Air fryers - yes or no ?

[TheOriginalNutty]

I may have been living under a rock but I think I missed the hype about these.

Someone I know on fb had just bought one and reckons it is a game changer. Is it ??

I hate cooking so anything that makes that easier and quicker is always a plus with me but is it fiddly? , do you have to sit an exam to learn how to use it ? Will I use it once and then have an expensive kitchen ornament ?

I like my Air Fryer, but wouldn't call it a game-changer.
It's easy to use - 2 dials for time & temp - and RTFM for various foods.
Much cheaper to use than an oven as it heats up quickly & foods cook more quickly.

It's great for chips & anything that needs to be fried or roasted, but not batter as it would drip through the mesh bottom.

I have the instant pot duo crisp and the air fryer bit is far superior to the Tefal air fryer one I had originally. I have now given the Tefal away.

My tefal genius air fryer is used a few times a week at least! Chilli con carne, meatballs, beef/chicken stir fry. Also makes a nice chocolate cake. The only thing we don’t really use it for is fresh chips, we tend to bung in frozen ones. Works well for onion rings, halloumi fries and mini roast potatoes too! Love mine and wouldn’t be without it it’s really quick and easy to use

Do air fryers cook frozen chips better than in the oven? My oven chips are never great so I’d be interested in one just for that.

There's a difference between an Air Fryer & an Actifry,

We bought an air fryer near the start of lockdown 1. It's great and so much easier and quicker than heating up an entire oven. Do homemade chips, roasted veg, heat samosas etc really fast. Loads more things to use it for.

Tip choose the right size for your family. Also don't get one with a paddle.

@Lunaballoon

Do air fryers cook frozen chips better than in the oven? My oven chips are never great so I’d be interested in one just for that.

Ime yes!

Not fiddly at all or hard to learn

I had one which but one of the ovens in our new range cooker is a fan oven which does the same job so I gave it away.

Love my airfryer.
I dont make chips in mine but have occasionally done frozen ones which always turn out nice . Its so easy to shake them around to ensure they are all cooked through. On a tray thats nigh on impossible.
I keep meaning to learn how to bake cakes etc but in reality there are so many other things that benefit from the airfryer Im happy enough. I very rarely use my main oven now.

I have a ninja
I got it when my oven blew earlier in the year and the council took 5 weeks to replace. 4 kids so it was a godsend, the hob went on nye so now I can steam veg etc in it pressure cook etc still have my oven but hopefully it’ll not take 5 weeks for a hob. Nothing worse than being at the mercy of other people.
I use for chips a lot and they are always tasty and faster than the oven. Ninja also sauté, steams pressure cooks it’s a great gadget however it is large and takes up space - needs lid clearance too but really glad it I’ve got one now

Got an air fryer last week. Been amazing. It's only small but me and kids eat at separate times so it's big enough to two person meals and then the older kids do their own. Saves oven going on 4 times and kids have been praising it too.
Yesterday did mini roasties and today did pizza and chips. Prepped food and left portions out kids pop it in when they are hungry. 15 mins at 180. No heating up of oven etc. Crispy food.

Hmmmm sounds like I definitely need to look at some then.

Thanks everyone

@Georgyporky

There's a difference between an Air Fryer & an Actifry,

What does this mean? I'm so baffled about air fryers. How can they do all of the things that people say.