Air Fryers.

Are air fryers just a passing fad or do they actually serve a purpose? Also, I did a search and couldn't find any recent thread on this topic. I see them priced between $50 and $500...

Isn't an air fryer just a (mini) convection oven?

they're basically convection cooking and I got this one and absolutely loved it

I don't like it for french fries (which everyone seems to rave about), but I love using mine to cook meatballs. They cook evenly, brown nicely and in snap. Mine is one of those egg-shaped ones and it takes up a lot of space, but it's nice to have for certain things.

R1 What?? My regular oven is also a convection oven. Thanks!

I knew this topic sounded familiar.

I got a small one just after Christmas for $40. Yes, it's just a small convection oven, and yes, it's worthwhile to own if you cook a number of things that you would ordinarily deep-fat fry or oven-fry/cook. Your food cooks up crisper than in the oven and with far less fat than if you'd fried it in oil. It's also far quicker because there's no time spent pre-heating. Just place the food in the drawer, shut it, and go.

I just bought a very inexpensive one, $35 on Amazon, and I love it. I need to get an oil sprayer, though, because cooking, e.g., dumplings without oil leaves them a bit dry but definitely crispy.

I find that I end up using about 1/5 small appliances that I buy, and this is one of those. It was inexpensive and it works well. It's also very quiet.

R5 Thank you for the link.

R6 So I could put raw chicken breasts or hamburgers in it with no preheating or prep?

R7 Quiet matters to me. What brand did you buy, please?

I don't even use my oven any more except for the turkeyband homemade pizzas. I use the convection toaster oven because it's faster and more efficient than turning on the regular oven for heating up/cooking for one person

R9, "Elite Gourmet" - it's the 1L size. It's extremely quiet.

They’re just a passing fad, OP. They serve no purpose.

Not "no prep," OP, but very little prep. You do need to add a little oil (unless you're heating up processed food, such as frozen appetizers - typically processed food already has enough fat), and of course seasoning.

Here's a simple recipe for air-fried chicken.

What are the best brands to buy? because Amazon's reviews are useless and most of the time fake.

Try this to weed out the fake reviews on Amazon.

I love mine. I bought it at Adlis. it makes the best steaks and just about everything else

I got this one for Christmas and I hate it. It sounds like a jet taking off. It beeps obnoxiously loud with messages like. PUT THE FOOD IN and FLIP THE FOOD. And it takes up a ton of counter space.

They're for fatties, and they take up a lot of space.

They're OK but don't get this size because they're too small

[quote] but I love using mine to cook meatballs. They cook evenly, brown nicely and in snap.

You CANNOT post something like this and have our tongues wagging for the recipe. C’mon, have a heart!

R17, how do you prevent it from smoking. I cooked a steak in mine one night and it got so smoky my smoke detector went off. I hate that.

I got a Breville Oven/Air Fryer because I didn't want to get a separate machine for air frying. It's so much better than a regular toaster oven and even better than a traditional convection oven. I use mine to "fry" frozen french fries and they turn out so much better than a conventional oven. So crispy! A regular convection doesn't work as well. Almost as good as deep frying and best of all, no mess!

OP, do a search on YouTube for “Air fryer cooking ... “ and whatever you think you may want to cook. You’ll go down a rabbit hole and be surprised at what it can cook and how easy it is to do it.

Before I shell out for one, I'd have to do a blind taste test of these fried foods I like:

1. okra

2. chicken livers

3. catfish

My sister is blind. Maybe she can help you.

Well you're addlepated, r26, so Bob's your uncle.

When I use mine it makes the house smell like some red state diner.

I think they’re awesome although cumbersome. I replaced my toaster oven with one.

You can warm things up quickly and they come out crispy (unlike the microwave).

Excellent for reheating pizza, making baked potatoes (skin gets nice and crispy) and steaks. Yeah, I was skeptical on that last one too, but they actually come out really good and in about 10-12 minutes. Cooks steaks best if they are 1 to 1 1/2 inches thick or can go thicker if you like it more medium rare.

Thank you all for the suggestions. I'm going to go with the small Elite on Amazon. I realize it's small (1 quart) but I'm cooking for one; it's supposed to be quiet; and it's only $35 so I think it's a good 'starter' appliance. If I find that either I need a larger one or I don't like it - I'm only out $35.

We've had three threads on air fryers recently!

OP/R31, that's the one I told you about. I searched an hour for it. You're welcome.

Yes, R5, and I thank you. I did a search on all the ones mentioned on this post and decided that little one would be the best as a test-case!

Yay, I'm going to buy an Elite fryer, too! My kitchen is smaller than small but this will fit in just right. Also, I'm doing low/no carb so I'll be buying a Keto Air Fryer Cookbook to make new, tasty meals. I hope it all works out.

They are brilliant and have not used regular oven since I got it!

Ninja Foodi, and now don’t use anything else.

See, you know my suggestion is good because I'm not making any money off it. I used it this morning for more wonton dumplings and they came out great. Oil sprayer's coming today: one of canola oil, one for olive oil. May get another for sesame oil.

I love mine. I use it all the time. It’s great.

They also use pressure which pushes out the bad oils and grease. It’s proven cooking with these is healthier

The snobs at Wirecutter rag on air fryers. They say you should buy something 5 to 10 times more expensive.

We love ours and use precut parchment papers that help with clean up. Use if often and it has never smoked.

I've heard that a combination toaster/convection oven is the best way to go but I'm not ready to make that big of a commitment. I think the little Elite air fryer will be perfect for a test-drive. That should give me a good feel for whether I want to upgrade.

R41 How does precut parchment paper help with clean up? Thank you.

10 minutes for 12 dumplings. I used my new air sprayer today; have to use the accompanying silicone brush a bit, since the oil isn't that finely atomized.

How's everyone doing with the the Elite Gourmet $35 air fryer?