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Original poster

Air fryers…what’s the hype?

215 replies

mummy203 · 20/09/2022 14:16

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?

OP posts:
5zeds · 20/09/2022 20:58

I don’t understand why it’s safer than the oven? I may have to go and watch stuff about them now…

MrsDThomas · 20/09/2022 21:03

Im going to buy the large ninja dual.

i cooked pasta earlier for DS and that was just 3 mins on the hob. But the garlic bread slices, huge oven on to bake suck small items is ridiculous. Hence why i beed one. He likes is freezer food so easy for him to cook and use it.

PeloFondo · 20/09/2022 21:06

MrsDThomas · 20/09/2022 21:03

Im going to buy the large ninja dual.

i cooked pasta earlier for DS and that was just 3 mins on the hob. But the garlic bread slices, huge oven on to bake suck small items is ridiculous. Hence why i beed one. He likes is freezer food so easy for him to cook and use it.

It's really handy for that
I often do cubed potatoes - literally cube them, toss in oil and seasoning and air fry. They go really crispy, no par boiling and great with anything (I usually have them with an omelette)
Or a potato waffle air fry, fry an egg, micro some beans for a quick meal
Part baked roll for with soup
Fish fingers and chips

Tessasanderson · 20/09/2022 21:06

GasPanic · 20/09/2022 17:36

@Tessasanderson

I think the thing is most people have their conventional/fan oven sized for the largest meal they will cook during the entire year. Maybe Xmas dinner with the rellies ? Giant turkey with all the trimmings etc.

The vast majority of us don't fill our oven up with food everytime we cook. For me I fill the oven less than 1/3 full every time I use it.

And even people that have large families don't necessarily need to cook for all the family at the same time. For example if you have 3 teens coming in at different times and all want to use the oven on three separate occasions, the saving you would get by having an air fryer would be really significant.

For people who fill up the oven every time they cook the benefits are of course less, and yes, it's perfectly understandable that they see less benefit.

Hope that helps.

Thanks yes that makes complete sense. Thank you

WhatWouldTheDoctorDo · 20/09/2022 21:08

We decided a stand alone air fryer wouldn't be that much use to us and opted for the ninja foodi multi cooker instead. We do a lot of cooking from scratch - haven't used the oven since we got it, and using the hob a lot less too. We've done a couple of roasts in it, chilli, bolognese, soups, rice, fruit crumble, cooked breakfast items, air fried veg and potatoes. We've used the pressure cooker function a lot. The foodi also has a combi meal function so that you can steam cook meals that come in different components - chops, potatoes, veg, or rice, salmon, greens, that kind of thing.

It was expensive and it's taking a bit of getting used to but using the oven so much less and having less to wash afterwards is good. I'm not sure a single air fryer would be beneficial for us, though a dual one would have worked for some meals.

KingCharlespen · 20/09/2022 21:09

Remoskas are the most efficient cooking method I've ever used. I've the standard and grand models and could do without an oven completely. An old school friend died recently and there was a massive wake which her elderly parents were trying to organize. I cooked 6 dozen batches of scones in just over an hour. I'd really recommend them.

XenoBitch · 20/09/2022 21:13

For the longest time, I thought air fryers were just for cooking things you fried 😅

I got one after reading a thread on MN about them. I seemed to have created a domino effect where my friends and family went and got one too. Seems lots of people were just waiting to hear an honest review from someone who had one.

I love mine! It is only small (but I live alone so that is fine). Any meat comes out juicy, and everything cooks so much faster. They are also great if you have had a long day out at work, and want a cooked meal. They take no time to warm up at all.

Amipreg1 · 20/09/2022 21:13

To be able to cook a whole family meal you would need a bigger one. We bought a 2 basket 9litre a few weeks ago and and I've only had to turn the oven in twice since.

Tessasanderson · 20/09/2022 21:14

BatteryPoweredMammy · 20/09/2022 18:21

@Tessasanderson

If you’re regularly cooking one meal with lots of ingredients for a large family and using the full space within the oven, (and the hob too?) an air fryer probably won’t save you any time and won’t be worth the additional outlay.

Generally, I’m cooking a quick simple meal for 1 or 2 people as DH doesn't usually eat with us. As there’s no pre-heating required and I can cook food from frozen, it really works well for me.

(I live very rurally so rely on having 2 well stocked freezers and many of our weekday meals will include ingredients straight from the freezer)

really appreciate this. My hamfisted attempts were my way of trying to get these answers. That’s what I had kind of found from all the discussions

userxx · 20/09/2022 21:19

@PeloFondo How long for a part baked roll ?

Lunar270 · 20/09/2022 21:34

userxx · 20/09/2022 21:19

@PeloFondo How long for a part baked roll ?

That depends on which part of the roll you want baked.

userxx · 20/09/2022 21:36

@Lunar270 Just so it's edible and not cold inside!

mumda · 20/09/2022 21:39

Had one a couple of weeks. Tiny one from Asda. Will cook up to 450g of food.
Would consider getting a bigger one but might see what comes up on Facebook marketplace. There seem to be some suspicious adverts for ninja products at the moment so I'm very wary of the low prices.

Lunar270 · 20/09/2022 21:45

userxx · 20/09/2022 21:36

@Lunar270 Just so it's edible and not cold inside!

Sorry, couldn't resist.

I'm not sure about conventional air fryers as mines a mini oven type, but usually 2-3 minutes would be perfect.

If feeling naughty a bit of butter brushed on the outside of the roll does wonders.

MrsRhodes · 20/09/2022 21:53

We have a team actuary. It's great for chips, nuggets, roasties, etc. But can't do mini pizza etc type things that ate recommended as it stirs the food whilst cooking. Had one that didn't stir but I had to shake the food to ensure I didn't end up with a mix of burnt or raw.

I do use every day as it is handy as little one only likes crispy stuff (sensory) and it is quick for her stuff but it doesn't stop me needing to use the oven.

userxx · 20/09/2022 21:55

@Lunar270 it's been a long day! I'm following now 😏

Ski4130 · 20/09/2022 22:02

We’ve got a 4ltr one, and we’re a family of 5. I haven’t switched the oven on since we got it! It does the best chicken, homemade chips, roast potatoes, cakes, toasties etc etc and it’s really easy to clean, the kids can use it. I can’t think of one negative about ours.

SpinningFloppa · 20/09/2022 22:03

Ski4130 · 20/09/2022 22:02

We’ve got a 4ltr one, and we’re a family of 5. I haven’t switched the oven on since we got it! It does the best chicken, homemade chips, roast potatoes, cakes, toasties etc etc and it’s really easy to clean, the kids can use it. I can’t think of one negative about ours.

It’s enough for 5 of you? Don’t you have to cook things separate?

Creameggs223 · 20/09/2022 22:07

mycatisannoying · 20/09/2022 19:40

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

What's not to get? Food cooks quicker and is cheaper than using an oven.

Ski4130 · 20/09/2022 22:10

SpinningFloppa · 20/09/2022 22:03

It’s enough for 5 of you? Don’t you have to cook things separate?

Show quote history

It depends on what you’re cooking really, I tend to still use the hob with a griddle pan for chicken/fish if I’m doing potatoes in the airfryer, or cook couscous/rice separately if I do meat in the airfryer.

PeloFondo · 20/09/2022 22:38

userxx · 20/09/2022 21:19

@PeloFondo How long for a part baked roll ?

Couple of minutes or so. I usually put it in, microwave the soup and it's done at the same time but I do like my soup lava temperature Grin

Furries · 21/09/2022 00:54

I’ve had mine a few weeks now. I got the large Ninja Dual drawer (the AF400).

Am definitely pleased that I went for one with two drawers. Whole chicken in one drawer, potatoes in the other - set temperature and time for each drawer and then synch them so that they finish cooking at the same time. About 3 mins before the end of cooking, chuck a few frozen yourkshires in with the potatoes. Veg done quickly on the hob. Roast dinner in 50 minutes.

Jacket potato done in 40 minutes vs around 1 hour 20 in the oven. Sausages in 8 minutes - was dubious but they were lovely. I’ve used my oven once for a pizza.

I find the baskets easy to clean - I don’t have a dishwasher, so they’re done by hand no problem at all.

Chouetted · 21/09/2022 01:26

I live alone, so have had a small toaster oven for years and years (stupid name IMHO, the one thing it can't do is toast). Heating up a gigantic oven for just me was daft.

Are air fryers really that much better?

FingersofFish · 21/09/2022 01:29

I sold ours, friends raved about them but I could never get a full meal out of them. Even fish fingers and chips plus there didn't seem to be much time saving. I'm told they make the best roasties but I usually just do them in the oven that's on for the meat which makes more sense to me.

NotSorry · 21/09/2022 06:25

There’s a podcast here about them - some good info if you’re undecided

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0018hjr