Air Fryers

[Chimayo Joe]

10 hours ago, MetsFan5 said:

I have the basket style air fryer. I haven’t started looking yet but tonight I realized how cleaning much cleaning the basket is a pain with a small kitchen sink! 
 

 Do you recommend a different or specific style? 

Mine is the drawer style.  It just has a tray that fits inside the drawer instead of a basket that fits inside the drawer.  One of the reasons I got it was that I figured it would be easier to clean.  The tray is pretty easy to clean. I have to remember to remove the little rubber bumpers that secure the tray when I wash it because I've almost lost a bumper a couple of times when washing the tray. Removing them just takes a few seconds.  Using parchment liners makes it even easier to clean.  I usually make my own liners by cutting parchment paper to size, rolling it into a thin tube, flattening that, and using a hole punch on it, but I ran across some air fryer liners at Walmart recently and have been using those lately. They're too big for my air fryer, but fit okay if I cut about an inch off of one side, and that's quicker than making my own. The drawer has to be cleaned, too, but that's usually very easy.
 

The design of mine is similar to the one in the photos.  

Edited October 17, 2023 by Chimayo Joe (log)

[Norm Matthews]

By reading this, I am just now finding out that you can use any oil in an air fryer.  I got mine when Bed Bath & etc announced they were closing their brick and mortar stores and everything was on sale.  I have not used it much but I haven't used it with any oil at all. I don't recall the instruction book mentioning using oil either.  I am glad to find out that you can because it sounds liked the food will cook a lot better that way.

Edited October 17, 2023 by Norm Matthews (log)

[Tropicalsenior]

@Duvel I got my air fryer as a gift from a friend who just didn't like it. It was too small for her. If I have any advice at all it would be these two things.

When I was considering buying one, I read a lot of reviews. The people that were unhappy with theirs were the ones that bought the cheap ones. Anyone that's thinking about going that route, should just think about twice about buying one. Get the best when you can find.

Get one that's big enough! With the size of family gatherings that you have, if you have a small one like mine you will be standing there forever trying to make enough.

It's been a couple years since I did my research but at that time people were having much better luck with fryers with control knobs then the digital versions. The high heat seems to knock out the digital controls quicker, and they felt that they had more control with the knobs.

Something that no one has mentioned yet. You can use baking pans and ceramic dishes in the air fryer. That adds a lot more variety to the things that you can make. I've even heard of some people baking bread in them.

I hope that you get one, it would probably be great for reheating octopus.

Edited October 18, 2023 by Tropicalsenior (log)

[JeanneCake]

I'm really tempted .... some of the recent reviews (of the larger units) are reporting a strong chemical/plastic burning smell that seems to not go away.  Perhaps it might be limited to the larger units?  Did anyone experience that with the smaller 6 qt? I started watching one of the videos for the 6 qt unit and realized that 7 chicken wings (shown in the video) are never going to cut it around here

 

I have a SmartOven Pro, do I really need this?

[rotuts]

on Amazon , in the review section 

 

one person said the plastic smell dd not go away .

 

I forged ahead anyway.   the instruction booklet said 

 

there would be a plastic smell for a bit , on the ' test '

 

but it would pass.

 

fortunately , it passed for me.

 

that was one review on Amazon that said it didn't.

 

all the rest didn't day anything about it.

 

so ....

 

good luck.

 

mine is turning out to be a fine purchase.  

 

P.S. its 50 % off.

 

https://forums.egullet.org/topic/153880-current-sales-deals-and-bargains-part-2/page/65/#comment-2417921

 

Edited March 5 by rotuts (log)

[rotuts]

@JeanneCake

 

not wishing to spend your money

 

and hopefully you will get a unit just like mine 

 

on the second ' heat in '  ( I did two ) 

 

there was no plastic aroma 

 

this is a spectacular deal .

 

I don't regret paying full price , a month ago .

 

this has a solid place , 

 

and very useful , for what it does. 

[JeanneCake]

16 minutes ago, rotuts said:

 

hopefully you will get a unit just like mine 

 

It arrives on Sunday

[rotuts]

@JeanneCake

 

congratulations 

 

 

[Raamo]

First Chris Young's video about fries that explain how an air-fryer work and then I think seeing Air Frying instructions on Toaster Strudels got me thinking...

 

Visit to Williams Sonoma after reading far too many reviews and we have this in our house that fits perfectly and it's BLUE!  The pro version is too deep.

 

 

I had just made french fries for lunch in it, here it is next to our vacuum sealer.  On top of a cutting board so it doesn't damage the granite.

 

I've used to beak bread, bake meatballs, and make a lot of fries...

 

 

[dtremit]

I've been holding out against the air fryer for the longest time, given I have a Breville and a Cuisinart steam oven, and mostly those do what I want them to do.

 

However, I'm coming close to giving in after watching this Chris Young video where he explains why the top-mounted fan and air circulation pattern of (basket-style) air fryers produces better fries in less time using his technique.

 

One of the things I have been annoyed by lately in my Breville is that roasted potatoes end up getting tough by the time they get crispy. I suspect I could do a multi-step boil/steam-then-bake process but  it's just too much for a weeknight. I sometimes see the same thing with other foods (e.g., Trader Joe's frozen chicken).

 

Currently very tempted by this Ninja model at Costco with a wide basket that can be divided in two, and a bread proofing function; I don't have a great device for proofing currently.

[lindag]

FwIW, America's Test Kitchen rated this one #1

Instant Vortex

They did not like the Ninja (I can PM you the results if you'd like.-)

 

[palo]

As lindag has mentioned the Instant Vortex is a fine machine - I have the one with dual baskets that can be individually controlled as per time and temperature and can be synced so both items finish at the same time

 

p

[Dave the Cook]

On 3/5/2024 at 6:50 PM, rotuts said:

mine is turning out to be a fine purchase.  

 

P.S. its 50 % off.

 

https://forums.egullet.org/topic/153880-current-sales-deals-and-bargains-part-2/page/65/#comment-2417921

 

And, according to @rotuts it's currently on sale.

[dtremit]

@lindag — thanks for forwarding those recs!
 

@rotuts — good catch on the sale, I have been watching for one on that model without much luck.

 

One of the issues I've run into is that there are so many models from the same companies that it's hard to make heads or tails of any review. I had looked at Consumer Reports as I don't have a ATK subscription anymore. They liked 3 Instant models: the 4qt Vortex Plus, the 6qt Vortex Plus, and...the 6qt Vortex Plus (?!) 

Based on that I would have guessed that similar looking machines from the same brand would be largely interchangeable, but somehow the non-Plus "Instant Vortex 6qt" was their lowest-ranked machine. 🥴 

CR liked the Ninja models they did rate, and it seemed like ATK's complaints were mostly about basket shape, which is completely different in the one I was looking at.

 

I trust folks here a lot more than pretty much any rating site which I guess is why I posted. (That and I really did find Chris Young's explanation interesting.)

 

@palo — is yours the dual basket with the removable divider (same AZ link as Rotuts posted, different style)? That's the feature I really liked in the Ninja and it's about the same price (and a little smaller which is probably helpful).

[rotuts]

Im happy with mine.

 

does what I want it to do .

 

cleans up with minimal attention.

 

so 

 

Im pleased this  one turned p

 

and Im pleased I go it when i did .

 

 

[palo]

@dtremit no, it has 2 separate baskets 

 https://www.amazon.ca/Instant-8-quart-Independent-ClearCook-Dishwasher-Safe/dp/B09K6MK5VN/ref=sr_1_4?crid=1RDMROIR6QH4N&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.CaSc0rQsfmkD-r5VacrjaEGqqqiC_TNeosNAfOHyCdDG8zHa_8RZK3CZDeMtGd1QwwaymWqfr3oCGWycqLxIoH4y71qQ_zD6TX0pIhnjUtyhxJGlgoPLDWuQJKQ844O3pCR3K_gQ4xHn2P2wM_dfwTQOPhiXYPikv91jRK1aAnyqqpabBkrjDTi8sLZdzJAty1z1Xv8bmq556OmrigMGWU-2Z4umbmfwOxhVDOSFmRlgRPh8j0wdL-OGuq76C01rVD1GlHJkHLLkMIeXvL9QTJhKo9Nacn94Fm8FsHWXIvU.Ego7lLXokXYEJ6eiRNUFaG4XKK1YWt-naHqk4Jirg0M&dib_tag=se&keywords=instant+air+fryer&qid=1709861299&sprefix=instant+air+fryer%2Caps%2C86&sr=8-4

 

I tend to use only the one, although a couple of nights ago I did use both baskets for different foods at different temperatures and different times and using the sync finish feature they were both ready at the same time 😀

 

 

p

Edited March 8 by palo (log)

[rotuts]

F.D.:

 

I did not spot the sale.

 

@Dave the Cook  did.

 

I paid full price .    

[lindag]

@dtremit

I just wanted to add that the AF that I own is a Ninja Speedi.  It works fine for me but I mostly cook for one.  

[dtremit]

20 hours ago, palo said:

@dtremit no, it has 2 separate baskets 

 

I tend to use only the one, although a couple of nights ago I did use both baskets for different foods at different temperatures and different times and using the sync finish feature they were both ready at the same time 😀

 

Got it, thanks! I am leaning in that direction. Part of me thinks the one with the single basket and removable divider would be better; I could use it for browning bigger things. OTOH the two baskets would be easier to clean (only have to clean one if I only use one, and would fit in the dishwasher easier). Either way I think they're the same air fryer with just the basket swapped; the buttons are exactly the same. (Yours seems to have a slightly fancier display with the "Add food..." bit.)

[palo]

@dtremit this one has two separate baskets, two separate heating coils and two separate fans, so basically you're getting two separate air fryers, however the control functions for both are integrated into one unit

[Laurentius]

On 3/7/2024 at 9:58 AM, Raamo said:

we have this in our house that fits perfectly and it's BLUE! 

 

I've had a series of Breville toaster ovens.  I like most functions, except it isn't a particularly good toaster, and I think the air fryer is underpowered (just a scosh more air movement than the convection setting), and the AF rack usually requires rotating.

 

Overall, I'm happy to have such a Jack-of-All-Trades appliance, because it obviates the need for multiple larger and single-use ones.

 

Enjoy the Breville!

 

 

[palo]

44 minutes ago, Laurentius said:

I think the air fryer is underpowered (just a scosh more air movement than the convection setting), and the AF rack usually requires rotating.

Air frying is not one of its strengths although it does everything else well, btw have you ever tried to clean those baskets after a messy cook - easy-off is just a starting point

 

p

[Raamo]

4 hours ago, Laurentius said:

 

I've had a series of Breville toaster ovens.  I like most functions, except it isn't a particularly good toaster, and I think the air fryer is underpowered (just a scosh more air movement than the convection setting), and the AF rack usually requires rotating.

 

Overall, I'm happy to have such a Jack-of-All-Trades appliance, because it obviates the need for multiple larger and single-use ones.

 

Enjoy the Breville!

 

 

I've had zero problem getting toasty fries, so even if it's not the most powerful it still crisps up nicely!

 

I haven't needed to rotate the rack, I've tossed the items on it twice, but often I haven't had to.

[Laurentius]

23 hours ago, palo said:

have you ever tried to clean those baskets after a messy cook

 

Yes.  When I first got the thing, I was expecting cleaning that tray would be a nightmare.  But so far it hasn't been bad, even in a house w/o a dishwasher.  I think I've only had to break out the Carbon Off once.

Edited March 10 by Laurentius
Spelling (log)

[Laurentius]

19 hours ago, Raamo said:

I've had zero problem getting toasty fries, so even if it's not the most powerful it still crisps up nicely!

 

I haven't needed to rotate the rack, I've tossed the items on it twice, but often I haven't had to.

 

You must know some secret I don't.  Last night I AF'd 10 frozen panko-breaded prawns in the Breville, and it required multiple tray and morsel turns to get somewhat even results.

 

Breville acknowledges this in their instructions, and that's why they included a "turn reminder" feature.

 

Have you noticed the AF function almost always takes longer than recommended on the food packaging?  These prawns were supposed to bake 8-10 minutes at 400F;  I had to AF them for at least 15 minutes at the same 400F to turn them brown.

 

Don't get me wrong, I'm thankful to have the Breville.