Ultrean Air Fryer Review

The Ultrean Air Fryer is a straightforward, single-function fryer that cooks all kinds of food well and makes incredibly crisp potatoes with a nice internal texture.

Cooking Quality

During the cooking quality tests, the Ultrean Air Fryer delivered competent results across different food types, though it didn't achieve consistent crispiness for fish in my cooking tests.

Fries and Tater Tots

For my crispiness and texture testing, I found the Ultrean produced adequately crispy exteriors on both frozen french fries and tater tots. The fries achieved a satisfying crunch, and the interior texture was nearly perfect, with a fluffy yet fully cooked potato inside. The browning wasn't perfectly even, but I was happy that there weren't any overcooked spots, and even the lighter fries were still crispy. The tater tots turned out similarly. And while not the absolute best I've tested, the results were certainly acceptable for everyday air frying needs.

Chicken Wings

The chicken wing test revealed the Ultrean's ability to produce juicy, well-cooked poultry. The wings reached the proper internal temperature of 165°F without issue, maintaining good moisture levels throughout the cooking process.

The skin achieved a reasonable crispiness, though it lacked the deeply golden, crackling texture I wished for. But the slightly inconsistent crisping wasn't a deal breaker, and I still found these wings to be very enjoyable.

Salmon

I achieved properly cooked salmon with some of the best moisture retention of any of the air fryers I used. The Ultrean also produced a lightly crisped exterior. The simple seasoning I used came through clearly. While the exterior wasn't always dramatically crispy, the overall result was a well-prepared piece of fish that most home cooks would be happy to serve.

Cooking Speed

The Ultrean Air Fryer requires no preheating time, which gives it a slight advantage in convenience over models that recommend or require preheating cycles. During the speed tests, I found cooking times aligned reasonably well with standard air fryer recipes on any frozen foods I cooked up. The salmon took only 13 minutes to cook, and frozen tater tots took 18 minutes.

I was impressed that this machine cooked tater tots as fast as the premium models I tested. It also has one of the fastest times for cooking salmon. The strong airflow is likely what helps cook items quickly, and when feeding hungry kids, I was very appreciative of the quick cooking times.

Temperature Accuracy

The temperature accuracy testing revealed the Ultrean performed adequately in maintaining set temperatures, though it wasn't the most precise unit I've evaluated. When set to 400°F, the unit ran an average of 5.5°F low. This is a small enough difference that I never had any problem with it.

The exterior of the unit maintained safe temperatures during operation, remaining below the 140°F safety threshold. I didn't experience any concerning hot spots on the housing that would pose burn risks during normal operation, which is great for all the parents with small children out there.

Ease of Use

The minimalist interface is both a strength and a weakness. With just power, temperature up/down, and timer up/down buttons, there's virtually no learning curve for new users. However, the absence of preset cooking functions means you'll need to remember or look up appropriate times and temperatures for different foods.

There's also a terrible beeping sound that quickly becomes annoying, especially in open kitchen layouts where family members might be bothered by the noise.

The temperature range of 180-400°F covers most air frying needs, though the lower limit is too high for dehydrating foods effectively. The 30-minute maximum timer handles most standard cooking tasks but falls short for longer recipes.

The round basket design presents both advantages and disadvantages. While round baskets can promote better air circulation in theory, I found the shape limits how efficiently you can arrange certain foods compared to square or rectangular alternatives. When cooking large things like corn dogs or chicken strips, I found myself cooking smaller batches than I could with similarly sized square baskets.

The basket slides in and out smoothly without requiring excessive force or bracing of the main unit, which is an important aspect of any air fryer. It's also worth mentioning that there is no shake alarm, so you'll need to remember to do that on your own. I missed doing it a couple of times, but once you get in an air-frying groove, it comes naturally to give it a shake, even without an alarm reminder.

Where the Ultrean truly shines is in cleaning and maintenance. Both the basket and crisper tray are dishwasher safe, which I always like as a busy mom. The non-stick coating releases food easily, making hand washing quick and effortless when you prefer not to use the dishwasher.

I found very little residue stuck to surfaces after cooking, even with foods that typically leave behind stubborn remnants. This ease of cleaning partially compensates for some of the unit's feature limitations, especially for busy households where quick cleanup is essential.

Should You Buy the Ultrean Air Fryer?

The Ultrean Air Fryer represents an excellent entry point into air frying for budget-conscious consumers who prioritize simplicity and easy maintenance over advanced features. I found it delivers reliable cooking results that, while not exceptional, consistently produce properly cooked food with decent texture and flavor. The dishwasher-safe components and effortless cleaning make it particularly appealing for busy households where convenience matters more than cutting-edge performance. If you're new to air frying or looking for a basic unit for occasional use, the Ultrean offers solid value that won't disappoint, provided you can tolerate the annoying beep sound and don't need preset functions.

What Other Air Fryers Should You Consider?

If you have a slightly larger budget and want significantly better features and performance, you should look into the Ninja Air Fryer. It offers excellent temperature accuracy, multiple preset functions, and superior cooking results across all tests. It made some very tasty salmon and juicy chicken, too. So if cooking meat is top of mind, this is a great choice.