WHY an Air Fryer? NOT which AF?

APDIY · Post by **APDIY** » Sun Mar 12, 2023 11:09 pm

I have a fairly new combi Microwave oven.
Wherever I look I’m seeing AFs being lauded.
WHY should I buy one, irrespective of the cost of a Which? Best Buy model?

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Sun Mar 12, 2023 11:43 pm

I have a Tower AF that I bought two years ago. We have two actually and hardly use the main oven at all now. The AF is basically a small convector oven and works by blasting heat all around. This works by an inner basket allowing the hot air to fully circulate and cook quicker. There is no warm up and it starts immediately. The fryer name is a bit misleading as there is no oil other than a quick spray of 1 cal olive oil as a release agent if needed for the food. I would say that most food you would cook in the oven or grill can be done in the AF. Check out Youtube there are loads of videos with people cooking stuff as a guide. I would not be without one now it mostly cooks in the time it took to get the main oven up to heat so it is more economical with the power. I noticed Tesco has the 4.7 litre Tower AF for £50 on Clubcard the other day.

DWD

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Mon Mar 13, 2023 12:26 am

We don't have one (yet) mate of mine says chicken cooked in one is very nice, and yes, they cook quicker, and so save energy.

Neelix · Post by **Neelix** » Mon Mar 13, 2023 7:19 am

Yes they save energy BUT how many meals would you need to cook before you actually covered the cost of the device?

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Mon Mar 13, 2023 8:46 am

I bought our AF as a convenience as energy was not an issue at the time. The clickbait news crap about an AF saving energy was put about as the energy crisis kicked in. Yes, they do save power but to be frank I have never worked it out as it was not relevant for me. Our main oven warm up time is a nuisance as it takes 15mins or so to get to 200 degrees and the grill also takes time. For this reason, the AF does the same job in half the overall time of warm up and cooking. The AF is instant and as I have most things grilled, and I am impatient, it was a boon and I rarely use the main oven these days. Get the bigger capacity one as the smaller ones are too limiting.

DWD

Argyll · Post by **Argyll** » Mon Mar 13, 2023 9:09 am

I have the two Ninjas and they're great although I do wonder about the 1yr warranty. I've saw other air fryers with a 3yr warranty. Its slightly concerning why the Ninjas only offer you one year. Surely if you have confidence in your product you offer a 3yr warranty I saw a Salter air fryer with double basket on special the other day for under £100 and today I saw a brand named Hayden for about the same price although I've never heard about Hayden. I think I paid £200 for my double basket Ninja.

They claim they use 60% less power than a conventional oven. Quite appealing with todays electricity prices.

aeromech3 · Post by **aeromech3** » Mon Mar 13, 2023 12:12 pm

Being a single, at UK home cook, I was using a single induction plate and a very old but loved pizza oven and due the model is no longer available ans suspect near end of life, I took to the idea of a small AF.
Have the actual 230v model of Cosori being recalled in the USA! I bought the red one which matches my toaster and was cheaper than the black circa £80 from Am*zon and a glass oil spray £7.
I use it mainly to spoil myself by cooking frozen potato chips which just need a spray of oil; the unit does need about a 4 minute warm up before cooking; I have baked fillets of Bass but in oven proof paper to stop the sticky mess, and baked whole potato after a zap in the micro, both these previously went in the pizzeria.

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Mon Mar 13, 2023 12:46 pm

I like Strong Roots brand sweet potato chips as it is the chips coating that is key to the cooking. The Tesco cheap ones are not as crisp and nice, a bit slimy so I consider the extra cost worth it. Most convenience type meals can be done in 12 mins, a pre defrost microwave blast helps for frozen stuff. You find your own way to suit your use of an AF

DWD

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Mon Mar 13, 2023 1:09 pm

Neelix wrote: ↑Mon Mar 13, 2023 7:19 amYes they save energy BUT how many meals would you need to cook before you actually covered the cost of the device?

(or was it a rhetorical question?)

Obviously it depends on which AF you buy (Looking at Amazon the go from £40-£200) yes we know gas is cheaper than electricity, but you (as has been said) have to wait while the oven warms up which could be up to 20 minutes? (Sorry, I don't watch our oven, not that we use it much) where as an AF heats up almost instantly, and when it is running doesn't take that long to cook what is inside, so the answer has to be "Not many. "

oz0707 · Post by **oz0707** » Mon Mar 13, 2023 4:26 pm

Im skeptical as to how quick the energy savings cover the cost of the appliance. Also as im in a well insulated house any waste heat from the oven stays within the thermal envelope. I have heard good things about them but just another appliance to take up space.

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Mon Mar 13, 2023 4:44 pm

oz0707 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 13, 2023 4:26 pmAlso as im in a well insulated house any waste heat from the oven stays within the thermal envelope.

Just an observation, NOT an argument,

But that is also true of an AF?

So does that not defeat your own "argument"?

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Mon Mar 13, 2023 4:58 pm

As I said the energy cost saving is immaterial in the main it is the time saving and convenience that is the key. Yes, they do take up a bit of room and I usually keep ours in the utility room and ferry them to the kitchen as needed. Once you have one though it is a bit like a microwave, you cannot imagine not having one. It might not suit everyone but it does me.

DWD

Neelix · Post by **Neelix** » Mon Mar 13, 2023 5:05 pm

This is well worth listening to:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0018hjr

wine~o · Post by **wine~o** » Mon Mar 13, 2023 6:25 pm

My take on this... Air fryers will suit some people, not all. For instance if you regularly cook casseroles/curries/other "wet" meals or meat in sauces then you won't really benefit from the air fryer.

If i Look at my home cooked menu over the last 2 weeks I'd have used an air fryer... once, deep fat fryer 3 times, oven prolly 5 times (including slow cooking) Hob 12 times.

Have a look at what you are cooking and when. then decide whether an air fryer is right for you or not.

Razor · Post by **Razor** » Mon Mar 13, 2023 7:09 pm

wine~o wrote: ↑Mon Mar 13, 2023 6:25 pm My take on this... Air fryers will suit some people, not all. For instance if you regularly cook casseroles/curries/other "wet" meals or meat in sauces then you won't really benefit from the air fryer.

If i Look at my home cooked menu over the last 2 weeks I'd have used an air fryer... once, deep fat fryer 3 times, oven prolly 5 times (including slow cooking) Hob 12 times.

Have a look at what you are cooking and when. then decide whether an air fryer is right for you or not.

I would broadly agree WO but I have the 15 in 1 Ninja which is also a slow cooker, pressure cooker etc.

It's awesome. You can cook a whole chicken from chilled in about 45 minutes - it also has an insertion probe that you can leave in during cooking so it stops at the required internal temp