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richms
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  #2276371 14-Jul-2019 16:12
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I have a cheap one.

 

It is awful. Nuggs are brown on the outside and still uncooked inside unless you seriously defrost them first.

 

Its much slower once going then the deep fryer, but has no appreciable heat up time so for a small single batch works out about the same time. But the deep fryer wins out with multiple lots going thru it faster. Or you can power on the deep fryer between games or in ads or whatever at one time, and then after the game or next ad's go use it.

 

Everything will stick together unless you constantly open it and move them so the soggy touching each other parts are moved out into the open so they also dry out. Prevents doing other things while its cooking.

 

Everything cooks unevenly because the air is blocked by other things, Again have to keep opening it and moving things around.

 

The non stick on the cheap one is that useless non stick that doesnt work, and all the holding together metal is just chromed steal so rusts.





Richard rich.ms



lNomNoml
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  #2276380 14-Jul-2019 16:36
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I've got a airfryer and one thing I can tell you is that it's a waste of money.


jonathan18
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  #2276741 15-Jul-2019 09:31
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lNomNoml:

 

I've got a airfryer and one thing I can tell you is that it's a waste of money.

 

 

I'm not a lobbyist for the TAC (Transnational Airfryer Conglomerate), but I'd suggest this isn't a particularly useful comment without more information - it's kinda like saying "I've got a waster blaster and one thing I can tell you is that it's a waste of money". 

 

Like what model you have, what you use it for, what you expected it to do, and how well it works would help the OP understand why you think it's a waste of money, as your reasoning may or may not apply to his situation etc. 

 

I've dug up that older thread on air fryers from Jan 2015 and, interestingly, it was started by the OP! 

 

https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=141&topicid=161788&singlepage=yes

 

Will we be having the same discussion in another 4.5 years?!

 

 




tdgeek
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  #2276760 15-Jul-2019 09:40
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It seems to me that its a baking machine, and while you can spray oil does it matter if you don't?


jonathan18
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  #2276766 15-Jul-2019 09:46
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IIRC all the recipes etc do use some oil if you're 'frying' - there's no point using huge amounts of oil if you're doing, say, chips, as it will just flow to the bottom and do SFA. For those just use enough to coat the potatoes lightly. 

 

Our air fryer does shoe-string fries brilliantly (just have to watch them going too crisp), and the amount added by McCain's etc is perfectly ample. Hash browns work well, too - I put them in a toast rack.

 

But, yeah, they can operate as a standard oven as well - the cooking space isn't huge, but we've bought a cake tin that fits in it. I made a self-saucing pudding in it the other day that was fine - not as good as in the oven, mind you. 


networkn
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  #2276769 15-Jul-2019 09:59
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We have one, it's a fancy model can't recall it as I am at work. We think it's OK, does some things better than the oven, like chips, nuggets etc. I am going to try some buttermilk fried chicken next weekend with waffles, so I can report back how it went.

 

Never tried pork belly, will try. We don't use it heaps, and it's huge, so I am unsure if we will actually keep it too much longer. Got it second hand off trademe for like $80 and it's RRP was $450.

 

It's healthier if not healty.


 
 
 
 

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jonathan18
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  #2741522 8-Jul-2021 21:20
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After six years of owning a Philips XL air fryer it carked it this week - weird plasticy smell last time we used it, and today absolutely no signs of life. So I’m looking for recommendations for specific brands and models that people would recommend to replace this.

Interestingly, air fryers are now even more common than the time of the posts above (2019) with many more models and styles to select from and for a real wide range of prices, thus making the selection process more difficult.

We’re after a relatively large model, such as this Philips, which is recommended by Consumer - https://www.farmers.co.nz/6530971; this is at the upper end of what we’d be keen on paying (it’s currently $480).

At the cheap end is this one from Container Door https://www.containerdoor.com/nz/product_listings/12l-digital-air-fryer-oven-20 - $150 and it comes with a bunch of accessories; but I note it’s quite a bit lower powered (1600-1800w vs 2225w). Also, I have no experience with this rotisserie type, and I’m not sure if a $150 product is going to be of a decent quality and last.

A similar one to this is another Consumer recommended product, which Briscoes currently has for $300 - https://www.briscoes.co.nz/product/1091749/taste-the-difference-and-air-roaster-pro-arpro_ttd/

Anyway, any recommendations for large models, or equally products best to avoid, would be much appreciated.

networkn
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  #2741524 8-Jul-2021 21:26
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Can't give you a specific recommendation, we still have our same one, and it barely gets used. I did try fried chicken, it was a disaster, but I am prepared to admit it was possibly my fault not understanding how it was 'supposed' to work.

 

I would say don't skimp on the power.

 

I did see something in one of my suggested pages on google recently talking about them, and saying the $70 cheapy was 99% as good as the $450 ones they tested.YMMV


adida101
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  #2741525 8-Jul-2021 21:40
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We spent a long time tossing up between a number of models, both cheap and more pricey, and in the end settled with a fairly basic Kmart Anko one, but couldn't be happier! Does exactly what its supposed to, very convenient and fast, and a fraction of the cost of the Phillips and similar models. We use it regularly for everything from reheating leftover KFC to cooking a salmon meal. 






Gordy7
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  #2741538 8-Jul-2021 22:19
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Thought about getting an air frier..... yet another gadget in the kitchen... decided not to.

 

Just use our regular oven in fan bake mode.





Gordy

 

My first ever AM radio network connection was with a 1MHz AM crystal(OA91) radio receiver.


vexxxboy
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  #2741542 8-Jul-2021 22:45
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i use mine all the time  and i find it's best for reheating pizza, 5 minutes and it comes out perfect. but i use it for anything those prebake rolls are fantasic in it and pies are also great , heat them in the microwave till warm and then a few minutes in the air fryer. it is just quicker than an oven.





Common sense is not as common as you think.


 
 
 
 

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michaelmurfy
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  #2741544 8-Jul-2021 23:30
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I've got a cheap 3.5L one I bought from Harvey Norman a few years back and use it almost every night.

 

The Kmart one is actually quite good quality wise and does the job well. You seriously can't fault it: https://www.kmart.co.nz/product/7-litre-air-fryer/3204801

 

@Gordy7 You seriously are missing out by not having one IMO... They're much quicker and more convenient than the oven.





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esawers
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  #2741545 8-Jul-2021 23:36
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We bought the Ninja dual drawer
The kids can both cook different things separately , or you can sync the drawers to finish at the same time
I don’t think it would fit a whole cooked chicken but then we realised we have never cooked a whole chicken in our lives so why would we start now.

I got Briscoes to price beat Farmers so we got it for $269

jonathan18
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  #2741603 9-Jul-2021 06:07
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Thanks for all the replies. It’s good to hear one doesn’t need to spend the earth to get one that works well.

Can anyone comment on the units that can use a rotary basket, rather than the drawer-type model? I’ve only got experience with the latter - one of the disadvantages of drawers is that one may need to shake the food mid-cooking, but looking at the rotary basket type it appears the capacity of these is relatively limited compared to the overall interior space of the machine (round thing in a square box means lotsa wasted space!)

 

esawers: We bought the Ninja dual drawer
The kids can both cook different things separately , or you can sync the drawers to finish at the same time
I don’t think it would fit a whole cooked chicken but then we realised we have never cooked a whole chicken in our lives so why would we start now.

I got Briscoes to price beat Farmers so we got it for $269

 

This is one of the models we’re most interested in, so great to hear from someone with direct experience. The other is the Philips XXL, but that’s quite a bit more expensive (when both are on sale) and doesn’t have that two drawer advantage.

 

In terms of real-world usability, how would you describe the size of each drawer, say how much of a 1kg bag of oven fries could you fit in one of them? Also, is it fairly quick to heat up any cook?


jonathan18
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  #2741606 9-Jul-2021 06:18
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Gordy7:


Thought about getting an air frier..... yet another gadget in the kitchen... decided not to.


Just use our regular oven in fan bake mode.



Thanks, @Gordy7 - that’s exactly the kind of useful reply that directly answered the questions I raised; really helpful!


Totally agree with Michael - they’re amazingly useful tools to have. My wife ranks it as her no. 1 kitchen gadget (for me, the espresso takes it!). 


First up, I doubt many ovens can easily get the same crisp results as an air fryer (ours certainly can’t, going by the results produced last night once we were forced to use the oven!).  Plus air fryers take no time at all to heat up (our dead air fryer took two-three minutes to get to 200) and are way more efficient in terms of energy used.


It’s also amazing how many things they can be used for; I’d never thought about re-heating pizza in one, as suggested above, so will be certainly trying that once we buy a new one.


Here’s an idea - why don’t you borrow one from someone, or even just pick one up second hand (so no big loss, and better environmentally if you don’t end up liking it) and giving it a go?


President, TAC


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