To not have a clue about air fryers?

[Subaru4336]

So have been looking online, and even searched through MN threads, but still none the wiser 🤦🏻‍♀️

I want to be able to roast a chicken and do the veg at the same time, is this possible?! And if so, what do I buy? Do I need a multi drawer one? Or a multiple function in one one, e.g., 15-in-1?

I'm completely clueless 😳

[Forpoxsake]

I think an actifry is an air fryer but it has a paddle and moves the food around as it cooks, so ideal for chips etc but probably not as great for meat/larger items

[Chakraleaf]

We have a actifry genius xl and I love it

[Subaru4336]

@limitededitionbarbie I'm not sure about roasting and steaming, but found this hidden away on the ninja website, and seems to suggest you can cook meat and veg at the same time...but, as I said, I'm pretty clueless, so not really sure!

[Whyaretheynotdoinganything]

We are family of 4, have a 4l single drawer Tower from Argos (£56) and it’s fine.

I’d do a packet of sausages, then cook new potatoes and veg on hob. Or say, mum and dad having curry cooked on hob, I’d pop some fish fingers and wedges in air fryer.

I like using mine for roasting veg to use in cold salads. Takes less than 10 minutes to do a batch of chunky cut aubergine/ courgette/ pepper. Quick, healthy food.

[antwacky]

@Forpoxsake thanks very much, will check it out. Much appreciated 😊

[Whyaretheynotdoinganything]

I use my oven for roasts and pizza but hardly use the oven these days, most things can be cooked quickly in the air fryer/ on the hob. Meals are definitely faster and the cleaning up is easier.

[Tunus]

Yorkshire puddings: make batter as normal, heat oil either in small tins, ramekins etc or take the crisper plate out and do directly in bottom of drawer. Takes about 3 mins to heat the oil. Then add batter and cook for 7-10 mins depending on size of tin and how crispy you like them

[Squiffy01]

I wish there was a place you could rent them so could decide if you want to buy! I’ve been wondering about them for ages but just don’t think I would get huge amounts of use out of it. I don’t use the oven huge amounts anyway but when I do it’s for trays of biscuits, large roast dinners, lasagne which I don’t think would fit it one??

[picklemewalnuts]

It's very fast, so if you take the chicken/meat out to rest that gives you long enough to roast faster veg- courgette, aubergine, broccoli. Maybe carrot. Especially if you give them a quick blast in the microwave first.
Ditto yorkshires.

I don't do everything in it, but I do an awful lot!

[Tunus]

@Squiffy01

I wish there was a place you could rent them so could decide if you want to buy! I’ve been wondering about them for ages but just don’t think I would get huge amounts of use out of it. I don’t use the oven huge amounts anyway but when I do it’s for trays of biscuits, large roast dinners, lasagne which I don’t think would fit it one??

I’ve done biscuits and cakes in mine but can only do 5-10 biscuits at a time or 12 fairy cakes (or one bigger per drawer). Lasagnes, cottage pie etc I have seen people do in air fryer but I’d probably do that in oven because I like to do massive ones to do us a couple of meals and although you can fit a lot in each drawer they are deep rather than wide so not so good for that kind of thing.

[Forpoxsake]

@Squiffy01 ive seen people put loaf tins/glass Tupperware style dishes in to cook pies & lasagne but if you don’t use the oven a lot its probably not cost effective to get an expensive air fryer

[Subaru4336]

Thanks everyone, really appreciate all the info!

[TimeFlysWhenYoureHavingRum]

Assuming people are buying these things in an effort to save on energy bills - are you sure the savings are going to outweigh the cost of buying it? Otherwise its just more plastic and non recyclable electronics to go to landfill one day.

[KittyCatsby]

Had my 15 in 1 about 10 days I've done bread in mine , a couple of cakes , a curry , wedges , roasted veg , rice pudding and my most complete meal was sausages , new potatoes , and broccoli and cauliflower florets . Happy with it so far

[Furries]

@Subaru4336

@StirredNotShaken00 I'm the same, family of 4, so need to cater for all of us at the same time.

Unsure if the 15 in 1 version is only good to cook a single food type at a time, e.g., roast a chicken OR steam the veg. And if I went for a dual drawer version, does this mean it's not big enough to roast a chicken, as the drawers are then too small?! So many questions!

I’ve got the Ninja AF400 dual drawer only got it last week.

I cook chicken quite a lot. Was a bit nervous about doing one in the air fryer, as wasn’t sure it would fit and that it would be really dry.

It was the BEST chicken I’ve ever cooked. The meat was really succulent. It was a medium (1.4kg) chicken and it was cooked in 55 minutes - instructions for cooking in the oven would have taken 1 hour 45 minutes. There was hardly any mess in the basket and they’re really easy to clean.

I wasn’t doing a roast, but if I was then the second basket would have been used to roast the potatoes. While the chicken was resting I’d have chucked some yorkshires in the first drawer for a few minutes. I don’t have a microwave, so any veg would have gone in a pan together on the hob.

[Cheguevarahamster]

I was debating getting one then my oven broke so I didn't have a choice. I got a Tower 10in1 which is quite spacious and I managed to fit in a couple of 9inch pizzas last night. Cooks brilliantly and it's so economical. I have baked bread this morning and will do a roast tomorrow.

[picklemewalnuts]

Someone on a group I'm in has proudly announced the timing for hard boiled eggs. 20mins plus preheat. Talk about a waste!

Air fryers are great, but no need to use them for everything!

[Forpoxsake]

I have seen that a lot on recipe pages, I think intending to use it for everything is unrealistic, it’s literally just meant to replace an oven.
For me that’s great because my oven is rubbish and takes ages to heat up but I still use my hob for things like rice/eggs