Me, my Air Fryer and I… and You

[Ham_and_Jam]

Doofus said:

I find that whilst I can cook potatoes without par boiling, they're better if I do. Am I missing the point of an air fryer?

You are introducing an extra step that can be used in either process, be it in an oven or air fryer. That step will give you a slightly better end product in both circumstances.

Air fryers are convenient and can reduce cooking time and in certain circumstances reduce energy costs.

Typically roast potatoes for two people will take 20-25 mins in an air fryer (from a cold start). Equivalent time in a standard oven will be 10 mins pre-warm plus 40 mins cooking time. So pretty much half the time. Par boiling is optional in both cases.

Then there are certain foods that in my opinion are so much better in an air fryer than in an oven, chicken legs / thighs, spring rolls, tempura prawns etc being prime examples.

[Otispunkmeyer]

Has anyone tried one of those Instant Vortex VersaZones? It's one big tray but you can pop a divider in to make two compartments with individual controls.

Seem a bit best of both worlds but at the same time I am undecided. There must be a drawback to this kind of design. Is there?

[The Gauge]

Otispunkmeyer said:

Has anyone tried one of those Instant Vortex VersaZones? It's one big tray but you can pop a divider in to make two compartments with individual controls.

Seem a bit best of both worlds but at the same time I am undecided. There must be a drawback to this kind of design. Is there?

I have the Instant two drawer model, but only because I also have an a combined pressure cooker/air fryer that is much bigger and can cook a whole chicken in it. If the single drawer can have two independently controlled zones then I would probably go with that one if I was to only have just the one air fryer. Though the two drawer is good in that you can remove a drawer to empty/fill with food etc without disturbing or pausing the food cooking in the other drawer.

[Otispunkmeyer]

The Gauge said:

Otispunkmeyer said:

Has anyone tried one of those Instant Vortex VersaZones? It's one big tray but you can pop a divider in to make two compartments with individual controls.

Seem a bit best of both worlds but at the same time I am undecided. There must be a drawback to this kind of design. Is there?

I have the Instant two drawer model, but only because I also have an a combined pressure cooker/air fryer that is much bigger and can cook a whole chicken in it. If the single drawer can have two independently controlled zones then I would probably go with that one if I was to only have just the one air fryer. Though the two drawer is good in that you can remove a drawer to empty/fill with food etc without disturbing or pausing the food cooking in the other drawer.

Yeah that's the thing... No window on it and if you need to see to something in one side, you're pulling it all out. Still it feels like it might be a decent compromise. My mum has the dual drawer vortex and you could only get a little kiddy pizza in it (and it didn't go in flat either). I wonder if you could fit a whole chicken in the dual one. Not sure it's deep enough.

[The Gauge]

Otispunkmeyer said:

Yeah that's the thing... No window on it and if you need to see to something in one side, you're pulling it all out. Still it feels like it might be a decent compromise. My mum has the dual drawer vortex and you could only get a little kiddy pizza in it (and it didn't go in flat either). I wonder if you could fit a whole chicken in the dual one. Not sure it's deep enough.

I cut pizzas in half and use both drawers. The light is definitely useful for checking the food without pulling the drawer out. I've simultaneously cooked oven chips in one drawer and a cake in the other, but usually we are just using one drawer, for say bacon, or cheese on toast, chips etc. We don't use both drawers a lot, but it's useful to be able to. There is no perfect answer, every option is a compromise I suppose.

[98elise]

Ham_and_Jam said:

Doofus said:

I find that whilst I can cook potatoes without par boiling, they're better if I do. Am I missing the point of an air fryer?

You are introducing an extra step that can be used in either process, be it in an oven or air fryer. That step will give you a slightly better end product in both circumstances.

Air fryers are convenient and can reduce cooking time and in certain circumstances reduce energy costs.

Typically roast potatoes for two people will take 20-25 mins in an air fryer (from a cold start). Equivalent time in a standard oven will be 10 mins pre-warm plus 40 mins cooking time. So pretty much half the time. Par boiling is optional in both cases.

Then there are certain foods that in my opinion are so much better in an air fryer than in an oven, chicken legs / thighs, spring rolls, tempura prawns etc being prime examples.

We found the time difference for roast potatoes means we can have them whenever we want. Previously the cooking time made them something we would only do for a proper roast dinner.

They are not as good as oven ones, but are about 90% there.

Edited by 98elise on Wednesday 3rd May 14:48

[Bonefish Blues]

98elise said:

We found the time difference for roast potatoes means we can have them whenever we want. Previously the cooking time made them something we would only do for a proper road dinner.

They are not as good as oven ones, but are about 90% there.

Us too. Loves a bit of badger, us

[V8covin]

Doofus said:

I'm struggling to find reliable guides on how to cook stuff (program, temp, time).

I don't mean 'recipes' because there are loads of those, but if I just want to roast a chicken, or do some fish fingers.

Also, guides for 'simple' stuff like cottage or fish pie, or lasagne or even just bolognese (can I even?)

I can do 'proper' cooking, and I do, but nobody seems to want to help me just simply cook a thing without turning it into a creation.

I've printed off and laminated charts from these 2 sites which I have stuck to the fridge
https://thebustedoven.com/air-fryer-cooking-times/
https://www.airfryeryum.com/air-fryer-cooking-char...

[droopsnoot]

V8covin said:

I've printed off and laminated charts from these 2 sites which I have stuck to the fridge
https://thebustedoven.com/air-fryer-cooking-times/
https://www.airfryeryum.com/air-fryer-cooking-char...

Thanks for those. I'm experimenting, but as I don't really eat much different stuff I've settled into a routine, but it does seem that I do everything at 200C (the maximum on mine) and just vary the time. Mine's just a basic single-drawer thing that isn't big enough to anything spectacular, even if I wanted to.

[The Gauge]

I just cook everything similar to how I do in the oven, whack on the power, set a rough time, then keep checking towards the end. I never set it and expect food to be perfectly cooked when the timer ends, as I don't in the oven.

[Cotty]

The Gauge said:

I just cook everything similar to how I do in the oven, whack on the power, set a rough time, then keep checking towards the end. I never set it and expect food to be perfectly cooked when the timer ends, as I don't in the oven.

Perhaps if you started setting the temp on both then things would be cooked properly when they are supposed to.

[The Gauge]

Cotty said:

The Gauge said:

I just cook everything similar to how I do in the oven, whack on the power, set a rough time, then keep checking towards the end. I never set it and expect food to be perfectly cooked when the timer ends, as I don't in the oven.

Perhaps if you started setting the temp on both then things would be cooked properly when they are supposed to.

That's exactly what I do, but I don't expect on things being cooked exactly on time, I just keep checking towards the end of the cook, just like I do with an oven. Sometimes things want a little longer or less cooking time.

[QJumper]

The Gauge said:

That's exactly what I do, but I don't expect on things being cooked exactly on time, I just keep checking towards the end of the cook, just like I do with an oven. Sometimes things want a little longer or less cooking time.

To be fair, once I got a feel for it, I've found I have to check on things a lot less in the air fryer than my oven.

[HTP99]

Ok, a week in, I am converted, the oven hasn't been on once in that week.

It just cooks food so well, meat and fish, veg is brilliant, I did parmentier potatoes last night which were fantastic just a quick shake every few minutes or so for an even cook, the green beans were awesome, I've bought a couple of racks meaning 2 different things can be cooked at the same time; last night parmesan cod cooked above green beans, with the parmentier potato's being done in the second drawer and it is just so bloody quick too.

Sweet potato fries are far better in the fryer than the oven, still not as crispy as I'd like but preferable to oven done, did some home made chips which the wife loved, did a fantastic panko covered chicken burger with bacon which tasted far better than any hob and oven effort with a positive being no shallow frying needed, so hence no splatter and no awful cooking oil smell in the house for the next couple of days

I've found if there is a bit of clashing with cooking a few items separately I can keep one item warm whilst the other is cooking and if need be just bung them in together at the end to heat up the item that was cooked previously for a minute or so.

Clean up is far easier and no lingering food smell in the kitchen, gas consumption has dropped off massively and in respect of using electricity to cook instead of gas, it appears overall it is a far cheaper and efficient way to cook, not that this is really an issue for us, however I am always looking for ways to cut back.

So yep, I'm very pleased with my purchase.

Edited by HTP99 on Wednesday 10th May 17:42

[Adam.]

Noticing a bit of smoking from our Ninja, draws are clean. Are there filters that need cleaning or replacing ?

[blueg33]

Adam. said:

Noticing a bit of smoking from our Ninja, draws are clean. Are there filters that need cleaning or replacing ?

First I would do is to check there is noting stuck to the elements and that the fans are spinning freely.

Don’t think there are filters but happy to be wrong

[Adam.]

blueg33 said:

First I would do is to check there is noting stuck to the elements and that the fans are spinning freely.

Don’t think there are filters but happy to be wrong

thanks, its food smoke not mechanical

[Doofus]

I've got a Ninja and steam continually escapes from the edges of the drawer when cooking.

[blueg33]

Doofus said:

I've got a Ninja and steam continually escapes from the edges of the drawer when cooking.

Same - but no smoke

[3george]

Sweet potato fries are far better in the fryer than the oven, still not as crispy as I'd like but preferable to oven done

Toss them in cornflour and you'll find they come out much crispier and more appealing.

3g.