Air Fryer? Is It The New Must Have Gimmick

[piggynose]

Well anyone out there got one yet and could enlighten us?

[gness]

One, Piggy! We have three and have had for some years. Bought when we both lived alone. Brilliant for a one person household but we combined ours when we moved here and use them almost daily. Many of the foods we’d have once used a large oven for are so much better cooked in an air fryer.

[Buenchico]

New??? Shops have been pushing them for at least a couple of decades. Indeed, I'd suggest that the 'craze' for them was largely ebbing away at the turn of the century.

I'm surprised that nothing seems to be showing up in 'Related Posts' below, as there have been numerous threads about them here in the past.

e.g. https://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Food-and-Drink/Question1578349.html

https://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Home-and-Garden/Question1691099.html

https://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Food-and-Drink/Question1612125.html

[diddlydo]

Gness - please can you explain how an air fryer can take the place of an oven as I don't understand!

[Jackdaw33]

Although called a fryer it is in effect a mini fan-assisted oven.

[royfromaus]

Gives better results though, Jackdaw.

[Buenchico]

For Diddlydo: Part of a review of a DeLonghi air fryer on the BBC Good Food website:

"This DeLonghi oven is adaptable – it can be used for things you’d never expect to be able to cook in an air fryer.

Turn up the heat just as you would in a full-sized oven and you’ll discover that dishes such as traybakes, roasted veg, baked potatoes – even cakes and scones – cook to perfection".

Source: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/review/best-air-fryers

[gness]

Exactly as Jackdaw says. A mini oven. Living alone a baked potato for one is better than in a large oven. In fact the best ever baked potatoes are from an air fryer. Battered fish. Two pieces fit nicely. Ten fish fingers to pop into sandwiches. Sausages cook evenly and really well without any attention. Stick them in, ignore til it beeps and feet up with a glass.

Dave is the expert but he had a slight accident today so I had to cook for the first time. Found some pastry bacon and sauce things in the freezer....garlic mushrooms to go with them. All cook really evenly and well.
Dave could tell you more about cooking for more than one but I found it invaluable when I was on my own.

[Jackdaw33]

My only flop was baked potatoes which came out rock-hard. Obviously I hadn't given them nearly enough time. My solution was to bake them in the micro then finish off in the fryer to crisp the skins.

[gness]

My first baked potato need twice the time recommended in the book. Just doubled the time and they are perfect.

[Jackdaw33]

How long? I only gave mine 10 minutes.

[gness]

Book said thirty minutes, JD. I give them an hour. Time for two glasses with the feet up. ;-)

[wolf63]

I have one and it's great for cooking anything that previously went in the oven. Pizza is the only thing that doesn't fit.

Gness, what have you done to Dave?

[seekeerz]

Thinking seriously about one of these - suggestions for the best brand please

[jennyjoan]

I have one - used it once and it is now at the back of cupboard. I have even offered free to my family but nobody wants it.

Other people love them. My friend has two one each for her two homes.

[ummmm]

They aren't really suitable for bigger families then?

[royfromaus]

Not really, ummmm...that's why I'm kicking the kids out as soon as covid is over.

[Jackdaw33]

So easy to clean. Just remove the trivet and wipe with kitchen towel.

[gness]

What did I do, Wolfie!!! I left him alone in the village for five minutes and he fell off a kerb that wasn’t there. And that’s with the pubs closed!

[Buenchico]

Seekeerz: You might find my link at 2312 above helpful.

[gness]

Seek. We have two Phillips and one Lidl. Both excellent but the Lidl just has the edge for cleaning.