Anyone here use an Air Fryer...?

[AJMD429]

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Supposedly they are a great thing but what can they do that a regular oven and microwave can't?

[Bill in Oregon]

I had a Farberware and gave it to Goodwill as it was big and ugly and took up way too much space. They do cook quickly and without fats. Fine for wings, drumsticks, etc. On the other hand, I tried making sweet potato chips and the things were inedible. There is a learning curve.
I am getting more interested in this traditional cooking device -- this one at Fort Selden, NM, where Douglas MacArthur lived as a boy. It admittedly takes up a bit more space.

[Rockrat]

Think its just another name for a convection oven, but with a higher price tag

[Ray]

Interestingly on the smallish toaster ovens that have an "air-frying" setting, the same heat elements that function on "bake" are on and the only difference I can detect is the fan blowing and the instructions recommend the included fry basket instead of the regular bake/broil/toast tray.

There are times that we are in a hurry and the contraption gets set on "fry" instead of bake and we just let it ride. Whether or not the fans is blowing, we can still burn the outside and leave the middle frosty. Still beats starting before dawn and flint and steel and tinder and kindling and stove wood when you're hollow inside.

[rossim92]

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Supposedly they are a great thing but what can they do that a regular oven and microwave can't?

my mil has one. it does a fantastic job on chicken. cooks thoroughly without the greasy taste. i highly recommend it.

[4t5]

We have a NINJA air fryer and love it , we use it for fries, tots ,wings, did a pork loin once, It also doubles as a crockpot.
The biggest benefit is in summer, doesn’t get the house hot like the oven does.
Also cooking at counter top height is a plus.

[jeepnik]

Apparently our new oven air fries. My wife has used it and the chicken she battered and air fried came out great. Myself I find it's great for heating left over fried food.

In the microwave fried foods always came out mushy. Reheated in the oven set to air fry that remain crispy.

Be aware that air frying ovens may require different venting than a regular oven.

[Walt]

Bill, you posted a picture of an horno, a traditional oven common in New Mexico so I know you're familiar with them. There are 19 occupied Indian pueblos in New Mexico, virtually all of which use hornos for bread and other baking on a regular basis. Many old Hispanic families use them as well. Acoma Pueblo in NM is the oldest continuously occupied settlement in North America at 700 years and they have most certainly used hornos for that entire time.

They are the original air friers.

[GunnyMack]

I have 2 different air fryers. And early style tub type and the first model of the Emerile fryer.
The Emerile is fantastic! Hard cooked eggs in 18 minutes, bacon in 12, has a rotisserie, burgers whatever. This can do just about everything with no ambient heat, a lot less electricity and it's fast!
Yes there is some learning curve.

[horsesoldier03]

Makes awesome french fries.

[Ysabel Kid]

Being empty-nesters now, I really like it for reheating food. Mrs. YK still cooks like she making food for four instead of two, and she knows I love leftovers. Much better than nuking them. She'll make sone of our dinners in the air fryer too. Just another handy kitchen too. After all, I have more than one reloading press, drill, saw... and gun!

[Ray]

We have a new combination contraption at work that is as big as a medium-sized old fashioned tube television. It is set by default to "high" microwave and you have to force it to the other functions including "airfry". I come into work after four others have cooked or warmed their lunches and it is dripping like a rain forest. I have to run it in "airfry" mode for at least ten minutes to dry it then it shuts itself down with a "hot" warning. When that warning clears then I can use it like a microwave. Simply leaving the door ajar allows my accumulated steam to dissipate.

[rock-steady]

what can they do that a regular oven and microwave can't?

Well, I have found I can cook a pretty good ribeye steak in my air fryer.

Just season the steak with salt, black pepper & Tony Chachere's and set temp at 400 and keep an eye on it until about medium rare.

[marlinman93]

My wife has one and doesn't use it very often. It seems to cook quickly, but it dries food out quickly also, so not what we like for most things. What she also has is an Instant Pot that's sort of a pressure cooker that can also brown meat and cooks crazy fast. But being a sealed cooker it keeps everything very moist and makes delicious meals in 10-15 minutes where it might take hours on the stove!
She used to soak beans overnight, and then slow cook them on the stove for most of the day. She now soaks them overnight and maybe 20 minutes in the Instant Pot thing and they come out just like cooking all day.