Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not know what to cool in the air fryer

39 replies

2023NEWMUM2023 · 04/04/2024 14:55

We got an air fryer for Christmas from my parents. We were pleased it's a nice gift. We've made some delicious chips and I've heated a quiche. But that's it. I know people rave about them and I think we're missing out on something. It isn't the biggest airfryer so can't fit a whole chicken in for example. Any ideas/inspiration?

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
PrincessNannie · 05/04/2024 15:26

I have not used my oven in ages. Yesterday I made Scotch eggs and Cornish pasties in the airfryer. Last week chicken pie, bread, haggis Bon Bon’s, roasted veg, salmon baked pasta, and chops.

kidsandpuppies · 05/04/2024 15:16

MoonRiverDancing · 04/04/2024 20:46

How do you do this! Do you just put in bread and cheese and air fry?

Show quote history

I toast the bread first, I like it very crispy, and then put on the cheese. I put the air fryer on for about 5 minutes. This morning I had Brie mixed with a bit of Stilton, it was lovely, sometimes I have cheddar. The cheese melts so well.

MoonRiverDancing · 04/04/2024 20:50

Op, you mention you’re is small so can’t put a whole chicken but we’ve got an air fryer with two drawers and you can fit a large chicken in one drawer. It’s a bit of a squeeze but it cooks beautifully.

BeretRaspberry · 04/04/2024 20:48

We’ve just replaced our old Ninja Foodi (DD is taking that to uni) with the Flexidrawer one.

It’s very good for freezer food like nuggets and fish fingers (though on MN they’re the devil’s food so I probably shouldn’t have said that). I’ve just done the nicest jacket potatoes in it. (Used to do them in the Foodi as well). Last night I did sausages in one side and roasties in the other for the kids, which they had with peas and gravy.

We also use it to ‘boil’ eggs for eggs and soldiers. I’ve done fajitas in it and cooked a chicken in it. I also used to do a chicken fried rice in it.

Now I’ve got the new one I plan on doing salmon and I’m going to try Yorkshire puddings too. My aunty in law also uses it for baking - her scones are amazing!

MoonRiverDancing · 04/04/2024 20:46

kidsandpuppies · 04/04/2024 15:12

I just melted cheese on toast in for my breakfast (I'm in Canada), I do it every morning and it's the best thing for melting cheese. I also really like chicken pieces in it, sometimes I use seasoned breadcrumbs, sometimes just spices, but it comes out really good. I did sausages in it the other day. I've even roasted a whole chicken in it which tuned out well, I think I cut the backbone out first.

How do you do this! Do you just put in bread and cheese and air fry?

Democrat · 04/04/2024 20:42

Toasties - butter both sides of the bread with cheese and pickle in the middle. Air fry for five minutes or so until done to perfection. Ham works well also.

Lincslady53 · 04/04/2024 20:36

Chicken breast fillets in panko breadcrumbs.

Lincslady53 · 04/04/2024 20:36

Salmon fillets, drizzled with a spicy honey mix, turmeric, chili. 9 mins at 180. Lovely with new pots and veg. V healthy too.

RedPony1 · 04/04/2024 20:32

TruffleSnuffle · 04/04/2024 17:30

Yes please! I want to know!

Show quote history

As @GingerIsBest guessed, yes they were too light, flew up and caught fire 😂

MotorwayDiva · 04/04/2024 18:56

Frozen croissants, sweet potato fries, home made fries, roast potato's and parsnips,Spanish chicken.
It's also great for reheating roast dinners

Toofattofly · 04/04/2024 18:49

Bacon is gorgeous in the air fryer

effoffwind · 04/04/2024 18:26

Chicken
Gammon
Beef
Fish fingers
Veggie fingers
Jacket spud
Salmon
Toasted sandwiches
Bacon
Sausage
Chips
Wedges
Marinated mushrooms

That's the usual for me

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 04/04/2024 18:23

www.facebook.com/share/r/jfzcZxKV4bXscMv3/ this was amazing

NeverDropYourMooncup · 04/04/2024 18:13

Take your spices of choice, marinade and then

Chicken Thighs
Chicken Breast
Chicken Chunks
Pork Belly (gets really crisp and the fat runs out)
Turkey Chunks
Lamb Chunks
Pork Chunks
Broccoli
Parsnips
Butternut Squash Chunks
Tomatoes
Courgette (can also coat in GF flour for a slightly crispy texture)
Kale chips
Parsnip chips
Apple (eating not cooking, as cookers disintegrate, eaters stay whole)
Potatoes
Sweet Potatoes
Mushrooms
Focaccia (GF in our case)
Garlic bread (GF)

anything you'd think 'can't be arsed to put the oven on for that'

GingerIsBest · 04/04/2024 17:33

I'm guessing the poppadoms were too light, bounced around and caught fire?
We don't do butternut squash as the sweetness somehow disappears and it's just awful.

Thought of amore things we do:

Quick breakfast muffins
Individual Yorkshire puddings for DD
Jacket potatoes
Roasted cauliflower for adding to curries or satay sauces

Also super handy for heating up tacos/wraps/tortillas/flatbreads etc in just a few minutes and on an ad hoc basis when everyone is eating at different times.

Oven ready meals eg chicken wings/ribs.

TruffleSnuffle · 04/04/2024 17:30

RedPony1 · 04/04/2024 16:20

i do know that you shouldn't heat up poppadom's in there... ask me how i know 👀

Yes please! I want to know!

awitchoftroubleinelectricblue · 04/04/2024 16:21

Bacon
Boiled eggs
Jacket potato
Toasties
Pizza
Chips
Potato wedges
Bread

RedPony1 · 04/04/2024 16:20

i do know that you shouldn't heat up poppadom's in there... ask me how i know 👀

abracadabra1980 · 04/04/2024 15:34

I shove dumpling mix in mine - not in 6 separate dumplings but just cut into thirds - delicious. Have also made a giant scone in it 😁

User364837 · 04/04/2024 15:33

Boiled eggs - 7-9 mins on 170 depending how soft or hard boiled you want them!

User364837 · 04/04/2024 15:32

I use mine a lot for those part baked little bread rolls or mini baguettes. I use them for packed lunches and weekend lunches at home with soup.

Anything beige eg fish fingers, pieces of fish, breaded chicken., sausage rolls

croissant and pain au chocolat from the freezer

chicken breasts (to then put in buns like burgers)

when I do a roast I do the pigs in blankets in there

sausages work well

meat balls, then just add them to a tomatoey sauce

Misthios · 04/04/2024 15:29

Anything you'd usually do in the oven - and will fit!! Baked potatoes are brilliant in the air fryer. In the last week we've cooked salmon steaks, chicken breasts, heated up pizza and sausage rolls, made tandoori chicken...

I have also successfully baked scones and muffins in ours.

Somatosensational · 04/04/2024 15:26

part-baked croissants
frozen med veg
frozen broccoli/cauliflower
frozen sweet potato
spring rolls
fresh salmon

In my experience, frozen veg works better than fresh because the liquid steams it a bit as it cooks and stops it from burning. I've tried air frying fresh broccoli which didn't work so well.

UpsideLeft · 04/04/2024 15:25

It's meant to be good if you have younger DC so you can cook a handful of chicken nuggets and chips for their dinner

Easier to cook small portions in an air fryer than to heat up an oven

Or a piece of salmon and a backed potato for example

flutterby1 · 04/04/2024 15:21

Anything DRY that you would put in an oven

Baked pots
Sausages
Chips
Frozen coated chicken
Scampi