Advise me about airfryers

[Unopersono]

I am trying to be healthy. Widowed on my own. After my husband died I didn’t bother with cooking - lots of microwave meals.( too much effort to put oven on for one) Feel fat and unfit- but taken myself in hand - joined my doctors 12 week health and weight management course they are running. Everyone going on about air fryers but they have huge families. ( My kids visit when they can but live quite a distance away).
Can anyone recommend an airfyer that’s small or would I be best to buy a bigger better one. Thanks for reading

I have a 2 drawer fryer. The drawers aren't very big. I find the 2 drawers useful to do things like chicken in one drawer and chips in the other, as they require different temps and cooking times. I stick it all in and set it and the air fryer turns on the drawers at the correct time so it's all ready at the same time.

I would say it's useful for simple cooking and convenience but not for proper home cooking - you couldn't make a shepherd's pie in the air fryer, for example, or a casserole.

I would not get a two drawer. I am on my own too and probably cook the same way as you. You don’t need anything fancy with lots bells and whistles. I recommend a Tower. Not the vey smallest one. You will use the fryer much more than you think and will soon out grow it.

I find it does marvellous fish, salmon is great in there. It so clean and easy to. Use.i have not used my oven or my grill in 3 years.

I disagree with p and would say get a 2 drawer.

you can do your meat in one side, veggies in another. Useful if there are different cook times, or one needs a lower temp.

I got given one as a house warming presennt, an early Ninja flip top single one which I love as it is great for doing 2 steaks/chops/chicken breasts. If cooking for one you could fit veg for roasting and the meat. Also great for cheese on toast as it grills very nicely. One other feature is the temperature probe so it will cook a small joint to whatever preset you chose.

The look of the dual drawer ones are very tempting as it would give more options, so I am tempted to get one of those as well.

Really wishing I hadn't splashed out on 2 Bosch fitted ovens and a microwave when we got the new kitchen a few years ago as we rarely use the bottom oven and I've never used the top oven/grill at all 😃

My Advice was based on the op wanting a small fryer for simple cooking.. I do have a two drawer as well as my very small one. It was bought for me. I only ever use one drawer of it.

Watching this with interest. Thinking of getting one for my single Dad. I think it would be great for him but good to get tips from others cooking for one.

I have the 2 drawer Phillips one and use one side for e.g fish veg the other side sometimes for 1 person or otherwise 2. You can cook most things in it but e.g anything in a sauce would need to be placed in another container that fits in the air fryer

I live alone and love my single air fryer. It's a 6 litre one think, and my main criteria was that I could store it in my now redundant oven when not in use, so not too high! It was from Amazon, unsure on the make, but I love it.

They are great for ease of use. Also, it is perfect for warming or cooking snacks, I got one originallly because I was using my grill. It took ages to heat up and then I would just put one or two bits under it.

Now I can do a potato waffle, tomatoes, bacon and fried slice much cheaper. They all have a shelf so you get a stack. A little tip. for your dad .Soak a slice of bread in olive oil and put it on the base of the fryer. Makes the best fried bread ever.

I love my 2 drawer as one is for the meats and the other for roasting vag

I've got a tower front opening with glass door and 3 removable shelves. Looks like an oven! It's even got a rotating function if you want to roast a whole (small) chicken which I actually use for constantly turning kebabs.

The only advice I'd give is never cook bacon in it. Anything else is fine, just never bacon. It leaves a rough, brown film all over the interior walls that literally bakes on and can't scrub off for love nor money, and over time becomes a fire hazard.

I have a Fabuletta single drawer 4 litre one. It's very sleek, easy to use, small enough to tuck away in a corner of the kitchen, but big enough for everything I need. It's amazing, I wouldn't be without it, and I think it was only about £40. If you get one, it's a good idea to also buy some liners (like fitted baking paper.) The drawer on mine is very easy to clean, but it's great not to have to wash it up every time.

Interesting not see air fryer used for that before 😂😂

I have a 9L dual airfryer. It was £50 from The Range. Honestly it's amazing. We had a single one and I never used it because it felt like such a faff. I have silicone trays so I can just pop them in the dishwasher. DH says the chicken always comes out perfect, i just spray some oil in the tray, bit of seasoning, turn them over half way and easy peasy! I cook Mediterranean veg in the other side, rice in the microwave and its a quick easy meal.

We found very few that had fully dishwasher safe baskets which was a big "want" for us when looking.

We got the Scoville Black 8L Digital Air which has been excellent for the last 3 years.

It's 2 drawers but then you can cook multiple things - you can sync the end times. Love it!

Do the silicone trays come with that airfare or are they something you can buy separately? Thanks

Omg my apologies!

Really interesting thread. I am team 1 drawer! love that I can do a whole chicken in it. I utilise the basket and have different food on different levels.

Really didn’t want one. Was convinced to get one now as above we rarely used the oven & grill

small air fryer

I got this one to test the water- it’s really good. I ended up giving it to my Mum and getting a bigger one as I have 2 children, but actually I find the new one much more complicated and i haven’t got to grips with it yet.

You buy separately. There are loads of accessories. It is best to wait until you use it a good few times, then you can find out exactly what you need. I don’t use any as mine goes in the dish washer.

Thank you so much everyone . I had some Amazon vouchers for Christmas and I have gone with this one.

I'd definitely go down the two drawer route as the best of both worlds. One side for meat or fish the other for baked potato or roasties. As soon as you start using one you'll wish it was bigger and better. We got the Ninja one as a family of 3 and perfect for just one of us too when cooking for ourselves etc.

Oh that wasn’t a good link was it- I just took a photo of the link there is probably a better way of doing it. Not only can I not cook I am technically inept as well.

Op, that's absolutely tiny. I wouldn't get a 2litre one! 😳