Do any of you have an air fryer ( and use it)? I need pros and cons, rants or raves. Of course I need favorite recipes and ideas before I purchase one.
Air Fryers
- Thread starter NannyPatty
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NannyPatty, Phideaux started this thread about them a while ago. The one thing I have learned about such things is that Walmart is the last place to buy them. You can get a better price for things there, but they have appliances such as this that are made with less quality. I believe it is better to get appliances at other places. Where? I can't really tell you, but maybe Amazon? I hope someone else can speak to this.
https://www.homesteadingforum.org/threads/all-about-air-fryers.896/
It looks like you posted there and there are some recommendations there.
https://www.homesteadingforum.org/threads/all-about-air-fryers.896/
It looks like you posted there and there are some recommendations there.
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I bought mine at Kohls (using several coupons) and have never had a problem with it. I've had it over a year.
I use mine at least once per week for fries, onion rings, hash browns, califlauer tots, etc. I haven't tried any meat in it yet though.
I love it in the summer b/c it doesn't emit a lot of heat like the stove or oven. But it is large and bulky so it takes up a lot of space in the cabinet. I could leave it out on the counter, but I already have too may things accumulating on the counter.
I use mine at least once per week for fries, onion rings, hash browns, califlauer tots, etc. I haven't tried any meat in it yet though.
I love it in the summer b/c it doesn't emit a lot of heat like the stove or oven. But it is large and bulky so it takes up a lot of space in the cabinet. I could leave it out on the counter, but I already have too may things accumulating on the counter.
I completely forgot about this thread! I even posted on it! Air fryers have much improved in the last year though. Im using my work adm as a trial before I buy and the difference between my daughters and the one I have right now is night and day!
Thanks Angie-nrs! I did chicken thighs last night and they were very good. I’ve done broccoli tots and potato fries with very good results.
Why would you want to fry your air? I like mine raw
We have an air fryer. It cooks fast and does a good job. It was on sale for around $50 so it didn't break the bank.
It makes the absolute best chicken wings. Crispy and juice. Burritos, chimichangas, fish sticks, and other frozen food is really good. Bacon is one of my favorite things to cook in it. One thing that really surprised me was toasted cheese sandwiches. They were great. The bread was actually toasted perfectly and the cheese was nicely melted.
Contrary to what some people think, my wife, you do need to use a little oil. It will dry out food if you don't watch the time and temperature.
Wife made pork chops in it and they were really bad. I felt guilty feeding them to the dogs.
It makes the absolute best chicken wings. Crispy and juice. Burritos, chimichangas, fish sticks, and other frozen food is really good. Bacon is one of my favorite things to cook in it. One thing that really surprised me was toasted cheese sandwiches. They were great. The bread was actually toasted perfectly and the cheese was nicely melted.
Contrary to what some people think, my wife, you do need to use a little oil. It will dry out food if you don't watch the time and temperature.
Wife made pork chops in it and they were really bad. I felt guilty feeding them to the dogs.
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It was a while ago, and it is easy to forget things, at least it is for me.
I am so out of the loop, I had to look up what an air fryer actually was (although I guessed they didn’t actually fry air)
I have an air fryer oven and love using it. Just right for me since I don't cook a lot at one time. Great for making jerky also.
I use my air fryer oven more than instapot I bought at about same time.
I use my air fryer oven more than instapot I bought at about same time.
I have the Cuisinart TAO-60. It costs more than a regular air fryer but its far more versatile. It's basically a small convection oven. I can use it to keep food warm, as a toaster oven. I can bake, air bake and air fry with it.
I use it everyday for something. There is a bit of a learning curve for this thing. It tends to cook hotter than the temperature you select.
I use it everyday for something. There is a bit of a learning curve for this thing. It tends to cook hotter than the temperature you select.
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The TAO-60 is on my list when my current toaster oven dies (Peanut, I'll be asking for more help when I get one) 
. Currently I am experimenting with a 5Q $50 buck Costco air fryer (https://www.costco.com/Gourmia-5-Qt-Digital-Air-Fryer.product.100404905.html) . Zeroing in on time for fish sticks. Tater tots, and Mozzarella sticks. Nothing inedible so far, but nothing perfect either. Getting close on fish sticks
. Currently I am experimenting with a 5Q $50 buck Costco air fryer (https://www.costco.com/Gourmia-5-Qt-Digital-Air-Fryer.product.100404905.html) . Zeroing in on time for fish sticks. Tater tots, and Mozzarella sticks. Nothing inedible so far, but nothing perfect either. Getting close on fish sticks 
My bride just got us one. She got a heck of a deal on a “boxed damaged” Cosori from Amazon. Haven’t tried it though, and probably will leave it in the box until after we move. The box was damaged, but the unit itself was not. I think she saved 20-25 dollars off the price of new. I am hoping it will get used more than the magic pot she purchased last winter. We used it once and it sits on the shelf.
We bought a second one for our motorhome. The very first time it was used my wife sat it on a hot stove and melted the bottom.
We use the one in the house occasionally.
We use the one in the house occasionally.
Love mine.
I cooked a turkey breast in mine. It came out perfectly. I spread butter under the skin and cooked it20 minutes per side. Finished with10 minutes on the first side. Turned out great
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I'm bringing this thread back up to the top. I am loving my air fryer. I never thought I would, but I do have the Cuisinart counter top model that does more than air fry. I know that using it in the summer, as opposed to the oven, is a much better idea. Someone did tell me that chicken wings are the best thing to make in the air fryer.
I am still wanting to get a new stove with a convection over/air fryer option.
What about you? What do you use it for? Any valued recipes out there?
I am still wanting to get a new stove with a convection over/air fryer option.
What about you? What do you use it for? Any valued recipes out there?
100% agree - these things are great. Much faster than the oven, easy to clean, and they really do a good job of crisping things up. We have a Ninja Max and use it all the time. We use it for chicken wings, pierogies, fries, hashbrowns, tater tots, meat balls and more. If you would use a frying pan or oven, chances are good you can use an air frier instead.
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We were considering buying an air fryer, until I looked at the power consumption. The model that we looked at uses 1690 watts. That's too much power for a solar system. Our system would run it, but it would cause the generator to start. Then whatever we cooked in it would be very expensive. So for us it just isn't worth it.
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I was looking at a propane air fryer, that is used as a oilless turkey fryer.
It cost more than the electric model, but you can use it where there is no other power.
Propane oilless fryer will not be of much use after TSHTF, but for short outages it will be great.
DW does not care about air-fryers or we would have a counter top one now.
Everyone I know, who has the electric fryer loves it, easy to use & easy clean up.
It cost more than the electric model, but you can use it where there is no other power.
Propane oilless fryer will not be of much use after TSHTF, but for short outages it will be great.
DW does not care about air-fryers or we would have a counter top one now.
Everyone I know, who has the electric fryer loves it, easy to use & easy clean up.
Air fryers came up in the rant thread so I thought I'd check out this thread again! @Haertig , please post the link to the air fryer you have here, many will miss it in the rant thread! We don't have an air fryer, Hubby has a mental aversion to them, lol! He had something at a friend's house years ago in one of the original air fryers and he didn't like it! I never understood the countertop oven style air fryers! What makes them different from any other counter top convection ovens??
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I'm not sure that I can answer your question about what makes them different from other counter top convection ovens because I don't have a convection oven per se and have never used one. They might be the same or similar.
This is the one that I have, that I bought at Costco. I use it almost every day. I like using it to heat leftovers, such as fried chicken, pizza, egg rolls. I was heating things in the microwave that don't really do well being heated up there. I still use my microwave, but not nearly as much. I have a regular toaster, but I don't use it often, mostly during BLT season, but I can see making toast in my Cuisinart oven. Probably time to ditch the regular toaster and just use the Cuisinart.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Cuisinar...13-Cooking-Functions-0-6-cu-ft-17L/1681148984
This is the specific one that I have - Cosori brand, "Dual Blaze" model:
https://cosori.com/collections/air-fryers/products/dual-blaze-air-fryer
I bought this at Home Depot when it was on sale there. I believe it was either $129 or maybe $119. This was almost two years ago. I see it is currently $159 at Amazon, when you apply their $20 coupon that shows up on the web page as of today.
The reasons I bought this model were several. First, was it's size. It is large for a basket style air fryer. And it's basket is square shaped (most air fryers have more rounded baskets, but square give you more usable space. You can buy larger air fryers, but those are typically of the "oven style". They look like toaster ovens. Nothing wrong with that style, but it wasn't what I wanted. I already had a counter top convection toaster oven. And that's what the oven style air fryer is. Except they are usually smaller (in capacity, not overall size) than a convection toaster oven. And you have to use potholders with them - you don't need that with the basket style. Anyway, my personal choice was for the basket style, others may have other uses and prefer the oven style.
My model also has top and bottom heating elements. That is unique among air fryers. Typically they only have a top heating element. Supposedly this means you do not have to flip the foods inside. And you don't, except for one thing - the bottom side will he cooked just fine, but it won't be as crispy as the top side. Because the top is basically under a broiler while the bottom is over a heating element that is separated from the food by the bottom of the basket itself. So some foods that I want crispy on both sides (a breaded chicken breast for example) I will turn halfway through. But a salmon fillet I will just leave in there and not turn it.
One feature that I thought would be totally worthless surprised me by being extremely useful. Most here will chide it, but I don't care - I use it. That is WiFi connectivity combined with voice control via an Alexa device. I use that ALL the time. But for people that would "never have one of those listening/spying devices in their home", it's a moot point to even mention this capability. I used to be in the "never in my home!" group too, but not any more. I use voice control for many things in my house. I chose this path not out of ignorance, but after reviewing the overall state of privacy in our lives. I used to be an engineer specializing in automation, network and security for many years of my career, so it's not like I'm ignorant about security/privacy. But whatever, my particular air fryer allows Wifi connectivity. You don't have to set that up if you don't want it.
I was initially adverse to buying an air fryer. Actually, "indifferent" is a better word. I saw no need for one. I don't eat many fried foods, and these silly things are "only for frozen french fries", or so I thought. But these devices are much more than "fryers". I cook all kinds of meats and vegetables in there. Any leftovers that need to be reheated go in the air fryer (except for obvious things, like soup). The air fryer is now my most used kitchen counter top device. The Instant Pot, the crock pot, the rice maker, the bread maker, the Vitamix, the toaster oven, the microwave - they are all still used, but nowhere near as often as the air fryer. I never use the regular kitchen ovens anymore except for something large - like a turkey or a pie/cake.
