topic Re: Two questions about these multi-purpose cookers in Kitchen

Two questions about these multi-purpose cookers

depglass — Wed, 28 Dec 2022 16:13:27 GMT

I've held off buying one for two reasons. 1. Are they considered toaster ovens. I see a lot of directions that say "Do not prepare in a toaster oven." 2. Why doesn't anyone use non-stick in the lining? Cleaning looks like a giant pain.

Re: Two questions about these multi-purpose cookers

Sooner — Wed, 28 Dec 2022 16:20:53 GMT

@depglass wrote:
I've held off buying one for two reasons. 1. Are they considered toaster ovens. I see a lot of directions that say "Do not prepare in a toaster oven." 2. Why doesn't anyone use non-stick in the lining? Cleaning looks like a giant pain.

@depglass They look like a pain to me. I have a toaster, and I have a convection wall oven that we use. We bought an air fryer and it is bulky, a mess and the oven and the toaster for us is easier. But we are really in the minority.

Re: Two questions about these multi-purpose cookers

CelticCrafter — Wed, 28 Dec 2022 16:58:28 GMT

@Sooner wrote:
@depglass wrote:
I've held off buying one for two reasons. 1. Are they considered toaster ovens. I see a lot of directions that say "Do not prepare in a toaster oven." 2. Why doesn't anyone use non-stick in the lining? Cleaning looks like a giant pain.
@depglass They look like a pain to me. I have a toaster, and I have a convection wall oven that we use. We bought an air fryer and it is bulky, a mess and the oven and the toaster for us is easier. But we are really in the minority.

@Sooner we were gifted with an Air Fryer. Everyone I know that has one loves it. I used it twice and put it back in the box.

Re: Two questions about these multi-purpose cookers

kaydee50 — Wed, 28 Dec 2022 17:11:06 GMT

@Sooner I'm also in the "minority" as usual. We have a toaster, microwave and a George Forman grill. I bought a crock pot over a year ago and have never used it. DH keeps eying these air fryers but we have no use for it. And we rarely even use the oven! Happy with what I have!

Re: Two questions about these multi-purpose cookers

Icegoddess — Wed, 28 Dec 2022 17:13:12 GMT

I have a countertop oven and love it. I don't consider it a toaster oven when looking at cooking directions. There are a lot of different types of multi-cookers as in something that has more than one cooking function, so I'm not exactly sure which type of multi-purpose cooker OP is referring to. Some of those do have nonstick coatings. However, some don't like nonstick coatings because of toxicity issues, especially with heat. I know some people don't want a non-stick coating on their pressure cooker pots for that reason.

I also have a stand-alone Air Fryer and prefer it that way since I often want to use it at the same time that I would be using another appliance that might come with an air frying option. It does have a non-stick coating, but the non-stick failed early on. Maybe other models have better coatings, but I'm not going to buy a new one just to get a possibly better coating.

Re: Two questions about these multi-purpose cookers

rockygems123 — Wed, 28 Dec 2022 17:22:31 GMT

@depglass wrote:
I've held off buying one for two reasons. 1. Are they considered toaster ovens. I see a lot of directions that say "Do not prepare in a toaster oven." 2. Why doesn't anyone use non-stick in the lining? Cleaning looks like a giant pain.

@depglass

We have a built in convection oven and microwave. Also have an Oster double french door convection countertop oven that is my preferred appliance. Not hard to clean at all and I use it like a regular oven. It does toast bread but it's not a toaster oven so anything can be cooked in it. They say this model can air fry however it's a convection oven i.e. it has fans that move the air around so you cook at a slightly lower temp and food cooks slightly faster.

Re: Two questions about these multi-purpose cookers

Sooner — Wed, 28 Dec 2022 17:55:19 GMT

@CelticCrafter wrote:
@Sooner wrote:
@depglass wrote:
I've held off buying one for two reasons. 1. Are they considered toaster ovens. I see a lot of directions that say "Do not prepare in a toaster oven." 2. Why doesn't anyone use non-stick in the lining? Cleaning looks like a giant pain.
@depglass They look like a pain to me. I have a toaster, and I have a convection wall oven that we use. We bought an air fryer and it is bulky, a mess and the oven and the toaster for us is easier. But we are really in the minority.
@Sooner we were gifted with an Air Fryer. Everyone I know that has one loves it. I used it twice and put it back in the box.

@CelticCrafter LOL! You're lucky. We bought one and did the same thing. It is just something that doesn't work for us. I guess it is what we eat that is why we don't use it and it's a pain to get out and clean.

Re: Two questions about these multi-purpose cookers

Sooner — Wed, 28 Dec 2022 17:59:30 GMT

@kaydee50 wrote:
@Sooner I'm also in the "minority" as usual. We have a toaster, microwave and a George Forman grill. I bought a crock pot over a year ago and have never used it. DH keeps eying these air fryers but we have no use for it. And we rarely even use the oven! Happy with what I have!

@kaydee50 I guess if you eat a lot of frozen foods, and fried-type foods it would work for you. We bought a smaller cheaper crock pot last summer and do use it often to sort of poach chicken breasts in tomato juice seasoned for taco or taco salad meat. Sometimes beans or peas too. But the cooker is cheap and light weight.

DH bought our Philips air frye years ago after he ate some fries at Williams Sonoma from one, but we never use it either.

Re: Two questions about these multi-purpose cookers

ECBG — Wed, 28 Dec 2022 18:02:06 GMT

I love my crock pot and enjoy that I can get guaranteed results. I don't fry and the only thing that we would rarely eat is fried okra. I pass a barbecue shop and can pick that up without investing in an appliance. I also would rather eat vegetables without the extra calories in breading.

Re: Two questions about these multi-purpose cookers

faeriemoon — Wed, 28 Dec 2022 18:33:13 GMT

A toaster oven and a countertop oven are two different things. Where you draw the line, I don't know.

Re: Two questions about these multi-purpose cookers

kate2357 — Wed, 28 Dec 2022 19:24:49 GMT

I use my air fryer about once a week or so, sometimes twice a week. I don't normally use it for prepared foods ... except for tater tots, my husband like tater tots. I use the air fryer for roasting some veggies because it's faster than oven. What I don't like about air fryer is that I can find no way to clean the area by the heating element. The basket cleans easily.

I use my crockpot in spurts for soups, marinara sauce, chili, stews, etc. I also use it to hold temp on meatballs when we have folks over to watch sporting events. It came w/ a small crock that I use for keeping dips hot.

When my current air fryer gives up the ghost, I will probably look at a countertop convection oven that has airfryer capabilities. I think it would come in handy and keep down the temp in kitchen come summer time. I also think it would be easier to clean than air fryer.

Re: Two questions about these multi-purpose cookers

RollTide2008 — Wed, 28 Dec 2022 20:12:57 GMT

@ECBG wrote:
I love my crock pot and enjoy that I can get guaranteed results. I don't fry and the only thing that we would rarely eat is fried okra. I pass a barbecue shop and can pick that up without investing in an appliance. I also would rather eat vegetables without the extra calories in breading.

I cook vegetables in my air fryer all the time without breading. It's a convenient way to roast vegetables or make veggie chips.

Re: Two questions about these multi-purpose cookers

hellokitty — Wed, 28 Dec 2022 20:39:30 GMT

I have an air fryer that I use quite often. Also have the Oster french door oven, a crock pot and a CE pressure cooker. I use all of them. I have a George Foreman grill that is probably going in my next yard sale because I don't use it at all any more. ( I probably should though)

The most useless appliance I own is the Yo nanas. Hubby wanted it and after we used it a couple of times it took a place of honor in a cabinet! Yard sale for it as well.

Re: Two questions about these multi-purpose cookers

loriqvc — Wed, 28 Dec 2022 22:43:59 GMT

I think air fryers sometimes get a bad rap—they do SO much more than crisp up prepared frozen foods. My air fryer is used most often for steaks, burgers, chops, nice fresh "fries" with various veggies, and simple quick desserts. The results are great and cleanup is minimal. I also enjoy not having to wait for anything to preheat or overheating the kitchen in warm weather.

My air fryer is actually a single unit, not a multipurpose oven as the OP mentioned, but I just wanted to add my general two-cents' worth on this subject as the conversation has headed in this direction.

Re: Two questions about these multi-purpose cookers

grandma2pkmh — Thu, 29 Dec 2022 01:16:29 GMT

I have had the TSV Instant Vortex Plus for over 2 years and love it.

I do live alone so I only cook for myself.(Both of my DD's have one and cook for their family of 4) I use it for steaks, pork chops, meat loaves, chicken, veggies, toast, grilled cheese sandwiches and on and on, you get the drift.

I haven't used my oven since I got it.

You can use any cooking vessel that you would use in your regular oven as long as it fits.

My only issue is the noise. It seems to echo in my house but it cooks so quick, I can live with it.

Just my opinion of course.

Re: Two questions about these multi-purpose cookers

Imaoldhippie — Thu, 29 Dec 2022 12:41:21 GMT

I have a multicooker and I love it. I use it most days. I wasnt sure about an airfryer so I bought an inexpensive small one and really like it too. I am considering a larger airfryer one that can cook several things at once.

Both the multicooker and airfryer are an easy, quick clean up.

Re: Two questions about these multi-purpose cookers

wagirl — Thu, 29 Dec 2022 15:54:41 GMT

I have a counter top oven by Breville, that I use to cook in. My big oven is for storage-- It is my oven and toaster and convection oven --Directions say not to cover the bottom with foil or other non stick thing--the heating elements are on the bottom of mine as the rack is above them --it is not awful to keep clean--much smaller than a big oven. . I have yet to see directions that say not to use a toaster oven. have used it just like a big oven for 5 years now. Also have an airfryer that is very easy to keep clean.

Re: Two questions about these multi-purpose cookers

patbz — Fri, 30 Dec 2022 17:37:30 GMT

DHs big Christmas gift was Breville air fryer/ convection oven. It was pricey but well worth it.

Re: Two questions about these multi-purpose cookers

Free2be — Sat, 31 Dec 2022 23:16:05 GMT

Having tried many types, I've concluded you can't get everything you want in one appliance. Some provide benefits other's don't and some clean up easier. Some cook faster, some are easier to handle, less clumsy than the others. Pick your battle, so to speak. Read reviews and compare, decide what matters most.

My most recent try is the flip-up Ninja which is Great for saving space but awkward to deal with pulling out the hot trays. The deep-well style which takes up a lot of counter space cooks faster and has a grill. Much easier to use. I've tried others, too. Space is most important for me.

If this flip-up version annoys me by burning me or taking too long to cook or other hassle, I'll concede and pull out my faithful deep well Ninja that knows what to do and how to do it.

Re: Two questions about these multi-purpose cookers

Free2be — Sat, 31 Dec 2022 23:21:59 GMT

I am most interested in the Breville Joule countertop oven. It seems to offer the best of the latest in this type of product and having the reliability of the Breville line. Expensive, though.

If I knew it airfried as fast as my best Ninja . . . .