Frying too close to the sun?
January 31, 2022 8:50 AM Subscribe
Should I upgrade my air fryer? Tell me about your fancy air fryers.
I got an air fryer a year and a half ago when everyone was all "omg you MUST have an air fryer you simply MUST." I got a really basic, inexpensive Dash fryer on sale for something like 35 bucks. It is not a prestige piece of equipment, but it has suited me just fine. It's got the basket/drawer, a temp dial (imprecise, up to 400) and a timer dial.
Typically I'm the sort who will "it's FINE" myself into using perfectly decent things until they break, and there's not a thing wrong with my little air fryer. However, I do use it at least 3x a week, often more, and if I can get a much better air fryer experience using (for instance) one of the fancy Ninja air fryers, I'd like to consider upgrading.
So please, if you own a very nice, expensive air fryer, tell me what you like about it. What does it offer that I'm not getting from my current air fryer? Is there a world of air fryer functionality out there that I'm not even aware of? I am one person living alone so "bigger" isn't a relevant selling point, but "better, in these specific, enumerated ways" is.
This question is not about pressure cookers, do not tell me about your Instant Pot please.
I got an air fryer a year and a half ago when everyone was all "omg you MUST have an air fryer you simply MUST." I got a really basic, inexpensive Dash fryer on sale for something like 35 bucks. It is not a prestige piece of equipment, but it has suited me just fine. It's got the basket/drawer, a temp dial (imprecise, up to 400) and a timer dial.
Typically I'm the sort who will "it's FINE" myself into using perfectly decent things until they break, and there's not a thing wrong with my little air fryer. However, I do use it at least 3x a week, often more, and if I can get a much better air fryer experience using (for instance) one of the fancy Ninja air fryers, I'd like to consider upgrading.
So please, if you own a very nice, expensive air fryer, tell me what you like about it. What does it offer that I'm not getting from my current air fryer? Is there a world of air fryer functionality out there that I'm not even aware of? I am one person living alone so "bigger" isn't a relevant selling point, but "better, in these specific, enumerated ways" is.
This question is not about pressure cookers, do not tell me about your Instant Pot please.
I have this Ninja Foodi Smart XL Indoor Grill and Air Fryer which I bought at Costco on a whim. Mostly I bought it for the indoor grill part since I like grilling things and it's hard to do year-round where I live. The built-in thermometer gets my food cooked the way I like it when I grill. I have never used an air fryer before, but things like chicken wings and Trader Joe's Orange Chicken come out very crispy.
posted by elmay at 9:00 AM on January 31, 2022
posted by elmay at 9:00 AM on January 31, 2022
I can't recommend enough the Ninja AG301 Foodi 5-in-1 Indoor Grill with Air Fry, Roast, Bake & Dehydrate, Black/Silver
Reasons it's better: The lid opens up so it's really easy to check things with tongs. It's spacious. There's no sliding basket bit. Non stick. You can use it for anything / cook on the flat surface if you prefer.
Potential cons: it's $150. It kinda takes about the same counter space as a microwave.
Other people will say "toaster ovens that circulate air are basically air fryers" but I disagree with that statement. Air friers blow heated air, not circulate in an enclosed box. Also having to slide things into those toaster ovens is way less "top down cooking" than the ninja foodi.
On preview, I suppose there's more than one Ninja Model, but I recommend this one.
posted by bbqturtle at 9:34 AM on January 31, 2022
Reasons it's better: The lid opens up so it's really easy to check things with tongs. It's spacious. There's no sliding basket bit. Non stick. You can use it for anything / cook on the flat surface if you prefer.
Potential cons: it's $150. It kinda takes about the same counter space as a microwave.
Other people will say "toaster ovens that circulate air are basically air fryers" but I disagree with that statement. Air friers blow heated air, not circulate in an enclosed box. Also having to slide things into those toaster ovens is way less "top down cooking" than the ninja foodi.
On preview, I suppose there's more than one Ninja Model, but I recommend this one.
posted by bbqturtle at 9:34 AM on January 31, 2022
I had originally bought a cheap mid-sized air fryer which lasted me 2 years before it started falling apart, and my upgrade last summer was just to get a much larger one (the PowerXL Vortex that's on sale everywhere now). I also splurged for the grill insert, which is nice for chicken breasts.
But, just going larger was the biggest thing for me, more room for a bag of frozen french fries to spread out, it'll hold 6 baked potatoes, and it can do an entire chicken (not a huge chicken, but big enough for the two of us). I don't think you can go wrong getting the largest one your budget and counterspace can handle.
posted by AzraelBrown at 9:35 AM on January 31, 2022 [1 favorite]
But, just going larger was the biggest thing for me, more room for a bag of frozen french fries to spread out, it'll hold 6 baked potatoes, and it can do an entire chicken (not a huge chicken, but big enough for the two of us). I don't think you can go wrong getting the largest one your budget and counterspace can handle.
posted by AzraelBrown at 9:35 AM on January 31, 2022 [1 favorite]
I have a very strong preference for a specific form factor - the multi-shelf oven-door. That model has 5 shelf positions and comes with 3 shelves - I frequently cook on at least two shelves at a time, with one empty at the top to keep tortillas from flying around, but I can also meal prep a LOT in there - many chicken thighs, meatballs, enough broccoli/brussels for several meals. It's a beast, and it's about 1/4" too tall to fit under my upper cabinets, but it still eats up less counter space than the newer "toaster oven" formats that can only do one or maybe two shelves at a time.
Instant Pot Vortex looks to have 4 shelves, which would probably be sufficient.
posted by Lyn Never at 9:45 AM on January 31, 2022
Instant Pot Vortex looks to have 4 shelves, which would probably be sufficient.
posted by Lyn Never at 9:45 AM on January 31, 2022
My PowerXL Vortex is getting pretty crusty and I'm looking to upgrade.
My target is the Anova Precision Oven (MSRP $599) which adds some other capabilities besides hot-air convection cooking (which is what an air fryer does, in miniature).
posted by JoeZydeco at 9:59 AM on January 31, 2022 [3 favorites]
My target is the Anova Precision Oven (MSRP $599) which adds some other capabilities besides hot-air convection cooking (which is what an air fryer does, in miniature).
posted by JoeZydeco at 9:59 AM on January 31, 2022 [3 favorites]
I have heard amazing things about the Breville SmartOven Air Fryer Pro, which does a bunch of other things besides air frying. Cons: Pretty expensive.
posted by slkinsey at 11:10 AM on January 31, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by slkinsey at 11:10 AM on January 31, 2022 [1 favorite]
Came in to mention the Breville. The Cuisinart is there too-- convection toaster ovens that have added "air fryer" to the name because that's what moves units. More previously.
posted by supercres at 11:21 AM on January 31, 2022
posted by supercres at 11:21 AM on January 31, 2022
Air frying is basically the same thing a convection oven does, so I got this countertop toaster oven / convection oven - I think it’s the one that the wirecutter recommended. It has a “speed convection” setting which is the most equivalent to air frying I think. It’s fantastic, and I use it almost daily. I even bought mini muffin pans (not mini muffins - six full sized muffins instead of 12) so I can bake in it instead of my full size oven, which is especially nice during the summer since it doesn’t heat up the kitchen. Since it’s smaller, it also preheats in about a quarter of the time of a full size oven. It’s a fantastic size to do a sheet pan dinner for 1-2 people. It does a GREAT job (on speed convection) on frozen pizza too, way better than the regular oven, plus the speed convection mode doesn’t require preheating time.
posted by maleficent at 11:30 AM on January 31, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by maleficent at 11:30 AM on January 31, 2022 [1 favorite]
I actually have that exact same cheap one (in teal) Dash air fryer. It works fine, and is getting a daily use.
I am thinking about replacing it with an air fryer oven, because I don't have a full-size oven in my kitchen, which limits the things I can do. One thing you don't realize is it drips oil out the bottom if you cook oily stuff (bacon, chicken with skin, etc.)
As others said, America's Test Kitchen has a couple recommendations.
posted by kschang at 1:56 PM on January 31, 2022
I am thinking about replacing it with an air fryer oven, because I don't have a full-size oven in my kitchen, which limits the things I can do. One thing you don't realize is it drips oil out the bottom if you cook oily stuff (bacon, chicken with skin, etc.)
As others said, America's Test Kitchen has a couple recommendations.
posted by kschang at 1:56 PM on January 31, 2022
My target is the Anova Precision Oven (MSRP $599) which adds some other capabilities besides hot-air convection cooking (which is what an air fryer does, in miniature).
Mine too.
steam oven so you can bake crispy bread without a dutch oven/pot (e.g baguettes!)
Very precise temp control: Sous vide with both external and internal temperature control with no need for bags (and humidity control!), also useful for precise proofing of dough.
If you don't cook big things, it looks AMAZING.
posted by lalochezia at 2:13 PM on January 31, 2022 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Air frying is basically the same thing a convection oven does, so I got this countertop toaster oven / convection oven -
I thought this, too, up until last week.
I had one of these, which I absolutely love... except it's so damn small. Fine for one person but no more.
So, after a recent Ask where the unit you mention was called out as being The Best (according to Wirecutter), I "upgraded". I regret it.
It is unbearably slow compared to the original. My original could cook most of the meals I made in it in 4 to 6 minutes total. Nothing took longer than 10 minutes, even from frozen. The new one is closer to 15 to 20 for unfrozen things. It's still "fine" but the two units are absolutely not comparable.
One is a convection oven. The other is a different beast entirely.
posted by dobbs at 4:11 PM on January 31, 2022 [1 favorite]
I thought this, too, up until last week.
I had one of these, which I absolutely love... except it's so damn small. Fine for one person but no more.
So, after a recent Ask where the unit you mention was called out as being The Best (according to Wirecutter), I "upgraded". I regret it.
It is unbearably slow compared to the original. My original could cook most of the meals I made in it in 4 to 6 minutes total. Nothing took longer than 10 minutes, even from frozen. The new one is closer to 15 to 20 for unfrozen things. It's still "fine" but the two units are absolutely not comparable.
One is a convection oven. The other is a different beast entirely.
posted by dobbs at 4:11 PM on January 31, 2022 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: So what I'm gathering here is that the fancy "air fryers" are things like grills and steamers and toasters now and have adapted to do everything else but air fry.
posted by phunniemee at 7:08 AM on February 1, 2022
posted by phunniemee at 7:08 AM on February 1, 2022
Heck, I've seen an Instant Pot (pressure cooker) with an "air fryer lid" accessory...
posted by kschang at 5:02 PM on February 1, 2022
posted by kschang at 5:02 PM on February 1, 2022
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by El_Marto at 8:55 AM on January 31, 2022 [4 favorites]