Airfryer - worth buying? Any hints and tips to make the most of them

Airfryers - worth buying? Plus helpful hints and tips to make the most of them

 

Quite a few questions arising on these, so I’ve ( hopefully) started a new thread.
I’ve had one for two years now, and wouldn’t be without it. I’ll post more later, but hopefully this will get the discussion started!

 

I've got silicon liners, which I find great for cauliflower cheese, pasta bakes etc. Also perfected the Airfryer Yorkies, in individual silicon holders.

 

I love mine.

It’s not a massive ‘basket’ but ideal for something that you would usually do in the oven to save putting the oven on. It seems to reduce the cooking time
compared to the oven too.

It’s really good for heating through a pastry or piece of quiche etc as they are better warm, yet I wouldn’t normally justify putting the oven on just for warming them. Also good excuse to buy those frozen Danish pastries!

 

My oven, Electrolux and came with th new kitchen, has a few "features" I find frustrating. It can take 20 minutes to get to 180C but only stays on for 1hr48mins unless I'm there to wake it up again and it sometimes decided not to get to temperature which is not good for baking cakes or roasting a joint.

Hence I decided we'd get an air fryer - Ninja 10.4litres with one large divisible drawer. It arrived on Tuesday and I used it for the first time yesterday to do Greek lamb with potatoes, onions and peppers, all wrapped in tin foil. Easy to use. The meat was fine but some of the veggies went crispy so clearly I need some containers as I can only get narrow foil here.

I already have silicone bun, muffin, loaf and bundt and assume they'll be OK in the AF but need some others for the small and large drawer sizes. I shall check out the options in the SM tomorrow and compare online.

Any suggestions for recipes welcome.

 

Following on from the earlier discussion on Yawners, whilst at my Bestie's (air fryer owner) today she informed me that she had been looking for a new cooker for her Mum and she had seen an electric oven that had an air fryer component in it. She knows I would love an air fryer but my kitchen is miniscule and I have to have something I can bake my cakes in so I am going to investigate this oven she mentioned now. I have an electric oven with a gas hob but I no longer use the gas hob as I have a plug in induction hob which is brilliant for me.

 

I’ve been using the airfryer in the rental apartment. Same brand as mine, but this has a single drawer, whereas mine has two smaller ones. I’ve taken a picture with a box of teabags in it, to give you an idea of size! Hope it helps! I think you could get a smaller sized cake tin in it?
So far this week, I have airfried a pack of chicken pieces in tempura batter (bought, not home made) which we had with a microwaved packet of egg fried rice, and microwaved, bought, sweet and sour sauce. The next evening I cooked a Charlie Bingham individual chicken pie (we shared it) on a 190C roast setting for 30 minutes, and after 20 minutes, added a pack of chilled French fries to cook alongside. That worked well too. I had to be a bit creative as the oven I’d planned to use wasn’t working!

 

Well done @Ergates - inventive.

I have just ordered a set of silicone trays made for mine along with some weapons, skewers and a grill tray. Bargain at 26€. They'll arrive on Saturday so I can play with them this weekend. Won't need dinner tomorrow as we're out for lunch.

Meanwhile there are recipes on the Beeb food websites for savoury dishes that I fancy trying tho I can't see me getting a round cake tin in there or my 7, 8, 9 and 10inch square ones.

 

This is the version I have at home, although the current version has had a face lift, seems to have the same capabilities and size.
Since I bought it, I have rarely put the big electric fan oven on. Just at Christmas, or when we have visitors, or if I want to batch cook cakes, or Yorkshire puddings to freeze and reheating the airfryer when needed. On the rare occasions we fancy pizza, that has to go in the oven.
There are just two of us at home, and I can cook most of the things we usually eat in the airfryer. eg chicken breasts in one drawer, and potatoes in the other drawer, OHs favourite chips, while I prefer jacket potatoes or home made sweet potatoes. For roast potatoes or jackets, I microwave them first, before crisping them in the airfryer. Everything cooks much quicker, so a good idea to check frequently until you are confident. I only use a paper liner when I am cooking bought chicken Kyivs, to keep the butter under control!
OH loves his frozen, ready to bake, cinnamon swirls and can cook two in one basket in about 18 minutes, no waiting for the oven to heat up.
I make individual rock cakes in paper cases, and bake four or five at a time.
My daughter in law has the bigger version, 9.6l? and uses it a lot, they have two children.
Hope that is helpful?

other brands are available, from other suppliers!

 

I have a ninja crispi. Don’t have the space/need for a big air fryer and the crispi is nice and compact/fits in cupboard when not in use. Being a family of 4 we would need a big one if we’re going to use it for family meals but as we are all coming and going and eating at various times the crispi is perfect for one/two people rather than the oven being constantly used for individual portions. We don’t do anything fancy with it just frozen food really (fish/chicken/chips type stuff). If we are all eating together the oven is still used.

 

I got my NinjaAF500 on offer from the manufacturer for 170€ with free postage so am pretty pleased @Ergates . There are 3 of us and we eat most dinners and some lunches together so I wanted the bigger size @Emptyheadtime and it's parked in the scullery/pantry where it can be as noisy as it likes and not clutter my kitchen worktop.

Lots of fun to come.

 

I have been using a Tfal Actifryer for well over 10 years. It has an attachment which "stirs/flips" food like chips and chicken strips so they cook evenly.

The giant benefit, in my opinion, is that air fryers cut down on oil used in cooking. No deep frying.

I'm going to stick a paper bag with popping corn in there to see if it quickly pops it. Just out of curiosity. University residences don't allow microwaves or deep fryers or cook tops/ hot plates. Only auto shut off appliances such as kettles and some air fryers so an air fryer might be a great solution to midnight study munchy urges.

 

We love our Lakeland airfryer - one big drawer with a removable divider. Bought silicon dishes which are dishwasher-proof to save on the mess.

 

I'm confused about these, are they actually a fryer or an oven, only I noticed some comments saying, don't use the oven now, and others saying they fry things.
Be interested as to how they work, I impression is like an enclosed grill with a fan?

 

Both- the idea is that very hot air moves around the food.

In the oven the mechanism is the same, but a big oven is less efficient heating such a big space whereas in airfryer the bucketful of air heats very quickly.

To fry, traditionally the surface of the food touches a greasy hot surface. In airfryer, you grease the food (toss tatties in oil) and the hot air crisps the surface.

Airfryer is the best ever thing if you have room for a big bucket size thing and few mouths to feed.

In particular, veg turns out great. Beetroots, peppers and niipsnaps are the best.