Air Fryer

[londonscalling]

Would people recommend buying an air fryer please? Apart from chips etc, what else do you cook in them?I need an extra large one as we are a big family. Some are over £250!!!!! I want to make sure I'd use one before spending that amount of money! Thanks.

Actifry i found do the biggest one and its not that much. I use mine for chips, onion rings, frozen breaded chicken products etc. Ive never used it for fresh meat or cakes but it can be done i think!

Thanks. Are they useful?

I've just gotten one and used it for fish prawns chips and roast potatoes so far. It's fantastic!

Love mine it gets used mist days tbh. I use it for homemade and frozen chips, wedges etc.. also things like sausages, fish fingers, prawns, burgers etc as well as things like roast potatoes etc. Between that and the slow cooker I barely use my oven anymore.

I got ours from Costco. Including vat was about £40. It’s quite big.
I haven’t used it for much yet except for quick junk dinners. So frozen chips, fish fingers, breaded chicken etc.
I did cook the family sausages in it and they said they were really nice as stayed juicy. I can’t comment as I don’t eat meat.
Mine came with a recipe book and I keep meaning to try some of them but have only had it a few weeks so not tried anything else yet.

The Costco one is quite good as has a few pre set settings and a good clear digital display. It beeps after heating up. You can set it to remind you to turn/shake the items in there. It’s easy to clean.

We are a family of 4 and other than chips taking longer than the setting as there was more than an even layer so needed a bit more shaking and time to get them crispy. Should say 4 adult portions basically as me, dh, ds2 18 and dd 14.

It’s dangerous though as I never eat chips at home but tries some when the dc made them and they were lovely.

Oh sweet potato wedges were nice in there again as they actually got crispy and not soggy like they can do.

I have an ActiFry XL. It's amazing for sausages (although you have to pick a cycle without stirring for the first part so it doesn't break them up.) Pork escalopes come out browned but still juicy although they do end up curled up from the paddle (worth it though.) Chicken drumsticks work well although the paddle does damage them a little but it's worth it for the taste and texture. Frozen chicken wings come out beautifully. You can make stir fries in it really easily. The ActiFry app has a recipe for butter chicken which is a firm favourite here. You can cook veggies in it too, roasted broccoli or cauliflower is very good. I have a wire basket that I use for delicate foods such as halloumi fries or popcorn chicken - they can only be cooked in smaller portions though for one or two people. The one thing mine can't do is steak as it doesn't have a large flat area so you'd need an air fryer without a paddle system for that. There are also bigger ones that you can cook a whole rotisserie chicken in which sounds like it would be great. For me though, the couple of things that it can't do are outweighed by all the things that it can do. On the ActiFry Facebook group they rave about air fried tinned tomatoes which are apparently really good, and cheap too.

Sorry got autocorrected - tinned potatoes not tomatoes.

It does nice sausages.

But an oven holds far more and it's easier to clean a baking tray than an airfryer basket (even in the dishwasher).

They are noisy too.

Thanks everyone! Really appreciated.

We have a Ninja and it's bloody brilliant! Not only does it cook things healthier (although I tend to use frozen chips anyway) it's the fact that it cooks so much quicker than the oven that appeals to me. We use it so often, those little part-baked rolls only take about 5 mins, chicken breasts rubbed with oil and chicken seasoning take 10 mins and are so juicy. Sausages, chops etc all cook so quickly too. The ninja has options to bake, roast, reheat and dehydrate as well as air fry. I'd definitely recommend it.