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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU To not have an air fryer

55 replies

SJ70 · 07/12/2022 11:10

Everyone I know has one and swears by them. I don’t know if I’d use it that much tbh. I have a family of 4 and cook most things from scratch.
If I got one, I wouldn’t even know where to start. Any ideas?

OP posts:
TellySavalashairbrush · 07/12/2022 13:04

The taking up of counter space puts me off as I have a small kitchen.

Marths · 07/12/2022 13:08

Of course uts not unreasonable why would it be? Is this just a stealth boast about cooking from scratch?

MintJulia · 07/12/2022 13:09

Given the price of a AFF, it makes more sense to me to learn how to cook cost effectively with the appliances you already have.

Being a full time working single mum, I've learned over the years how to turn out a decent meal in about 15 minutes. And to cook multiple dishes while the oven is on, for later reheating.

MrsR87 · 07/12/2022 13:14

Family of four here. We don’t have one, or a microwave. Cooking is both mine and husband’s hobby so we make everything from scratch and the food I have had at other people’s houses that has been cooked in an air fryer, I have found to be disappointing. To be fair that could have been the food they used or they way they did it but it certainly didn’t persuade me to buy one.

rwalker · 07/12/2022 13:15

lookersnoopy · 07/12/2022 12:58

An air fryer? Are you getting confused with a deep fat fryer?

Show quote history

No definitely AF

lookersnoopy · 07/12/2022 13:15

People are mad for them, dehydrating beef joints - wtf is that about? Even worse, I saw someone post about dehydrating slices of orange the other day. Took 6 HOURS!!

lalaloopyhead · 07/12/2022 13:20

YANBU at all to not have something that you don't want or need.

I have one and love it, but it wouldn't be able to cook a dinner for 4 in it that is for sure.
Last night I did filled jacket spud for my daughter, then later did a ordinary jacket spud for myself (5 mins in microwave, 15 mins maybe in airfryer). I find it very useful for doing things that seem daft/wasteful putting the oven on for.

BedTaker · 07/12/2022 13:23

I love mine and you can do a roast for 4 in the dual basket ones with a bit of moving around- the chicken is lovely, crispy and juicy and really evenly cooked.

I find it cooks stuff much more evenly than in the oven generally.

I don't think it really takes that much less time though than an oven, although I do do most stuff without preheating so that is factored in too.

FourChimneys · 07/12/2022 13:49

DH did some sums and reckons it would take three or four years to recoup the cost compared to our oven. We eat a lot of raw food, salads etc so that would make a difference.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 07/12/2022 13:51

I havent got one. Really don’t have space for more stuff on my work top.

Scarecrowrowboat · 07/12/2022 14:14

Don't think they're for everyone. They're small capacity and yet take up tons pf space. Most of the time in the oven we have three trays at once doing meal prep, no way that's all fitting in the air frier at once.

TheSpottedZebra · 07/12/2022 14:22

I want going to get one. Then I was i Aldi yesterday and the chap was putting them out, and a woman was complaining as she wanted all 3 and could only take 2.

Readers, I snaffled the 3rd and scuttled off.

Bargain I thought. A 3L for £35. We don't eat meat so I don't need a giant one to roast chickens. Now I just need to figure out what other than chips I will cook in it...

bellinisurge · 07/12/2022 14:25

Got a ninja double oven one recently. We generally cook from scratch too except when we don't/can't be arsed. It's excellent. Already got a few from scratch recipes on rotation with it too as well as "freezer tea" type things- chicken Kiev and chips etc.

AriettyHomily · 07/12/2022 14:26

Tiny kitchen and big family, wouldn't work for us.

lightisnotwhite · 07/12/2022 14:31

Mine wouldn’t work for more than two. It’s a dirt cheap Tower one I bought my mum. She didn’t have the work space for it.
I love mine and haven’t put the oven on since getting it. The main thing is it’s so much cleaner. All the fat is contained rather than splattered round the oven. So easy to wash up afterwards as no baking trays etc.

I am making a cake this afternoon but haven’t worked out how to do this in the AF. Bit sad about putting the oven on.

gogohmm · 07/12/2022 14:38

There's nothing an air fryer does that you can't do in an oven - it's ideal for one or two people but for the 4 of us it's simpler to do it all in the normal oven I find

nokidshere · 07/12/2022 14:50

We've had one since September. I cook from scratch daily for 5-6 people. It's like a microwave (speed) that cooks like the oven. I haven't used the oven more than a couple of times (for a big lasagne) since we bought it. Yesterday I made roast lamb (half leg), roast potatoes and caramelised carrots in under 35 mins. I've used it for baking, meat, snacks, breakfast and it cooks really well in half the time.

As a bonus it's clean and easy to wash.

Haffiana · 07/12/2022 14:52

Roast veg, grilled seabass, chicken wings, grilled asparagus (lemon, oil, & parmesan) frittata with spinach & feta, spatchcock chicken, halloumi with chilli, tandoori paneer, kale crisps...

I have this one:
www.amazon.co.uk/Ninja-Health-AG301UK-Litres-Brushed/dp/B07YF98R2X/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2LP6S0CYBD3B9&keywords=ninja%2Bgrill&qid=1670424600&sprefix=ninja%2Bgrill%2Caps%2C73&sr=8-2&th=1

Also recommend this one:
www.amazon.co.uk/Ninja-Health-AG301UK-Litres-Brushed/dp/B08CKWYL3Z/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2LP6S0CYBD3B9&keywords=ninja%2Bgrill&qid=1670424600&sprefix=ninja%2Bgrill%2Caps%2C73&sr=8-2&th=1

Neither use teflon, but have proper enamelled pans. The two drawer models are not as robust, and do not have the surface area if you want to put in a whole trout or similar.

ChangedmynameagainforChristmas · 07/12/2022 14:58

I have had my Ninja Foodi for about three months and the more I have it the more I use it if that makes any sense !

It is versatile and easy to master. I am a technophobe but I can use it easily.
It has revived my love of chips. I have hated them ever since we chucked our chip pan away which was years and years ago.. now the chips are worth eating.
Go for it if you have not already

Original poster
SJ70 · 07/12/2022 14:58

Thanks everyone for taking the time to reply even the snarky ones. It was a bit light hearted.
It's not a stealth boast, I do cook from scratch mostly, but yes, the DCs do have beige food too.
Will have a look into them especially the recommendations.
Thanks again.

OP posts:
catinboots123 · 07/12/2022 15:01

I need one because my oven is shit and I can't afford to replace it but all the ones with the best reviews seem to be sold out everywhere?

urbanbuddha · 07/12/2022 15:15

I got a little one (3L) for 20 quid, (including cash back) in the Black Friday sales. It’s good for garlic bread, baked potatoes, and fish fingers, which only one person in the house eats, and chips. It’s helpful, not life-changing, and I’m glad I didn’t spend more on it.

GaggleOfSwans · 07/12/2022 15:17

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

AclowncalledAlice · 07/12/2022 16:10

I don't have one. I don't have the space for one even if I wanted an air fryer.

CeeJay81 · 07/12/2022 16:15

I dont have one. Nearly £200 for one that will cook an entire meal for family of 4. I'm not paying that.

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