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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that air-fryers are just a passing fad?

322 replies

EeesandWhizz · 06/12/2023 11:26

I know that they are everywhere do everything right now, but I'm sure that they'll soon join the steamers, breadmakers and George Foreman grills living in the back of the kitchen cupboard. The slow-cookers can stay on the worktop.

I bought a second hand Ninja Foodie, and to be honest I don't really get it. Do many people that cook from scratch really use them instead of the oven and hob? Or is it more like Pampered Chef that produced a lot of things for people that are not confident cooks that they didn't really need?

I am going to try cooking a 40 minute meringue in it later today though, so that might make me change my mind - I usually leave mine overnight in the oven for maximum crispy gooeyness, but an almost instant pavlova sounds fab!

OP posts:
Lakeyloo · 06/12/2023 12:17

I have a cupboard full of "faddy" kitchen appliances but the Air Fryer definitely isn't about to be added to it ! Often do a whole medium roast chicken in 2/3rds of the time (plus no need to pre heat oven). Does fab jacket potatoes, salmon and sea bass, cooks ready meals much quicker, Roast veg, noodle dishes, sausages, Steak..... The list goes on. I hated it when I first got it as I thought it wasn't proper cooking (which I actually quite enjoy) but I love it now. I have invested in a couple of decent air fryer cook books (The Poppy O'Toole Air Fryer book and the Slimming Eats Air Fryer book are both good) and I'm really enjoying using it. Quite surprising what you can rustle up in an air fryer !

Illbebythesea · 06/12/2023 12:17

I actually think you couldn’t be more wrong and the air fryer is one of the few kitchen appliances that’s got longevity!

GasPanic · 06/12/2023 12:17

I think there is an wrong conclusion of some people, "it doesn't benefit or work for meme, therefore it must be a fad".

Air fryers aren't equivalent to the second coming. But they do offer some people an ability to do stuff more cheaply or faster. IMO they can cook things slightly better under certain circumstances too. There will be a place for them in the future IMO, but maybe they will be replaced by conventional ovens having a smaller compartment that does the same job, or maybe the air fryer microwave combo.

I think a more advanced cook is always going to sneer at the air fryer as a lesser device, I think if you are adventurous in cooking things like the foodies with their huge variety of cooking methods are better. Some of the youtube receipes for the foodi just look amazing where they do everything in one.

Of the gadgets in recent years I would probably put dehumidifier top, followed by condensor tumble dryer (can save you a fortune if you do a lot of drying) followed by air fryer.

Girlsjustwannahavefundamentalrights · 06/12/2023 12:17

do wonder if some people like them a little too much so it's easy to go for the fried option instead of something more healthy

You don't know what an air fryer actually is, do you?

Frying is only unhealthy when it's fried in something like oil. You can dry fry, or fry in water and now you can fry in water - it's just another cooking method. Fried food isn't inherently bad, any more than slow cooked food is bad, or roasted.

NortieTortie · 06/12/2023 12:19

We've used ours almost daily now for at least a year (can't remember when we bought it). Can't imagine not having it. Only use the oven now for roasts or things I need a large dish for, even then usually have the air fryer going as well for side dishes.

PuppyMonkey · 06/12/2023 12:19

I’ve been using mine loads since I got it a month or so ago. I’ve not just done breaded food, I’ve done salmon, chicken thighs, home made burgers, whole chicken, pork fillet, roast spuds, roast veg of almost any description, home made chips, erm… lots of stuff. Cheaper and quicker than an oven. To say it’s a fad is a tad premature imho.

CharityShopChic · 06/12/2023 12:21

As for "but what can you cook in it" - anything which will fit, which you would usually put in the oven.

We've done everything from a whole gammon to chicken nuggets and everything in between. Some brands of ready meals are now being printed with air fryer instructions.

Girlsjustwannahavefundamentalrights · 06/12/2023 12:22

GasPanic · 06/12/2023 12:17

I think there is an wrong conclusion of some people, "it doesn't benefit or work for meme, therefore it must be a fad".

Air fryers aren't equivalent to the second coming. But they do offer some people an ability to do stuff more cheaply or faster. IMO they can cook things slightly better under certain circumstances too. There will be a place for them in the future IMO, but maybe they will be replaced by conventional ovens having a smaller compartment that does the same job, or maybe the air fryer microwave combo.

I think a more advanced cook is always going to sneer at the air fryer as a lesser device, I think if you are adventurous in cooking things like the foodies with their huge variety of cooking methods are better. Some of the youtube receipes for the foodi just look amazing where they do everything in one.

Of the gadgets in recent years I would probably put dehumidifier top, followed by condensor tumble dryer (can save you a fortune if you do a lot of drying) followed by air fryer.

I've got a foodi 15 in 1 - it's brilliant. It does an amazing roast dinner, stick it on steam roast with the potatoes on the bottom and then the rack with the meat over the top, all the meat juices go over the potatoes and they come out perfectly. If they're not crispy enough, finish off with 10 minutes air fry to crisp the potatoes. It's also got the meat probe so the meat is done perfectly every time - it just stops cooking when it's done. It's so quick as well.

I'll get rid of my oven when it breaks and just use this.

CiaraLiara · 06/12/2023 12:22

Mine's here to stay. Haven't used the oven since I bought it 2 years ago and this has reflected on the bills.

Baublewarble · 06/12/2023 12:22

I’ve used my oven about 5 times in 2023 - solely use the air fryer. So I doubt it’s going away for me any time soon. Bread makers, ice cream makers etc etc these are limited. An air fryer is a smaller, quicker, more energy and cost efficient oven so why would smaller households not use it instead?

CharityShopChic · 06/12/2023 12:26

I do think the name is misleading though, as some posters have demonstrated banging on about unhealthy frying. Maybe "high-powered compact oven" would be more accurate.

updownleftrightstart · 06/12/2023 12:28

mummabubs · 06/12/2023 11:53

My DH is a fan but I agree with you OP, feels very faddy. I think for single people /couples it could work well, but realistically for us as a family of 4 we'd often need to use the oven anyway based on space alone. I also don't feel it always shaves a significant amount of time off cooking, especially for meat.

We did a big roast dinner for 6 people in ours on Sunday. We are a family of 4 and cook about half of our meals in there. There's plenty of room.

It takes so much less time, is cheaper and much easier to clean

WinterDeWinter · 06/12/2023 12:31

For those of you saying it's just a small oven - am I right in thinking that if I have a built-in combination fan oven/microwave/grill (large microwave size) I don't need an airfryer?

I keep getting distracted by tales of incredibly quick cooking but I know in my heart I don't need one.. OR DO I?

ElaineMBenes · 06/12/2023 12:31

I use mine to make giant Yorkshire puddings!
They're amazing!!

ChilledToTheBone · 06/12/2023 12:32

Use our air fryer daily. I have a basic brand but thinking of upgrading as definitely beneficial to us. Had 1.5 years now.
However i have just remembered i have a george forman i haven't used for ages probably over a year so that'll be going i think.
Waffle maker. Gone
Bread maker gone

TerfTalking · 06/12/2023 12:32

I think they're going to stay useful. My DC are adults now and DH works away, so I am never going to put the main oven on again for an individual quiche or a portion of chips.

I use it as a single meal gadget, but there is no way I would buy a huge double Ninja, for proper cooking and baking my range double oven is here to stay.

WinterDeWinter · 06/12/2023 12:33

Just to add - the combination microwave/fan oven setting is incredible for things like frozen oven chips in 12-15 mins. I can't believe the air fryer would be quicker than that would it?

BrieAndChilli · 06/12/2023 12:33

We are a family of 5 - 3 teens so basically 5 adults. Also we have 1 veggie so need to do a separate portion of whatever. I have not seen any airfryers that would fit enough in to make it work for us?

eg if we do a lazy meal of chips and nuggets we would put in the oven a large tray of chips then 1 medium tray of nuggets and 1 small dish of veggie. This takes up 2 shelves of the oven.

If I am making a birthday cake i would have up to 6 layers to bake which would mean 6 goes in the airfryer but just 1 go in the oven.

If we do lasagne I have a large dish of meat and a medium one of veggie plus then sometimes chips or garlic bread. I cooke enough lasagen so there are leftovers for the next day.

If doing a roast I would have the meat, plus then a veggie option for DD, then potatoes, roast parsnips and carrots, yorkshire puddings, stuffing balls, cauliflower cheese plus sometimes a crumble or fruit pie. There is no way even half of that would fit into an airfryer!

Am I missing something? The only time it might be useful is when a teen wants to cook a single portion of something but we have a half size oven as well. An airfryer would mean valuable counter space being used plus cleaning.

I am open to being proved wrong if someone else is a family of 5/6 and also has 2 versions of meals needed to be made.

Anselma · 06/12/2023 12:33

Workworkandmoreworknow · 06/12/2023 12:00

stops my teens from heating an oven up to cook one solitary chicken kiev....must be money saving in that respect.

Really useful when teens coming and going wanting food at different times. We've got the smallest Ninja, won't fit a whole pizza which isn't a problem....handy to be able to cut pizza into quarters and just quickly heat up one or two portions when needed.

Zimunya · 06/12/2023 12:37

Ours is a bottom of the line, cheap version, air fryer only (it can't steam / slow cook / do the fandango) but I absolutely love it, and use it all the time. It is afr cheaper than heating up the oven too. However, we are a small family of three. I can't imagine you could use (mine, at least) if you were a larger family unit, as you would run out of space.

ForHeavensSakeRichard · 06/12/2023 12:38

Air fryer meringue?!… Do let us know how it turns out @EeesandWhizz

Lakeyloo · 06/12/2023 12:39

Getthethrowonthesofa · 06/12/2023 12:09

Just like a full size oven 😂

Show quote history

Yes, but no need to pre heat to put one tray on one shelf, and cheaper to run.

ManchesterLu · 06/12/2023 12:40

I think for the kind of things I like to cook, they'll stay around for a long time. I use mine most days after getting it for Christmas last year.

blowfishh · 06/12/2023 12:40

Do they do a non-Teflon coated version? I've not seen one (though not looked) but this would seriously put me off using, especially as people tend to use so frequently as well 🫤

survivingunderarock · 06/12/2023 12:44

I can cook the same things in half the time in the air fryer than the oven. I predominantly cook from scratch. I use it far more than the microwave.