Fred van der Weij, a Dutch electronics engineer with a craving for healthier chips, spent years tinkering in his garage to create the “frit air” - launched by Philips as the “Air Fryer” at Berlin’s IFA technology trade show on 3rd September, 2010.

The inventor’s prototypes were made from wood and chicken wire - and produced fries that were burnt on the outside and frozen in the middle. But, by the time its “Rapid Air Technology” had been perfected, this mini convection oven took over the world.

In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly consider how social media, FOMO and lockdown all contributed to the air fryer phenomenon; explain how the device’s deliciousness is due to ‘the Maillard reaction’; and head to the skies to uncover the gadget’s mile-high predecessors… 

Further Reading:

• ‘Philips debuts the Airfryer – crispy fries without the fat’ (New Atlas, 2010): https://newatlas.com/philips-debuts-airfryer/16229/

• ‘How the Air Fryer Crisped Its Way Into America’s Heart’ (The New York Times, 2022): https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/25/dining/air-fryer.html

• ‘Philips Airfryer first look’ (Which?, 2010): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnJ9xZWC054

#Inventions #Netherlands #2010s #Technology #Food

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The Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.

Theme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Ollie Peart

Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2025.

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