Bumping up this thread to see how people are feeling 2 years later (and post-pandemic) about their air fryers. My D, who is single and doesn’t really cook much, is thinking she should get one but is confused by the choices and not entirely sure how she will use it. I don’t have one, so I’m not much help to her. Tell me how you use yours, what they do well and best features for a single woman with an apartment-size kitchen. She likes to eat healthy and shops almost entirely at Trader Joe’s. She has not had much interest in cooking for herself but she is getting tired of eating salads and prepared foods at home.
I was late to the air fryer purchase group. Just got mine in fall 2021. I really like it a lot. We don’t use it every day, but we use it at least once a week. I love bacon in it…so easy and a “contained splatter mess” that cleans up so easily. We make fries, and sweet potato fries, chicken wings or legs, brussel sprouts. Oh the spicy cauliflower is delicious.
Ot was nice in the summer when it was SO hot. It really doesn’t heat up the kitchen at all.
We got one for our daughter too.
We did not get a large one. Ours is a Dash, I think…and it was on sale at BBB when I got it. With the 20% off, I don’t think it was $30. It’s plenty large for two of us.
My son inlaw says his parents use theirs every single day.
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I was given one as a gift. Didn’t think I would use it, but it is great and easy to clean. It is perfect for fries, frozen/breaded chicken nuggets and for veggies. I’ve never tried to cook raw meat, but my SIL swears by it.
My daughter who is quite the cook and not really into gadgets has loved her roommates air fryer. She uses it to meal prep on Sunday for the week - preparing chicken quickly. She also says it’s great for warming up leftovers like quiche and getting it “crispy” again.
I have a toaster oven on its last legs - may consider getting a combo with an air fryer.
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To the new mods: please, when you split threads, start the new thread with your own post with a link to the old thread. In cases like this, it would be helpful to see what sort of machines people refer to here which they bought back when the original thread was started. So we don’t have to hunt the crevasses of the Cafe for the old thread. Thanks!
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Go to the top post and look just below the line at the bottom. There is a light grey link to the original thread.
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How, specifically, does she do her chicken in the air fryer? And what does she use the chicken in for her meal prep?
I really like doing fish in mine. Salmon and grouper, specifically.
Oh! And also shrimp!
Actually, the prices of air fryer have really changed, as have models….the old thread is two years old. I think having newer info with current prices is more helpful. My opinion.
And the link is there….at the very bottom of the new OP in this thread.
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I buy raw chicken tenderloins air fry them at 400 for approx 10 min until they are cooked to 165 degrees. I loosely follow WW so just sprinkle with seasoning and spray with a bit of cooking spray. I’ll cook asparagus, broccoli or brussels sprouts similarly (season and spray and cook at 400 for 10-12 min). For lunch, I use cooked brown rice, the vegetables and a couple of tenderloins to make a chicken bowl.
Personally, I like Skinnytaste. She has a ton of air fryer recipes. The Chick Fil A sandwich is really good but it takes time and is a pretty messy to make.
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Thank you for the Skinnytaste link, I think that will be helpful for her!
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Gina Homolka, who started Skinnytaste, has several cookbooks including two smaller air fryer cookbooks. A cookbook might be a nice gift to go along with the air fryer. I like the first book better than the second.
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I broke down and bought a Dash from BBB recently, have yet to use it. Hopefully I will be able to do some sweet potato fries for my husband.
But my question should I buy something to line up the holding area so there will be less clean up.
I love my air fryer. Fast, easy, tasty. I went the budget route, Gourmia air fryer from Costco, and I have no regrets.
I also highly recommend the Skinnytaste Air Fryer cook book. Some of my favorite dinner recipes are from this cookbook. Having a good cookbook with good instructions allows one to jump into this new style of cooking. Now I am comfortable with experimenting with air fryer.
I don’t line my air fryer. For easy clean up, I add dish soap and water tothe basket as soon as I remove the food that was cooked in there. Then the basket soaks while we are eating dinner. Don’t use anything abrasive or even a scrubbing pad to clean the tray that sits in the basket. You don’t want to ruin the non-stick coating.
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I have a Dash. The finish on the inside is the easiest cleanup you can imagine. No…you don’t need to buy anything extra to make clean up easier. Maybe a can of Pam?
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Thank you, I had suggested the Gourmia to my D so glad to hear you love it!
I would have to ask her the specifics - but probably similar to what @lkg4answers mentions below. She will also then do roasted vegetables in the air fryer, some rice in her instant pot and have chicken/veggie/rice bowls for the week - she can alternate the sauces/toppings to make them as varied as she wants (asian, spicy, cheesy, etc.)
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I bought the least expensive air fryer I could find. I figured I could buy a more costly one if needed. But really, my Dash does everything I need it to do.
Thanks @thumper1, if this fryer lasts for 2 years, I think it’s worth it.
I just broke down and got a mid-priced one a couple of months ago (thank you, Kohl’s Cash). Like others, I don’t use it every day but have made wings, boneless thighs, salmon and fries. Mine is an oval-shaped one so I sometimes find it challenging to fit what I want to cook on the tray. I realize they make toaster oven-shaped types, which would definitely be easier for pizza (I don’t think I could fit a slice in mine without squishing it.)
My daughter has one in her apt at college and uses it almost daily. They are ideally suited for one or two servings of food but much more than that, and you’ll need a toaster oven one.