Air Fryer Advice

[Anonymous]

I bought a cheap airfryer/toaster oven/convection combo on Amazon about 6 months ago. I do use it every day for my kids chicken nuggets, etc. for airfying and to toast bagels etc. The air fry feature works fine for the nuggets but is not entirely impressive for Brussel sprouts and other things I was hoping to use it for (they come out raw on the inside burnt on the outside). It is also cheap and now disgustingly dirty because the basket and drip pan is literally impossible to clean.

I want to get a new one for the kids meals and that will possible do well on the things this one hasn't (veggies, chicken thighs, etc.)

We don't have a ton of counter space and we definitely need a toaster oven.

Would I be better off investing in a good combo, or should I get the traditional basket air fryer like the the Ninja and a regular toaster oven for toast, bagels, reheating, etc.

Would love some advice.

[Anonymous]

What kind do you have? I have this one and it works great for everything you described. Not at all difficult to clean.

https://a.co/d/2JapKMf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What kind do you have? I have this one and it works great for everything you described. Not at all difficult to clean.

https://a.co/d/2JapKMf

We have this one https://a.co/d/f0Yj3K1

The one you have is one we are considering if we go the stand-alone option

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What kind do you have? I have this one and it works great for everything you described. Not at all difficult to clean.

https://a.co/d/2JapKMf

I have this too and it works great. Takes up a fair amount of counter space, though. I have heard that the air fryer function in most of the combo ovens is not as effective as a dedicated air fryer. Same with new full size ovens that come with an “air fryer” pre-set that is the same as convection. The fans aren’t powerful enough, and the space too large, to duplicate the results of the Cosori or similar models.

[Anonymous]

Op again. It sounds like from what I've been reading, that the stand alone air fryers work better than the combos - which might explain why things other than chicken nuggets didn't come out great in mine.

With limited counter space, now I just need to decide whether I just get a stand alone fryer and a traditional pop-up toaster, or a toaster oven and an air fryer.

Is there anything I couldn't make in the air fryer or a pop-up toaster, or a reason to have a tiny oven and a big one?

[Anonymous]

An air frier is just a countertop convection oven. You can use your oven.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:An air frier is just a countertop convection oven. You can use your oven.

If you do this it helps to put your food on a rack so the air can circulate under. I have a countertop toaster, air fryer . . . Model. Used to have a basket one. Love the new one becaise it takes up less space that the basket one and toaster. But agree that the basket one does better on some foods.

[Anonymous]

We have this flip up Ninja multi-use. Does a great job with all functions. Flips up to free up counter space

https://m.ninjakitchen.com/exclusive-offer/SP101WBKT/ninja-foodi-digital-air-fry-oven/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have this flip up Ninja multi-use. Does a great job with all functions. Flips up to free up counter space

https://m.ninjakitchen.com/exclusive-offer/SP101WBKT/ninja-foodi-digital-air-fry-oven/

I’ve been eyeing this one! Do you keep it flipped up when not using? Or is that a useless feature. I envision all the crumbs and grease getting tossed to the back when you stow it that way.

I currently have the toaster oven style air fryer, and a small basket style. The basket style wins hands down for reheating food, nuggets, etc. The air fry/convection function of my toaster oven seems to burn everything to a crisp no matter what setting I choose.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have this flip up Ninja multi-use. Does a great job with all functions. Flips up to free up counter space

https://m.ninjakitchen.com/exclusive-offer/SP101WBKT/ninja-foodi-digital-air-fry-oven/

I’ve been eyeing this one! Do you keep it flipped up when not using? Or is that a useless feature. I envision all the crumbs and grease getting tossed to the back when you stow it that way.

I currently have the toaster oven style air fryer, and a small basket style. The basket style wins hands down for reheating food, nuggets, etc. The air fry/convection function of my toaster oven seems to burn everything to a crisp no matter what setting I choose.

I think those who say that air fryers are just convection ovens have not tried to basket style. That has been our experience (OP) with the combo. What's the point? It just cooks the chicken nuggets faster. In contrast, my dad has the basket fryer and he makes vegetables, fish, chicken thighs, everything in there and loves it. My vegetables have come out burnt on the outside, raw on the inside. I want to try the basket one, but I'm debating whether I need that AND a toaster oven or just get a slice toaster? Can you make French bread pizza in the basket fryer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have this flip up Ninja multi-use. Does a great job with all functions. Flips up to free up counter space

https://m.ninjakitchen.com/exclusive-offer/SP101WBKT/ninja-foodi-digital-air-fry-oven/

I’ve been eyeing this one! Do you keep it flipped up when not using? Or is that a useless feature. I envision all the crumbs and grease getting tossed to the back when you stow it that way.

I currently have the toaster oven style air fryer, and a small basket style. The basket style wins hands down for reheating food, nuggets, etc. The air fry/convection function of my toaster oven seems to burn everything to a crisp no matter what setting I choose.

I think those who say that air fryers are just convection ovens have not tried to basket style. That has been our experience (OP) with the combo. What's the point? It just cooks the chicken nuggets faster. In contrast, my dad has the basket fryer and he makes vegetables, fish, chicken thighs, everything in there and loves it. My vegetables have come out burnt on the outside, raw on the inside. I want to try the basket one, but I'm debating whether I need that AND a toaster oven or just get a slice toaster? Can you make French bread pizza in the basket fryer?

The basket is still just a countertop convection oven though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have this flip up Ninja multi-use. Does a great job with all functions. Flips up to free up counter space

https://m.ninjakitchen.com/exclusive-offer/SP101WBKT/ninja-foodi-digital-air-fry-oven/

I’ve been eyeing this one! Do you keep it flipped up when not using? Or is that a useless feature. I envision all the crumbs and grease getting tossed to the back when you stow it that way.

I currently have the toaster oven style air fryer, and a small basket style. The basket style wins hands down for reheating food, nuggets, etc. The air fry/convection function of my toaster oven seems to burn everything to a crisp no matter what setting I choose.

I think those who say that air fryers are just convection ovens have not tried to basket style. That has been our experience (OP) with the combo. What's the point? It just cooks the chicken nuggets faster. In contrast, my dad has the basket fryer and he makes vegetables, fish, chicken thighs, everything in there and loves it. My vegetables have come out burnt on the outside, raw on the inside. I want to try the basket one, but I'm debating whether I need that AND a toaster oven or just get a slice toaster? Can you make French bread pizza in the basket fryer?

The basket is still just a countertop convection oven though.

DP. Yes, but one whose shape, size and fan does a much better job of cooking and crisping food than an ordinary convection oven.

[Anonymous]

I had an older model basket style air fryer that eventually died on me. But I did use it for toast/bagels and it was fine.

I am looking to get another air fryer and was going through the same debate as you and decided to do the basket one because it sounds like it gets things crispier (because you can easily shake the basket) and the configuration. This is based on my diving into google so take this with a grain of salt. I was going to get the ninja AF101 because it goes to a higher temperature and cooks faster and makes things crisper. I have a child that loves crispy food so this is what clinched it for me.

[Anonymous]

Personally, I buy cheap air fryers and replace regularly because they are hard to clean. I find that even if you keep the basket clean (I use a sheet of parchment paper in the basket so the basket looks like new), the heating element gets covered in aerated oil and starts to stink after awhile. Also, I like the simplicity of an analog timer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Personally, I buy cheap air fryers and replace regularly because they are hard to clean. I find that even if you keep the basket clean (I use a sheet of parchment paper in the basket so the basket looks like new), the heating element gets covered in aerated oil and starts to stink after awhile. Also, I like the simplicity of an analog timer.

Do you care about the environment? They're not meant to be disposable.