You can now eat fried food in a healthy way, for Philips has invented a frying machine that it claims gives you that same satisfying fatty taste - but without the oil.

The AirFryer uses Rapid Air Technology, hot air in other words, to cook the kind of meals that would traditionally be dunked in a deep fat fryer.

By circulating air up to 200C around foods like chips, chicken, fish or pastries, Philips claims to be able to brown them off nicely with up to 80 per cent less fat.

The AirFryer looks like a large rice cooker and has a chunky tray, which can be removed, filled with food and put back inside.

Twelve minutes later the meal emerges hot and crisp and, according to Philips, far healthier for you.

The 200 pounds cooking machine will only be available to pre-order at Philips' website in a few weeks time, so for now there are only the company's claims that it has a 70 per cent approval rating with consumers.

"At Philips, we develop advanced solutions that help contribute to people's health and well-being," the Daily Mail quoted Philips Consumer Lifestyle CEO Pieter Nota, as saying.

"The products we've unveiled live up to that promise by helping people live a healthy, active and more sustainable life," he added. (ANI)