Fried food can never be a healthy option, at least for those who tend to put on weight. But now global electronics giant Philips has come out with an AirFryer that it claims gives you that same satisfying deep fried taste -- minus oil.

The device uses rapid air technology or hot air, to cook the kind of stuff that would be deep fried, reports the Daily Mail.

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

The AirFryer resembles a large rice cooker and has a largish tray which can be removed, stuffed with food and put back inside.

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

How it tastes is another question -- the 200 pound cooking machine will only be available to pre-order at Philips' website in a few weeks' time.

Crucially, whether it tastes as satisfying as the real thing remains to be seen.

On its website, the electronics firm admits that fresh French fries need 'half a table spoon of oil for extra taste' when put through the machine.

Then there is the issue of keeping it clean. To their credit, Philips has built the AirFryer with a food separator accessory so several foods can be fried at once without, say, making your chicken nuggets smell like a fish.

It also has an air filter, so no matter how much like-fried food it fries, your house won't smell like a chip shop.