Billbobboy42 Loc: Center of Delmarva

Looking for comments about this fairly new kitchen appliance from anyone who has one or who knows someone who has one. My question: do the cooked results taste as good as those fried in oil? I have only run into one person who had a comment - o.k. if you are cooking with health in mind; otherwise, forget it. I am not interested in health cooking as I eat what I generally want sans desserts. French fries and fried chicken are my main interests as I don’t cook those at home due to oil disposal issues.

There are plenty of models to choose from. I just don’t want a kitchen appliance not being used and taking up storage space.

BboH Loc: s of 2/21, Ellicott City, MD

I have non-stick frying pans and use nothing - no oil or spray and all tastes good to me

jackm1943 Loc: Omaha, Nebraska

I have one but stopped using it a few years ago. It did a fairly good job of cooking but the clean-up after each use got very old very quick.

pwrxprt Loc: Beaumont, California

I use a Cuisinart Toaster Oven Air Fryer. It replaced existing my toaster oven. The major difference is the size. The unit is roughly the same footprint of my old toaster oven, but this unit is taller. I've used it to air fry, shrimp with no breading, French fries, chicken with breading, salmon fillets, fish-n-chips style cod fish in 12 minutes, chicken wings in 20 minutes and I've warm up from frozen pizza bites in 4-5 minutes and bagel bites in 6-7 minutes. Nothing I've mentioned has taken over 25 or 30 minutes in the air fryer. I'm very pleased with the results. You have to spend some extra time in cooking so to get crispy on both sides you have flip the food during cooking times. So it's not just put in the fry basket and walk away until it's done. The only food I feel doesn't quite make the grade is the French fry. It does crisp it, but not like deep fried, but the trade off is well worth it. No messy oil to deal with and much healthier. Keep in mind this is NOT completely oil free, i.e. when I prepare chicken wings, after rinsing them I put them in a big bowl and poor about a tablespoon or so of olive oil on them and mix to coat the wings...I season them to my liking, no batter, and cook them for about 10 minutes on each side. For us they come out perfect.
I use Dixie fry to coat my chicken parts (thighs and breasts) and again I spray them with olive oil just as I put them in the air fryer...20-25 minutes later I have fried chicken. The biggest downside to the unit I own is it's capacity. If you're cooking for two or three it's perfect. Cooking for a larger family, you'd have to cook in batches...good luck with your choice, but I'm sold on using it.
We've had for about six month now and I can't believe how useful this unit is. Not only can I air fry, but I can toast my bread and bagels or use it as a regular toaster over or convection over. I've not used the feature yet so I really can't comment, but the unit also broils. As I said we are sold on it.
By the way, look for sales. Kohl's sometimes has 20 and 30 percent coupons plus if you have Kohl's cash it can bring the price way down. These bad boy list and just under $200. However, with the coupons that we had brought it down to $140 and change. In my opinion well worth the price.

Billbobboy42 Loc: Center of Delmarva

Thanks for the reply. Useful info. If I buy, it will be the largest air fryer unit available. There are just two of us, so just about any size would do. Looking at highest watt models; 1800 watt is highest I have found.

pwrxprt Loc: Beaumont, California

The Cuisinart is 1800-watt too. Keep in mind, most kitchen counter top devices max out at 1800-watts as that is all the circuits are really designed to handle. If you find a higher wattage you might find yourself resetting breakers or replacing fuses depending on the age of your home. As I said, it is a perfect size for the two of us. Cooks darn fast in my opinion. My only negative comments are the amount of food you can put in the basket when family comes over the basket is a bit too small. The second negative is the fry basket isn't dishwasher safe. So as soon as I'm done cooking and serve the food that was prepared, I put the basket in the kitchen sink full of hot water to cover and soak it while eating dinner. By the time dinner is over and clean up the counter, it cleans up easily. So far so good.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

I use to deep fry turkeys and chickens and ham (oh my) until I got an oil-less deep fryer. It looks very much like a regular deep fryer but instead of a big burner at the bottom in the stand, there is a burner in the base of what looks like a big pot; actually a stainless steel cylinder the fryer basket drops into. I've cooked the same turkeys and chickens and hams (oh my) in it along with pork and beef roasts. You can even bake with it. And unlike the deep oil turkey fryer, you can use it inside, if you have the space and adequate ventilation. It's not a small kitchen appliance.
Since it's cooking with hot air, it doesn't impart any other flavor into the food like a hot oil fryer does.
We've talked about getting a smaller unit for the kitchen, just haven't gotten around to it yet.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

They taste ok!

johneccles Loc: Leyland UK

We had one of these Air Fryers many years ago, it was OK, that's all. We now use a deep fryer for chips etc. and a normal frying pan or the oven grill for everything else, personally I wouldn't bother buying one if you have managed up to now and save some worktop space.

Rapunzel

We were given an air fryer when my folks got a newer model with a rotissiere. We actually like it a lot. Wasn't something we ever even thought about getting. It's much better than the early versions like the Jet Stream ovens. If you oil the surface of the basket stuff comes right off. The clean up is easier than cleaning up after deep frying in my opinion. We have been happy with everything we have tried from fried chicken to fries to onion rings....all made from scratch, not bought breaded. But that is how we cook all the time. I have not tried baking in it yet, but don't know why it wouldn't do good. It is great in the hot weather as it doesn't seem to throw off much heat. Hope this helps.

Indi Loc: L. I., NY, Palm Beach Cty when it's cold.

I saw a Doctor Oz show last week and he said you still need to add about a tablespoon of oil.

Bigmike1 Loc: I am from Gaffney, S.C. but live in Utah.

Isn't Dr Oz some kind of self-taught psychologist or something and he is telling you to add a table spoon of oil? I may be wrong about ol' Oz. I don't watch commercial television.

wishaw

For fries the recipe book that comes with the fries. Dry the fries with a paper towel. Put a spoonful of oil in a bowl and toss the fries in it. So you use a bit of oil that helps the flavor. Also if they are home made and thicker (steak fries) they take a significant longer time to cook

DebAnn Loc: Toronto

I've got one of those air fryers that has an arm that pushes the food around in a circle. It uses 1 tablespoon oil. It doesn't make fries as crispy as I'd like. The idea of air frying without oil is problematic for me. The whole process of frying means you use oil. Otherwise you're baking or sauteeing etc.

ad9mac

After buying one and taking it back , we settled on one of those copper baskets w/ tray. Same results for $20. Use in a Breville toaster oven.
My wife uses Shake-n-Bake on chicken and thick chops. Come out delicious and juicy.
BTW , Bed Bath and Beyond commonly have 20% off coupons. Usually have an expiration date on them but they ignore the date. Can use way beyond the dates.