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

[EeesandWhizz]

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!

It’s a small, very quick oven which cooks things beautifully crispy. I use mine all the time because it’s quicker than my oven. I do salmon fillets, potatos, stuffing, meatballs, fish cakes, sausages, basically anything I previously used the oven for, I now use this. I turn on the oven once a week for a pizza!

If you use yours to cook for 4 or more people, what size/which make would you recommend?

I love a gadget and they don't usually last long here. We've had a Ninja Foodi for 18m, we use it most days, only use the oven for pizzas and hob for eggs, everything else is cooked in the foodi. It makes great rice and pasta in the pressure cooker.

I think a lot of people probably do do this, but they can be used for proper cooking too. In a small household it’s great

I think the things we use microwaves for has certainly changed, and that the original thought around the microwave. Was a passing fad.

When the microwave first came into being there were all these cookbooks, people going out and buying microwaves and raving about how much better they were than the oven because they were so much quicker.

And then as time went on we realised that microwave cooking really isn’t that great, the food doesn’t generally come out all that well and they generally became nice to have gadgets which are good for melting butter, heating milk and occasionally re-heating meals.

I think the air frier’s use will extend beyond that because they are actually a workable appliance, but like the microwave I do think that people will go from all owning one now to just being able to take or leave one in twenty years time.

I remember microwaves cost £££ when they were first on the scene. Air fryers are certainly more accessible in that regard.

I have a foodi and use it almost exclusively rather than the oven. If you live by yourself its brilliant. I use the pressure, slow cook, bake, air fry functions most often.

We are a family of 4 and we have the double drawer Ninja.
if I do a roast now I don’t even put the oven on. I slow cook the meat (always have) and then air fry everything else apart from veg whcih I do on the hob. Last night I cooked chops, roast pots, veg in 20 minutes.

We cook proper meals every night and have barely used our oven since getting the air fryer!
We have two compartments so it's rare that we run out of space and it's great for doing things like garlic bread or chips/potatoes which you would usually need the whole oven preheated for which is so slow and ott.
I can't imagine ever going back to life without it!

I've had one since 2016 so I'd have to disagree that they are a fad

I assumed they were a fad and put off buying one for months. However, every single person I spoke to raved about them so decided to take the plunge and buy one. I'm very glad I did!

I rarely use my oven now and can easily clean the air fryer daily (I use the silicone tray inserts that you can put in the dishwasher).

My air fryer has been used daily for 18 months now so I'm quite confident it's not a fad (unlike my George Foreman grill that lives at the back of the cupboard).

They are great for helping people with their independence with cooking. DS with disabilities can now make himself a hot meal after struggling with the oven and worrying about leaving it on if he was home alone. The air fryer just switches off at the end of the time. The microwave is fine for ready meals but he can do some garlic bread to go with it now! I've written down the steps for various meals and he's getting more confident doing it by himself! That alone is worth it.

It's hardly a fad, I've had mine for over 10 years.

And it's been used a lot.

My goodness, your arteries!

It’s definitely not just for freezer food but I suppose that’s depends if you use your oven just for freezer food. My air fryer cooks the most delicious roast chicken.

Mine is staying. Our electricity bill compared to last year has gone down by 1730 kWh and the only thing that has changed is getting an air fryer. I used to use the oven most days before getting it, but now it's used once a week at most.

I really like the way they do toasted sandwiches without squishing them

Airfryer is the one of best things I have ever bought, used every day.

I have this too. I use it every day

There are 6 of us and my two drawer one works for us but it does depend what we’re cooking. Eg I couldn’t make a big enough lasagne or cottage pie in it. But 8 pork steaks and some roasted veg not a problem. I have a metal rack so the pork steaks stand up in the drawer, makes the fat go lovely and crispy without overcooking the meat.
With for example chips I sometimes do half for 1/3 the time then the other half for 1/3 the time then both together for the final 1/3. Just makes them a bit more evenly cooked. Otherwise I’ve found it better to shake less often.

Some things I prefer air fried like pork steaks, bacon, duck breast or roast chicken.

Others are just really quick and convenient like frozen almond croissants or part baked rolls. Also I make cookie dough and freeze then can bake a couple of cookies as wanted in minutes in the air fryer.

Other things I prefer cooked in the oven like roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings but if it’s just a regular meal we often just put up with the less good version so we don’t need to turn the oven on.

Exactly. I use it a lot if I’m just cooking single portions. It’s pointless heating up the oven just for that. And the air fryer is quicker.

Not a fad for me. Then again neither was my George Foreman.

I haven't used my oven in a year. My electric bill is less so I can afford to run the tumble dryer.

Oh, and food arrives faster and better and it's super easy to clean.

Honestly I can't wait to have one

I've had one since they came out. I've rarely used the oven since.
Mine actually lives in the oven. It fits in perfectly. It stays in the oven whilst in use too.
If on a rare occasion I want to use the oven, I just take it out.
I love my air fryer.