To think that an air fryer is only useful if you don't already cook much?

[MyOldCaravan]

Everyone seems to have one and raves about them. But I honestly can't see the benefit, other than cooking things a bit quicker

I already have a microwave/combi oven, gas hob, slow cooker.

For things that need heating and crisping, eg croissants there's a setting on the combi oven that does that. All veg cooked in a steamer on the hob.

Don't tend to eat chicken nuggets/oven chips etc much.

So why would I need one?

I think speed, lower costs and efficent cooking of small portions are the selling points. I have a family but a couple of times a week will do seperate meals for the kids and grown ups, and it gets used a lot. I also use it a lot at lunch times for reheating stuff.

Having said that, I got a bread maker and an air fryer last year, and of the two, the bread maker is the one gadget I wouldn't do without. I think air fryers are over hyped a bit. They are good, but they are simply the fuctionality of a normal oven in a different format so aren't going to reinvent your cooking.

I got a japanese rice cooker last month, it is absolutely amazing.

That sounds like the sort of thing I would find useful. What make of air fryer have you got?

I don't understand how people cope without a microwave!

Mine broke recently and trying to reheat stuff or cook vegetables on the hob is such a faff, and creates too much washing up for my liking.

I'm contemplating an air fryer.... 🤔

Rice cookers are the absolute bomb. Get one from the Asian supermarket rather than known kitchen brands. The ones that look like they're from the 1970s are the best

You don't need one. But I have found it very useful to air fry chicken and tofu before stir frying. I used to do deep fry in the wok. But air frying creates very similar results with much less mess and effort. All my kitchen surfaces are very oily from deep frying before.

It’s just me an DD and I recently upgrade to a two basket Ninja and it’s so darn convenient and quick. I use it to reheat leftovers instead of the microwave. It can’t do everything but it does a lot.

The lack of oven cleaning I have to admit is a selling point.

I think it's something we will look at more as the kids start to leave home - and we're not cooking as frequently for a such a large group - it's rare the whole oven isn't used when it is on currently.

Yup!
I don't think i cooked potatoes or broccoli on hob in last 2 years😂 such a timesaver

I did 2 just. Room temp not out the fridge eggs. 6 mins at 190 degrees.

Yes i did exactly this last night. Sunday roast for 2 in one drawer! A revelation compared to the washing up that used to generate. You can check and shake as often as you like as it heats up so fast.

I've had mine for about 12 months now. It's a Tower 4.3 litre, which is the right size for two of us. It wasn't expensive, and I absolutely love it

Like many other posters, I use it for all sorts, and most meals of our meals are cooked from scratch. That's why I wouldn't want a smaller one - 'proper' cooking does tend to require a certain amount of space.

I used to use my proper oven nearly every day, but now it's more like once a month, as I only use it if I can fill it. By using the air fryer and the microwave whenever possible, we've saved a fortune on our energy bills, not to mention the time it saves too.

Plus I was able to use it outside in last summer's heatwave, instead of making the house even more unbearably hot! Though I sometimes did the same with the slow cooker too.

It really does depend on what, if anything, in the kitchen annoys you. So SIL got one because she basically is terrified of fat so she likes to use it to cook things other people would fry. Except for salmon, I never use it for things I can fry as frying is quick and easy for me and I don't mind a bit of oil.

For me, it's the speed that makes it helpful. Things like, yes, nuggets and chips for DD or the odd prepared meal. I use it often for roasting vegetables or as a way to do quick jackets as after school snacks for DS, or to make croissants for breakfast on the weekends. I have done things like huge piles of individual spanakopita which I then freeze and can have from freezer to plate in about 7 minutes using the air fryer. For me, that's the most useful thing.

I know lots of people who like it because they can do things like sausages or fry ups without having to keep an eye on them in the same way you do if you are grilling it.

Thanks for the replies! I may invest!

I only bought it about a year ago and now I can’t envisage life without it 🙂

I think it is good for people starting out or who want to cook things quickly.
But.
Don't need them. Don't want em - but MIL is convinced they are awesome and campaigns for us buy one, offering to contribute, sending me newspaper cuttings of it etc. I think she thinks it will cut calories?
I just know I wouldn't use it. I like cooking. I like making it just right, not sticking it in the machine and leaving it. I saw someone on Tik Tok today making an omlette in it - an omlette?
When we have family around - it would be far too small.
Over the years we've collected/been given the following This already takes up so much room and clutters up the kitchen. and I'm pruning.
Microwave - useful does everything I need for fast cooking.
Food Processor - useful
Pancake Maker used twice - CBA
Sandwich maker - used a few times - horrible to clean.
Ropey old George Forman grill - a regifting so old and ropey and hard to clean it gave me the ick and its now "vanished." no one noticed 😀
Rice cooker - which actually is useful and also steams.
Bamboo Steaming basket. Untouched, but nearly as big as a bread bin.
Coffee maker - takes up too much space and I have an AeroPress.
So it's a No from me OP.

My sister was raving about hers and urging me to get one, but having stayed with her and helped her cook, I can’t see what it would give me that my oven, grill and microwave can’t already. There’s only two of us.

I love love that it doesn't take any heating up.
I cook from scratch for four, every day, and use my air fryer probably 5 meals out of 7.
It's not a fancy was one - was £40 just before covid lockdowns started, but I bloomin love it. Even just doing a very quick toastie at lunchtime.
Tonight I will be doing a roasted butter nut squash risotto - squash will be roasted in the air fryer much quicker and easier than in the oven, and no time wasted waiting for it to heat up.

Tomorrow will be salmon as it makes the skin amazing!! Son is now addicted to crispy salmon skin :D

Isn't the point that it costs considerably less than heating up the entire oven or grill for a meal for only two?

We cook a lot and I find it very useful as an addition to the hob and main oven. Side dishes of spicy aubergine or courgettes when I make a curry, home-made falafel, rosemary potatoes and home-made fishcakes (including crabcakes) are all excellent. I haven't had a deep-fat fryer for years and I find there is a lightness and crispness that you don't get with shallow frying.

How do you do your aubergine in the air fryer in this way? I've experimented a bit and haven't quite nailed it and I LOVE aubergine as a curry side dish.

Isn't the point that it costs considerably less than heating up the entire oven or grill for a meal for only two?

That assumes that you heat up an entire oven or grill for a meal only for two. I don’t.

I tend to use my combi microwave oven if I’m not going to fill the oven, it also steams food perfectly. My grill takes seconds to warm up and I don’t need to turn on the full area if I haven’t got a lot to grill.

We (or me) deliberated for six months because I thought like the op.
We don't cook a lot of 'beige' freezer food so thought it may not be for us.
But recently got a Ninja dual draw 9.5L and it's a game changer, it really is.
I'm trying to be brave and start baking in it too.
Also love the dehydrator function for treats for our cats!!
I'm also assured by DD2 that it reheats McDonald's to perfection 😂
Cook most things in it, from pork chops to whole roasts.
And love roast veg, a mixture of courgette, pepper, carrots and sweet potatoe with a bit of seasoning done in 12 minutes.
Not just for the non cooks (although great for a sneaky late night bacon sandwich too)
None of the mess and so easy to control

Well, yes, but you didn't say that your microwave was a combi in the original post.

I had one for a Christmas present for myself. It is a dual one and you can sync them so it is handy. I think I've used the oven twice since Christmas when we had family round and the air fryer wasn't big enough. The thing I love most is sausages, cooks them beautifully.