I have had the pleasure of testing numerous air fryers, with multiple models lined up on my kitchen counter at any given time. This experience has led me to question the necessity of using my oven for cooking, especially for simple tasks. So, I decided to challenge myself to exclusively use an air fryer for all my oven cooking for a month.
The experiment was simple – I had to cook everything in the air fryer that I would typically cook in the oven, without resorting to frozen meals. As I delved into this challenge, here are the key lessons I learned during that month.
Reheating means rethinking:
One of my initial mishaps was reheating pizza slices in the air fryer, resulting in a less than appetizing outcome. I quickly learned that adjusting the temperature slightly lower than recommended and keeping an eye on cooking times is essential for successful air fryer cooking.
Microwave + air fryer is still faster than an oven:
I discovered that using a combination of the microwave and air fryer was a quick and efficient way to heat up dishes like shepherd’s pies. While some air fryers come with probes for accurate cooking, others may require a bit of trial and error to achieve the desired results.
Baking is easier than you expect:
Surprisingly, baking a cake in an air fryer is not only possible but also faster and cost-effective. Following the recipe with a slight decrease in temperature is crucial for a perfectly baked cake.
Experimenting is worth it:
Venturing beyond traditional oven dishes, I experimented with various foods in the air fryer, from crisping up gnocchi to roasting vegetables. The versatility of the air fryer opens up a world of culinary possibilities.
Forget 10-inch pizzas:
While the air fryer excels at many dishes, cooking a 10-inch pizza may be a challenge due to size constraints. Certain foods like leafy vegetables and wet batters are also best avoided in the air fryer.
My oven now seems Medieval:
After a month of exclusive air fryer use, my oven now feels antiquated and cumbersome compared to the convenience of air frying. The time and effort saved in cooking and cleanup are significant benefits of air fryer cooking.
Which air fryer did I use?
I opted for the Ninja Foodi FlexDrawer for its flexibility and spacious cooking zones. The ability to customize cooking spaces and bake full-size cakes made it the perfect choice for this experiment. For those in the US, the Ninja Foodi FlexBasket offers a similar experience in a slightly smaller size.
In conclusion, my month-long experiment with air fryer cooking has transformed my approach to meal preparation. The efficiency, versatility, and ease of use of the air fryer have made it a staple in my kitchen, relegating my oven to only specific tasks. If you’re considering incorporating air fryer cooking into your routine, the benefits are certainly worth it.
