That does look good. Does anything smell better than a roasting chicken?

I not long ago bought a Breville combination convection oven but did not get the one with the air fry option. My neighbor mentioned he'd done the same and wished he had the fryer. He'd done somethings for me so I bought him the Ninja air fryer and he seems to be really enjoying it. I have A LOT of cookbooks rarely used taking up space in kitchen cupboards - but with some paring down I could make room for one 😊 However DH is always willing to grill and he seems to have knack for usually getting a nice crispy sear on things without drying out the middles. Gas, and outside. No cookware to clean up.

Looks yummy!

That looks delish. I keep toying with the idea of getting a small air fryer.

IMO the airfryer is the greatest kitchen invention in many, many years.

I've been looking at meal delivery systems. One is Tovala. It requires you to buy and use their oven. The reviews are interesting in that people seem to love the little oven -- some of them love it more than the food. This looks to me like an 'air fryer', but I don't know how that differs from a convection oven -- an option on my built-in oven.

Does anyone have more informantion comparing such ovens -- or Tovala?

Ninapearl your chicken looks delicious. I love my air fryer, use it all the time.

Ninapearl YOU can cook! That is perfection incarnate! 👩‍🍳 Guess I'll cook chicken for dinner tonight...I've been inspired!

I love to do pork belly in my air fryer as the crackling goes much more crunchy than it does in my oven :-)

with some paring down I could make room for one

that's what i did and also moved a few other things around to make room. i also grill a LOT but i don't like going out in the rain or when there's a lot of snow piled up.

That looks delish. I keep toying with the idea of getting a small air fryer.

it really was very tasty! i made the mistake of getting a little 2 qt just to "try it out". i loved it so much, i gave it to my daughter-in-law for french fries and hot dogs for my grandson and bought myself a 6 qt. that way, i can fix a lot at one time (for leftovers, etc.) all at the same time instead of frying in batches.

Ninapearl YOU can cook!

😂 i CAN but cooking for one person can be really hard. the air fryer makes it so easy and clean up is a snap!

Psst? Grocery store frozen egg rolls (Pagoda) are fantastic in the air fryer (I cooked mine at a higher temp than they suggested). My only suggestion.

You chicken looks freaking AWESOME!

" This looks to me like an 'air fryer', but I don't know how that differs from a convection oven "

Most air fryers these days are just like high-temp convection ovens, in my opinion. I have an older style air fryer with a rotating paddle that turns the food as it cooks.

Grocery store frozen egg rolls (Pagoda)

i keep those in my freezer all the time, they make great midday snacks and come out so crispy in the air fryer!

Your chicken is gorgeous!!!

I use my air-fryer a lot. The only time the full oven goes on is when I make pizza, my 12" cast iron pizza pan, and bread.

Most air fryers these days are just like high-temp convection ovens, in my opinion.

I don’t know, air fryers have the same temp ranges as ovens. I think the difference is the air speed.

I can’t find it now, but a while back I started experimenting with a Ninja air fryer vs air fry setting in my wall oven vs convection bake in Breville, and as I recall there were noticeable differences in the exterior, with the dedicated air fryer being crispiest. I’ll try to look again.

I have an additional toaster oven with air fryer function which I could add to the mix some day.

”Grocery store frozen egg rolls (Pagoda) …”

I looked these up a d saw some nutritional info (they look high in fat and carbs), but I could not locate the calorie count per Pagoda eggroll. Can anyone spot where it is listed?

Nina your chix looks good and it’s great that you don’tneed to make a mess or heat up the kitchen. All the food looks tasty.

A few years back, I bought the Breville oven with the air fryer mode.

I have used the Air Fryer mode infrequently — more for just re-heating things like fish and chips or pizza slice.

Here is my thing with air fryers … perhaps I’m missing something. But it seems to me that even though it’s supposedly saves on grease and fat and oil, the whole point of using one is that you are after all cooking are and fatty. Even the roasted potatoes have a coating of oil on them. Of course this is much better than deep frying, but it still is made to cook, oily food or food.to which one is going to add oil. So it is inherently aimed at cooking high calorie snacks or food, isn’t it?

Dry fingers ==> typos, sorry

I'll look online for any info that disects differences between 'air fryer' and the options on my 25 year old built in oven/microwave -- each has a convection offering. I've only ever used the convection option when broiling meat in the oven.

I know we are cautioned not to eat a lot of heavily seared meats; don't know how that might apply to 'air frying'.

Adding: OK, I ust looked online. Yes, air frying is better than eating foods fried in oil... But, high temps somewhat negate any benefits, not only in the food, but from breathing air full of the high temp molecules thrown off in the process. Win some/Lose some?

@petalique this is on the chicken egg rolls. it might be different on the pork flavored ones...

as for cooking with oil, any time a recipe calls for brushing with oil, i just use the olive oil vegetable spray, zero calories. this is how i fixed the whole chicken.

you're right, these probably aren't the healthiest but i only fix them once or twice a week and just one is usually all i eat at a time. :)

Ninapearl which airfryer do you have. Link?

@Sherry8aNorthAL here you go...

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B096N3FTZP?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

i chose this one based on reviews and i like the fact that it has a viewing window for checking on what's cooking. it's very quiet, too. i've used it numerous times to fix a salmon filet, i'll never fix salmon any other way now!

LJ, when i'm not air frying, i'm grilling! thanks for the tip, i'll check out Aldi the next time i'm in town.

Petalique, I think the purpose of the air fryer is more about cooking crispy things while also using less oil. Not meant to be health food but something like homemade chicken wings are surprisingly crispier than in the the oven. I should probably compare it to convection mode but the air fryer to just so handy. It also makes great frozen fries with zero oil.

" It also makes great frozen fries with zero oil. "

Most frozen fries have plenty of vegetable oil already added. It's usually the second ingredient listed on the label, just after "potatoes".

Maybe no additional oil, but not no oil.

I have to agree with Elmer on this one because frozen fries usually do have oil already in them. It would be better to cut up your own potatoes if you are wanting a healthier food.

ALL French fries are double fried. I made from scratch frequently awhile ago. Peel, cut, soak in water, drain and air dry. Fry in oil until semicooked, cool, then fry agiain until crisp.

They are great, but no one but me appreciated them . Frozen fries that are at the first precooked stage is what I use now. I cook a serving of French fries for my husband every Thursday in the oven.

Would everyone please tell me the brand and size of the air fryer they like. I will not be cooking raw meat, that I do that on the grill or in the Crock Pot. Cooking only for one or two. French fries, egg rolls, reheating.

I have a very space challenged kitchen. It was designed in the 50's or 60's for a family that only heated TV dinners, made peanut butter sandwiches, or cereal. I guess that you were to eat out for most meals. The kitchen is 9ftx9ft. and the "dining" room is the same size. I will have to find a space to store.

I do have a toaster oven theat is fine for toast, bagels, or reheating pizza. It does not do French fries well. My old one did, but it died.

I use the Ninja 4 Qt. Now $89 on Amazon and Walmart. I also use the parchment paper liners that they sell separately so I don't have to wash the basket after every use.

Thanks, ninapearl. They are less calorie rich than I imagined. And they are only an occasional treat. Maybe I’ll look into the Aldi ones.

JoanM, I’m getting a better understanding. You reminded me that about 6 months ago, I actually did use the Breville air fry mode for frozen crinkle cut fries. They already come w fat on them, so I did not need to add any. They were very good. I don’t make them often.

That chicken is inviting, ninapearl.

I have decided I do not have room or a real need for an air fryer. Thanks.