffy texture inside. The crispiness was a bit uneven and compared to other airfryers, the cooking of the chips took longer than we expected. Nevertheless, they still cooked faster than the 26-28 minute oven time stated on the item’s packaging.
We then managed to fit five chicken wings side by side in the compact basket; but they were cozy. Again, we followed the temperature guide on the top of the air fryer, first preheating the gadget for three minutes.
We didn’t add any cooking oil to the wings and they were ready in just 20 minutes. The cooked wings were juicy and juicy on the inside with a crispy golden skin – a pleasingly tasty result.
Our second batch of chips was homemade and cut raw potato into thick sticks. There was no information in the manual about whether or not to soak the raw chips before cooking, or the amount of oil needed for cooking, so we had to rely on experience here.
We chose to soak the 450g portion of chips in cold water for 10 minutes before drying and coating them with 2 tsp oil. Initially we set the timer to 20 minutes; but it took 30 minutes to cook through and achieve good color. To help them cook and brown evenly, we shook the basket well after 10 minutes and then at five minute intervals. The resulting chips were fluffy inside and had good color overall, but the browning and crisping was somewhat uneven despite frequent shaking during cooking.
In terms of sound, the Magic Bullet registered 62dB on our decibel meter, making it one of the louder airfryers we tested. And despite not being dishwasher safe, the small non-stick basket and vegetable tray turned out to be easy enough to clean.
Should I buy the Magic Bullet Airfryer?
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
Read more about how we test
First assessment: April 2022
