EDT Luma Air Fryer Review: My New Favourite Kitchen Companion That Looks Good, C ...
As an Indian, my love for food never ends. I crave the best of foods at any time of the day, be it breakfast, lunch, evening snacks, midnight hunger pangs or even a weekend indulgence. But at the same time, I want my meals to be healthy, easy on the stomach and, of course, not too hard on the waistline. Yet, no matter how health conscious I become, giving up soul satisfying food is probably the toughest challenge of them all.
Thankfully, technology has transformed our food choices over the years, helping us stay health-conscious while making life much easier. From the traditional sil-batta making way for mixer grinders to microwave ovens becoming a household staple, we have always embraced appliances that simplify everyday life. And in recent years, an Air Fryer has slowly started becoming the newest member of Indian kitchens, promising the joy of fried food without all the guilt that comes with deep frying.
Now, I won't call myself a chef, but perhaps a weekend MasterChef with a full-time job. I enjoy cooking and, as someone who lives on his own, I try to make most of my meals at home itself. There are exceptions, of course, but I would rather have freshly cooked food than order something from outside.
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Now, being a self-confessed foodie, I spend a lot of time watching recipe videos on YouTube and trying to recreate them at home. During one such binge session, I came across an episode of director, producer and now an ace YouTuber Farah Khan's cooking channel featuring choreographer Terence Lewis. Amid all the food and conversations, what caught my attention wasn't the recipe, but the rather unique-looking air fryer sitting on the kitchen counter. Unlike the usual black plastic boxes that most air fryers resemble, this one looked almost futuristic.
Curious enough, I dug a little deeper and discovered that it was the Luma Intelligent Air Fryer from EDT, short for Everyday Design & Technology. A relatively new player in the consumer electronics space, but one that seems to be making quite a statement with its unique design and feature list.
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Interestingly, I had been planning to buy an air fryer for quite some time. Not because I wanted to jump on a trend, but simply because I watch way too many healthy food cooking videos and most of them somehow end up with ‘Put it in the air fryer for 10 minutes.’
And just like that, the same air fryer eventually found its way into my kitchen as well. Now I have been using it for around past two weeks, making most of the vegetarian meals from paneer tikka to roasted vegetables to crispy fresh fries to cheesy garlic bread and reheating leftovers as well. Safe to say, I now have a fairly good idea of what this air fryer does well and where it still leaves room for improvement.
So, if you're planning to bring home an air fryer and wondering whether this EDT Luma Air Fryer deserves a place on your kitchen counter, here's everything you need to know.
A Design That Stands Out
Now, before I talk about how the food turned out, let's talk about the one thing that sets the Luma apart from almost every other air fryer in the market, its design. And let me be honest, most air fryers look almost identical. Functional? Yes. Exciting? Not really. The EDT Luma changes that completely.
Unlike conventional air fryers that use a pull-out basket, the Luma follows a completely different approach. At the heart of the system is what EDT calls the NutriHob, the top section that houses the heating elements, fan and soft-touch controls. This top unit can be lifted and separated completely from the glass bowl, making the overall design unique from anything else in this segment.
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Below it sits the fully transparent glass bowl, which gives the appliance a very premium and modern appearance. Available in Orange and Grey colour options, the Air Fryer blends seamlessly into modern kitchens while adding a touch of style. In fact, friends visiting my house were curious enough to ask what exactly it is, and none of them guessed that it is an air fryer.
More importantly, the transparent bowl lets you keep an eye on your food while it's cooking. There is no need to keep opening the basket repeatedly to check whether the is getting overcooked.
Setting It Up Is As Easy As It Can Be
The packaging deserves a special mention. Everything arrives extremely well protected, leaving little room for damage during transit.
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Inside the box, you get the NutriHob, two glass bowls, two crisper trays, a food-safe bowl lid, a recipe book and a user manual. The overall setup process is simple and within minutes, the air fryer is ready to use. It comes with a 1500W heating system and works with a standard 16A Indian socket, so there are no special installation requirements. Just plug it in and you're good to go.
The touch controls are easy to understand, and there are five preset modes to Air Fry, Grill, Roast, Bake and Reheat. For those who like experimenting, a long press activates the Custom Chef Mode, allowing temperatures between 60 and 200 degrees Celsius and cooking times of up to 60 minutes.
Two Glass Bowls, Two Ways To Cook
One of the things I really appreciated about this Air Fryer is its dual-bowl setup, much like the dual-basket air fryers. This one comes with two glass bowls - a larger 4.5-litre unit and a smaller 2.5-litre one. While the larger bowl is ideal for family meals, the smaller one proved handy when cooking for one or two people or simply reheating leftovers.
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Another thoughtful touch is that these glass bowls can double up as serving dishes or even storage containers. Simply cover them with the supplied lid and leftovers can go straight into the refrigerator, eliminating the need for additional containers. That said, considering there are two bowls, I do wish EDT had provided two lids instead of one.
Speaking of the bowls, EDT uses 6mm double-tempered borosilicate glass instead of conventional metal baskets with non-stick coatings. That means there are no concerns about coatings scratching, peeling or wearing out over time. Plus, the glass bowl doesn't retain odour or stains.
http://business-world-image-bucket.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/IMG_9250.jpegThe bowls themselves feel sturdy and well-built, although being made of glass, it naturally demands a bit more care than traditional basket-style air fryers. I found myself handling them more cautiously, especially while cleaning or moving it around the kitchen.
Cleaning is equally simple. Food residue and oil stains come off easily with lukewarm water and a soft sponge. The bowls are dishwasher safe too, though most users are unlikely to need one. A quick rinse is usually enough.
Understandably, the glass bowl raises questions about durability. The good thing is that EDT sells replacement bowls separately and also provides a seven-day replacement in case of damage during transit.
Safety Tip: Remember not to wash the bowl immediately after cooking. Allow it to cool down first before exposing it to water.
Cooking Experience
Being a vegetarian, my experiments with the Luma Air Fryer revolved around vegetarian dishes only. Over the past couple of weeks, I have tried everything from paneer tikka and roasted vegetables to french fries, cheesy garlic bread and even frozen nuggets.
Paneer tikka, for instance, came out with a nice crisp on the outside while remaining soft inside. French fries quickly became one of my favourite evening snacks and required very little oil. Cheesy garlic bread also turned out surprisingly well, emerging crisp without becoming overly dry, while roasted vegetables retained their texture instead of turning mushy. I even used it for reheating leftovers on several occasions, something I'll talk about in more detail later, and that's where the appliance probably surprised me the most.
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Now since it comes with two crisper trays, I found myself using the steel mesh tray for most recipes, which also happens to be the brand's recommendation. It allows better airflow and generally produces more even results. Speaking of which, one thing I particularly appreciated was how evenly the Luma cooked the food. The airflow system does a good job of avoiding hot and cold spots, reducing much of the trial and error that first-time air fryer users often struggle with.
For beginners, EDT includes a recipe book in the box, while more recipes are available on the company's website. That should make the learning curve much easier for first-time users.
Another pleasant experience while cooking was the noise level. At 56dB, the Luma is exceptionally quiet. In fact, there were times when I had to walk up to it just to make sure it was still running.
http://business-world-image-bucket.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/IMG_9065.jpegNow, similar to basket-style air fryers, lifting the NutriHob automatically pauses the cooking process and resumes it, once it is placed back. Although, due to the transparent glass bowl, I rarely found myself interrupting the cooking cycle just to check on the food.
And while it's called an air fryer, the Luma is much more than that. It can also roast, grill, bake, toast and reheat food, making it a much more versatile appliance to have in the kitchen, than its name suggests.
So, Can It Replace A Microwave Oven In Your Kitchen?
Well, the answer is both yes and no. Let me be honest, now most of us use our microwave ovens only for reheating food than actually cooking. And if you are one of them, the Luma Air Fryer makes a lot of sense.
From leftover rotis and parathas to pizza slices, the Luma manages to reheat food without making it soggy. However, the only trade-off is time. It takes a few extra minutes compared to a conventional microwave, so if speed is your top priority, the microwave still has an upper hand.
http://business-world-image-bucket.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/IMG_9263.jpegAnother advantage is that you are not restricted to the glass bowl itself. For reheating, you can simply place your regular microwave-safe dishes inside, eliminating the need to transfer food from one container to another.
That said, if you regularly use your oven for baking or cooking meals that require temperatures above 200 degrees Celsius, a conventional oven still has an upper hand. So, rather than replacing an oven altogether, the Luma is better seen as an appliance that can comfortably take over most everyday reheating and light cooking duties.
Areas Where EDT Luma Air Fryer Could Improve
No product is perfect, and the Luma is no exception. My biggest complaint is with the NutriHob. During longer cooking process, both the top unit and the glass bowl become extremely hot. The provided side grips get a little warm too, and if you're lifting the NutriHob with one hand, your palm inevitably rests on the top surface, and the rubber hook on top doesn't inspire much confidence. A sturdier handle would have made the experience safer and more convenient.
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Another thing I would have liked is a proper locking mechanism or at least an audible click when placing the NutriHob onto the bowl. It would not only add reassurance but also improve safety, especially in homes with children.
Finally, the end-of-cooking beep sound could have been louder. More than once, I found myself missing it completely despite being in the kitchen.
Verdict
Priced at an MRP of Rs 14,999, although available at a discount for Rs 11,999, the EDT Luma Intelligent Air Fryer is unlike anything else currently available in the market. Its biggest strength is not just oil free cooking, but the overall experience. The transparent glass design, dual-bowl setup, quiet operation and multiple modes make it feel more premium and thoughtful than conventional basket-style air fryers.
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So, if you're looking for something beyond the usual black plastic boxes and an appliance that can air fry, bake, roast, grill and even replace your microwave for day-to-day reheating duties, the EDT Luma deserves serious consideration.
For me, it has quietly become one of the most frequently used appliances in the kitchen and perhaps that's the biggest compliment any product can receive.
What I liked
[*]A futuristic design that easily stands out from the crowd.
[*]Transparent glass bowl lets you monitor cooking without interruptions.
[*]Two bowl sizes add convenience, much like dual-basket air fryers.
[*]Easy to clean, with no non-stick coating to worry about.
[*]Glass bowls can double up as serving and storage dishes.
[*]Impressively quiet operation.
[*]Comes with sturdy packaging and reassuring build quality.
Where EDT could do better
[*]The bowl and the top NutriHob become extremely hot after use and need careful handling.
[*]A sturdier way to lift the NutriHob would have been appreciated. The side grips can get warm as well, and if you're lifting it with one hand, your palm inevitably rests on the top surface, while the rubber hook on top doesn't inspire much confidence.
[*]A proper locking mechanism for the NutriHob would make it safer, especially around children.
[*]The end-of-cooking beep sound is easy to miss and could have been louder.
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