I don't understand why so many people are raving about air fryers!

[BorisJohnsonsHair]

So many people I know have them, and keep trying to tell me how marvellous they are.

Maybe I'm missing something, but I can't actually see what I would cook in one. We eat a lot of curries, stir-fries and then things like sausage and mash, lasagne etc.

I have a combination microwave/grill/oven, plus a normal oven and gas hob. Also use a slow cooker. Why would I need to add another gadget? I honestly can't see when I'd use it.

And please don't say chips are as good as proper chips! We only have chips maybe once every couple of months, so like them deep-fried.

My hairdresser was banging on about hers last night - for chicken.

I’m also on the fence but I think it’s my lack of imagination that’s the problem.
Having said all that I cooked some marinated chicken thighs in the air fryer and my Gosh, my DS thought they were the best ever.
DD did some apple slices in it as she was here for the weekend and they were also quite nice.
I think I need to think outside the box a bit more.

From your list, I've made lasagne, sausages and the meat part of a stir fry in mine.

it's just a small oven so more economical than using the main oven for something small.

Regularly make fajitas in mine too.

I've done sausages, soft boiled eggs, roast parsnips, curly fries, duck stirfry....

it's brilliant for a fry up - takes 15 minutes for sausages, hash browns etc. There are loads of things you can bung into it, it hardly uses any fat, and it's quick.

It's ok if it's not for you !
Lots of people will use them often , some not so much

I like mine for jacket potato's , chips , veggie fingers , salmon , sausages , bacon , scampi , calamari , lots of fish really , roasted veg and more I can't think of
It's an air fryer , won't change the world and it's fine not to want one

Love my air fryer. It's just me at home and things like sausages cook quickly. Bacon is amazing. However I find it a bugger to get clean properly.

I love ours. Don’t get one if you don’t want one!

I was underwhelmed.

Hash browns have no place on a fry-up!! Fried bread all the way.

Seriously though, other than being a bit quicker, I can't see it will change my life much. And will take up much-needed space on the worktop.

It's just a tiny convection oven. I don't cook much of the stuff people seem to do in them and I can't see it managing portions for 5 adults and teens.

If you eat that kinds of food, great. I'm more a curries, pasta, casserole type cook so stick to the hob or the instant pot.

This is my problem with air fryers. The fat is what makes things taste good. Sure, too much is unhealthy but "very little" makes tasteless food.

I also looked up recipes for air fryer lasagne and they all relied on jars of sauce which are not as nice as ones I can make myself. Sure, I could make my own but after all that effort what good has the air fryer done?

Isn't a combination oven effectively a slightly larger air fryer?
An air fryer is just a mini oven really.

For me my microwave, which is just a basic one, doesn't cook things in the same way as an oven at all - so I wouldn't use it for sausages, lasagne, cottage pie, roast potatoes, cakes, garlic bread etc.
I tend to use the microwave for defrosting, reheating and liquids.

Isn't a combination microwave oven effectively a slightly larger air fryer?

You do have to think out of the box. Friends have jst eaten sossies, hash browns and other unhealthy food. They think Fryer and just cook fried foods. Their cooking is so much unhealthier

I did the TikTok air fryer scones, they were quick and lovely.

I live alone. Will stick to my George Foreman grill.

I just made a lasagne like I always would and cooked it in the air fryer. It doesn't need a special recipe' just a time adjustment.

I know nothing about air fryers. Do you always have to add oil to cook something?

"it's just a small oven so more economical than using the main oven for something small.^"

Exactly this
^

I live on my own so for cooking single portions it's far more economical and quick to use an air fryer as a mini oven rather than switching on the big oven.

I live alone and mine has shelves so it's a tiny oven
Tend to use it when it's a waste to put the main oven on so part baked rolls, some garlic bread, potato waffles, chips to go with something, a chicken breast.. that kind of thing

My 9 year old can use it independently so that’s it’s main use. He likes faffing around in the kitchen. It’s more for snack/treat food.
Good for bacon sandwich, jacket potato, wedges, homemade nuggets. Also for freezer food.

I have a big kitchen with lots of work surface but just can't face the idea of having a huge ugly black appliance on display all the time. So that's that. We are just trying to be more mindful about having the oven on when not necessary.