Empower Brands, the maker of PowerXL Air Fryers, has announced a voluntary recall of two models of its dual-basket air fryers due to a potential burn hazard. The recall affects about 319,000 units sold at various retail stores and online platforms from August 2021 to October 2023.
The recall was issued after the company received 41 reports of the plastic U-Channel connector, which can be used to combine the two food baskets inside the air fryers, breaking during use. Three of these incidents resulted in minor burns to the users.
The recalled models are PowerXL Dual-Basket Air Fryer models DUAF-005 and DUAF-10, which come in black or cinnamon colors. They have a silver label on the front that says “PowerXL” and a white label on the bottom or the power cord that lists the model number.
How to identify the recalled air fryers?
The recalled air fryers have a distinctive egg-shaped design and two baskets that can be used separately or together. The 10-quart DUAF-10 model is about 17 inches long by 16 inches wide by 12 1/2 inches tall, and weighs about 14 1/2 pounds. The 9-quart DUAF-005 model is about 14 inches long by 13 inches wide by 15 inches tall, and weighs about 14 pounds.
The recalled air fryers were sold at Target, Walmart, Kohls, and other stores nationwide for $60 to $190, depending on the model. They were also available online at Target.com, Walmart.com, Kohls.com, and other websites.
You can check the images of the recalled air fryers on the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website or the recall website of Empower Brands.
What to do if you own a recalled air fryer?
If you own one of the recalled air fryers, you should immediately stop using it and contact Empower Brands to receive a full refund. You can call Empower Brands toll-free at 866-704-9370 from 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit www.prodprotect.com/recall/duaf for more information.
You do not need to return the product to the retailer or the manufacturer. You can dispose of it safely after removing the power cord and cutting it off.
Why are air fryers popular and what are the benefits?
Air fryers are popular kitchen appliances that use hot air to cook food with little or no oil. They can produce crispy and tasty food with less fat and calories than deep frying. Air fryers can also cook food faster and more evenly than conventional ovens.
Some of the benefits of air fryers are:
- They can help you reduce your intake of unhealthy fats and oils, which can lower your risk of obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.
- They can save you time and energy, as they preheat quickly and cook food faster than ovens. They also do not heat up your kitchen as much as ovens do.
- They can offer you a variety of cooking options, as you can use them to make fries, chicken, vegetables, cakes, and more. You can also use different accessories and recipes to create different dishes.
What are the drawbacks and risks of air fryers?
Air fryers are not without drawbacks and risks, however. Some of the disadvantages and dangers of air fryers are:
- They can be expensive, as they can cost anywhere from $50 to $300, depending on the brand, model, and features. They can also take up a lot of counter space and storage space in your kitchen.
- They can produce smoke and unpleasant odors, especially if you cook food with a lot of fat or grease. They can also cause splattering and dripping of oil, which can create a fire hazard or damage your countertop or floor.
- They can pose a burn hazard, as the air fryers and the food inside them can get very hot. You should always use oven mitts or gloves to handle the air fryers and the food baskets, and keep them away from children and pets. You should also follow the manufacturer’s instructions and safety precautions when using the air fryers.
