Airfrying rather than oven

Agreed Charleygirl5, it’s a pity they named them air fryer. It puts some folk off the idea as they think it’s a substitute for a frying pan. I bought a small 200 ml bottle of spray oil 6 months ago when I got my air fryer and I only replaced it last week. It wasn’t even fully empty.

I rarely use oil other than a little on chopped peppers, onions, courgette. Chicken, chops, bacon, sausages are delicious dry roasted in it. I use mine daily.

Totally agree. I rarely fried anything before I got my Ninja, and would have been put off if I had thought that's all it could do. Even just airfrying, it's a much healthier way of cooking as you can use little to no oil at all.

I use mine for spicy potatoes, aubergines, courgettes as side dishes. I also use it for halloumi and making my own falafels.
It is so quick and as others have said a fine spray with olive oil is all you need.
I bought a Lidl one to try out and then bought a Ninja Max. We are going on holiday where there is no oven so I am taking the little Lidl one with me.
My gluten intolerant GD has one of her own so there is no danger of cross-contamination.

I manage perfectly well with my microwave, mini oven and slow cooker. Because I am unsteady on my feet I no longer use my boiling ring or fry anything. Never did have fried food anyway and eat a lot of salads.

I was put off by the “fryer” description, but now I know better am thinking about buying one for the saving in electricity. What concerns me is the big space it will take in the kitchen as information says it has to be several inches from wall and cupboards on all sides, plus a heatproof surface. This may be tricky in my kitchen.

I use a halogen oven, which also saves on electricity as you don't have to wait for it to heat up. Is an air fryer better than this?

As an example of something healthy, quick and easy you can do in them, this is a meal I made in the Tower one (oven type with shelves) recently.

I found a tin that would fit in the oven, put in a bag of frozen Mediterranean Vegetables, stirred through some pesto and put them in the oven for 10 mins or so on 180.

Whilst that was cooking I microwaved a couple of large potatoes and hasselbacked a block of halloumi, which I brushed with some olive oil.

When the 10 mins was up, I took the veg out and put in the cheese and the potatoes (also brushed with olive oil for 5 minutes also on 180. Then I put the cheese and potatoes into the tin with the veg and reheated them for 5 minutes or so. Easy.

Loads of demo on you tube honestly ninja is great you will wonder how you lived without it and for the person that asked what you can do with it you better asking what it can’t do and I’m yet to find anything it can’t do lol

ok i know next to nothing about cooking, and the whole thing is fraught with difficulty for me, psychologically.
but what did someone mean about it being difficult to get the food out of the drawer, eg lasagne.
can't you just tip it out.

Welbeck I'm convinced! Loved the link.

Thank you for this thread - fascinating! I really want one now, just feel bamboozled by all the choice out there.
Can you make cheese on toast in all of them?

I expect the manufacturer's are irritated by their decision to call it an Air Fryer.

Air Cooker would have been a better description. It cooks the food with hot air, like a mini fan oven on the worktop, there isn't any fat or frying involved at all.

My friend bought me the small Tower and I use it all the time, a fantastic invention. The oven the vendor 'gifted' me is on its last legs and takes up to 15 minutes to heat up. The air fryer actually cooks the food in 15 minutes, start to finish.

yes, i wonder if something got lost in translation.
4allweknow, glad you like the link !
these guys really cheer me up when i am feeling low, always bring a smile to my face. so genuine.
the internet is a marvellous invention sometimes.

Thanks for all the comments. Very useful. I have ordered one and stopped overthinking it!

welbeck

ok i know next to nothing about cooking, and the whole thing is fraught with difficulty for me, psychologically.
but what did someone mean about it being difficult to get the food out of the drawer, eg lasagne.
can't you just tip it out.

That was me.
the Ninja one uses a large bucket-like pot, and as it is round it is difficult to get a lasagne dish to fit inside it, so people make it (or shepherds pie etc) using the pot as a cooking dish. They are then left with either plating it up from the pot, or putting the pot on the table so that people can help themselves.

The pot is deep and gets hot, so it can be difficult to get items out of it, even using tongs, as they can squash things as they are lifted out.

As you can see in my photo, you can put cooking tins/casserole dishes directly into the oven-type ones, and cook other things (eg puddings) in there at the same time because of the shelves.

Also consider a Remoska, they are economical, come in three sizes, you can cook anything in it, except stuff that need long slow cooking. From Lakeland or sometimes if lucky, you can find one on Marketplace

I live on my own and I'm vegetarian. I regularly use a little slow cooker, my microwave, (which also turns into a small oven if necessary) and a little mini oven that it ideal for grilling two slices of cheese on toast! (It does it better than the expensive microwave). But just occasionally I feel the need to FRY mushrooms or an omelette or an egg or left over potatoes. Is there any more economical way of doing this other than on my conventional electric cooker hob? I've only got a very small kitchen.

I got an air fryer a few months ago and i love it. I would recommend you get one with removable shelves rather than a drawer. I cook all sorts in it and love the shelves as you can cook several things together. I would recommend the Tefal one with shelves. Mine cost £59 at Argos. Plus it saves a lot of money. I hope you decide to get one and enjoy using it.

Sorry for your loss Cnash.
Like you I was tempted but undecided. A ninja with drawers was an option as I’m not tall enough to use the other type.

Then I read Doodledog’s posts. As a result last week we chose a Tower Xpress. DH was keen to have the rotisserie function. Basically it is a mini fan oven with three shelves. Like a dishwasher, the door can be opened; and like a dishwasher when the door is then closed the programme resumes until the time has elapsed. Depending on what you’re cooking, it can be advisable to rotate the shelves to ensure even cooking. However, if you don’t need to open the door but want to see what’s happening there is a light which can be pressed.
We have cooked chicken kebabs, prawn kebabs, salmon, bacon, sausages, Mediterranean veg, peppers and onions, frozen carrot and swede, green beans, roast potatoes, chips, hash browns, cheese on toast, pizza, (lots of other things I can’t remember) and baked a loaf of bread. Our first attempt with a whole chicken would have been fine had we had string to truss the bird. I did joke about it on GN.
There’s quite a bit yet we haven’t explored. Only with breads, pastries, cakes and muffins does it need to be preheated (for between 2 and 3 minutes).
Cooking times are reduced and we’re not heating a whole oven for what essentially we could fit on one baking tray.
Results are very good.
Yes, ours is 11 litre, probably bigger than you need, but I would endorse a similar mini oven to you.

That sounds like it is the same as mine, Nannagarra. 11 litres might sound a lot, but IMO it is better to have slightly more space than you need as not enough. Cost-wise, you are better off heating something slightly bigger than necessary (I don't think it will make much difference) than having to make two batches of things, and it means that you don't have to think about keeping things warm until both lots are ready to serve.

The only thing hat has failed in mine was a 3 ingredient banana cake that was like lead . It was a first attempt at the recipe, so I have no way of knowing if it would have been better in the oven, and I won't be trying it again.

Cnash I am sorry for your loss - I am recently widowed also and cooking for one. Like Doodledog I have a Tower air fryer oven with shelves and it’s brilliant - quick and very easy to clean. It doesn’t dry meat out and will cook most things you would turn on the oven for. And as far as I can tell there is a definite saving on electricity. I only put my oven on now when the family come round and a larger meal is required, or for large cakes. I was seduced by the top end model which has a host of accessories and features I have used once and will almost certainly never use again! The one with less features would have done just as well!

? Many thanks Doodledog for making the decision much easier for us. A lot of research left me with answers but no satisfactory conclusion until I read your posts. We’re delighted with the purchase.

Greyduster, undaunted we used the rotisserie for chicken kebab which was excellent. Below it we had Mediterranean veg. Next weekend a trussed whole bird will be cooked. Where’s the emoji for salivation?

Thanks for this thread, and thank you Jerseygirl. I’m going to get the Tefal one with shelves as recommended by you.

I've done a rotisserie chicken in it and it was lovely. Probably not much different from cooking it on a shelf, but it was good to see it rotating . I also had to send Mr Dog out in search of string to truss it.

For info - Sainsbury's are selling extra small chickens. They are perfect for two people (or one with leftovers), cost less than £3, and fit in the Tower perfectly.