In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday

What is your experience with air fryers?

Discussion in 'The Smokehouse' started by JackHammer, Apr 30, 2021.

  1. JackHammer

    JackHammer

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2020
    Messages:
    830
    Likes Received:
    3,970
    Location:
    Ohio
    I don't have one but I think the concept is pretty neat. Are they worth it? Any favorite foods to cook? Any brands that I should stay away from?
     
  2. SKEETER McCLUSKEY

    SKEETER McCLUSKEY

    Joined:
    Aug 6, 2015
    Messages:
    10,779
    Likes Received:
    55,026
    Location:
    Taconic Range
    ill post some pics later.......its not bbq but they cook like nobodys business
     
  3. SKEETER McCLUSKEY

    SKEETER McCLUSKEY

    Joined:
    Aug 6, 2015
    Messages:
    10,779
    Likes Received:
    55,026
    Location:
    Taconic Range
    20210430_194127.jpg large bone in chicken thighs 20 min
     
  4. SKEETER McCLUSKEY

    SKEETER McCLUSKEY

    Joined:
    Aug 6, 2015
    Messages:
    10,779
    Likes Received:
    55,026
    Location:
    Taconic Range
    It's a ninja 6.5 qt....pressure cooker,slow cooker,bake,roast,broil,sear,saute....it works as advertised...actually better...only complaint is it smelled like electronics for the first few cooks.....
     
  5. Horkn

    Horkn

    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2014
    Messages:
    26,985
    Likes Received:
    150,600
    Location:
    SE Wisconsin
    We have one and use it quite a bit. Cooks a while 5 lb chicken in an hour. One of my favorite recipes is a breaded pork chop. Great for reheating fried, or fried foods.

    My wife also makes a great air fried chicken wing recipe. There's a lot that you can do with them. They are great know than just a gadget. Honestly, they are more useful than a microwave.
     
  6. Eric Wanderweg

    Eric Wanderweg

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2020
    Messages:
    6,154
    Likes Received:
    46,503
    Location:
    Bristol, Connecticut
    When I'm not around my wife uses ours a lot. Chicken wings, burgers, basically anything that would normally go on a grill can be tossed in there and in short order be good to go. I'd highly recommend one, especially on rainy days when you don't feel like standing outside getting drenched.
     
  7. Eckie

    Eckie

    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2019
    Messages:
    3,061
    Likes Received:
    15,014
    Location:
    Virginia
    We had a small one we were given s a gift, a Presto I believe. We liked it, great for sweet potatoe fries frozen brussel sprouts...only way that should be allowed to heat up an egg roll. Only problem witb that one was way too small. Then it just up and died. We finall bought another, cant remember brand. Washed and had it out on screened porch, ran it several times trying to get the chemical smell ut like skeeter said. It jut up and died too, never even got to cook any in it. Luckily it was still within 30 or 60 days so we took it back for refund. We found the one we had quite useful, we will get another, just have to figure out which one...
     
  8. wildwest

    wildwest Moderator

    Joined:
    Jul 21, 2014
    Messages:
    28,162
    Likes Received:
    128,144
    Location:
    Wyoming high plains
    Same here, 3.7 qt. Works great when we use it but it's only one item at a time so we don't eat together. My Dad's wife bought a combo toaster oven air fryer that's bigger and she loves it. Also we have very little counter space (or storage period in this house) so it ends up in storage and I usually use the oven or stove instead.
     
  9. Horkn

    Horkn

    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2014
    Messages:
    26,985
    Likes Received:
    150,600
    Location:
    SE Wisconsin
    This is the one we got.PowerXL Vortex Air Fryer- 7qt - Black

    It was on sale for like $70 at target.

    No issues at all with it on over a year and we use it quite a bit.

    You can easily fit a 6 lb whole chicken in it.
     
  10. Eckie

    Eckie

    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2019
    Messages:
    3,061
    Likes Received:
    15,014
    Location:
    Virginia
    Is that one a basket style, or toaster oven door style? The one we had was basket...thinking we may go toaster oven style next.
     
    T.Jeff Veal, Horkn, eatonpcat and 2 others like this.
  11. JackHammer

    JackHammer

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2020
    Messages:
    830
    Likes Received:
    3,970
    Location:
    Ohio
    That looks legit. Thanks. ... maybe there will be some mothers day sales...

    I see a lot of buttons, are those pre-sets? I guess I am curious on if it cooks by weight, or temp, or maybe you need to experiment a few times to get the right internal temp? I imagine a 6 pound chicken would cook a lot different than a single serving of wings.

    It also seems like slightly on the bigger side is ideal, no argument here. :)
     
    T.Jeff Veal, Horkn and Eckie like this.
  12. Horkn

    Horkn

    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2014
    Messages:
    26,985
    Likes Received:
    150,600
    Location:
    SE Wisconsin
    Yes, lots of presets. We've found that pretty much everything cooks at 400°. You just set the timer. It takes up a bit of space, which was a concern of my wife's, but she's so pro air fryer now that she wouldn't even mind if it took up more room.
     
    T.Jeff Veal, JackHammer and Eckie like this.
  13. TurboDiesel

    TurboDiesel

    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2013
    Messages:
    16,048
    Likes Received:
    95,627
    Location:
    Hollidaysburg Pa
    I haven't really been impressed by anything cooked in the air fryer.
     
    T.Jeff Veal and Horkn like this.
  14. fishingpol

    fishingpol

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2013
    Messages:
    6,502
    Likes Received:
    39,620
    Location:
    Merrimack Valley, Ma.
    We have the Ninja here for over a year. Basket style. It is also a dehydrator. The kids like it for simple cooking of frozen foods. They use it more than I do, several times a week. No regrets, it has its place here and it is just a little bit bigger than a coffee maker.
     
    T.Jeff Veal, Horkn and JackHammer like this.
  15. Sandhillbilly

    Sandhillbilly

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2019
    Messages:
    3,498
    Likes Received:
    24,128
    Location:
    North central Nebraska
    We have one we use mostly for things that would normally be deep fried ( chicken nuggets, fries, tater tots, pizza rolls etc.) works pretty well and less odor and mess than traditional grease fryer. I haven’t tried much other than processed heat and eat foods
     
  16. Skier76

    Skier76

    Joined:
    Dec 27, 2014
    Messages:
    2,282
    Likes Received:
    11,589
    Location:
    CT and SoVT
    I've been pondering getting one of these. Appreciate all the insight posted here!
     
    JackHammer, T.Jeff Veal and Horkn like this.
  17. Horkn

    Horkn

    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2014
    Messages:
    26,985
    Likes Received:
    150,600
    Location:
    SE Wisconsin
    Reheating of french fries, fried fish, cooking any frozen fries, reheating egg rolls, are some great uses for the air fryer.

    So much to use the air fryer for. We use ours more than the microwave.
     
    T.Jeff Veal likes this.
  18. Horkn

    Horkn

    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2014
    Messages:
    26,985
    Likes Received:
    150,600
    Location:
    SE Wisconsin
    Basket style
     
    T.Jeff Veal likes this.