Air fryer...?

[SpaceOP]

I've long been tempted by an air fryer but I couldn't face taking up more space in my kitchen. But with energy prices as they are, I'm seriously considering it again.

However, I'd like to get a small one. Its would take up less space and I could use it for things like making the kids fish fingers/chicken nuggets/chips etc and also for things like roasted vegetables which is one of my favourite WFH lunches but which I always feel bad using the oven for.

My existing ovens are quite small as I have a double oven in the space of a single large undercounter oven, so i feel like still using it for bigger things like a roast dinner etc is fine. And I seldom use it for stews/casseroles as I use my slow cooker for those. So I don't THINK i need something that could largely replace the "big" oven.

But .... will i be constantly annoyed that the small one isn't big enough? I'm thinking of this one. Looks like I could do nuggets and chips for the kids or a couple of salmon fillets or my roasted veggies for lunch but that's about it. I think that's fine but if you went that route, where you just annoyed when you wanted to use it for bigger things? eg, we do chicken thighs tray bake fairly often - I don't think I could fit enough for the whole family in here?

I have one around that size and I'm thinking of upgrading it for the dual as at this size I still need to put the oven on for a lot of meals! Mine was gifted so not bought with energy saving in mind, but if I was buying it now I'd want one with more than one compartment.

I WFH and its brilliant when it's just me - today I cooked a large field mushroom with a bit of Cheddar and put it in a bagel thin 😋 Its great for reheating leftovers too.

It's interesting that you say you still use the oven a lot - and quite reassuring actually. Because I'd say 90% if the time the oven goes on for me to make lunch for me or me and DH or to make something like nuggets for DD. Over the last few weeks, I've used it once also for salmon fillets (which I think would fit in this one anyway) and that's it. We tend to eat a lot of food cooked on the stove top.

I definitely use the hob more than the oven, but the kind of food I'd make in the air fryer often goes with something else oven cooked iyswim? I think when I upgrade it will be largely redundant other than for things that are too big - pizza for example!

Thanks. I think before I use it I'll take a long hard look at the size and then decide.

It's arrived and I'm cautiously optimistic. BUT... I'm a bit confused. i thought stuff was also supposed to cook quicker. According to the instructions, nuggets or chips will still take 20-25 minutes? I mean, I'll be saving on the fact that it takes just 3 minutes to heat up and that it's only heating a tiny space but... I was hoping to save time as well. Or should I "air fry" the nuggets rather than roast/bake them as I would in the regular oven?

I can, however, see the fat saving benefits already by using the air fryer and am looking forward to roasting veg etc!

It does rather feel like I need to learn a whole new way of cooking. I'm not sure I'm up for too much experimentation. eg, with salmon fillets, I usually bake them in foil parcels in a 170 fan oven for 17 minutes. I assume I can just put it in the tray with my seasons etc, no foil, and then either air fry or bake but for a bit less? Argh, this feels like a minefield!

Following as I thought this today

So.... DD asked this morning for a croissant for breakfast. We have those frozen ones. In my oven, I would heat the oven to 180 which takes about 7-8 minutes, then cook for 18 minutes....

.... ... Mr Google recommended I just use the air fryer for 9 minutes. Which I did, with 3 minutes to heat it first. And Voila, crispy on outside, soft on inside. THIS is what I'm talking about. Saving time and energy.

I think the timing instructions on the air fryer's booklet are a bit too enthusiastic. I'm feeling pretty good.

Next up - roasted tomatoes for lunch this week and jacket potatoes for dinner.