Embracing the Air Fryer: My Culinary Game Changer

When it comes to air fryers, I have a collection lined up on my kitchen counter, giving the room the cozy feel of an appliance showroom. As I started using them more for work, I found myself breaking the habit of always turning on my oven for simple cooking tasks. This led me to wonder if I really needed to use my oven at all. So, I decided to switch all my oven cooking to an air fryer for a month to see how it would go. After all, an air fryer is essentially a mini convection oven that can handle almost any dish an oven can.

During this experiment, I had to cook everything in the air fryer that I would typically cook in the oven, and I couldn’t resort to eating bland frozen food for every meal.

Here’s what I discovered during that month:

1. Reheating Requires a New Approach

My first mishap was when I reheated pizza slices at too high a temperature, turning them into cardboard-like pieces. I learned that with a powerful air fryer, it’s best to reduce the heat by 10°C/20°F when cooking most dishes other than frozen, breaded items or chips.

There’s a learning curve when transitioning to air fryer cooking, so it’s advisable to adjust cooking times and temperatures until you find the perfect balance. You can’t undo overcooking, so it’s better to err on the side of caution.

2. Microwave + Air Fryer Combo Works Wonders

I prepared individual shepherd’s pies in stoneware dishes and reheated them the next day in the air fryer. Normally, this dish would take at least 45 minutes in the oven, but the air fryer delivered perfectly cooked pies with a crispy potato crust in no time. While checking the pie’s doneness can be a hassle, some air fryers come with a built-in probe to solve this issue.

For a quicker and efficient cooking process, microwaving the pies first to warm them up and then air frying them for a golden finish proved to be a winning combination. This method also works well for jacket potatoes and is a cost-effective cooking solution.

However, avoid pre-cooking pastry pies in the microwave, as the results may not be satisfactory.

3. Baking in an Air Fryer is Surprisingly Simple

While baking a cake in an air fryer may seem like a novelty, it’s not only feasible but also faster and energy-saving. The key is to follow the oven recipe but lower the temperature by about 20°C/40°F, as baking requires gentle heat distribution.

It’s essential to ensure the air fryer is not too hot to prevent uneven baking, which can result in a dense and improperly risen cake. The size of the air fryer will determine the type and size of baked goods you can prepare.

Experimenting with different dishes in the air fryer, such as crisping up gnocchi, making toasted sandwiches, roasting vegetables, and defrosting peas, yielded delicious results. Swapping steamed vegetables for air-fried ones, seasoned with a bit of oil and garlic, added a flavorful twist to meals.

5. 10-Inch Pizzas Are a No-Go

While the air fryer excelled in various cooking tasks, fitting a 10-inch pizza into a traditional air fryer was out of the question. For such items, using a regular oven is the best option.

Some foods, like leafy vegetables and dishes with wet batter, are not suitable for air fryer cooking. Additionally, cooking a steak is best done in a pan rather than an air fryer.

6. My Oven Feels Like a Relic

After exclusively using an air fryer for a month, my oven now seems oversized, slow, and challenging to clean. The convenience and efficiency of air fryer cooking have made it my go-to appliance for most meals, except for full roast dinners or pizza.

While the energy savings from using an air fryer are hard to quantify, the time and effort saved in cooking and cleanup are substantial. The transition to air fryer cooking has been a game-changer in my kitchen.

Ready to Give It a Try?

If you’re curious to experiment with air fryer cooking, consider checking out the Ninja Foodi FlexDrawer or explore our top recommendations for dual-zone air fryers. While the FlexDrawer may not be available in the US, the Ninja Foodi FlexBasket offers a similar experience with a slightly smaller capacity.

For a more extensive cooking space, an air fryer oven could be a viable option. Browse through our air fryer oven reviews to find the best fit for your cooking needs. Whether you’re a novice or seasoned chef, air fryer cooking can revolutionize your culinary experience.