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CanIHazSumCheeseCake t1_j5eviig wrote

I'll have to start seriously considering getting an air fryer

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Gunter5 t1_j5f057p wrote

i always thought air fryers were just a dumb gimmick, started roasting veggies, bought one, use it all the time

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djamp42 t1_j5f0k53 wrote

Pretty much anything frozen is better in the air fryer. Wings are the best.

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AnonymousAccusations t1_j5fdqrq wrote

For proper flavor you still have to add a fat though. But I agree, anything that's frozen and pre-cooked cooks so much faster in the air fryer than preheating and baking in your oven. It makes meals so much faster whether it's being used for an entree or or a side.

I got the Ninja Air Fryer that has the drawer that pops out but I believe those front loaders that have two shelves for baking sheets with racks in them would be a lot more useful.

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dewaine01 t1_j5fqck8 wrote

The BEST thing for an air fryer is the sprayable avocado oil. Perfect for getting a light coating on the top before you cook

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AnonymousAccusations t1_j5g1ssj wrote

They have fill it yourself manual pump sprayers that work fantastic. That way you know what the oil is and it isn't using an aerosol.

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S4FFYR t1_j5hty3e wrote

This. Aerosols will screw with the nonstick coating of your air fryer. I tend to just baste mine in oil to eliminate any aerosol issue

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mikehayz t1_j5fefbi wrote

Can confirm, front load much better. I have a basket air fryer. Been using my room mates front load style with shelves and I’ll be replacing my basket style once I move out.

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AnonymousAccusations t1_j5fevy0 wrote

My wife and I will probably upgrade to the dual door dual shelf style also but it does take up a lot of real estate on your countertops so I see why the basket type would be very popular. Just make sure you get one that doesn't vent the heat downwards I hear they can melt your countertops. I saw some of the newer designs blow out of the side instead.

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wbruce098 t1_j5ibf2x wrote

The front loader/toaster oven combo is a real game changer.

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kirsion t1_j5fem0u wrote

Get a bottle of oil sprayer

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AnonymousAccusations t1_j5g1eku wrote

Yep. I got one of those pump sprayers full of Chosen avocado oil from Costco.

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eeeeeefefect t1_j5ia205 wrote

Which oil pump sprayer? Ive never had a good one before. They all seem to suck

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breddy t1_j5fc3xz wrote

They're mini convection ovens. Lots of great use cases.

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Krynja t1_j5fw1ir wrote

Actually they're not convection ovens. They're Impingement ovens. Convection oven move the heated air 'around' the oven. Impingement ovens blast heated air directly down at the food.

So they're not a scaled down convection oven. They're a scaled down version of the pizza ovens restaurants have.

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breddy t1_j5g95s2 wrote

Interesting, TIL

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Krynja t1_j5ga7qy wrote

I watched a video where this lady did the math and went over the BTU and efficiency of various ovens along with the air fryer.

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simmonsatl t1_j5fldz6 wrote

they often have a stronger fan than convection ovens

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BradMarchandsNose t1_j5fqp1y wrote

And the smaller space makes the convection more effective. The “old air” is able to be replaced more quickly.

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Generalissimo_II t1_j5fr9ww wrote

My gas range has an air-fry setting where it turns up the fan and keeps it on full time, works great

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JustaRandomOldGuy t1_j5fr9lg wrote

Also great for reheating fried leftovers. And for frozen onion rings.

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SelfDidact t1_j5g0px3 wrote

Of all the things I've put in my impingement oven, have never thought of onion rings (facepalm).

Thanks! Will be getting a packet the next time I'm at the store.

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wbruce098 t1_j5iblnm wrote

This! I often find myself with leftovers from appetizers or sides that I don’t want to eat all the way since, you know, I’m full, and an air fryer is the best way to reheat them back to original condition. Maybe add a little water or pan spray to steam or crisp them back up, or don’t.

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Cosmonaut_Cockswing t1_j5fenni wrote

I've owned one for years now and I still think they're a dumb gimmick. Until I make fries, or wings or potatoes in it!

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SlowDevil77 t1_j5f3ywp wrote

I was skeptical, too. Was gifted one, and now it’s my go-to. It’s the best for frozen stuff and leftovers. One of my favorite things to make is a hot sandwich - just assemble your sandwich, pop in the air fryer for a few minutes, and you’re good to go. You avoid having to heat up a skillet and skip on the butter/oil/extra calories.

If your budget allows, and you cook a decent bit (or rely on a microwave often), it’s 100% worth it.

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AnonymousAccusations t1_j5fe0kh wrote

Just a heads up if you put a splash of water in the pan with a sandwich (or anything) and put a lid on it the steam will melt the sandwich and heat it up. That's what you do on a griddle at a restaurant.

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b33flu t1_j5fh19c wrote

I like to toast hoagie buns in mine. One of my favorites is to make shrimp in a skillet like shrimp scampi, take the shrimp out, and cook the sauce down more to thicken it while dicing up a bit of celery. Cut the shrimp if needed depending on how big they are, add the celery, bleu cheese dressing, old bay, bit of hot sauce, and the reduced sauce. Then cut a hoagie bun in half, scoop out some of the bread to make extra room, toast it in the air fryer for a few minutes to crisp it, load it up with the shrimp mix and yum!

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tonification t1_j5f7t4e wrote

Ignore the people who say it is just a mini fan oven. These people have never used one even though superficially this seems true.

They're great for things like samosas, spring rolls, croissants, chicken strips, onion bhajis, fries etc.

The other thing I like is how you don't need to wait for them to heat up particularly.

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lupuscapabilis t1_j5fd4v1 wrote

You can put the soggiest, most pathetic looking leftover fries in there for 3 minutes and they’ll come out perfect and like they were just made.

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AnonymousAccusations t1_j5feax3 wrote

They cook a lot quicker if you do the 3 minute warm-up like they recommend on recipes and the manual, but I'd rather do a 3 minute preheat than a 20 minute preheat on my oven that takes forever. In the time it takes to preheat my air fryer and cook the food I would just be putting it in my oven. It seriously cuts down cooking times on anything that's frozen.

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b33flu t1_j5fhps3 wrote

Yeah the time savings is huge especially on weeknights. One of my favorite things to make is split chicken breasts. They still come out super juicy and with the crispy skin but in less than half the time it takes the oven to preheat and then cook.

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AnonymousAccusations t1_j5g153g wrote

My mom sent me a picture of the other day of some bacon wrapped chicken breasts she cooked. They looked really good.

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dosta1322 t1_j5fqibz wrote

I've got the Instant Pot Vortex. It has the preheat built into the programming.

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BradMarchandsNose t1_j5fr3on wrote

I mean, it is just a mini fan oven, but people miss the fact that the much smaller space makes the fan much more effective in terms of making things crispy. The smaller area means they can circulate air at a much faster rate.

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tookmyname t1_j5hennn wrote

I used one I bought and returned it after a few months. I found it to be only good for convenience foods I almost never eat like frozen fries, frozen chicken fingers etc. And find that everything else is better cooked with a grill, a stove, or an oven. Also, they take up a lot of space and hood very little food.

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Diabotek t1_j5gtzcc wrote

There is no difference between an air fryer and a toaster oven besides the cook time.

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pillar_assault t1_j5ffhv1 wrote

https://i.imgur.com/xZpjqze.jpg

Yes you do. These are naked.

Edit: https://imgur.com/a/UDbkw3g/

Best way to cook a pork loin

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b33flu t1_j5fi7j3 wrote

I prefer my wings to be unbreaded. Started ordering them that way at restaurants to avoid all the extra fat soaked up when they’re fried in oil, and continued it at home even with an oilless fryer just to save the extra steps and mess of breading. They still are plenty crispy.

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pillar_assault t1_j5flbvk wrote

Yep just a lil lowry’s is all you need. Love some healthy wings

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ccdfa t1_j5g1ca7 wrote

I have never had breaded wings before. Where do they make them like that?

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donnenb t1_j5g26gq wrote

Boneless will always be breaded, but I’ve seen a lot of breaded bone-in from Korean and Chinese places!

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b33flu t1_j5g86vs wrote

BW3’s and Frickers are two chains in the Midwest United States that have breaded wings and need to specify naked.

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ccdfa t1_j5gas22 wrote

Just the boneless though right?? Bdubs defo doesn't have breaded traditional wings

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clenom t1_j5kx895 wrote

Many (in my experience most) sports bars and restaurants in the Midwest (both great lakes and great plains) serve breaded wings as the standard. Stand alone wing places and chains tend to still do naked wings.

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ccdfa t1_j5l2z89 wrote

Hm. Maybe I haven't been going to the right places! I grew up in ND and have spent much of my time around the cities, Chicago, and Duluth area. Of course boneless wings are always breaded, but I don't recall ever eating breaded traditional wings

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clenom t1_j5l77s7 wrote

Really? I live in Chicago and it's about 50/50 here. In Wichita almost all the local places breaded their wings.

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ccdfa t1_j5l8ezo wrote

Yeah I really can't recall a time where I've had them breaded. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for it when I'm back home

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Gimme_your_username t1_j5eyszb wrote

I got one as a gift and thought I’d never use it but it is now one of my favorite kitchen gadgets.

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The_Fjordster t1_j5fo300 wrote

I’m not an Air Fryer stan. I actually think it takes up too much space for the small portions that it cook. That being said, it makes the best wings. If you have spare kitchen space and money, it may be worth it. Just remember, portions are small. I can do about 10 big wings at once. About 25minute cook time. So if you’re cooking for a lot of people, it’s not worth it.

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InuMiroLover t1_j5fd5dk wrote

An airfryer will change your life.

I never thought much about having an airfryer until my MIL gifted us one for christmas a few years ago. Since then, its a regular staple in my cooking.

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not-a_fed t1_j5fnlb1 wrote

Ninja is the best way to go. I have the dual zone and it's awesome.

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_Bay_Harbor_Butcher_ t1_j5fskd6 wrote

I talked so much shit on air fryers. Then I had to house sit for my dad and stepmom for a week and they have one so I was like fuck it I'll give this thing a shot. I went out and bought one immediately after. A smaller one for like 40 bucks. I use it all the time. If it broke I would immediately go buy another.

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Narezza t1_j5g5r0g wrote

Air fryers are worth it just for left over fries and chicken tenders. Anything else is just a bonus.

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TehMephs t1_j5i0plp wrote

Yeah I never thought fries could be properly resuscitated easily until we got an air fryer from our wedding registry. Anything fried really, comes out good as new

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JJROKCZ t1_j5gc3t0 wrote

Never made wings in it but I’ve used my air fryer for many things. Don’t spend $500 on one because it’s not a daily thing like a stove but it’s an appliance well worth $150.

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ChicVintage t1_j5fv6fa wrote

We have an instant pot and just bought a lid that air fries for it. One less gadget on my counter top.

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OMGitisCrabMan t1_j5g3u2b wrote

Have you tried it yet? I'd be interested if it works

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ChicVintage t1_j5g7mwj wrote

Yes, we use it semi regularly and it works pretty well, I don't notice a difference between it and a regular air fryer. Easier to clean the the air fryer we had too.

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briareosdx t1_j5g87b6 wrote

I was gifted one. It was good enough that it made me want a to use it more, but incinvenient enough that i eventually just got a full air fryer.

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jelque t1_j5hmb7q wrote

I got one this weekend! My tater tot game has gone through the roof!

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wbruce098 t1_j5ib97e wrote

I got one of the toaster oven combo versions (Gourmia, about $100 at target). Absolutely the best appliance I’ve ever bought. I almost never use my oven anymore, and my kids can make lots of food more easily, and it’s healthier than frying. (My son almost exclusively uses the air fryer when cooking) Super versatile, too! It can proof bread, dehydrate for like jerky or fruit, and bc it’s a convection oven, it cooks faster and more evenly than a traditional oven. Oh and it also makes toast, go figure.

It’s bigger than a regular air fryer, so it takes up more space. But using the “basket” tray, you don’t have to stop and flip your foods unlike a regular air fryer.

It’s best for frozen foods, (smaller) pizzas, toast, and anything you’d normally bake that will fit in it. When I’m making big meals, it easily acts as a second oven: roast the chicken in the real oven while roasting veggies, potatoes, etc in this bad boi.

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[deleted] t1_j5irbej wrote

Heck out the shark ninja smoker. Smoke those wings then air fry them to crispy perfection! I was only able to use mine once before the apt. Manager said I couldn’t have it.

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Diabotek t1_j5gssak wrote

They are snake oil. Only get one if you don't already have an oven.

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Skottie1 t1_j5fedqz wrote

Air fryers are pretty much more expensive versions of countertop convection ovens (oven temps + fans to circulate air). I'd definitely get a convection oven since it's half the price for the same cooking capacity

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SadBBTumblrPizza t1_j5fju8d wrote

I have both and I disagree. The air fryer gets food crispier faster at the same setting.

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zook388 t1_j5fkrez wrote

Also have both and it’s just not the same. The fan is much more powerful on an air fryer which circulates more air and results in crispier and faster cooking.

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StromboliOctopus t1_j5focho wrote

While they work on the same principles, the dedicated air fryer does it much more successfully, and therefore should be it's own device if at all possible. I have a cheap air fryer and an expensive convection toaster oven. The convection setting on the toaster oven is serviceable, but the air fryer is leagues better. If you didn't know, now you know. Just the way it is.

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Gimme_your_username t1_j5fs4z3 wrote

Convection ovens are way more expensive than air fryers just searching on Amazon though.

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PM_me_ur_goth_tiddys t1_j5fauek wrote

It's a mini convection toaster oven which is a mini oven. Takes up a lot of space without much of a payoff imo.

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TheSmJ t1_j5g8jsk wrote

I have a convection toaster oven and an air fryer. They're not even remotely comparable.

The air speed in the convection oven is a gentle breeze. The air fryer is a hurricane.

The time it takes to bake something in the convection oven is a tad faster than the time it takes in our standard oven (ignoring pre-heat times because the standard oven is much larger). The air fryer takes half the amount of time than the convection oven, while also giving the food a very even "crispyness" that you can't get from either of the ovens.

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