harrycatcat1 Posted October 13, 2023 Report Share Posted October 13, 2023 I have finally got around to buying an air fryer. Most people you talk to have them, and wax lyrical about them but will it replace the chip pan and pressure cooker? Have you got one? What's the best thing you've cooked in one? It's still in a box in a hallway yet as I'm having chips in the chip pan tomorrow 🤣🤣🤣👍👍👍👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billytheghillie Posted October 13, 2023 Report Share Posted October 13, 2023 I have a asda one and found it great harry. thick cut frozen chips 10 mins, whole chicken about a hour, roast beef, pork also come out lovely, even make toasties in it. Dont think you will like it as you dont really get any juices out for your gravy, but that doesnt bother me. 😁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7daysinaweek Posted October 13, 2023 Report Share Posted October 13, 2023 We bought one about 5 months ago, what a wonderful appliance. It has virtually made our gas cooker redundant in terms of cooking for two or three. Does fresh and frozen stuff in a flash, can bake , air fry and max crisp. No preheating your oven, chips perfect and crispy in 10 minutes. They circulate a very even heat. Took me few days to get used to it. Harry, one thing we did buy as an addition were silicone baking trays that are made for the air fryer, these are great for cooking foods in sauces or wet toppings and stop splashes. A few times a year we will still spark up the deep fat fryer for our 'oily chip fix' YUM,YUM,YUM! I am sure we will all look forward to the culinary delights that you will conjure with you ever adept gastronomic skills. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billytheghillie Posted October 13, 2023 Report Share Posted October 13, 2023 Just seen the price of the ninja £200 + mines was only £45, yes smaller 6.2l but does the job for me and her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffgg Posted October 14, 2023 Report Share Posted October 14, 2023 I love ours drop a chicken in steam 45 min then air fry 15 min job done. We also have the dual so oven is almost redundent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrycatcat1 Posted October 14, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2023 8 hours ago, billytheghillie said: Just seen the price of the ninja £200 + mines was only £45, yes smaller 6.2l but does the job for me and her. Got mine off qvc for £174.99p 9 hours ago, 7daysinaweek said: We bought one about 5 months ago, what a wonderful appliance. It has virtually made our gas cooker redundant in terms of cooking for two or three. Does fresh and frozen stuff in a flash, can bake , air fry and max crisp. No preheating your oven, chips perfect and crispy in 10 minutes. They circulate a very even heat. Took me few days to get used to it. Harry, one thing we did buy as an addition were silicone baking trays that are made for the air fryer, these are great for cooking foods in sauces or wet toppings and stop splashes. A few times a year we will still spark up the deep fat fryer for our 'oily chip fix' YUM,YUM,YUM! I am sure we will all look forward to the culinary delights that you will conjure with you ever adept gastronomic skills. Yes I've been told get some silicone trays 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted October 14, 2023 Report Share Posted October 14, 2023 The work the Air Fryer can do is almost endless. I haven't used my oven or stove top since I got mine, it is just an extension of the work-top now and the Air Fryer sits upon it. I bought a small one and cut pizza's up to fit in, a couple of minutes and take it out, put the next slice in and ALWAYS have piping hot pizza. Pies, pasties and similar go in the microwave to heat them and then in to the Air Fryer to crispen up. I read a lot of articles before I bought mine and many of the US based ones recommended preheating the Air Fryer, I do not bother! It is hot in a minute or two, so preheating would be a waste of electricity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrycatcat1 Posted October 14, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2023 11 minutes ago, TIGHTCHOKE said: The work the Air Fryer can do is almost endless. I haven't used my oven or stove top since I got mine, it is just an extension of the work-top now and the Air Fryer sits upon it. I bought a small one and cut pizza's up to fit in, a couple of minutes and take it out, put the next slice in and ALWAYS have piping hot pizza. Pies, pasties and similar go in the microwave to heat them and then in to the Air Fryer to crispen up. I read a lot of articles before I bought mine and many of the US based ones recommended preheating the Air Fryer, I do not bother! It is hot in a minute or two, so preheating would be a waste of electricity. I shall have to read the instructions because some if the things that they are supposed to do seems incredible 😉 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old'un Posted October 14, 2023 Report Share Posted October 14, 2023 (edited) Haven't got one so here's a question for those who do, if you are cooking enough oven chips for 4 people how does it cook the chips in the centre of the pile, do you have to keep moving them about? Just had a quick look at them...how the hell do you cook a roast and all the veg for 4 people? Edited October 14, 2023 by old'un Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted October 14, 2023 Report Share Posted October 14, 2023 1 hour ago, old'un said: Haven't got one so here's a question for those who do, if you are cooking enough oven chips for 4 people how does it cook the chips in the centre of the pile, do you have to keep moving them about? Just had a quick look at them...how the hell do you cook a roast and all the veg for 4 people? With a little planning and forethought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted October 14, 2023 Report Share Posted October 14, 2023 I have had two air fryers. First was an early Tefal Actifry. It made lovely chips, but the way it operated (round tray with a rotating paddle to stir the food) didn't work well with anything else. After a few years the (rather complex plastic moulding) lid hinge broke and I threw it all away. Second was a Philips, which is a more conventional machine with a drawer containing a tray and an element and fan above. I have never got on with it very well in that it seemed to need the food 'agitating' to get even cooking and it also made a lot of 'frying smell and smoke'. It was also a pig to clean. It put it on one side and went back to my normal fan oven. After following this thread, I have decided to give it another chance. I got it out today and (although it was cleaned before being put away) gave it a clean in the tray and basket etc, and put it on at 200 degrees under the cooker hood to dry out. Within 2 minutes it was pouring out smoke (under cooker hood on full blast). I left it on for 15 minutes at full temperature (200C) and the smoke had mostly cleared but there was still some. I will give it a try in anger, but unless it can be reasonably 'smoke and frying odour free', it will be unused again. Although it was a little quicker (e.g oven fried goods like chips, scampi, battered fish were around 10 minutes quicker) than my main fan oven, and used a little less electricity, the smokiness and the time it takes to clean it will make it a no go for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old'un Posted October 14, 2023 Report Share Posted October 14, 2023 1 hour ago, TIGHTCHOKE said: With a little planning and forethought. What a faff about, think I will stick with my full size fan oven. 19 hours ago, harrycatcat1 said: I have finally got around to buying an air fryer. Most people you talk to have them, and wax lyrical about them but will it replace the chip pan and pressure cooker? Have you got one? What's the best thing you've cooked in one? It's still in a box in a hallway yet as I'm having chips in the chip pan tomorrow 🤣🤣🤣👍👍👍👍 I would leave it there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrycatcat1 Posted October 14, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2023 Anybody want an air fryer 160 quid never been out the box 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted October 14, 2023 Report Share Posted October 14, 2023 46 minutes ago, old'un said: What a faff about, think I will stick with my full size fan oven. I would leave it there. HHhahhahhahaaa.............i've been looking at getting one....then the more i thought about it.......came to the same conclusion as you.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted October 14, 2023 Report Share Posted October 14, 2023 3 minutes ago, ditchman said: i've been looking at getting one.... When you look, look particularly at how easy it is to clean. My Philips is easy enough to clean the basket and the drawer lining/base, but the upper part with the element and fan is a XXXX. That is to say - difficult and inaccessible. It means that the oily mist that does the air frying coats the fan and element, and next time it is used, burns off in a cloud of smoke, which has to be burned off before use, or it flavours the food. I'm going to give it another go, but suspect it is going to remain a problem. Maybe other models are easier to clean the element/fan? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amateur Posted October 14, 2023 Report Share Posted October 14, 2023 My wife swears by our Tower. She rustled up chicken thighs, stuffed with a Boursin/olives/sun-dried tomato mix, wrapped in Serrano ham for lunch today. No smoke, just the smell of great grub. She makes her own oven chips in it, superb roasties and pies. In fact with that, the microwave and the slow cooker, the double oven doesn’t get a look in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northerner Posted October 14, 2023 Report Share Posted October 14, 2023 I'm on my second a Tefal Easy Fry. Not as good as my original Philips one as i feel it doesn't get as hot or heat as evenly. They are really awesome for smaller meals/oven chip. I use it or everything from chicken wings to pork chops to chips and even brownies. I am at the point where the oven is maybe used once every 3 months if i am braising something but even that has pretty much been replaced by my instant pot. I am considering going for either a two draw to going back to a philips one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billytheghillie Posted October 14, 2023 Report Share Posted October 14, 2023 4 hours ago, JohnfromUK said: I have had two air fryers. First was an early Tefal Actifry. It made lovely chips, but the way it operated (round tray with a rotating paddle to stir the food) didn't work well with anything else. After a few years the (rather complex plastic moulding) lid hinge broke and I threw it all away. Second was a Philips, which is a more conventional machine with a drawer containing a tray and an element and fan above. I have never got on with it very well in that it seemed to need the food 'agitating' to get even cooking and it also made a lot of 'frying smell and smoke'. It was also a pig to clean. It put it on one side and went back to my normal fan oven. After following this thread, I have decided to give it another chance. I got it out today and (although it was cleaned before being put away) gave it a clean in the tray and basket etc, and put it on at 200 degrees under the cooker hood to dry out. Within 2 minutes it was pouring out smoke (under cooker hood on full blast). I left it on for 15 minutes at full temperature (200C) and the smoke had mostly cleared but there was still some. I will give it a try in anger, but unless it can be reasonably 'smoke and frying odour free', it will be unused again. Although it was a little quicker (e.g oven fried goods like chips, scampi, battered fish were around 10 minutes quicker) than my main fan oven, and used a little less electricity, the smokiness and the time it takes to clean it will make it a no go for me. Air fryers don't smoke you are doing something wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted October 14, 2023 Report Share Posted October 14, 2023 (edited) 15 minutes ago, billytheghillie said: Air fryers don't smoke you are doing something wrong. It seems quite a common issue as Google brings up quite a lot of possible causes. The problem appears to be partly that it is impossible to clean the element or area behind it. The smoke seems to be caused by cooking oil on the element from the oil/air mist. I have 'dry run' it today and will give it another try in the near future. I have followed the instructions on temperatures and quantity of oil etc., but the manual simply says clean the heating element with a brush - but you can only get at one side of it with a brush and can't get at the area behind at all. You can't easily see it here, but the 'upper' side of the element (the photo is taken looking up at the element from the drawer aperture) has burned on oil droplets, and you can't get at that easily. The only way seems to be to use a strip of cloth and wrap it around the elemenet Edited October 14, 2023 by JohnfromUK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted October 15, 2023 Report Share Posted October 15, 2023 On 13/10/2023 at 21:30, billytheghillie said: I have a asda one and found it great harry. thick cut frozen chips 10 mins, whole chicken about a hour, roast beef, pork also come out lovely, even make toasties in it. Dont think you will like it as you dont really get any juices out for your gravy, but that doesnt bother me. 😁 Where are your meat juices going ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted October 15, 2023 Report Share Posted October 15, 2023 21 hours ago, JohnfromUK said: When you look, look particularly at how easy it is to clean. My Philips is easy enough to clean the basket and the drawer lining/base, but the upper part with the element and fan is a XXXX. That is to say - difficult and inaccessible. It means that the oily mist that does the air frying coats the fan and element, and next time it is used, burns off in a cloud of smoke, which has to be burned off before use, or it flavours the food. I'm going to give it another go, but suspect it is going to remain a problem. Maybe other models are easier to clean the element/fan? Only time we have had smoke was when a whole chicken was touching the element cover plate (the "roof" of the oven), we have never needed to clean the inside since - the drawer/tray go in the dishwasher. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted October 15, 2023 Report Share Posted October 15, 2023 49 minutes ago, bruno22rf said: the drawer/tray go in the dishwasher. The drawer/tray aren't too bad to clean by hand. Mine can go in the dishwasher, but they take a lot of room (mine is a 'narrow' sized dishwasher). The non stick is quite good. I'm going to give it another go, but I need the right occasion (I don't do chips etc. very often). The main (i.e. full size fan) oven is so convenient as I can do several things and also warm plates/dishes in a compartment above. One thing I do miss on the air fryer is the ability to warm plates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newbie to this Posted October 15, 2023 Report Share Posted October 15, 2023 3 minutes ago, JohnfromUK said: One thing I do miss on the air fryer is the ability to warm plates. Ding them for 30 seconds or so, if they are microwave safe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted October 15, 2023 Report Share Posted October 15, 2023 1 minute ago, Newbie to this said: Ding them for 30 seconds or so, if they are microwave safe I normally (not posh meals) use old style Pyrex glass plates and they are microwave 'safe' but don't warm and microwave gets upset. You can do it by putting a small pool of water in the plate, but it's all becoming a bit of a faff by then and the water burns if spilled! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrycatcat1 Posted October 15, 2023 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2023 I think the death knell is sounding for the air fryer. It's still in the box as it was delivered. I don't think I can be bothered with all the faff. Old dog and new tricks etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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