topic ow Re: Air fryer question in Kitchen

Air fryer question

Munchkincat — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 05:15:18 GMT

I'm wanting to dive into the world of air fryers and I was wondering if anyone has some recommendations for me. What kind of air fryer do you have and do you like it, what features should I look for - basically any info you feel like sharing. The TSV looks great but I'm still on the fence. Thanks for your help.

Re: Air fryer question

Pook — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 08:08:28 GMT

I have a small cook's essential and a larger Phillips and love them but if I were buying one now I would get one with a ceramic basket rather than a wire one. It looks like the TSV doesn't have a wire basket.

Re: Air fryer question

Imaoldhippie — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 10:24:07 GMT

I dont know much abourt air fryers but the TSV cooking area looks very small.

Re: Air fryer question

zanna — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 11:41:39 GMT

If you love crispy food, buy one! I bought the Paula Deen 5.3 qt. back in November and have thoroughly enjoyed it. I happen to love fried shrimp and have prepared frozen breaded shrimp for years in the big oven and toaster oven. The first time I made fried shrimp in the air fryer, I was blown away with the crispy deliciousness and have been every time since.. No doubt about it, best I have ever eaten. I also enjoy sweet potatoe fries, waffle fries, toasted cheese & tomato sandwiches and just plain toast, etc.

I would say buy the biggest one you can find because you can only cook as much food as fills the bottom of the basket. Lots of people have more than one for that reason. Also, buy several air fyer cook books. My favorite is Air Fry Everything by Meredith Laurance, the Blue Jean Chef. You will need to experiment with cooking temps and times. My son has a convection oven and told me to lower the cooking temp 50 degrees F when following a normal (non-air fryer) recipe. I didn't realize air frying is convection cooking.

It took me a while to realize that lining the basket with aluminum foil would make clean up much simpler. Also, you will need to wipe down the entire inside cavity of the fryer ever so often. I also wipe down the heating element because it gets spattered with oil and food. Btw, lots of frozen food already has oil on it and spraying more oil on it is not needed (such as my frozen breaded shrimp and frozen sweet potato fries).

Re: Air fryer question

pegsue — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 15:41:18 GMT

Zanna-I just bought the Paula Deen one too and love it! Mine is 5.3 qts I believe-that was the biggest one I could find. Hubby was very skeptical about it but I've made him fried chicken the first night I had it and he loved it. I also made zucchini sticks and they turned out nice. I like the fact that there is no grease and oil and a lot less clean up.

I am looking for some airfryer cook books so thanks for that info. I've been going by the guide that came with the fryer and it only has a few recipes. I agree to buy the biggest one you can find.

Re: Air fryer question

Nightowlz — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 15:46:06 GMT

@pegsue wrote:
Zanna-I just bought the Paula Deen one too and love it! Mine is 5.3 qts I believe-that was the biggest one I could find. Hubby was very skeptical about it but I've made him fried chicken the first night I had it and he loved it. I also made zucchini sticks and they turned out nice. I like the fact that there is no grease and oil and a lot less clean up.

I am looking for some airfryer cook books so thanks for that info. I've been going by the guide that came with the fryer and it only has a few recipes. I agree to buy the biggest one you can find.

@pegsue If you click on the Air Fryer's QVC sells you can download the recipes for those fryer's if they are still listed on each product page. You can also Google other brand air fryer's to save their recipe booklet. Emeril's recipes are posted on the TSV product page if you want to download those. I just saved them.

Re: Air fryer question

zanna — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 17:32:35 GMT

Nightowlz, I haven't tried fried chicken yet; now I will! I did try fried port chops using Paula Deen's recipe that came with the fryer. They were overdone but not totally inedible. I have tried few of Paula's recipes without much success. I just love plain old whole wheat toast done in the air fryer. I used the little rack but don't put the bread in the slots - it kept vibrating loose and ending up under the rack. Since it's just me, I just lay the bread on top of the rack. Love that it gets crunchy all the way through. I need to make a point of experimenting more. Always look forward to my fried shrimp!

Re: Air fryer question

SharkE — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 17:43:32 GMT

Emeril is on all day today and if David is working for a change he should be going to town on them , tonight.

Re: Air fryer question

Chicagoan — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 21:22:41 GMT

IMHO, every kitchen should be equipped with a air fryer! I also would not buy smaller than a 5.3 qt, I love my machine and use everyday.

Re: Air fryer question

Daysdee — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 22:57:58 GMT

I thought they were ridiculous and then I bought the one Eric had as a TSV a couple of months ago. One of the best kitchen items I ever bought. (It's the Power AirFryer XL Pro) I use it 4 or 5 times a week. Cook only for myself. That size works for me. Clean up is quick and easy.

ow Re: Air fryer question

Free2be — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 02:06:35 GMT

I agree about how nice frozen shrimp turns out. I tried shrimp tonight for the first time using Costco's Kirkland brand panko breaded shrimp. So crunchy outside, so moist inside.

I have a Philips model and don't mind the wire rack, it comes clean without soaking (so far).

ETA: I failed to mention the reason I ordered the Philips air fryer. It doesn't require a pre-heat, possibly because it has more wattage than most brands. In checking out other brands, I noticed some complaints about difficulty sliding the pan in and out or it being securely closed. I have other Philips products and trust the brand, got a good buy because I wouldn't have paid full price when other brands are so much less.

Re: Air fryer question

zanna — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 22:41:18 GMT

There are lots and lots of air fryer recipes on Pinterest!

Re: Air fryer question

Lindsays Grandma — Sat, 29 Jul 2017 04:42:28 GMT

We have decided to purchase an air fryer and I came on here hoping to get some much needed advice and information. Lo and behold this thread was right before my eyes. I checked one out in Walmart just to get an idea of the size and the only one they had was the large 5.something qt, pretty big and heavy. I read a lot of reviews and it seems the majority loves them and I'm looking forward to getting one, just have to decide which brand.

Re: Air fryer question

Poodlepet2 — Sat, 29 Jul 2017 12:15:40 GMT

I think I have just about every air fryer cookbook . Two of my absolute favorites are Meredith Laurence's "Air Fry Everything" which features a wonderful range of recipes and great guides.

I love Asian food, but can't eat out too often because of sugar and fat. If I want Chinese, I have to make it at home. Ming Tsai's "Simply Ming Air Fryer Cookbook"is wonderful!!!! He even has a recipe for scallion pancakes-which I adore.

I really don't think you need specific cookbooks for the AF but these are wonderful. The thing to keep in mind is that food cooks much more quickly.

I bought Emeril's when it first came out, but after six months, the non-stick portion started peeling.

For family meals and entertaining, I ended up with the Gourmia: it's huge and you can view the food as it cooks. I use it every single day, and there is no sign of wear and tear-plus, it comes with everything you could possibly need including a rotisserie and a fry basket that rotates....

Poodlepet2

Re: Air fryer question

Renata22 — Sat, 29 Jul 2017 13:42:11 GMT

Zanna, would you share your method for the frozen shrimp? I have some in the freezer & would like to try but didn't want to ruin my shrimp.

I've had some success & some failures with my air fryer. Love to cook a whole chicken & then put some frozen veggies in. The veggies taste so good & the chicken is just like a rotisserie.

TIA for any help. 😊

Re: Air fryer question

mima — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 18:03:02 GMT

I have a smaller CE air fryer and a big Paula Dean air fryer. I bought the CE first thinking it would be big enough for two people. It is sometimes. If I need a bigger one I use the Paula Dean one. PD air fryer comes in two sizes and I bought the bigger one. The PD one is by far my favorite of the two.

Re: Air fryer question

barbhawk — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 18:25:08 GMT

I bought the 6qt NuWave air fryer from QVC. I have only used it once but I just love it. My husband does too. I am now looking for some cooking vessels to use with it. I need no bigger than 7 inch. If you could helpm I would really appreciate it.

Re: Air fryer question

Chicagoan — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 20:09:01 GMT

I just received my new CE 5.3 qt AF, I already own the last year model and this model is the same except with one enhancement. The new model has a silcone round knob screwed in the bottom of the drawer, which will prevent the basket from rubbing against the bottom of the drawer and scratching it. That was a much needed fix to prevent rubbing which causes peeling. Love my AF and my kitchen will always have one.