To not understand the fuss about air fryers?

[whatthen]

People keep raving about them and I got one as a present and I used it a couple of times and gave up on it. It doesn’t cook food any quicker than a normal cooker.

I’ve tried again today and I’ve now been waiting an hour for a baked potato to cook. Would’ve been done by now in the oven. What is the point? What am I missing?

See, if I microwave a potato then put it in the oven it is crisped and fluffy in half an hour.

Yeah, you're doing it wrong.

My Ninja is fully digital in terms of controls. To be honest I'd never heard of one with manual controls until just now.

The air fryer on for 20 minutes is cheaper than the oven on for 20 minutes.

Maybe this is it. It is not any faster than using the oven.

Are you unable to read? What does the opening line of the original post say?

You need to take a breath and resist the urge to rush in to be abusive. I know it must be exciting for you though.

I agree. Just use the oven.

Hard disagree. Certainly not oven chips you make yourself I don’t know about frozen ones.

The hour long frustration of a very labour intensive jacket spud was what made me ask the same question. It’s gathering dust in a forgotten cupboard now. I hated it. I’m with you op. 👊🏻

You can fully microwave a jacket potato in six minutes, so if it is taking 5 mins in a microwave and then 20 mins in an air fryer, you do have to question what the air fryer is actually adding.

Definitely quicker and cheaper than a conventional oven.

Jacket potatoes from raw in about 45 mins, and you’re only heating up a tiny space compared to an oven.

Very handy for teens who need to eat at different times. Or for cooking a separate veggie meal. Or cooking sausages/fish fingers/chicken breasts and doing veg on the hob.

As long as it fits (pizzas are a problem), I do any cooking I’d do in the oven in it. About 2/3 the time and 2/3 the temp, and obviously you’re heating a much smaller space. I’ve had less success with baking, but crumble came out well.

You are being very unreasonable! They are so quick and convenient to cook in and food comes out perfectly. I made myself a chicken burger in the oven when my first air fryer had broken and it was raw in the middle! I’d forgotten how long ovens actually take to cook in comparison to air fryers. I use my air fryer most days too.

It’s amazing for cooking quick meals for my toddler like smiley faces chicken nuggets fish fingers etc

can’t imagine I would’ve used it before though

But a microwave only jacket spud is horrible. The air fryer (or oven) makes it crispy on the outside and fluffy in the middle.

An air fryer is only a tiny oven. The name is misleading. They should really be called Table Top Ovens.

I think I see the problem here. You talk about classic Mumsnet responses but you're doing the same. Just dismissing dozens of people's options here as the emperor's new clothes and not considering that it might be the cheap brand you bought. Very cheap ovens are crap as well. It doesn't mean ovens are crap. If you're not convinced, just carry on using your oven.

We have a ninja foodie and it's been used daily for about 8 years. It's an amazingly versatile device and I wouldn't be without it. We use it more than the oven, and it's not perfect for everything, we only use the oven about once a week now. It saves money and is definitely quicker.

Your oven sounds amazing and your airfryer a bit rubbish. Jacket potato takes more than an hour in my oven (plus 10-15 to preheat), ideally an hour and a half for crispy and fluffy. Air fryer (Ninja) takes 35 mins. Fish fingers would take 10 mins.
Maybe the temperature settings on it are incorrect and it's not as hot as it says.

I didn’t buy it. It says so in the first line of the first post.

It would be marvellous if people were able to read and comprehend information. And we’re talking about air fryers. I mean, it’s not something to get upset over.

Yes, those of us who are getting decent results are using decent brands like Ninja.

i got a starter air fryer with a dial and didn’t use it much, it was rubbish. Ninja was a complete game changer, don’t knock it until you’ve tried it

I’ll take your word for it. It’s back to the oven for me.

Like any appliance some like them and some do not
Is it a decent brand? On then correct settings?

Mine is out of its large cupbaord and i never use a oven
It is quicker...it is brilliant for teens
Roast chickens the best, sausages 12mins
It it faster than usual cooking once you get the gist of it all.
Never made a baked spud but im sure google will help with any unknown settings...it.does for me.

But with the oven you need to preheat which takes time, with an airfryer you switch on and go straight away.

I'm not upset. But it's just that you seem to be blind to what people are saying to you and maintain your position that air fryers are crap.

They are.

Ok