Batch cook or air fryer?

[GhostCastle]

I’ve been thinking about buying a Ninja Dual Air Fryer for a while. I’ve read that they are less expensive to run compared to an electric fan oven. I can’t decide if it will be a waste of money and worktop space. Would batch cooking be a better way to save energy? Not sure how many meals I’d get in the oven at the same time. Maybe a lasagna in with a pizza or enchiladas. Doubt I’d fit a whole large chicken in with a lasagna. Has anyone compared the energy used for the same meal in an electric oven vs air fryer? If you batch cook in the oven, what meals can you fit in there at the same time?

I was thinking this exact same thing yesterday. I think air fryers seem less expensive to run - smaller space to heat, quicker cook time - but they look so tiny in capacity compared to the loss of worktop space.

Not properly answering your question but I totally recommend an air fryer. I have a large one that cooks a whole chicken (it's not a ninja)
But I do batch cook on the hob too. Savoury mince etc.

@Hoolahulahoop do you have a smart meter? If so, would you mind letting me know how many kWh is used when you next cook a whole chicken? I occasionally batch cook spaghetti bolognese and chilli. I’m going to start doing it on a regular basis.

@ChristinaXYZ, that’s exactly what I keep thinking. I wouldn’t mind losing a bit of worktop if we are going to save a fair bit of electricity.

I do both. Air fryer brilliant for wedges, chips and warning things up in no time eg: frozen garlic bread.

We do both. We only run the oven full these days, the food goes into the freezer, we take it out and cook it in the air fryer.

Ninja 400 seriously you won't regret it.

I only batch cook on the hob - I usually have a couple of different curries, chilli, bolognaise, soup, chicken and chorizo pasta topper etc in the freezer

If I make bolognaise I make a vat of it and make a couple of lasagnas up too but they go in the freezer with the pasta still 'raw'

I'm really cross because I put the oven on earlier to cook some chicken breasts, changed my mind and cooked them on the hob but left the oven on for 3 hours I could cry at the wasted electric

I'm sure chicken breasts take hardly any time in an air fryer and I'm absolutely tempted!

Think of batch cooking as cooking several portions of the same thing rather than cooking several different things at the same time. So things like bolognese, chilli, mince for shepherds pie and all be done in a slow cooker for much less than using the hob or oven. Then portion it up into freezer bags. Or make up lasagne with the bolognese sauce and freeze in portions - I use foil trays. This can be reheated in an air fryer successfully.
Use an air fryer for things like wedges, frozen chips, sausages, bacon, toasties, samosas etc. it’s far quicker and cheaper than a conventional oven.

@Workyticket it’s annoying when you’re trying to save energy then leave something running. My boys like to leave the bathroom light on so it leaves the fan running. When I hear the fan a long time after their showers it makes me feel so cross.
I like the idea of portioning lasagna up from a big pot of bolognese. Not thought of doing that before.

@Sodie that’s the model I have my eye on. Getting close to buying it now!

@Soontobe60 which airfryer do you have? How long does the lasagna take to heat up? What size foil trays do you use? We are a family of 4. Would we be able to get 4 portions in? So many questions!😂TIA

I bought the Ninja 400 dual drawer thingymabob from the Ninja store on Amazon a few days ago, was reduced to £159. I'm really excited to stop using the bloody oven!

I bought myself the ninja 400 dual air fryer about a month ago and haven't looked back. I have only put my main oven on once since I got it. I also cooked some fairy cakes in it at the weekend which were very successful.

Just before I bought mine I had been watching the price on Amazon and was waiting to see if I could get a bargain on Prime day and the cheeky beggars actually put it up by £10 and delivery was two weeks. I got mine direct from the Ninja site, it was cheaper than Amazon and they were doing an additional 10% off your first order and free next day delivery so worth checking out if that offer is still on.

Just had a look on Amazon now and the one I have is not avalilabe and the next model down gives a delivery date of 1-2 months!

I've got the Daewoo with the glass bowl, when it conks out we're going to replace it. It cooks everything perfectly and because we can see the food I've managed not to burn anything.

Been humming and haa'ing over buying an airfryer for ages.

Want to ditch the v old microwave and use the space for an airfryer. No other space. BUT microwave is used often and pretty much only for doing the packet rices for 2 mins. Anyone got any bright ideas?

You can do packet rice in a saucepan/ frying pan. Just empty and keep stirring like a stir fry. Or in a non-stick pan, put on low with the lid on.

Just watch in case it starts drying out, as you could add a small spoon of water.