Air fryers…what’s the hype?

[mummy203]

am I being unreasonable thinking air fryers are hype? Or am I just not getting it yet

I’ve been bought a 4L tower one, not used yet because I’m not sure I’m going to keep it. At first I thought fab I will use instead of my oven, but all the tutorials seem to show everything cooked separately chips for 20mins, chicken for 20mins and so on. There’s not enough room to put everything in for a family meal to cook at the same time. I can’t see how this would work cooking a meal for even 2 people. If you have to put half the dinner in the oven anyway then why use the air fryer at all just put everything in the oven at the same time 🤷🏼‍♀️ What am I not getting?

You can cook anything in them you would an oven - the roast setting. But quicker and cheaper.

I was so dubious about them - because I'm a good cook and make everything from scratch. I make my own jam and use my KitchenAid quite a lot.

I'm a total convert. I've made cakes in mine and basically everything. I've hardly turned the oven on in the 3 months I've had it.

It's a dream - beat kitchen appliance I've got.

Can you make casseroles in them? I'm having to say goodbye to my Aga due to running costs...

What air fryer do you have?

It's quicker and cheaper, done roast potatoes in mine yesterday no par boiling potatoes only took 20mins they were amazing how ever I did cook my chicken in oven as won't fit in the air fryer.

I find them really convenient too.
Occasionally I'll be cooking more than can fit so I'll use the oven, it's not the law that you can only use the airfryer forever more. It's great for sausages, bacon, any meat really. Also any roasted vegetables. It's so convenient for warming croissants, toasting sandwiches.. I love it and use it most days. It's definitely reduced my oven use significantly.
Chuck the basket in the dishwasher after and job done.

We have the large Ninja (single basket) and I wouldn't be without it now. I agree that if you've got teens coming and going at various times they are a godsend.

But be warned - although it says on the blurb that the basket etc is dishwasher safe, it's not!! Our gets a lot of use so I was popping it in the dishwasher almost every day. It ruined the non stick coating! Luckily I was able to replace it for a new one under warranty and since then I've only ever cleaned it by hand. I pop some washing up liquid into it when it's still hot and half fill with water. Let it sit a few mins and then give it a clean. Always wipe around the inside of the unit (up near the element) with a warm damp cloth too. It's still good as new now.

Wow I am really. Interested in some of these ideas.
How long do sausages take and how do you do a toasted sandwich?

I just baked a banana bread on Saturday in it. By the time I cleaned up the kitchen and unpacked the dishwasher it was done. I haven't turned my oven on in the last 6 months.

I have one I bought from Lidl on impulse and assumed it would go the same way as other gadgets but it is just brilliant. I line alone and freezer stuff cooks much more b quickly and is crispy on the outside, soft but cooked on the inside -eg v broccoli and potato croquettes also fish/bacon/ potatoes -massively more convenient than using the oven which I simply wouldn’t bother with. I do as lot of sports b and come home ravenous so it is my new best friend.

About 10 minutes for sausages. Never tried a toastie, not sure I trust it. 😄

Part baked rolls are great though, we do this a lot and it reduces bread waste for us.

So if your oven was originally too large for most of your cooking and took a long time to heat up, it saves time and money, but if you cook for a crowd and have a reasonably new oven that heats quickly it’s doesn’t? Annoying I live a new gadget.

Toastie is probably 8-10 minutes.

Make the sandwich, either thinly butter/mayo or spray with olive oil over the outside (or don't bother, which is what we do), put into the basket, switch on for ten minutes, have a peek at 8, lift out with tongs.

I bought one two weeks ago. I wasn’t sure either as I’m a home cook and enjoy it so couldn’t see the point. But our DC have left home now and DH works away so for me, it actually works really well. I did smoked haddock in it this evening, it’s great for a single jacket potato or for fish fingers for a lunchtime sandwich. I could probably bake a small quiche in it or bake an individual pie too.

Whilst I wouldn’t want a big one for family cooking, it’s great for me and DH.

Love mine. M&S chicken wings i threw in for a party turned out amazing. Plus its quicker so if package say 12 mins in oven I normally do 10 mins. Chips alway turn out good too.

I just find it quicker and cheaper than when I used my oven.

@PenYGore Yes, you can make casseroles in them. Either line the drawer with foil first or use a dish that fits into the drawer for easy cleaning.

I make toasties in mine, takes 5 mins at 180. I always put baking paper under it for easy removal.

I don't get it. Ours has been gathering dust in the cellar.

I'm baffled by ours although am trying to use it more.
We're a family of four and have one with just one basket. We've had it for 6 months. We use it for bacon but we only have bacon sandwiches once every couple of weeks. The DC have sausages or fish fingers two or three times a month and it's good for that but, if they have those foods, then they tend to have chips too and there didn't seem to be enough room for both the chips & the sausages/fishfingers.
As part of my trying to use it more phase, I did try roasting a load of veg in it the other day but it didn't take much less time than if I'd done it in the oven and, if I'd done it in the oven, I would have used the oven for other things too.
I did consider roasting a chicken in it over the weekend but then looked at the size of the chicken and the size of the basket and realised it was never going to fit. And where was I going to put the potatoes and parsnips anyway other than in the oven?

I live alone so it's great for me. I tend to use it for beige freezer food
Or for a part baked roll, garlic bread to go with something rather than putting the whole oven on
My dad is more adventurous and uses his all the time for salmon, chicken breasts etc

I made salmon in mine tonight, lovely crispy skin.

Thanks I think it would be really good for Dd when I am at work late.

I love ours. Had it about 6 months and used almost daily.

9 yo can use it himself with supervision unlike the oven

Bacon, sausage etc most meats cook well in it. Quorn also.

Vegetables ie corn on the cob.

I use it so much. Just far less mess and much quicker.

I love mine and use it at least a few times a week. It’s cheaper to run, it’s usually handier and more convenient, and it cooks just about anything I can throw at it. People forget it’s not just a substitute for an oven, it’s a substitute for pan frying too and when it comes to that, it’s a much healthier way of cooking as it needs very little oil, if any.

One of my favourite things done in it is a cote de boeuf steak from our local meat merchant, I’ve never managed to get it as tender or perfectly cooked when I do it on a pan or grill.

Thanks - that's really helpful! 🙂

can anyone explain the difference between an air fryer and a toaster oven? Do they work in a different way? The wattages look similar.

I use mine all the time, but for things like cooking chicken breasts, reheating things. No you can’t do a family meal in it