Air fryers

[sharonkhoo]

I’m late to the game with air fryers and I’m sure many on KSP have been using them for years. I’m finally considering getting one, so can I have your comments and recommendations? Some of my questions:

1. I think I would prefer one with shelves rather than a basket. I feel it would be easier to handle, and I prefer to see inside without always needing to pull out the basket. Comments?

2. What is a good size if I only want to cook 4 slices of salmon steaks, or 4 chicken thighs? Not planning to cook full meals in an air fryer.

3. Besides “frying”, what other foods do you find air fryers useful for?

4. What brand do you use and do you recommend it? Are they lasting?

Thanks!

[zac's mum]

@slmkhoo said in Air fryers:

I’m late to the game with air fryers and I’m sure many on KSP have been using them for years. I’m finally considering getting one, so can I have your comments and recommendations? Some of my questions:

1. I think I would prefer one with shelves rather than a basket. I feel it would be easier to handle, and I prefer to see inside without always needing to pull out the basket. Comments?

2. What is a good size if I only want to cook 4 slices of salmon steaks, or 4 chicken thighs? Not planning to cook full meals in an air fryer.

3. Besides “frying”, what other foods do you find air fryers useful for?

4. What brand do you use and do you recommend it? Are they lasting?

Thanks!
I’ve only started using an Air Fryer when I moved to my current place, around 3-4 years ago. I still have a built-in oven, but that is too big (takes too long) for heating/baking small portions.

1. Mine is a 2nd-hand Phillips with XL size basket. Didn’t know shelf-type is available now, but sounds like it’s better due to the reason u mentioned.

2. For 4 regular sized salmon steaks, or 4 chicken thighs, even my XL size basket would not fit all & cook them well. Mine can only handle smaller pieces (larger surface area) that can stack/overlap each other, plus i have to flip/rearrange the pieces every 5min to cook them evenly. Air fryers work based on good airflow around each piece. I’ve cooked around 4 frozen chicken cutlets (flat and medium sized) recently, turned out ok. But flat salmon steaks may break if u try to flip them during cooking. I use chopsticks to reach into the basket (spatula won’t work; tongs are too unwieldy). U may want to consider a table-top oven instead.

3. I find my Air Fryer handy for heating up baked goods and small pastries like pies, curry puffs, egg tarts and such.

4. Haven’t tried other brands besides Philips. Mine has lasted very long (>7 years) and is easy to clean. But i place baking paper on the metal rack (inside the basket) to catch any crumbs. So i only have to wash out the basket occasionally.

[zac's mum]

@slmkhoo oops just checked my kitchen! I’m using Mayer brand, upsized size. Philips was my SIL’s brand in her kitchen.

Useful for heating up Old Chang Kee for parties, including fish balls.

And more regularly for dinner, i use it to cook at least one dish. Mostly frozen meats eg bbq chicken drumlets or such stuff.

[sharonkhoo]

@zac-s-mum I went to Harvey Norman last night to have a look, and decided to buy a 4.2L Phillips one - not sure what it rates in L/XL sizing! Sale on now, and too lazy to look further - but I have to collect from another store today as that store was out of stock. The shelf-type ones are really small table-top ovens, and cost more than I’m willing to pay. I already have a regular oven, so it seems rather redundant.

My younger daughter says she has managed with the salmon steaks, so hopefully I can too! I’m tired of dealing with the frying splatter etc - salmon and meatballs are the only things I fry (and infrequently) because I can’t stand the splatter and smells - maybe I’ll be more adventurous now. I’m also keen to get my older daughter to learn how to cook simple things in the air fryer, or at least heat up some things. She already uses the microwave, but doesn’t like to use the stove. And using my big oven is wasteful if she’s just cooking for one (when we are away or out). I’ll experiment with different ways to keep the washing to a minimum - my son-in-law apparently does the washing up, but I’m going to have to deal with my own clean-up!

For reheating baked goods etc, this will replace my 26-year-old oven toaster! I’ve been waiting for it to break down, but I’m tired of waiting!

[zac's mum]

I wonder if @MrsKiasu still checks on this forum. She is the expert in cooking! Maybe she can give some reviews/suggestions/recipes? Heehee