Possibly a very stupid question about air fryers ....but I really need help and advice !

[bizzey]

Ok...so Robert Dyers have small air fryers down to 1/2 price .

My mum lives alone and only cooks for herself.
I think she is finding it a bit of a faff to put the oven on , heat it up , put stuff in , take out ...

If I got her an air fryer ...could she for example
put some frozen battered fish and oven chips in there instead ...and have it all cooked in 15 mins ???

It is not a digital controller ...it is a twist knob thing .

Have any other 85 years old got on with these ?
Thanks .

One piece of advice I'd give is make sure it's big enough.
I know she is on her own but I think an air fryer with 2 separate compartments is best.
One for the fish and one for the chips.

I'm 70 next year and just bought my first airfryer and I love it. It's like the one you describe, nothing digital, just a temperature control and a timer.

15 minutes from frozen bit ambitious but not much longer.
But I would say couple of things- you take the tray right out to get to the food, and that bit of getting the food out is a bit awkward and the inside is hot so she needs something like tongs so she doesn't burn herself.
And secondly you can get fancy liners that you take out and wash BUT you can also get foil trays very cheap that she can reuse a few times or even just not bother and throw them away. For an 80 year old honestly that might work best.
Then the inside of the airfryer will need hardly any cleaning.
But go for it! It's a great and very convenient and cheap to run piece of kit.

Thank you .
It was a 1 drawer 2.5 lt.

I suppose the 2 drawer does make sense ...
They were dearer though 😔!

Could she then put a piece of chicken in one drawer ..and some frozen roast potatoes in the other ?

I would have to write down all the timings for her .

And find one that isn't digitally complicated !

Sorry 85. Foil trays like this, but this exact size and number were only £3 in Asda. If you put 2 trays in side by side you can separate the fish and the chips in a one compartment fryer.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Superior-Pack-Foil-Containers-Lids/dp/B0DKTW2YNS/ref=mp_s_a_1_6_sspa?crid=35BM5Z9QBXO1T&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.qYYHs9dXB71C9NCHXVSbSxpUexcdTT6UGQ1lh6hYWTho16cqZNecrcJFhj45XwG6TJXzduA381bmpFwFyt-AI-SpoJ47FqBQb_8xYHVe45grd3BMAQU_2hAGTabeq0y-YRsn_52FGQ9LbGdv-u_bj1UH_opEqrvF2Wz1F9phGxnUbimZgNEnjlLDmu2mDjFByejzN6CaaAv9GAfIP2RZMg.ogCkA2ngAQAWp5Dwqmnr2lkurxVn9YPwtO3d8SxtmTs&dib_tag=se&keywords=foil+trays&qid=1734769951&sprefix=foil+%2Caps%2C120&sr=8-6-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfbXRm&psc=1

Yes she could put chicken in one side and potatoes (or various kinds!) in the other. 2 drawers absolutely essential. she could also use it instead of the grill for things like a couple of sausages etc. it’s also handy for part baked rolls to go with soup.

2.5 not big enough. Hang on I'll find the one I bought, Amazon and cheap.

I got something similar to this for my parents. My dad refers to it as his bible!
I got one for myself- it is a handy reference guide. And mine sticks to the fridge as it's magnetic

2.5 Lt is pretty small. Can you see the model in person? I'd go for bigger, personally.

Don't buy anything smaller than this.
You can get 2 long standard size foil trays in side by side in this one. 2.5 is really tiny.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Uten-Technology-Healthy-Cooking-Grilling/dp/B08NF6XPRT/ref=mp_s_a_1_3_pp?crid=1GJ8U2EKHKPEF&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.sC3PETGoAxTqPrCMO8qvnHAIdl4kCsUYhQ4WvoQe5YeGG4ilSdq5xkJ2kkK4cM9NAqpADFj_noq-YnBrGTjdr4sIS40lWst2U-qX8eFpUSuppL_uW_-dZuzJ1SuXfuhXvNl67uPX24wKvPuVCMQzfxa1IH0xjxlBje3ql8G2j2pX4rBr9rR0Ov9vpYEMR5-jzXRGad7j6SYHqi0E3G_gKw.oPG9Fe9DTj2VBsmiFrn9tMx7TRolyDkqQg5Ab-gYpHY&dib_tag=se&keywords=air+fryer&qid=1734770255&sprefix=air%2Caps%2C191&sr=8-3

We don’t have two drawers and got the Amazon basic one as it did really well in ratings in good housekeeping. I’ve had it 6mths it’s on daily I’ve got 2 teens & we often cook things at different times - use the silicone type liners got different sizes plus some great chefs oven gloves and tongs. I’m trying to persuade my 80 yr mum to get one too.
£55 We have this one https://www.amazon.co.uk/Amazon-Basics-Digital-Touchscreen-UK/dp/B08TBMZ1JY/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.CsZhc_lnbWLua1--MuALVw.Zmo-q88wcEBLOt9LkzFIikWW5C-fWUkKGWfBmOMQ7gM&dib_tag=se&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1734770444&refinements=p_89%3AAmazon+Basics&s=kitchen-appliances&sr=1-1

Oven gloves like these are great for AF my kids use them as one has additional needs and these allow them to safely use the AF and cook www.amazon.co.uk/Revolutionary-Extreme-Resistant-Light-weight-Flexible/dp/B08P335QWM/ref=asc_df_B08P335QWM?mcid=92683b6c71f83901935de0e30a50977e&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=697200511410&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9441719558340583056&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006709&hvtargid=pla-1186858630699&psc=1&gad_source=1

My 85 year old dad is visiting. I got him one last year and I just asked him, yes he does use it.

2.5L is absolutely tiny! I didn't know they made them so small.
Lidl/aldi often have them, but they are likely the digital type. My mum finds it hard to learn new things, but has an air fryer similar to this- not this exact one though. Mum can easily slide frozen type metal trays in there. She can even fit a whole chicken. It looks more like a mini oven and has knobs. Argos have lots, so you might find something else she could use.

www.argos.co.uk/product/5642566?clickSR=slp:term:air%20fryer:21:78:1&_gl=1166gw9j_upMQ.._gaMjM3NDUyMzk1LjE3MzQ3NzA2MzE._ga_JWCPD5SJK1*MTczNDc3MDYzMS4xLjAuMTczNDc3MDYzMS4wLjAuMA..

My SIL got one for her 80+mum, got on so well she got one for our shared MIL and then I got one for my mum and then my sister got one for her MIL... all happily air frying away.

They like the liners and tongs is a great ideas.

My dad is in his 90s and just got himself an air fryer. He loves it. But I second the recommendations for two small drawers and for liners.

Liners because he struggles with cleaning the drawers. And because they help with getting the food out. The liners need to be container-shaped, and foil or silicone, not paper, to help in these ways.

Although it may be easier getting the food out of a larger drawer, it's heavy and awkward to handle, and needs a larger counter space next to the fryer than a small drawer does.

Does she have room on her worktop, near a socket, where she can use it safely, i.e. with no overhead cupboards etc?

While a 2.5 ltr is small, presumably she’s only cooking for herself? You’ll know what her appetite is like but given a lot of elderly people eat smaller portions, I don’t see why she couldn’t do frozen fish & chips or some potatoes & a piece of chicken in one drawer while steaming or boiling some veg on the hob.

I agree silicone liners are essential- less cleaning.
They can go into a dishwasher
But they can get very hot. So do warn your Mum.