Air fryer - worth it?

[daisylu]

This is the one that I have had for 2 years now. link I definitely prefer the countertop version that has multiple uses over the the types with the baskets, but they may be more convenient when needing to cook larger quantities. And the countertop unit does not take up much more space than the old toaster oven so it works well for us.

But at work we have a  this , which we love. It does so much and has a soft close door. We did not pay the $499 price tag that it is now, but we may have paid $399 a year ago. It wasn't our money paying for it. 

If DH was not so set on having a toaster oven, which he does use everyday, I would think about replacing our microwave with the Breville when the time comes. 

 

[raeoflyte]

I was hoping it would be an overwhelming vote to get one, but it doesn't sound like it.

[CCL]

In addition to being quick, the thing I like about my air fryer is it doesn't dry food out like the oven and toaster oven sometimes do.

[anciana]

raeoflyte, if your microwave has convection function that you like and use, then it might not be worth it for you. We got it but I'm in a weird place where I want all the gadgets at the moment so I just got few things within the last year.

Ahem, minnesotapaintlady, how do you make steak and porkchops, please? How thick are they? I would like to try and cook meats since I don't know how to grill and air fryer seems like it might be the answer for me. 

[daisylu]

I have cooked 2-3 inch steaks in my air fryer. I rub them with olive or avocado oil and season. @375-400 for about 15 minutes for well. They always come out juicy and tender. Sometimes I put a sear on them before putting them in the air fryer, though that is really not necessary IMO.

[anciana]

Sept 20, 2022 11:06:28 GMT -5 daisylu said:

I have cooked 2-3 inch steaks in my air fryer. I rub them with olive or avocado oil and season. @375-400 for about 15 minutes for well. They always come out juicy and tender. Sometimes I put a sear on them before putting them in the air fryer, though that is really not necessary IMO.

Oooh, thank you, I will try that 

[minnesotapaintlady]

I'm terrible about directions for cooking since I mostly just eyeball meat for cook times.  But, for pork chops, I typically make thinner tenderloin, I brush with olive oil then season them up however (usually just a steak seasoning mix of some sort), cook for 10-12 minutes at 350 with flipping them once.

[anciana]

Sept 20, 2022 14:59:40 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

I'm terrible about directions for cooking since I mostly just eyeball meat for cook times.  But, for pork chops, I typically make thinner tenderloin, I brush with olive oil then season them up however (usually just a steak seasoning mix of some sort), cook for 10-12 minutes at 350 with flipping them once.

Thank you very much, I'll use it as a guideline 

[wvugurl26]

www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a28091838/air-fryer-pork-chops-recipe/

This is the air fryer pork chop recipe that I use.

It makes delicious chicken thighs and wings. I throw some olive oil and I got this dry buffalo blue cheese seasoning at Sam's Club on them and cook.

It makes great breakfast potatoes. We also reheat stuff like fries or frozen stuff like chicken bites or mozzarella sticks.

I've also cooked turkey burgers in it.

My microwave is a regular one and the stupid oven is not insulated so it puts off crazy heat which is not ideal in August.

My air dryer is the big basket style. It lives in it's box underneath a table. I have next to zero counter space and little storage in my kitchen.

[giramomma]

Sept 20, 2022 7:26:23 GMT -5 raeoflyte said:

I was hoping it would be an overwhelming vote to get one, but it doesn't sound like it.

I'm getting one for DS tomorrow. He asked for it, and I was a little meh at first. But, this thread sold me on it.

[countrygirl2]

This Ninja thing has an air fryer and all that stuff incorporated. I had to print off a manual and buy a cookbook and am still learning. We found it in the garage at the house we are redoing. Not all the stuff was with it and I don't think it had been used but maybe once. There was all kinds of stuff like that, bought and not used or maybe once. So we brought it home and cleaned it up.

I cook my steel cut oats in it, boiled eggs, tenderize meats. Also thaw and precook stuff like barbecued ribs, then put on the barbecue and put in the oven. I'm sure I can do those in it too but I have to read the how.

Tonight I read up on how to slow cook bean soup so am trying that. It steams, has a pressure cooker, air fryer, dehydrates, and other stuff. I wouldn't have spent the money to buy it. But since I have it, I will use it. It does do a good job, just takes some time to figure out all the ways to use it. And yes, it's big and bulky.

[anciana]

Sept 26, 2022 22:02:56 GMT -5 giramomma said:

Sept 20, 2022 7:26:23 GMT -5 raeoflyte said:

I was hoping it would be an overwhelming vote to get one, but it doesn't sound like it.

I'm getting one for DS tomorrow. He asked for it, and I was a little meh at first. But, this thread sold me on it.

When we did college visits, we asked about students being allowed to have an air fryer in the dorm rooms. That was one of the reasons we got one for us, to get a chance to try it out, get used to it, figure out how to use it and if we like using it. If our oldest decides to take it to college, we have it, or can get a different one once we figure out what features we like the best.