Air Fryer what to cook?

[xoomer]

I don't have one yet. I have a large multi pressure cooker thing which I don't use. I'm really sad though as it cost me £100. If I bought a fryer I'd have to pay £35 max.?

Would a fryer be more useful?

With the word fry I assumed you can only cook chicken / chips / onion rings etc but I believe this is not the case.

What do you use yours for and how often?

Thank you.

I do:
Falafel
Roast potatoes
Soup recipes.lidl.co.uk/recipes/air-fryer-squash-and-red-pepper-soup
Pancakes www.iceland.co.uk/blog/recipes/method-air-fryer/air-fryer-pancakes/
Salmon
Apple crumble realfood.tesco.com/recipes/air-fryer-apple-crumble.html
Halloumi www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/air-fryer-halloumi
Frittata realfood.tesco.com/recipes/air-fryer-classic-frittata.html
Sticky chicken www.sainsburysmagazine.co.uk/recipes/mains/sticky-chicken-with-carrot-pilau
Jacket Potatoes https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/air_fryer_baked_potato_70880

We use ours for jacket potatoes, can get the same results in 1hr 20 in the air fryer as 3hrs in the oven. We also use it a lot for tofu, it makes it crispy before adding to a stir fry without the amount of oil it would need to do the same in a pan

Streaky bacon is delicious and you can do crispy kale really nicely at a low temperature.

Yeah the word fryer is misleading. It's basically a mini fan oven so anything you can cook in the oven you can also cook in your air fryer. Aside from cakes etc. You'd still need a proper oven for baked goods. I cooked a large chicken in mine yesterday. Only took 45 mins.

Doesn't the multi pressure cooking thing have an air fryer function? A lot do?

My advice when considering an air fryer, or any similar gadget is always the same: what things in the kitchen frustrate you and/or put you off making certain foods? Then figure out what gadget, if any, will work.

In my case, I get irritated at having to turn on the oven, wait for it to heat up, then wait a long time to cook something small for lunch or for the DS eg I love roasted veg for my lunch, but the palaver put me off. Similarly, DD often just wants some chips with her dinner but I found it pointless to go through all that for a few chips etc. Also, I don't always have time - we love a croissant in the morning sometimes on a weekend but it always annoyed me that if I didn't plan it, baking the frozen ones was impractical before we had to rush out to our various activities.

My air fryer therefore solves all of the above for me.

SIL hates frying things or cooking with lots of oil. She loves her air fryer as a way to avoid that by cooking things that would normally be fried in lots of oil with just a spray of oil in the airfryer.

My sister has embraced her air fryer as a way to get her DH to cook more and as a handy way to toss pre-made bits and pieces in and serve quickly when people come over.

Thanks all. Yes I paid extra for the frying function. Maybe I should look at using this one more actually.

It seems so complicated though.

@HippyChickMama you get great results too with 8 minutes in microwave followed by 12 minutes in air fryer- lovely crispy skins, soft middles

I cook everything in the air fryer. I held off for so long because I thought they were a fad but alas, I was wrong. I am truly converted 😂. Tonight is crispy tofu goujon with roast veg and wedges.

We had an air fryer log jam at lunchtime today. I went down to cook my bacon but DH had already started using it for fish fingers.
I'll now only eat bacon from the air fryer because it gets it nice and crispy so I moved his fingers to the grill .

Following with interest!!

I want to get one too, but I don't know which make or model!

Three of us in the family.

Could you all share which air fryer you have and whether it would be suitable for me? The Ninja looks all singing all dancing but is probably overkill for us??

Thank you!

I'm so tempted to get an air fryer and an Argos ad for them popped up, the prices are very variable, is the price based on size? Are the cheap ones very very small?

We got a Ninja and it’s a bit overkill although one day I’ll force myself to use the Yoghurt function! (I have dehydrated herbs in it for storage so I’m creeping round the functions).

Mainly use it for:
Grilling meat or fish
Crisping up sad baguettes
Toasted ciabatta open sandwiches
Zapping leftover pizza
Finishing off microwaved jacket potatoes
Roast potatoes - amazing and almost no fat
Baking quiche
Baking stuffing balls
”oven roasted” vegetables

Ours is a cheap tower one.
We certainly can't fit a chicken in there and it's a bit of a struggle doing oven chips for 3 - but thankfully I'm low carb now so that solves that problem .

.

I have a cosori air fryer, makes the most amazing cheese toasties. DS18 has recently been making bagel pizzas in it several times a day. Also good for frozen food for one or two people.

If you've got a multi pot with an air fryer function you don't need an additional air fryer as well, surely?

Mine has a bake function.

Frozen croissants for Sunday breakfast.
Croutons from stale bread tossed with herbs, dried garlic and a spritz of oil.
All the usual.
Not good for cakes (soggy in the middle, so muffins are better).

My 5-litre Cosori has pre-programmed buttons and tells you when to shake half way through. Good for CBA days to throw in nuggets etc.

I've done cake in mine 😄

but would you bake a batch of 20 chocolate chip cookies in it. I think the oven is still best for baking even with a bake function on some air fryers.

I don't know I never use it?

This one is out of stock at the moment but I've got my eye on it. It has a rapid meal function so you can airfry and steam at the same time, which is so useful.

https://ninjakitchen.co.uk/product/ninja-speedi-10-in-1-rapid-cooker-and-air-fryer-exclusive-accessory-bundle-zidON400BND

But you can use it as an air fryer if you have the correct model

Think of an air fryer has a small cooker.

we have the ninja dual which is good, as you can cook two different things at once.

We find it especially uSeful when you want to cook small portions.

For large meals and baking, I still use the main oven.