Schallen 17L Air Fryer Review: The High-Capacity Halogen Cooker Under the Microscope

There’s a familiar chaos that descends upon many kitchens around dinnertime. It’s the frantic dance of multiple pots and pans simmering on the hob, the main oven working overtime on the roast, and the microwave whirring away to reheat some vegetables. For anyone cooking for a family or entertaining guests, this culinary juggling act is exhausting. We’ve been there: trying to time everything perfectly, running out of counter space, and facing a mountain of washing up afterwards. The dream is a single, powerful appliance that can handle a complete meal, from the main course to the sides, all at once. This isn’t just about convenience; it’s about reclaiming time and reducing stress, turning cooking from a chore back into a creative pleasure. The promise of a large-capacity cooker that can roast, bake, and fry without oil is precisely the solution so many of us have been searching for.

What to Consider Before Buying a Halogen Air Fryer

An air fryer, especially a large halogen model, is more than just a kitchen gadget; it’s a key solution for faster, healthier, and more energy-efficient cooking. Unlike traditional drawer-style air fryers, halogen ovens use a combination of a powerful halogen bulb for intense, direct heat and a fan for convection, circulating hot air to cook food rapidly and evenly. This technology allows for roasting a whole chicken, baking cakes, or air frying chips with a fraction of the oil used in deep frying, all while consuming less energy than a conventional oven. The main benefits are significant: reduced cooking times, lower electricity bills, and the ability to cook large quantities of food in one go, making them a fantastic tool for busy families.

The ideal customer for a product like the Schallen 17L Air Fryer is someone who regularly cooks for three or more people and values capacity and versatility above all else. If you dream of cooking a whole roast dinner in one appliance or need to batch-cook for the week, this style of cooker is a game-changer. However, it might not be suitable for those with limited kitchen space. These units are bulky and heavy, requiring significant countertop real estate and clearance. Individuals or couples might find the massive capacity excessive for their daily needs. Furthermore, those who are not comfortable handling a heavy, hot lid might prefer a lighter, drawer-style air fryer for its simpler ergonomics.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: Halogen ovens are notoriously large. The Schallen 17L Air Fryer, with its 33×33 cm footprint and 38 cm height, is a substantial piece of equipment. We found, as other users have noted, that it can be a tight squeeze under standard kitchen cabinets. You need not only space for the unit itself but also a heat-proof surface nearby to place the extremely hot lid during cooking.
• Capacity/Performance: A 17-litre capacity is immense and perfect for large families. This is achieved with an extender ring, providing flexibility. The performance is dictated by the 1300W halogen bulb and fan system, which offers a wide temperature range of 125°C to 250°C, making it more versatile than some air fryers that top out at 200°C. Consider if you truly need this level of capacity and heat for your typical meals.
• Materials & Durability: This is a critical point of concern. The main bowl is glass, which offers great visibility but carries a risk of chipping or, in extreme cases, breaking. The lid contains the heating element and controls. We found widespread reports concerning the durability of the metal components, with significant issues of rust developing on parts that should be food-grade stainless steel. This raises serious questions about long-term safety and performance.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: The controls are typically simple dials for time and temperature, making it very straightforward to operate. The advertised self-clean function is a plus, involving just hot water and soap. However, the physical handling can be demanding. The lid is heavy and becomes dangerously hot, requiring careful maneuvering onto its dedicated stand. This is a significant ergonomic drawback that should not be overlooked.

While the Schallen 17L Air Fryer presents an intriguing option for large-scale cooking, it’s essential to weigh its benefits against its potential drawbacks. The market is filled with excellent alternatives, each with its own strengths.

While the Schallen 17L Air Fryer is an excellent choice for some, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

First Impressions: Unboxing a Kitchen Behemoth

The arrival of the Schallen 17L Air Fryer is an event in itself. The box is substantial, and upon opening it, the sheer scale of the appliance becomes immediately apparent. This is not a compact, tuck-away gadget; it’s a statement piece that demands its own territory on the kitchen counter. The central component is the large, heavy glass bowl, which feels solid and provides the unique benefit of a 360-degree view of your food as it cooks. The lid, which houses the controls, fan, and halogen element, is equally hefty. In the box, we found a generous collection of accessories: the crucial 5L extender ring to reach the full 17L capacity, a high and low rack, two mesh trays for air circulation, a set of tongs, and a small oil spray bottle. Assembly is intuitive—you simply place the racks inside the bowl, place the food, and put the lid on top. The initial impression is one of immense potential, a machine built to feed a crowd. You can check the latest price and all included accessories to see the full value proposition.

A Deep Dive into the Schallen 17L Air Fryer’s Performance

An appliance can look impressive, but its true worth is only revealed through rigorous testing. We put the Schallen 17L Air Fryer through its paces over several weeks, cooking everything from a whole roast chicken and crispy potatoes to delicate salmon fillets and even a chocolate cake. Our experience was a mixed bag, revealing a machine with incredible cooking power but also some significant design and safety flaws that are impossible to ignore.

Colossal Capacity and Cooking Versatility

The standout feature of the Schallen 17L Air Fryer is undoubtedly its cavernous size. Using the extender ring, the 17-litre capacity is simply enormous. We easily roasted a 2kg chicken to perfection, with crispy, golden-brown skin and succulent meat, in under an hour. There was still ample room around the bird for roast potatoes and vegetables, all cooked in one go. This confirms the experience of one user who stated, “You can easily cook a meal for a family of five in this.” The dual-rack system is brilliant for multi-level cooking. We placed salmon fillets on the top rack and asparagus spears on the bottom, and both were cooked perfectly. The heat distribution, thanks to the fan, is fantastic and remarkably even. This machine isn’t just an air fryer; it’s a genuine mini-oven. We baked a small cake which rose evenly, and reheated a pizza on the mesh tray, resulting in a crispy base that far surpasses a microwave. This versatility is its greatest strength, capably replacing several other kitchen appliances.

The Halogen Experience: Speed and Visibility

The cooking technology itself is impressive. The halogen bulb provides instant, intense heat, which is why there’s no preheating required—a significant time and energy saver compared to a conventional oven. This direct heat, combined with the circulating hot air from the fan, slashes cooking times. We found that most recipes cooked about 20-30% faster than in our main oven. The high maximum temperature of 250°C is a real advantage, allowing for a proper sear on meats or an extra-crispy finish on potatoes. Perhaps the most enjoyable part of the user experience is the glass bowl. Being able to watch your food transform without losing heat by opening a door is a brilliant feature. You can see cheese bubble and brown, or check the colour of your chips in real-time, preventing countless accidental burnings. It turns cooking into a more engaging and precise process. This visual feedback loop is a feature that really sets it apart from opaque, drawer-style fryers.

Usability and Ergonomics: A Tale of Two Halves

In terms of operation, the Schallen 17L Air Fryer is refreshingly simple. Two manual dials—one for temperature and one for the 60-minute timer—are all you need. There are no complex digital menus or presets to navigate, which we found to be a welcome change. The “self-clean” function works reasonably well for light messes; adding warm soapy water and running it for a few minutes helps loosen grease before a final wipe-down. However, the physical ergonomics are where this appliance falls short. As one user aptly put it, the process is “tedious.” The lid, containing all the heavy electronic components, is a real lump. Lifting it is one thing, but when it’s scorching hot after cooking, you have to carefully maneuver it onto a small, supplied stand. This feels precarious and is a genuine safety hazard if you don’t have a clear, stable surface ready. For anyone with limited strength or mobility, this would be a significant daily struggle. The sheer weight and unwieldy nature of the lid is the biggest practical downside to an otherwise easy-to-use machine.

A Critical Look at Durability and Safety Concerns

This is where our review must take a serious turn. While the short-term cooking performance is impressive, our research and analysis of long-term user feedback have unearthed deeply troubling issues that cannot be overlooked. Multiple, credible reports describe catastrophic failures. One user detailed how after 18 months, “the oven superheated and the controller came away from the lid during cooking.” Another experienced a “Big Bang and crack and the lid just exploded! Glass everywhere and all in the food.” These are not minor defects; they are critical safety failures that could cause serious injury. Furthermore, there are persistent complaints about the build quality. We noted reports of rust forming on the metal ring affixing the heater to the lid, described as a “cheap alloy” instead of stainless steel. One user shared photos of “rust…everywhere on what should be reflective surfaces” after just six months, raising concerns about particles falling into food. To compound these issues, the halogen bulb is reportedly not user-replaceable. As one frustrated owner stated, “It is impossible to change the bulb…within a year you will have to throw the whole thing away.” This combination of poor material choices, a disposable design, and alarming safety incidents makes it incredibly difficult to recommend the Schallen 17L Air Fryer for long-term use.

What Other Users Are Saying

Synthesizing feedback from a wide range of users gives a clear, if polarized, picture of the Schallen 17L Air Fryer. On the positive side, many are thrilled with its core function: cooking large amounts of food well. One happy customer noted, “The heat distribution is fantastic and I’ve cooked everything from chicken to pizza to curry to baking cakes.” Another praised its convenience for unconventional living situations, saying, “I can just grab my food, prepare camping style and cook in my bedroom. It’s wonderful and food tastes nice.” These reviews highlight the appliance’s powerful performance and versatility when it is working correctly.

However, the negative feedback is severe and focuses on critical safety and quality issues. The most alarming are the multiple accounts of the glass components failing catastrophically. One user stated, “The halogen oven glass lid exploded showering the food and kitchen in glass,” a sentiment echoed by another who had the same “Big Bang” experience. Beyond these immediate dangers, the long-term build quality is a major point of contention. We saw numerous complaints about premature failure, such as one user who said theirs was “absolutely dreadful, broke after a few uses.” Another pointed out the poor materials, noting that after only 50 uses, “rust is everywhere,” deeming the item “toxic.” This feedback paints a picture of a product with a potentially short and hazardous lifespan.

Alternatives to the Schallen 17L Air Fryer

While the Schallen offers immense capacity, its potential flaws may lead you to consider other options. We’ve compared it to three distinct alternatives that cater to different needs and priorities.

1. Cuisinart XL 7.6L 7-in-1 Air Fryer

The Cuisinart XL represents the modern, premium end of the air fryer market. While its 7.6L capacity is less than half that of the Schallen, it’s still ample for many families. Its key advantages lie in build quality, safety, and features. Coming from a reputable brand, it offers peace of mind with PFAS-free, chemical-free cooking surfaces and a more compact, user-friendly drawer design. With 7-in-1 functionality and digital controls, it’s a sophisticated appliance for those who prioritize reliability, a smaller footprint, and advanced features over sheer, raw capacity. It’s the ideal choice for a discerning home cook who wants performance without the ergonomic and safety compromises of the halogen oven design.

2. Premier 5L Deep Fat Fryer

This alternative takes a completely different approach to frying. The Premier 5L is a traditional deep fat fryer, designed for one purpose: to fry food in hot oil. If what you crave is the authentic taste and texture of classic fish and chips or doughnuts, no air fryer can truly replicate it. This is for the purist who values results over health benefits. It’s simpler, often cheaper, but requires oil management and is less versatile than the Schallen. This is not an all-in-one cooker but a specialized tool for those who are willing to trade the healthy, multi-functionality of an air fryer for the unmistakable crunch of deep-fried food.

3. PROGRESS 1L Mini Deep Fat Fryer

The PROGRESS Mini Fryer is for the solo dweller or couple with limited space and a desire for occasional fried treats. Its tiny 1L capacity is designed for small portions—a single serving of chips or a few onion rings. Its primary appeal is its compact size and affordability. It’s the perfect choice for someone who finds even standard air fryers too large and only wants a simple, no-frills device for small-batch deep frying. It’s the antithesis of the Schallen: small, specialized, and designed for minimal needs, making it a poor choice for families but a great one for a student or single-person household.

Our Final Verdict: A Capacious Cooker Riddled with Caveats

After extensive testing and analysis, our verdict on the Schallen 17L Air Fryer is a hesitant one. On one hand, it delivers on its core promise of huge capacity and versatile, fast cooking. For the price, the ability to roast a whole family meal in one go is an undeniable benefit, and the halogen technology with its clear glass bowl is effective and engaging to use. It can, for a time, be a truly useful and powerful kitchen workhorse.

However, we cannot in good conscience ignore the significant and repeated red flags regarding its long-term durability and, most importantly, its safety. The numerous reports of rusting components, non-replaceable parts, and catastrophically failing glass lids are far too serious to dismiss. While the initial performance is strong, the risk of a short lifespan or a dangerous malfunction is unacceptably high. Therefore, we can only recommend this product to users who understand these risks and are primarily seeking a low-cost, high-capacity solution for short-term use. For everyone else, we strongly advise investing in a product from a more reputable brand with a proven track record of safety and quality. If you’ve weighed the pros and cons and still believe its unique capacity meets your needs, you can find more details and see its current price online.

Last update on 2025-10-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API