Do I want an air fryer?!

[SushiSheep]

I know, I know, really late to this party but I want to hear how all your air fryers have revolutionised your lives!
There's mostly just 3 of us in the house (though right now we've doubled in numbers as have family visiting).
DC10 is pretty hands on in the kitchen so will having one be beneficial to an aspiring foodie?
And as a cherry on top - please tell me which one to get 😂

We have the ninja one (toaster oven style) and I was skeptical at first but now use it almost daily. Good in hot weather to roast veg without having the oven on. DC's use it for everything and are cooking more as it's simpler than pre-heating oven, etc.

Not having to watch the food so closely is another advantage, as well as it being quicker and cheaper.

You set the time and temperature and can go do something else. Plus it turns itself off at the end so the food won't burn if you don't come back straight away.

If I was starting again from scratch or the oven broke and I was only needing to cook for 1 or 2 people I'd not bother with an oven and just get a decent air fryer instead.

I’ve got the 11l maxi thing. It does pressure cooking, sauté and air fryer. I love it. As said before, risotto in 15 mins (includes sauteeing onions etc in the same thing, any slower sautéed stuff (sauces, curries etc), pressure cooking, has a steam air fry option which is great for sausages and steaks (lamb,pork or beef) and then then standard air fry. I probably don’t air fry as much as I could because of the other functions. Although 2 slices bacon and an egg (with shell on) at 175 for 7 mins is the quickest, least effort bacon and egg butty I’ve known.

oven is used about once a month now. Today I will be roasting a chicken and doing a tray of roast veg so I’ll use it as my ninja couldn’t do both of those and I don’t see the point of cooking it in shifts. Otherwise though, it’s on a par with my coffee machine as the most used kitchen item

I have a combo one but it's only used for rice and pressure cooking, proper oven (have a small one as I have a range cooker) heats in the same time cooks as fast

I have the Ninja Double Stack. Was always sworn off them until we had one in a holiday let and my opinion changed rapidly ..Ours is amazing and it's used every day, sometimes twice! Less smell, mess, time saving and easy to use and clean. Wouldn't be without one now

I bought the Tower stackable, as I thought the width would be useful for pizzas, browning roast potatoes etc. It is and I'm pleased with it. Not so pleased that literally a week later Ninja brought their stackable out! 🤣

I think what sort you want will be determined by the things you cook most OP. I love mine, it's a very useful tool to have. What I particularly love is how easy it is to clean, compared to the oven. There are lots of good reductions about at present, you could watch some reviews in youtube to see which would suit you best.

PS Another advantage versus your oven is you can plug it in outside during a heatwave.

I seem to deduce from this thread that everyone is either cooking roast chicken and potatoes, salmon, chips or nuggets and oven chips!

And bacon. Sometimes bacon wrapped around chicken too.

I love the fact it is quick and I can set the timer and just forget it while I empty the dishwasher or whatever. Would not be without it at all

I resisted until last week.

Didn't think I had the space as tiny kitchen.

But my oven is gas, which I hate, and takes fifteen minutes to preheat and then you have to add at least fifteen minutes on to cooking times.

Plus I have approximately four minutes to make dinner at night due to small child and long commute.

So I bought a little 4l air fryer and I’m already in love. Rejiggled the kitchen a bit to keep it on the counter.

I did consider keeping it inside the oven for storage, as there’s now a mostly redundant space. But read a few stories about people who did that and accidentally melted their air fryer. I would totally do that.

Steak in an air fryer?!! It takes minutes on the hob in a frying pan

😊 And quiches, mediterranean roast veg, pizza, sausages, baked potatoes, fritata, posh cottage pie etc etc. The possibilities are endless!

Edited to avoid Kenny Everett reference.

@HidingFromDD you're going to have to explain the egg in shell thing 🤯

And steak, home made burgers, jacket potatoes, fish in batter/breadcrumbs, toasties, wraps, frozen sausage rolls, gammon, kebabs, mixed roast veg, corn on the cob, sausages, part cooked bread, garlic bread - just some of the things I have used mine for recently.

I’ve also seen people cook lasagne, omelettes and sausage casserole in them but I’ve not tried them yet.

But honestly, it’s much juicier when done in the air fryer!

Air fryers can be used for anything that will normally be cooked in the oven, providing it will fit, and many things that are grilled or fried.

As well as cooking things, they're especially good for reheating slices of pizza or crisping up pastries or yesterday's leftover crusty bread.

If you're the kind of person who likes a few party food type nibbles instead of dinner in the lull between Christmas and NYE, they're really good for that sort of thing.

It's probably quicker to say what they're less good for:

Pizza if more than a slice or two, due to space.
Anything very light. I've found crumble topping or grated cheese gets blown all over the place by the fan.

Apart from that, they're really useful and cheaper to use than a full size oven.

I've got a "refurbished" Tefal one, so half price. Use it once a month maybe, for silly little things like loaded nachos or dates stuffed with cheese and wrapped in ham. Can I live without it - yes, but does it make my life a little bit better - also yes. If you have the money and space to put it (mine is living in the island cupboard along with pressure cooker, waffle maker, toaster etc....) - go for it!

Thanks all!
Right, one last question from DH.
Has anyone cooked chicken wings in one, and provide recipe please? 😂

Prefer thighs, but it's basically 'make marinade, leave wings in wet marinade, take out, cook in air fryer, make spicy sauce, cover wings'.

Thanks again for all your expertise and advice.
Have ordered a Tefal Easy Fry Dual air fryer, purely based on the price and I had enough nectar points to buy it so no money spent 🙈😂

Ninja dual, and crock pot/ pressure cooker, use most days, but I use oven as well for fish pie lasagna etc.