For years, I’ve hesitated about shopping for an air fryer. It simply appeared like one other clunky gimmick so as to add to the various different clunky gimmicks that fill my kitchen bench. Certainly it was a fad that might die off.
Properly, it hadn’t by 2021 so I made a decision I might must attempt one for myself. Philips generously despatched me their new Airfryer XXL Premium, a giant, modern black machine that retails for a cool $589. That may be a lot for an air fryer, however not all air fryers can do what this Philips one can. Like, match an entire rooster.
However I am leaping forward.
I challenged myself to cook dinner every week’s price of meals with the air fryer to see if it actually could be definitely worth the funding. This is how that went.
Air Fryer Meal 1: TikTok Pasta Chips
If you happen to comply with TikTok (or know somebody younger and funky who does) you have most likely heard in regards to the TikTok pasta chips. Basically simply cooked pasta (often penne or rigatoni) that is then thrown into the air fryer to re-cook it into crunchy “chips”, the recipe went viral on the social media platform and was the primary air fryer recipe I thought of.
It is a very straightforward recipe. You boil your pasta, toss it with oil, parmesan, paprika and, should you’re a chilli-head like me, some chilli. Throw it into the basket of the air fryer and cook dinner.
The very best a part of the Philips Airfryer XXL Premium is that it is obtained preset, sensible controls. For cut-up veggies (and, I made a decision, pasta that I needed changed into chips) I simply pressed one button and it did all of the work, together with telling me when to toss the basket to maneuver the pasta round for even cooking.
The outcome was really scrumptious. They don’t seem to be an eat-alone deal with, however a terrific snack dipped in some yoghurt dip or basil-based dip. Do not skimp on the oil and cheese – I did the primary time round and so they have been a bit bland.
Air Fryer Meal 2: Meatballs
I’ve by no means mastered meatballs in a fry pan – I at all times discover they do not cook dinner via, or over-cook. I purchased some pre-packaged meatballs and Googled how lengthy to air fry them.
The Philips Airfryer XXL Premium does include a helpful menu of cooking occasions however sadly meatballs wasn’t on there. Nonetheless, the wonderful thing about air fryers and their hype is you can at all times discover a tough time information for cooking something you need.
From reminiscence, the information stated round 12 minutes. Yep, issues cook dinner quick within the air fryer. I popped them in, set the temperature and time, and waited.
I’ll say that cooking meatballs REALLY made a stink within the kitchen. An excellent stink – cooking meat, a scent I like – however heads as much as flip your rangehood on to suck up a number of the steam that comes out the again of the machine.
The decision? DELICIOUS. Completely crunchy on the skin, effortlessly juicy inside. I could not imagine it.
Air Fryer Meal 3: Steak
For the reason that meatballs have been a success I made a decision to offer my air fryer a problem – steak. We have been craving steak for dinner and haven’t got a BBQ, so it appeared like an excellent one to attempt.
I purchased two scotch fillets and as soon as once more turned to Google for some course. Boards stated to season your steak effectively, and pop in at 200C for round 12-14 minutes.
Once more, this made the kitchen scent like BBQ meat. We additionally checked on this yet another continuously, however have been pleasantly stunned when on the finish of 12 minutes, we had juicy, medium-rare steaks. They weren’t as crisp on the skin as you’d get from a BBQ however the style was on-par.
Air Fryer Meal 4: Mars Bar Pockets
I discovered this recipe all around the web however ultimately, made it up myself. It is actually simply your favorite chocolate bar in fun-size or chopped up kind, sandwiched in between two squares of shortcrust pastry. Baste the highest with some egg and also you’re set.
This was… okay. I discovered it was an excessive amount of shortcrust pastry in ratio to chocolate, and wasn’t actually into it. I’d attempt once more with filo for a extra buttery end.
Air Fryer Meal 5: Roast Greens
I eat roast veggies a number of occasions every week in winter, and often I do them within the oven with some olive oil, paprika, salt, pepper and chilli. For the air fryer I used considerably much less oil, however the identical different substances.
I solely did brussel sprouts and broccolini. I used the extent rack that is included with the Philips Airfryer XXL Premium, which meant I may cook dinner extra veggies, extra evenly. Each got here out tremendous crispy and scrumptious, though I might most likely add somewhat extra oil subsequent time for flavour.
Air Fryer Meal 6: Pumpkin Chips
My boyfriend insisted on doing pumpkin chips, not candy potato chips. Mainly, we sliced pumpkin very thinly, popped all of it within the basket with some oil. We used the preset once more like we did with the pasta chips, and it labored a deal with – though I believe candy potato would have had a nicer chip flavour.
Air Fryer Meal 7: A Complete Roast Hen
The piece de resistance. Sure, I did an entire roast rooster within the air fryer.
For the recipe, we made it up. We went with stuffing made from pre-mix crumbs, butter, thyme and lemon. We additionally slid butter below the pores and skin on prime and a few thyme and lemon slices, however we needed to take away the slices as a result of we made the rooster too fats for the fryer, haha.
As soon as we sorted that subject out, we used the preset on the fryer. Yep, all you need to do is add within the weight of the rooster, and it does the remaining.
It does the remaining REALLY effectively, in truth. Our rooster got here out completely crispy, however juicy and well-cooked inside. It was one of the best roast rooster I might had exterior of a restaurant. Arms down. I used to be shocked, to be trustworthy.
Verdict
I might undoubtedly spend money on an air fryer and, as a meat eater, a giant one just like the XXL Premium so I may do roast rooster once more. It’s simply really easy to cook dinner.
It is also straightforward to wash, a giant issue I am positive for anybody who hates cleansing up after cooking. The basket and base are straightforward to take away, dishwasher protected and are available aside so you’ll be able to completely clear. I haven’t got a dishwasher and did discover a number of the meat grease a bit extra time-consuming to clean up by hand, however nonetheless fairly straightforward.
The scent and steam the machine emits may very well be a difficulty if you do not have a spread hood. It is good to open a window and pop the machine in entrance of it so the scent and steam can go straight out.
The presets on the Philips Airfryer XXL Premium are an enormous win – they cook dinner to perfection and make the method even simpler, as a result of you understand it should cook dinner your meal completely, you do not have to maintain checking on it.
The Philips Airfryer XXL Premium is $589.
