Christmas lunch - new air fryer

[Tinytigertail]

I've recently got an air fryer and wondered which bits of Christmas lunch people might recommend doing in it? I've heard people racing about roast potatoes, but I definitely preferred mine from the oven. Suggestions and tips welcome.

They aren't really great for big lunches. Better for saving money when you only need a small cooker.

If I had the oven on the go anyway for the turkey I would probably do most bits in there.

But ...

They do sometimes crisp up a bit better than the oven. So if you don't have any space in the oven they would be great for doing the extras like pigs in blankets, crispy bacon and sausages, maybe roasting parsnips etc. That sort of stuff.

Disclaimer. I am not an expert cook.

No point unless you have run out of oven space

I can’t understand the hype about air fryers myself - I know I’m in the minority. On Christmas Day the oven is fully used so optimum energy efficiency. No need to use a crappy air fryer.

I regularly use mine for weekly roast dinners. I do my potatoes, parsnips, sausages etc in it. Makes super crispy and fluffy roasties with minimal oil

My mum cooks a whole chicken in hers! Says it comes out absolutely perfect and juicy every time.

When entertaining at Christmas I find my air fryer very helpful - but not for the main meal. So, things I've used it for over the last year or two or this year are:

• those little pre-made canape type things
• par-baked bread/baguettes/ciabatta for serving with starters/nibbles etc
• Ditto, I'll be doing the blinis in there this year for my smoked salmon canapes I'm making
• Cooking/re-heating anything for the small number of vegetarians attending
• pigs in blankets

I regularly do roasted carrots in mine so if I wasn't needing to cook about a million carrots this year, I'd do those as a side for a smaller group.

I'm also considering cooking a camembert in there on one of the days we have people over as I'll have the oven on all day for a lamb shoulder.

I was thinking of cooking my roasties the day before,and reheating in the air fryer on the day,to free up the oven for the turkey.

When cooking carrots in the air fryer, do you parboil first? And do you cook potatoes on 'airfryer' or 'roast' setting? Great idea re using for pigs in blankets - I always run out of oven space on Christmas day!

When I do the airfryer roast carrots, no, I don't pre-cook. I use small carrots or cut larger ones into large batons and I cook them entirely in the air fryer on the roast setting. Takes about 15-20 minutes I think - my air fryer is quite hot so you might find it takes a bit longer in yours.

When I do potatoes I think I also use the roast setting. THey're not as good in the air fryer as in the oven I think. Super handy for a quick roastie for DD's dinner but for a main meal roast, I'd stick with the oven - you need the space as well unless you're only doing two or three!

I would do veg in it if you’ve run out of space. Personally, the only thing we make in ours is beige freezer food.

I much prefer all the other food in the oven and I’d just use that if it’s on.

I do my ham in it as well as pigs in blankets, stuffing rolls, Yorkshire puddings and roast potatoes, I air fry the spuds first then use the extra crisp setting. It really helps because my oven is a bit shit.

So helpful, thank you