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Air Fryers….honest opinions!

(158 Posts)
Chrisks Sat 20-Jul-24 12:34:28

My daughter keeps on and on at me to purchase one! I really don’t see the benefit of them. Please tell me your opinions. Thank you.

MissAdventure Sat 20-Jul-24 14:31:27

Oh yes I like to hear the not so good experiences, too.

My neighbour was overjoyed with hers, but has recently started saying the roasties are lovely, ut not exactly the same as the traditionally cooked ones..

I'm waiting to see if she ends up going back to oven cooking the.

Aldom Sat 20-Jul-24 14:30:54

My Ninja dual drawer is almost three years old. Since having the Ninja I have only used my main oven once.
The Ninja is the best thing I ever bought. Meat, fish and poultry cook to perfection in it. I roast potatoes and mixed vegetables, also parmentier potatoes. Bread and butter pudding is amazing. I could go on, there's no end to what can be done in the Ninja. It's fast, healthy and economical. Very versatile.

pably15 Sat 20-Jul-24 14:27:19

mine is a Tower with wire shelves and drip tray I've baked cakes,,,roast chicken, which cooks lovely and soft,crispy bacon
pizza sausage rolls...I love it,,,chips and roast potatoes...

kittylester Sat 20-Jul-24 14:26:05

I've had, and got rid of, 2.

glammagran Sat 20-Jul-24 14:20:36

Last year I bought a Ninja 15 in 1 air fryer. I use it for Picard frozen bread rolls, croissants and chips. I made excellent dahl in it which would have taken hours on the hob. I tried cooking Chinese crispy duck and pork belly; both were a disaster. I’ve lost confidence in it. It mostly just sits there taking up space. Think it was an expensive mistake for us. I also hate the fact that all Ninja cookbooks are American.

JaneJudge Sat 20-Jul-24 14:14:50

nanasam

I wouldn't''t be without my Tower double drawer and very rarely use my oven. However, when it's time to change, I'll get the Ninja double stack which takes up less space on the counter and cooks at a higher temperature. My Tower only cooks to 200C, the Ninja to 240C

yes the max crisp option is really good

MissAdventure Sat 20-Jul-24 14:11:37

Thanks for all this info, specially about the actual size.

I'm worried about ending up with a dust collector sitting taking up room in my small kitchen.

I like to hear from real people before making a decision. smile

BlueBelle Sat 20-Jul-24 14:11:36

Well I m on my own and started out with a Tower 4L
I ve now got a Tower 7L most gadgets I buy end up in the cupboard but this I use every day
I do use a liner but I just cut one out of grease proof paper which I had in the cupboard anyway probably lasts about a week or more
Mines 14 ins wide 14 ins height and 8 ins from back to front wildswan

nanasam Sat 20-Jul-24 14:11:19

I wouldn't''t be without my Tower double drawer and very rarely use my oven. However, when it's time to change, I'll get the Ninja double stack which takes up less space on the counter and cooks at a higher temperature. My Tower only cooks to 200C, the Ninja to 240C

wildswan16 Sat 20-Jul-24 14:05:05

There seem to be so many to choose from. There’s only me most of the time and I have a small kitchen. Any suggestions for a good and compact model?

MissInterpreted Sat 20-Jul-24 14:04:11

Some people use liners in theirs to save on the washing up. I've never bothered. My Ninja is more bulky than some, but it 'lives' in a handy space under one of the windows in our kitchen, so it's not in the way. They do come in all shapes and sizes, so you can judge which would be best for your particular needs.

Casdon Sat 20-Jul-24 13:58:26

I just measured mine to check, it’s 12 inches wide, and fourteen inches deep including the handle, but they come in lots of different shapes and sizes. Mine is one with shelves not baskets, with a removable drip tray at the bottom which I line with grease proof paper to make it easy to clean.

JaneJudge Sat 20-Jul-24 13:56:44

I've never used a liner. Mine is a double stack, so maybe too big for you MissA as I'm cooking for 5/6 this one I waited until I was given a 20% code

I don't think you'd need one that big though

Auntieflo Sat 20-Jul-24 13:56:01

I cook pizza in our Tower Airfryer, and it's great.
I must admit to only liking Dr Oetker Mozzarella pizza, though, and it 'just' fits onto a shelf.
I know I am fussy and don't like sourdough, or thick crust pizzas. It is so quick and we don't have to heat up a big oven.

MissAdventure Sat 20-Jul-24 13:39:20

Oh, that's good to know.

How about the amount of space one might take up, please?
Also, I have seen liners for sale for fryers.
Why would that be, please?

Casdon Sat 20-Jul-24 13:33:28

I love mine. I’ve got an Everhot range, and I now switch it off for the summer as the air fryer is so good. It’s saving me around £15 a week with the range switched off, and it’s not so hot in the kitchen when it’s warm outside. The only thing the air fryer is not good for is pizza, which my son enjoys - it has to be cut up to cook because a pizza is bigger than the oven. I’ve used it to make a cake, and for biscuits, which turned out very well. Cleaning it is as easy as cleaning a microwave, I just wipe it over inside.

Astitchintime Sat 20-Jul-24 13:30:22

The only I use our main oven is when I batch bake - the air fryer is used most days. The pan is really easy to clean too.

JaneJudge Sat 20-Jul-24 13:29:50

you can wash it all quickly in the sink

MissAdventure Sat 20-Jul-24 13:26:08

Is it like having an extra oven to clean?
That puts me off, plus the space a fryer might take up.

Visgir1 Sat 20-Jul-24 13:25:57

I too hardly use the Oven.
I probably use it more than my microwave as well .
Don't think I will ever be without one in the future. Just got a single draw Ninja, think I might invest in a double draw one.
If you think, it goes in the oven, it will go into the Airfryer at almost half the time.

Maggymay Sat 20-Jul-24 13:25:28

We have a Ninja dual drawer one and use it every day.
Make roast chicken with roast carrots and potatoes,lemon drizzle cake,bread just about anything that can be cooked in a conventional oven. They do take a bit of getting used to the timings and settings but I wouldn’t be without it now very rarely use my oven.

BeverleyJB Sat 20-Jul-24 13:23:52

I have the Ninja dual (two side by side drawers) and use it virtually daily. So much quicker and cheaper than putting the main oven on. I use it for everything from reheating to grilling to baking. Only use my big oven now if I'm having a big baking session, or if I need to cook something that absolutely won't fit in the Ninja.

BlueBelle Sat 20-Jul-24 13:15:22

Whoops posted too soon it’s a Tower 7L I do cakes and cheese straws as well as pastries My toaster went up in smoke so I do my toast in it for breakfast too

ExDancer Sat 20-Jul-24 13:13:15

If you have a combi microwave and the old fashioned type of air-fryer that just fries, you don't need one.
I'm thinking of selling mine, but DH gave it to me as a gift and I don't want to upset him, so it sits on the worktop taking up space and gathering dust.
Could you borrow one for a couple of weeks?
(you can borrow mine!!!)

BlueBelle Sat 20-Jul-24 13:11:21

I have a very ordinary one and use it every day I haven’t use my oven for 18 months