I Switched To Air Fryer Cooking For Everything and I Won’t Go Back

I have conducted extensive tests on various air fryers, with two or three of them always on display in my kitchen. This has given my kitchen a warm and inviting atmosphere similar to that of an appliance showroom.

Over time, I found myself using my oven less and less for simple cooking tasks as I delved deeper into using air fryers for my work.

This led me to question whether I really needed to rely on my oven at all. To find out, I decided to exclusively use an air fryer for all my oven cooking for a month. Despite its name, an air fryer is essentially a mini convection oven that can handle almost any cooking task an oven can.

The rules of my experiment were simple: I had to cook everything in the air fryer that I would normally cook in the oven, and I couldn’t resort to eating frozen meals for every meal.

Here are the key lessons I learned during that month.

1. Reheating means rethinking

My initial mishap involved over-reheating pizza slices at the recommended temperature, resulting in dried-out, unappetizing pieces. I quickly learned that for most foods (excluding frozen, breaded items), it’s best to lower the cooking temperature by 10°C/20°F.

There’s a learning curve when transitioning to air fryer cooking, so it’s advisable to adjust cooking times and temperatures as needed. Unfortunately, you can’t undo overcooked food, so it’s best to err on the side of caution.

2. Microwave + air fryer is still faster than an oven

I experimented with heating individual shepherd’s pies in stoneware dishes using the air fryer instead of the oven. The results were impressive, with a crispy crust achieved in a fraction of the time it would take in the oven. While my air fryer lacked an inbuilt probe for checking doneness, some models offer this feature for added convenience.

For optimal results, I found that microwaving the pies first to heat them through and then air frying them for a golden finish worked best. This microwave + air fryer combo also proved effective for preparing jacket potatoes and offered a cost-effective cooking method.

It’s important to note that pre-cooking pastry pies in the microwave may lead to unsatisfactory results.

3. Baking is easier than you expect

Baking a cake in an air fryer may seem unconventional, but it’s not only possible but also faster and energy-saving. The key is to adjust the recipe for a slightly lower temperature than you would use in an oven to ensure even baking.

While space may be limited in smaller air fryers, models like the FlexDrawer offer ample room for baking full-size cakes. Following the recipe closely and adjusting the temperature accordingly will yield a perfectly baked cake.

Emma Rowley / Foundry

Experimenting with different recipes and dishes in the air fryer, such as crisping up gnocchi, making toasted sandwiches, roasting vegetables, and defrosting peas, proved to be rewarding. I even found that air-frying vegetables with a bit of oil and garlic, while not as healthy as steaming, added a delightful flavor dimension to the dishes.

5. Forget 10-inch pizzas

One limitation of traditional air fryers is their inability to accommodate a 10-inch pizza. If you’re set on cooking a supermarket pizza, you’ll need to use a regular oven as the air fryer won’t suffice.

Emma Rowley / Foundry

I once sliced a pizza in half and cooked the pieces separately in the air fryer to adhere to my self-imposed challenge. While the results were satisfactory, it was a rather unconventional approach.

Unless you invest in an air fryer oven or a dedicated pizza oven, a regular oven is still the best option for pizza preparation.

Apart from pizzas and certain dishes like leafy vegetables and items with wet batters, an air fryer can handle a wide range of cooking tasks. For instance, cooking steaks is best left to a traditional pan for optimal results.

6. My oven now seems Medieval

After exclusively using an air fryer for a month, my oven now appears cumbersome and outdated. Its large size, lengthy cooking times, and challenging cleaning process make it less appealing compared to the convenience of an air fryer.

While the energy savings of using an air fryer exclusively are difficult to quantify, the time and effort saved in cooking and cleanup are substantial. As a result, I rarely use my oven unless I’m preparing a full roast dinner or baking a pizza.

Want to try it yourself?

If you’re interested in exploring air fryer cooking further, consider reading my FlexDrawer review for more insights. Additionally, you can explore our top recommended dual-zone air fryers to compare options. While the FlexDrawer may not be available in the US, the Ninja Foodi FlexBasket offers a similar experience with a slightly smaller 7QT capacity.

For a cooking space comparable to the FlexDrawer, you may also consider an air fryer oven. Our roundup of the best air fryer ovens provides valuable recommendations for your cooking needs. We also offer suggestions for the best Ninja air fryer and the top overall air fryer on the market.