DH bought me an air fryer for my birthday - questions

[xsquared]

I've joined the air fryer owners club, but I have no idea what to do with it!

Looking at old threads and other sources online, ot seems whatever you cook in the oven you can cook in the AF.

Do you need to put the items on a dish or tray before you out it in the AF though?

I hear you could make fritters and things with wet ingredients in it, but wouldn't you have to either line it first or put in a dish?

Could things like home made chips go straight in without a liner?

What do people usually make in theirs? Inspire me please!

I'm disappointed that you are not asking us for ways to kill him because he bought you an airfryer for your birthday 🤣

Ps. Happy birthday!

Did you ask for one? Strange gift unless you'd been desperate. On same level as a microwave.

Sorry I've no idea about air fryers in terms of recipes.

I remember the year my dad bought my mum a 4 slice toaster for her birthday 'to make breakfast easier for her.' She threw it out the kitchen window.

Nope, didn't ask for one. I told him not to get me anything!

I'd be raging, not looking for recipes! 😂

DS seems to be enamoured by it so I might let him take it to uni.

😂😂 Oh dear, my DH does panic sometimes and has bought me so,e really awful presents over the years, but so far has avoided this.

Op, if you choose not to wrap it round his head, Google is your friend. Air Fryers are surprisingly versatile, and anything you would bake in an oven , can be attempted in an air fryer.
I believe you can buy liners for some, Maybe that’s a Christmas idea?

I love that!! Good for her.

@xsquared mine (that I bought myself) came with a recipe book. Apparently you can even cook "boiled" eggs in it. In reality it's gets used for oven chips, chicken goujons, and sausages etc... by the teenagers in this house.

I'd also be raging....😡 how is that special for you!! My EX bought me a set of knives 🔪 for a birthday, should of left him there and then, only took me another 7 years! Treat yourself and charge the husband. X

This reminds me the year exdh bought me a wok and a steamer pan. As well as other things. He's lucky I didn't hit him with it. Present dh buys thoughtful gifts. And tbf ex and still buy for each other and he's vastly improved 🤣

On a practical note don't be scared of it. It's very easy. Knock the temperature down bit compared to big oven. Also at least quater less time. Just keep checking. Start with something simple like sausages. Pull the draw out and check. You can get accessories. I mainly use takeaway foil cartons. Dh hated it at first as he's the main cook. He uses it a fair bit now. Check out websites and Facebook. There's airfryer groups. Good luck.

DH brought me one for Christmas a few years ago - I worked away at the time so he thought it would be great for the flat I had. It was - I could cook a meal in 15 minutes - salmon/chicken plus oven chips or roast veg. They went straight into the basket, no trays or anything.

I loved it so much we got one for home too. Because it's for all of us, we don't cook whole meals. Home made chips are a definite favourite. We've been having a lot of jacket potatoes - start them in the microwave and then crisp them up. I like making burgers - mine never have enough structural integrity for a frying pan but work a treat in the air fryer - straight into the basket as well.

Oh, I think he thought he was being thoughtful as he didn't want to be empty handed. I did however tell him, "I've become one of those air fryer wankers" though upon receipt. 😁

I will use it though, but I'm a bit apprehensive about attempting anything more adventurous than chips or baked potato to begin with.

What a terrible present. What are you getting next year, a vacuum cleaner? And a new kettle for Christmas?

Dh once bought me a salt and pepper mill and a cheese grater for my Christmas.
He got severely reprimanded by me and the following Christmas I got emerald earrings.

I have just joined the air fryer brigade and so far I’ve just made chips so will follow this thread for ideas.

Is it really that bad?! My DH bought me a stand mixer last year, I was beside myself with excitement having wanted one for ages. Are we all supposed to covet expensive jewellery gifts a la Alan Rickman in Love Actually?

If you like fish try salmon in foil parcel with a bit of olive oil drizzled on and some herbs etc. I roast veg in it to. Salmon takes no time.

TBH, I don't really trust dh's tastes to get me things like jewellery or items of clithing unless I give him the link to order it from somewhere.

Practical gifts are fine with me from him.

I got a air fryer as a gift and it is genuinely the best gift I ever got, don't know what the problem is😂

I live alone so tend to use it for stuff on the side I wouldn't usually bother with
Part baked rolls, garlic bread, chips, reheats pizza really well, sweet potato wedges
I cook bacon in it a fair bit as it gets really crispy
Definitely don't use it to its max but I wouldn't be without it

Mine has shelves so I line them with baking paper

It's not a present for you alone surely? Unless you're telling us he doesn't bother cooking?

Many basic things to heat up, but also I’ve started to make all sorts of roasted veg (radishes and garlic were a great hit) and my own sweet potato fries.

Of course I wouldn't be the only person using it.

Honestly, I'm baffled about some of these comments about an AF not being a decent present.

If I was going to get something like jewellery, clothes, books etc then I'd buy it myself anyway. It just happens that I've not given him any ideas of non practical gifts.

We use it in lieu of an oven and don’t really do anything different from an oven apart from reduce the time and temperature of cooking.

we gave a ninja dual which has a loose, slotted tray at the base. Most things go straight down on that.

For wet things, I would use the same sort of baking container I would use in the main oven.

I've got a Ninja dual drawer one (I also bought one for my son) and it's great. As others have said, drop the temperature slightly and reduce the cooking time and pretty much anything you would put in the oven can go in there. I'm not a fan of roast potatoes af'ed but chips and jackets yes. I have Poppy Cooks: The Actually Delicious Air Fryer Cookbook and it's really good.
I also bought a couple of silicon liners for wetter stuff, and sometimes I line the trays with foil to make clean up easier.

TBH, I too would be pissed is by DH bought ME something for the house for a present

But thats by the by

I rarely use my oven now , only when Im cooking for lots of people, I seriously cook everything that went in the oven, under the grill or in the frying pan - all in the air fryer now

Do look at Jaimie Oliver on All4, he did a small series on air fryer cooking , it will give you an idea

Yes, you can "boil" and egg in them, but seriously why would you ? Takes more energy then the hob and you will get through dozens before you suss it :)

You cant wet batter cook, Wet batter needs hot oil. Put something smothered in a wet batter in the air fryer you will end up with batter everywhere other then the food its there to protect