Experimenting with an air fryer

[spinbaby]

I got a good deal on an air fryer and joined the air fryer cult. I’ve been fiddling with it for a couple of days now—made French fries from frozen, breaded some chicken tenders with panko, and roasted broccoli, all with okay results. I’m told an air fryer is a game changer for leftover pizza, but haven’t tried that yet. Overall I’m still not sure if I like it well enough to give it space on my kitchen counter and it’s too big to shove into a cabinet like I do with my rice cooker. How do you all feel about your air fryers?

[Aussie105]

1. 'Boils' 6 large eggs in 15 minutes.

15 minutes from cold at 125 degrees centigrade.

Great for sausages, crumbed chicken breast.

Storage - mine lives in a different room, on the floor, near a power point.

Saves complaints from the crabby wife about cooking smells and my choice in diet.

Lots of recipes online. Go your hardest!

[spinbaby]

8. I'm going to have to try eggs

That hadn’t occurred to me.

[WA-03 Democrat]

2. I like them

It’s easy to clean and is good for about 2-3 people. Larger groups you will have to batch it up. We have very limited counters but the insta-pot is now down in the basement. The seal ring gave out and air fryer won we have cook steaks and turn out pretty good

[spinbaby]

9. Yours is easy to clean?

I have one with a drawer—second hand purchase, so no manual. I’ve been washing it by hand because I’m afraid to put in the dishwasher. There’s lots of grease in the nooks and crannies. I may just try the dishwasher.

[japple]

12. I'll bet you could find a service manual for your fryer online or a video on youtube.

Even though I have them for most of my appliances, I have better luck watching how-to videos.

[WA-03 Democrat]

13. Check out the liners!

It will help

[gibraltar72]

3. Have had one for years

does lots of stuff very well. Certainly removes lots of fat from meats. Lots of vids out there that will show you scads of recipes.

[Freddie]

4. Love mine

Makes great hot dogs. Frozen potatoes and baked potatoes (45 min). Worth the counter space for me. I put my Instant Pot (was a gift) in the “only use occasionally” closet.

[TBA]

5. Use mine almost every day

Love that is doesn't heat up my kitchen.

Frozen bread
Steak Bites (I don't like cooking a whole steak but marinated chunks works well)
Egg Rolls (so crispy!)
Sausage patties (no splatter!)
Chicken thighs
Tater Tots (OMG)

[70sEraVet]

6. I like your point about not heating up my kitchen!

I use the grill alot during summer, because I hate the idea of running an oven and air conditioner at the same time. We do have an air fryer, but we haven't done much experimenting with it yet.

[2naSalit]

7. Love mine!

Had it about 18 months and use it at least three times a week, I'm alone so I don't need a big unit. But mine is 13qts and has a rotisserie, I like the kabob wheel, I use that a lot but I also cook a whole package of sausages or bacon at once.

I like the way it cooks bacon, especially. I am picky about that, I grew up with bacon that was a flat ribbon that was crunchy and perfectly crumbly. I haven't been able to make that in a pan using a bacon press but I can make it in this thing, I just put the second grated shelf on top of the bacon and it makes it flat, evenly cooked.

Everything tastes better when cooked in a convection oven. It's one of restaurateurs' best unkept secrets.

[BobTheSubgenius]

10. I read a warning about air fryers.

It might only apply to certain designs, but the article didn't mention that. In fact, it was more a recitation of anecdotes, so take from it what you will.

It said that, if you lose power while the air fryer is plugged in, but not operating at that moment, it will turn itself on when power is restored. This seems an easy thing to test, but I don't have one, so I leave it to you to accept, reject or test this.

My wife doesn't want one, mainly because of the counter space issue. However, our KitchenAid mixer stands on a counter, blocking both the easy access to the other receptacle, and the kitchen light switch. As I "won" on the "No New Puppy" disagreement (too old and slightly impecunious to accept one), I will gladly concede on the air fryer issue.

[slightlv]

11. Mine is sitting on the top of a large china cabinet in the kitchen.

Found I could do it all just as well with various elements of either my stove or microwave. Maybe I'm just too old to be taught too many new tricks!