Air fryer to replace oven

wanderer 22

Evening all, our oven went kapput today..before I order a new one - I'm wondering whether an air fryer would be a better buy? From what I can see , they do everything an oven does (just without the capacity) - would I be right?

There's only two of us in the house so I would imagine a large air fryer would be large enough for us...

Any thoughts? Thanks in advance!

vinniem

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058335932/air-fryer-to-replace-oven

Yeah could be way to go for you, get one with two drawers though. I find mine great and so easy to clean after each use. Have not used oven in months.

snowcat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121759843#Comment_121759843

Im the same. I use the Ninja. About 300 euro. Easy to clean, heats up in seconds. Have not used the oven since bought

browne_rob5

Yes could definitely replace an oven if there are only 2 of you. We got one in November and haven't used the oven since and are a family of 4. It will reduce your energy costs also and most things come out nicer.

SVI40

Personally, I find them way over hyped. No where near as good as an oven or BBQ.

con747

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121759975#Comment_121759975

Do you have one? I find mine is great, I have the type with different shelves in it and only use the main oven now at Christmas and the power used is half that of a normal oven with quicker cooking times so I don't know why you think they are over hyped?

SVI40

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121760012#Comment_121760012

Yes. I wouldn't have commented if I didn't.

con747

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121760126#Comment_121760126

I just find it strange you don't think they are one of the best cooking appliances to be produced since the microwave, but each to their own.

SVI40

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121760138#Comment_121760138

Yep, you and me both. Suckered into buying one from all the hype.

con747

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121760145#Comment_121760145

Can I ask which type you bought? Was it the one with the round cooking section like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tower-Circulation-Technology-Adjustable-Temperature/dp/B077B9X3SB I had one of those first but found it was only ok for 1 person and needed to be shook every couple of minutes to get a good result. The one I have now I can cook on 3 shelves and just alternate them every so often during cooking to get a better result.

Mr.Wemmick

I have a double drawer Ninja and it’s great. Sausages, frozen chips, cheese on toast, chicken wings. Really good at reheating too and crisping.

The only thing it doesn’t do great is roasties with a large piece of meat. They’re okay in the AF, but to me roast potatoes need to be done around meat in a larger oven. The flavour is better.. but for most everything else it’s spot on. Quick & efficient.

Toby22

If you do any baking you need an oven.

Mr.Wemmick

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121760345#Comment_121760345

My MIL has an air fryer and it must have a baking function as she has baked a delicious fruit cake recently. She’s a great baker and loves the AF.

That said, I’ve never used mine for baking. I use the main oven.

jaffa20

I'd say frozen pizza is the only thing i use the oven for now. All my other cooking is with airfryer, frying pan or slow cooker.

Rubberchikken

I wouldn't be without my oven but our AF is handy for frozen chips if not using oven for anything else. Does gougons fish fingers and so on really well.

But i like roasts and frozen pizza and casseroles and just don't think AF would do for those.

It really all depends on what your meals consist of.

Richardc9052

We have the Ninja Foodie Flexdrawer. its 10.4L Capacity with a single drawer.

I can cook a full roast chicken dinner in there. Also make pastries. Frozen Pizza works in halfs and you can buy a tray that gives you 2 levels, allowing you to quickly cook a whole pizza in 2 halfs. Very rarely use the oven now. Only if the airfryer is already in use or if something physically does not fit the drawer.

I even slow cooked ham for christmas and it came out perfect.

waterwelly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121760537#Comment_121760537

Two air fryers would pretty much make an oven obsolete.

A twin drawer one for say chips and veg., then a large one for the roast meat.

waterwelly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121759975#Comment_121759975

What foods are better from an oven?

It's mostly to replace a deep fat fryer they are replacing, hence the name.

But they can do pretty much everything a deep fat fryer can do and more.

Healthier, cleaner and cheaper to operate.

I don't think they are over hyped at all.

Slightly Kwackers

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058335932/air-fryer-to-replace-oven

Breadmaking is not easy and if you are into sourdough your dutch oven is going to be a thing of the past.

In fact anything that rises will need serious scaling down and some thought about shielding the top from the direct radiated heat.

Nothing that a bit of creativity with foil and greaseproof paper won't overcome but bread and cakes would be out for entertaining visitors unless the portions were minuscule.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121760553#Comment_121760553

Its subjective.

I use my oven for roast potatoes, roast chicken, roast beef... Finishing off a steak,... Lasagne, cottage pie, etc.

I have a Tefal air fryer, but only use it for convenience foods, like goujons, sausages, burgers or frozen chips.

Still prefer an oven for my roasties, roast joints, casseroles, pies, lasagne, etc. They just doesn't taste the same (to me) from an air fryer.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121760012#Comment_121760012

I've had on since the days of Phillips 1st air fryer days.

They're convenient but no where near as good or versatile as an actual oven

mikep

OP, I think a large air fryer and separate multi cooker will suit you

There's only 2 of us too and virtually everything is cooked that way now.

I even roasted chicken in the muti cooker, finished it in the air fryer which works a treat.

Our air fryer is small so I'm going to upgrade to one of the 10L ninjas soon.

Also in my opinion the air fryer does the best chicken wings I've had...

Ash.J.Williams

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121759975#Comment_121759975

Not true , well apart from joints and toasties

jj880

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121760314#Comment_121760314

If you have both drawers going what wattage is that using compared to an oven using between 2200w to 2400w?

notAMember

I actually think the biggest drawback with the airfryers is counterspace, the real estate they take up. Maybe consider where it would sit and the space you have left available on the counter.

Depends on your kitchen layout, but for a lot of kitchens, the oven is built into a kitchen cabinet. Our oven has the slide away door, it's at waist height, beside the counterspace. No swinging around with hot pans, just very easy ergonomically. If I was to have an airfryer on the counter too, I'd definitely miss the chopping space.

Hippodrome Song Owl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121760733#Comment_121760733

My two-drawer Tower is 2600w max. But it cooks quicker than the oven, so definitely using less power. I bought mine in early January. My latest electricity bill arrived during the week, and for 64 days, I have used 75 fewer units than the previous period, with the only change being switching to the air fryer for 35 of those days. I don't know why I delayed getting one.

The only time I use the oven now is for pizza. I don't roast meat, though, so I could see oven still bring important for that.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121760553#Comment_121760553

Let's not pretend air fryer diets are healthy. I've perused a few air fryer "cookbooks", written by Instagram folk not chefs, and it's hardly any wonder Ireland has such an obesity problem with the prevalence/popularity of these machines.

jj880

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121760775#Comment_121760775

Subjective surely? We were using a deep fat fryer for chips. Now we use the air fryer instead.

jj880

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121760773#Comment_121760773

Interesting. We have a single drawer 1300w 6.5l air fryer. Its handy and saves on cooking for 1/2 people for sure. I always assumed a 2 drawer wouldn't be a big saving compared to doing a big roast with all the trimmings which is really the only reason we use the oven now at all. Maybe I'll buy another single 6.5l and stick it beside what we have 😄

Annasopra

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121760765#Comment_121760765

I think you can get them fitted nowadays

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121760786#Comment_121760786

Look at the responses in this thread talking about sausage, chips, goujons. It's what the majority of people are using air fryers for. Cheap crap processed food.

Yes some people will make chips from scratch, definitely healthier than a deep fat fryer. But in the main air fryer are contributing to even worse diets for a nation that is seriously struggling with obesity.