Which Air Fyer?
Discussion
I have it in mind to get an air fryer as I do some Indian cooking from scratch and want to try onion bhajis, pakoras and samosas however I don't fancy deep fat frying.
Firstly can any of you folks recommend a make/model?
Secondly has anyone made home made Indan stuff and cooked it in an AF? If so how did it turn out?
ta
Firstly can any of you folks recommend a make/model?
Secondly has anyone made home made Indan stuff and cooked it in an AF? If so how did it turn out?
ta
I haven't read them yet but I have plenty of time on my hands to get to that 
The air fryer arrived on Monday last. So far I tried it for sausage for our sausage casserole...which worked a treat.
Then on Wednesday I did some lamb koftas that I make from scratch, which normally stink out the kitchen as they grill. I popped them in the air fryer for 20 mins and they cooked a treat...and with minimal smell too. It was a bit of a leap in the dark as there was no suggestion for how long to cook them obviously...but it worked a treat.
Last night I tried some chips from raw potato. These cooked but not as well as I would have liked. Next time I think I'll make them a little bigger; rinse the starch off them; and scrupulously dry them first. Hopefully that will help. They were edible but not great. Nicer than oven chips but not as nice as I though they would be.
No doubt I'll read the books over the next week or so and get more adventurous.
Ideally I want to make my own pakoras, bhajis and samosas, and cook them in the AF.
The air fryer arrived on Monday last. So far I tried it for sausage for our sausage casserole...which worked a treat.
Then on Wednesday I did some lamb koftas that I make from scratch, which normally stink out the kitchen as they grill. I popped them in the air fryer for 20 mins and they cooked a treat...and with minimal smell too. It was a bit of a leap in the dark as there was no suggestion for how long to cook them obviously...but it worked a treat.
Last night I tried some chips from raw potato. These cooked but not as well as I would have liked. Next time I think I'll make them a little bigger; rinse the starch off them; and scrupulously dry them first. Hopefully that will help. They were edible but not great. Nicer than oven chips but not as nice as I though they would be.
No doubt I'll read the books over the next week or so and get more adventurous.
Ideally I want to make my own pakoras, bhajis and samosas, and cook them in the AF.
Cotty said:
You can get some ideas here
https://www.youtube.com/user/Booger500us
Cheershttps://www.youtube.com/user/Booger500us
Im trying teriyaki chicken with noodles on Monday
Its a recipe from one of the books I got...
Bit of update really...
- Chicken teriyaki was ace in the air fryer and very easy to do
- Thai pork....as above!
I got the recipes for both from The Skinny Actifry Cookbook. Only a fiver off Amazon and looks to have some decent stuff in there. Well worth it.
- Proper chips - epic fails so far! I have tried both maris piper and king edward potatoes; cut them the right size; rinsed the starch off; dried them thoroughly...and still I am not impressed. They cook but the 'browness' is not even and they just don't taste right to me.
- Oven chips - much nicer than when they are done in the oven!
Next plans are to make some pakoras; samosas; and onion bhaji's and try them in the actifry.
- Chicken teriyaki was ace in the air fryer and very easy to do
- Thai pork....as above!
I got the recipes for both from The Skinny Actifry Cookbook. Only a fiver off Amazon and looks to have some decent stuff in there. Well worth it.
- Proper chips - epic fails so far! I have tried both maris piper and king edward potatoes; cut them the right size; rinsed the starch off; dried them thoroughly...and still I am not impressed. They cook but the 'browness' is not even and they just don't taste right to me.
- Oven chips - much nicer than when they are done in the oven!
Next plans are to make some pakoras; samosas; and onion bhaji's and try them in the actifry.
oblio said:
Bit of update really...
- Chicken teriyaki was ace in the air fryer and very easy to do
- Thai pork....as above!
I got the recipes for both from The Skinny Actifry Cookbook. Only a fiver off Amazon and looks to have some decent stuff in there. Well worth it.
- Proper chips - epic fails so far! I have tried both maris piper and king edward potatoes; cut them the right size; rinsed the starch off; dried them thoroughly...and still I am not impressed. They cook but the 'browness' is not even and they just don't taste right to me.
- Oven chips - much nicer than when they are done in the oven!
Next plans are to make some pakoras; samosas; and onion bhaji's and try them in the actifry.
I usually say the same thing on these threads that come up fairly regularly. Oven chips done in the air fryer are superb, next best is to boil the potatoes first until soft and almost falling apart, just enough structure left to oil them and stick them in the basket then finish off for 5 mins or so on the highest setting. One tip with chips is to not leave them in the fryer when they've finished, I find they sweat a bit and can go soggy, much better to get them straight out when done. - Chicken teriyaki was ace in the air fryer and very easy to do
- Thai pork....as above!
I got the recipes for both from The Skinny Actifry Cookbook. Only a fiver off Amazon and looks to have some decent stuff in there. Well worth it.
- Proper chips - epic fails so far! I have tried both maris piper and king edward potatoes; cut them the right size; rinsed the starch off; dried them thoroughly...and still I am not impressed. They cook but the 'browness' is not even and they just don't taste right to me.
- Oven chips - much nicer than when they are done in the oven!
Next plans are to make some pakoras; samosas; and onion bhaji's and try them in the actifry.
Fish is really nice but the best thing for me is chicken wings, dry marinade first in whatever spice you like then 15-20 mins on 140 ish before coating them in BBQ sauce for the last 5 mins or so on full whack, to stop the mess line the basket with tin foil.
Bhajis, shami kebabs, samosas etc. are all nice done in them, i reheat mine from frozen (bought from asian supermarket) in only a few minutes.
oblio said:
Bit of update really...
- Chicken teriyaki was ace in the air fryer and very easy to do
- Thai pork....as above!
I got the recipes for both from The Skinny Actifry Cookbook. Only a fiver off Amazon and looks to have some decent stuff in there. Well worth it.
- Proper chips - epic fails so far! I have tried both maris piper and king edward potatoes; cut them the right size; rinsed the starch off; dried them thoroughly...and still I am not impressed. They cook but the 'browness' is not even and they just don't taste right to me.
- Oven chips - much nicer than when they are done in the oven!
Next plans are to make some pakoras; samosas; and onion bhaji's and try them in the actifry.
Best way to do chips in the Actifry is as follows -- Chicken teriyaki was ace in the air fryer and very easy to do
- Thai pork....as above!
I got the recipes for both from The Skinny Actifry Cookbook. Only a fiver off Amazon and looks to have some decent stuff in there. Well worth it.
- Proper chips - epic fails so far! I have tried both maris piper and king edward potatoes; cut them the right size; rinsed the starch off; dried them thoroughly...and still I am not impressed. They cook but the 'browness' is not even and they just don't taste right to me.
- Oven chips - much nicer than when they are done in the oven!
Next plans are to make some pakoras; samosas; and onion bhaji's and try them in the actifry.
Use regular white potatoes, forget the fancy ones. Skin on or off depending on your preference.
Cut the chips - medium to medium thick, don’t go too thin.
Don’t rinse or dry the chips.
Put in Actifry and cook for 3 mins. That’ll dry them perfectly.
Drizzle one level spoon of veg oiI over the chips. I use a regular desert spoon to measure (not the green thing that comes with it.
Put back on to cook for 25 mins (give or take 2-3 mins either side, depends on potatoes), but don’t be afraid on putting on for an extra couple of minutes if they still look OK.
This works for 2 portions / people, obviously more oil & time for more people.
I can honestly say, I have had the Actifry for years and mainly use it (95%) for chips, and this method has nevery failed me. They taste way better than oven chips.
I actually think not rinsing the potatoes with water, and then air drying them before adding oil, leaves the starch on the surface and gives them a better colour / texture.
Hope this works for you
Edited by Ham_and_Jam on Tuesday 14th April 20:09
Thanks both 
I may give that recipe for chips a go (the second one that is).
I don't fancy boiling spuds first and then doing them in the airfryer...kind of takes away the convenience angle for me. Nice idea though
When the lock down is over I'll have to see if I can find an Indian supermarket to get some pre-made stuff. Difficult where Iive though (deepest west Wales)
Cheers
I may give that recipe for chips a go (the second one that is).
I don't fancy boiling spuds first and then doing them in the airfryer...kind of takes away the convenience angle for me. Nice idea though
When the lock down is over I'll have to see if I can find an Indian supermarket to get some pre-made stuff. Difficult where Iive though (deepest west Wales)
Cheers
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