Breville Halo SteamFry 7L Digital Air Fryer (VDF133) with SteamFry Technology

If you like the idea of air frying but worry about food drying out, the Breville Halo Steam Air Fryer is an interesting attempt at combining textures. On paper, its SteamFry technology alternates steaming and air frying so you get a crisp outside with a softer, tender centre.

It also leans into day-to-day practicality: digital controls, a fairly quick heat-up, and a water tank for continuous steam. That said, it’s not a tiny countertop fryer, and if you’re only ever after the simplest “cook and forget” style, you may find it a bit more involved than basic models.

The essentials

The Breville Halo Steam Air Fryer (VDF133) is a digital 7L air fryer designed for multiple cooking styles in one appliance. The headline feature is SteamFry, which blends steaming and air frying by alternating between modes during cooking. In real kitchen terms, that usually means less of the “dry and crisp all the way through” outcome you can sometimes get with traditional air frying.

It also includes multiple preset cooking options for common meals. The aim here is to cover the normal week: chips, chicken, vegetables, steak, fish, and drumsticks.

What stands out day to day

SteamFry technology is the big differentiator. Instead of treating steaming and air frying as separate steps, the machine alternates them during the cook. If you’ve ever had the problem where food is technically cooked but not quite right for texture, this design is meant to smooth that out.

There’s also a strong “use it without hassle” angle. The controls are described as single-touch LED controls for temperature and pre-set cooking modes, and it’s rated at 1700W for rapid heating up to 200°C. Add a 90-minute timer and you’ve got the basic tools you’d expect from a modern digital air fryer.

One detail worth noting is the water tank: it’s listed as 1.4L and supports up to 90 minutes of continuous steam. That’s useful if you want longer cooking without re-filling mid-session, though you’ll still want to keep an eye on your typical portion size and cook time.

Key features

Below are the features mentioned in the product information, phrased in a way that helps you judge whether they’ll matter in your kitchen.

Tech summary

• SteamFry technology alternates steaming and air frying for crisp outside and tender centre
• Energy efficiency claim: 50% more efficient than cooking the same meal in an oven (as stated in the product information)
• 6 cooking presets: chips, chicken, vegetables, steak, fish, drumsticks
• Power: 1700W, rapid heating up to 200°C
• Timer: adjustable 90 minutes
• Controls: single-touch LED controls for temperature and pre-set modes
• Water tank: 1.4L providing up to 90 minutes of continuous steam
• Oil reduction claim: uses 360° air circulation and 99.5% less oil than standard 3L Breville fryers (per product information)

Who it suits (and who should look elsewhere)

It makes sense if you want one appliance that can handle a mix of cooking styles: air frying, steaming, SteamFry, roasting, grilling, and reheating are all listed. It’s also a reasonable pick if you’re trying to reduce oil use but still want the “proper crisp” effect.

It might not be the best match if you prefer very simple operation with no extra thinking around steam settings and timing. And if you tend to cook very small portions, a 7L capacity can feel like overkill in both space and energy use, even if the brand makes efficiency claims.

You may also want to calibrate expectations: the word “perfect results” appears in the description, but real outcomes can depend a lot on portion size, thickness, and whether you’re using the presets as intended.

A practical example of use

Imagine you’re cooking drumsticks for a midweek meal. With this air fryer, you could select the drumsticks preset, set the temperature, and let the SteamFry mode do the switching between steaming and air frying. The idea is that you’re not just chasing surface crispness, you’re aiming for a softer inside so the meat doesn’t end up overly dry.

Is it worth it?

Worth considering if you’re specifically after a steam-assisted air-fry result, want digital presets for everyday meals, and you like the idea of up to 90 minutes of continuous steam from a 1.4L tank. The 1700W power and up-to-200°C heat-up also fit the “get cooking quickly” expectation.

Better avoided if you only want a basic air fryer for straightforward crispy results, or if your cooking habits are very small-batch and you’d rather keep things lean. On paper, SteamFry is the reason to buy this model—if that matters to your cooking, it’s likely to be more compelling than a simpler air fryer approach.

Frequently asked questions

Does it steam and air fry at the same time?

The product information says it alternates steaming and air frying whilst cooking, using its SteamFry technology.

How long can it run with steam?

A 1.4L water tank is stated to provide up to 90 minutes of continuous steam.

What foods can you cook with the presets?

The six presets mentioned are chips, chicken, vegetables, steak, fish, and drumsticks.

Is it designed to use less oil?

It claims 99.5% less oil than standard 3L Breville fryers, and it uses 360° air circulation for crisp results.