Air Fryer is a misleading marketing term. Versatile small oven would be better.
We have a Ninja type that looks like an overgrown VHS player and have gone from “will we ever use it?” to “how would we cope without it?”
Use baking paper cut into squares to fit the trays inside to reduce cleaning. It can help to wet them first before using to prevent burning. People go on about how this will restrict airflow around the food but after extensive testing I have found it makes very little difference.
The advantage is the small volume of air heated is much smaller than a conventional oven so it heats up quickly and restores to temperature quickly when opened to check on food.
The heat source is also versatile with elements that can be selected top and/or bottom with/without fan and the temperature/time setting very precise.
Best suited for meals for two and used as an accessory rather than trying to cook everything at once in it. Compliments a microwave well. Microwave is great for steaming veg but for the best roast potatoes ever pre-cook them in the microwave then finish in the AirFryer.
We bought one +/- 20 yrs ago, and probably used 30 times, more hassle than it’s worth with all the cleaning.
The only use it gets now is when we have friends round for moules frits, I’m thinking of donating it to the comité des fetes.
Exactly my point about kitchen gadgets
A friend who worked in a commercial kitchen called whole or haved potatoes cooked in a deep fat fryer as roast, which of course they are not. So locally there is one going for £5 so that I might buy, I will use beef dripping most likely as its stable lasts for ages so wont require cleaning so often (I hope)
Yes agree, having owned a halogen oven which is pretty much a similar cooking technique we did use that a lot but the glass bowl got very hot which the AF’s do not I suppose? You could do whole roasts or pizzas in the big glass bowl though. But pizzas are best done in a frying pan with a lid. Toasts the bottom nicely and small area to heat melts the cheese etc. Its really quick too no more 6-10 mins start to finish. It is why I am questioning AF’s and will we use it enough. Some good positive responses Like Davids, he had the small oven type but without a fan its radiant only which may make the difference.
Blimey, as the principal and only cook in our house I certainly don’t see any pleasure in cooking. I hate it, and want to devote the least amount of time possible to it, which includes the washing up.
So steamer for veg, micro only for re-heating, mini-oven for brief heating of plates, Air cooker for almost all other cooking (with no washing up) and slow cooker for occasional boeuf bourgignon.
No dishwasher, as I saw the care and time needed when eating and overnighting with friends some years ago, and what a waste of time it would be here. A typical 2 minute wash up from our evening meal here involves one plate, one bowl, one knife, one fork, one desert spoon, one large teaspoon. All else is rinsed then left with hot water and liquid soap immediately after use.
So do I, and the omelette pan still doesn’t get washed as it is only ever used for omelettes with oil. A good omelette is a thing of joy and sacrifices have to be made.
I have wondered about that, but can you put multiple veg in at the same time? ie spuds and other roots along with cabbage etc? This is what I can’t do in the AF but can, and very well, in the steamer.
Thought about the plates too. Do you put a plate in with a total serving of veg and have the whole lot cooked and hot in a few minutes, or do you heat the plates separately?
It’s interesting - the polarised views - conservative, set in their ways, vs. open minded, forward looking. Also, people commenting on the use of air fryers and multi-cookers (e.g., Ninja) without trying it out.
Yes absolutely, trying to see if AF will fit into some part of cooking that isnt duplicating what we have already. Its easy to be taken in by marketing people. Canvasing other people experience often helps.
I purchased an Instant pot duo which is both air fryer and pressure cooker, and find it absolutely marvellous. It uses a fraction of the elec versus more conventional equipment, and I love the versatility, all in one piece of kit. Even includes a dehydrate function. And it bakes bread and cakes beautifully - a bit too beautifully actually had to step up the excercise since purchasing