Air fryers

maybee experience has taught me that any air fryer bake is best done in a tin...

Well, I made a tea loaf which was a bit of a disaster as, when I’d taken it out looking cooked it wasn’t. This happened twice. However, putting it in again (twice) didn’t seem to harm it and it ended up quite nice and more moist than when cooked in the oven. Not sure if I want to risk a banana bread yet. I think the problem was the cake mixture just spread out in the silicon and I would have been better off using a tin.

Be careful when calculating the time in an air fryer as opposed to an oven. With my basic air fryer, it takes approximately half the time, and if I am unsure, I keep a watchful eye on it after the halfway point.

Each appears to be different in time. My oven is a new cupboard!

I use a parchment liner in an ordinary loaf tin. The same is useful for sweet or savoury bread pudding.

I love those silicone liners for most items, sometimes with a parchment liner and a metal mesh tray, saves washing up the whole drawer. I am a 'belt and braces' gal, they don't impede the heating process.

Can I cook banana bread using one of these silicon liners? Or would I be better off using the usual metal loaf tin? I guess, if I use a tin I can always transfer it to the oven if it all goes wrong.

I've got a small one from Aldi. I won't be cooking any entire meals in it, but it is useful for cooking up things like fishfingers for my grandson.

I find this very useful, Laminate and stick inside a cupboard.

I have a one-drawer Tower which is fine for just me, though could be used for two portions, most of my meals are now cooked with one or two pans and either air fryer or microwave. I never use the grill and only use my main oven if I am baking or doing a roast ( so that is rarely).
It is good for cooking or reheating items and produces or retains crispness, unlike a microwave.
Best results are for sausages, chicken breast, breaded fish, sweet potato fries, roast veg ( parboil first).

I have the smallest one - targeted at single people I think - have done steak successfully and plaice but had to cut fish in half to fit n liner&basket but very crispy on outside and moist inside not dry at all ..going to try small round quiches next🤞🏻

Meringues in air fryer
My air fryer is a bog basic one which I cook all sorts in
I had some left over egg whites. So thought I would try meringues
Looked up instructions on net
Absolute disaster
Any one had more luck
What did you pipe the mix onto ?

Retread

Jamie Oliver - Air Fryer recipes for beginners on this link:

www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/air-fryer/

Thanks for this.

MiniMoon- would you mind sharing the recipe for the scones, please.

I have a Ninja foodi 7 in one which I mostly use for pressure cooking. I bought a stainless steel pot that makes it more versatile.
I also have a 2 drawer air fryer from Lakeland. The drawers are different sizes, one about half the size of the other. I have cooked loads of things in them. I was really surprised at how well scones baked in my air fryer.
I use it on a daily basis.

Jamie Oliver - Air Fryer recipes for beginners on this link:

www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/air-fryer/

MissInterpreted

I use my Ninja a lot - but mine is one of the multi-purpose ones, so it does more than just air fry, and I bought it for exactly that reason. It has other functions such as pressure cook, bake, dehydrate and so on. I find it a very useful piece of kit to have in the kitchen.

Mine is the 14 in one, and does all the things too, but I would have been better getting just a fryer, as I already have a pressure cooker, slow cooker etc, and really don't need to duplicate the functions. When it dies, I won't replace it like for like, but it does get used a lot. It's just the size and weight that is a problem, but keeping it in a drawer is working for now.

I have a ninja 9 in 1 multi cooker and an air fryer. I rarely use my oven now

A must have is a meat thermometer

I think I need to sit down with the instructions and have a good read, I bought a cookery book, but I just need to know how to cook basic stuff.
I’m not a gadget person, don’t even own a microwave, so I doubt I’m going to embrace the air fryer

I bought a two drawer Ninja AF300 half price in the Black Friday sales. At H:31.5cm x W:38cm x D:26.5cm, it sits neatly on the counter top. A month in and I love it. I haven't used my hob or oven since. I cooked Christmas lunch in it. Saves on washing up too.

I use my Ninja a lot - but mine is one of the multi-purpose ones, so it does more than just air fry, and I bought it for exactly that reason. It has other functions such as pressure cook, bake, dehydrate and so on. I find it a very useful piece of kit to have in the kitchen.

Su22 thanks

Thanks again Doodledog- yes it has two quite large drawers with silicon inserts. But it is huge.

They do take up space. I have a Ninja that lives in a drawer for that reason, and a Tower oven one that is now stored out of the kitchen. As long as I am strong enough to lug them around when I want to use them this works, but the Ninja is heavy. Both types have advantages and disadvantages, IMO. Sadly I don’t have experience with the drawer type, Claremont (don’t tempt me - I’m a sucker for a kitchen gadget ), but I assume they work in a similar way to the bucket ones, but with smaller space in each drawer and the ability to separate out foods.

All they do is heat things - there is nothing to fear. They don’t really ‘fry’, but crisp things that are sprayed with oil, so are healthier than traditional cooking methods, and they save money on fuel. Much depends on what you cook though. They aren’t magic, so sausage and chips will never replace salad in a healthy diet .

One tip to save time and calories- supermarkets sell bags of frozen Mediterranean vegetables cheaply. Spray with olive oil and cook them on a fairly high heat and they are lovely. You can use them as sides, or put them in omelettes or quiches. I find the quick cooking stops them going soggy and they cook better than in the oven.

yes, that is my concern- takes so much space.

We bought one rather impulsively before Christmas to help with the Christmas feast, only actually cooked pigs in blankets, and they were burnt!
I’ve had grandchildren here this week and have used it a couple of times with fairly good results, but it takes up a huge amount of space, and I don’t think I’ll use it enough to justify it.

Thank you Doodledog- it is a 2 draw 8.5 litre Cosori.

Mine is the bucket type and has saved me a fortune over the five or so years I have had one. It used to take 20 minutes for my oven to heat up, and my food was usually almost cooked by the time I put it in the oven.

I rarely eat sausages, but they come out beautifully cooked and splatter-free.

Apparently one should not cook red meat in it.