Why have I waited this long to get an air fryer?
Seriously, my decision to get an air fryer was one of the best purchase decisions I’ve made this year.
Honestly, I was hesitant to get an air fryer because I thought it was a glorified oven – another household appliance that sits around, collecting dust. Boy, was I wrong.
It makes anything crispier and tastier.
The cooking time is longer than a microwave, but the taste cannot be compared with soggy microwaved food. And the cleanup is a breeze too.
My air fryer is from Philips, and it's a well-rounded product that cooks evenly and cleans easily.
Operating the air fryer is intuitive and simple.
You first set the temperature (up to 400 degrees), and then set the timer.
The vent is located on the back of the unit.
Taste
Air fryers work by circulating hot air, giving the dish a crispier taste.
Cooking with an air fryer is a much healthier alternative to deep frying without sacrificing the crunchy taste. I was honestly worried about the taste, thinking that it would taste like oven-cooked dishes. But the air fryer dishes closely resemble deep-fried dishes. Crunchy on the outside and moist inside.
Mini corndogs - crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside
I now prefer to use an air fryer over the oven for most of my dishes, including but not limited to, homemade fries, chicken (rosemary, roasted, nuggets, cutlets, or wings), dumplings, and bacon.
Fries and nuggets are crispy without being greasy.
In fact, the oils get emptied into the basin while the meat is cooking, so an air fryer is a healthier cooking option.
One problem is that I tend to eat more because whatever I cook with an air fryer has fewer calories and fat, haha.
Air-fried chicken nuggets on a bed of salad veggies!
If the ingredients you’re cooking already have some fat or oil (think of chicken thighs or frozen nuggets), you don’t need a drop of oil to achieve the crunchy tasting results.
For leaner ingredients (think chicken breasts and dumplings), I sprinkle a little bit of olive oil. The oil keeps the meat from over-drying.
Cleanup
Compared to stovetop cooking, the air fryer virtually makes no mess.
Bacon grease is the hardest thing to clean, especially on a gas cooktop, and for that reason alone, I’d choose an air fryer in a heartbeat.
My Philips air fryer has removable parts that are all dishwasher safe. Each piece comes apart easily and cleans nicely in a dishwasher.
Some people complain about having to clean the upper heat coil (the main heat source of most air fryers) manually because it cannot be removed.
I didn’t experience much splatter, but just in case, I purchased a model with a splatter guard, and I’m putting good use to it. The splatter guard is very useful whenever I’m cooking that’s extra greasy like hamburger or bacon.
Splatter guard that protects the heating element on top
Not all Philips air fryer comes with a splatter guard, but it is available for purchase separately.
Mine included the splatter guard.
Price and Thoughts on Other Air Fryers
Philips air fryers are more expensive than other air fryers in the market, but I think they are well worth it. The turbo star technology used on the bottom of the machine ensures even cooking, and that makes a huge difference, in my opinion. There is not a single spot that gets undercooked.
And I highly suggest getting the largest size that you can afford even if you’re only cooking for 2-3. Depending on the type of dish (like pork loin), you may need a larger cooking area. Or you might be hosting a dinner for 8!
I sort of regret getting the compact size every time I'm having some guests over, but the compact size is perfect for everyday meals.
I normally don’t leave out an appliance on a kitchen counter, but my Philips air fryer has found a golden spot on the corner of my kitchen because I literally use it every single day.
You will love an air fryer if you:
- Enjoy crispy, crunchy food
- Don’t want to deal with the hassle of cleaning up
- Want a healthier alternative to deep-fried food without compromising the taste
Why have I waited this long to get an air fryer?
Seriously, my decision to get an air fryer was one of the best purchase decisions I’ve made this year.
Honestly, I was hesitant to get an air fryer because I thought it was a glorified oven – another household appliance that sits around, collecting dust. Boy, was I wrong.
It makes anything crispier and tastier.
The cooking time is longer than a microwave, but the taste cannot be compared with soggy microwaved food. And the cleanup is a breeze too.
My air fryer is from Philips, and it's a well-rounded product that cooks evenly and cleans easily.
Operating the air fryer is intuitive and simple.
You first set the temperature (up to 400 degrees), and then set the timer.
The vent is located on the back of the unit.
Taste
Air fryers work by circulating hot air, giving the dish a crispier taste.
Cooking with an air fryer is a much healthier alternative to deep frying without sacrificing the crunchy taste. I was honestly worried about the taste, thinking that it would taste like oven-cooked dishes. But the air fryer dishes closely resemble deep-fried dishes. Crunchy on the outside and moist inside.
Mini corndogs - crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside
I now prefer to use an air fryer over the oven for most of my dishes, including but not limited to, homemade fries, chicken (rosemary, roasted, nuggets, cutlets, or wings), dumplings, and bacon.
Fries and nuggets are crispy without being greasy.
In fact, the oils get emptied into the basin while the meat is cooking, so an air fryer is a healthier cooking option.
One problem is that I tend to eat more because whatever I cook with an air fryer has fewer calories and fat, haha.
Air-fried chicken nuggets on a bed of salad veggies!
If the ingredients you’re cooking already have some fat or oil (think of chicken thighs or frozen nuggets), you don’t need a drop of oil to achieve the crunchy tasting results.
For leaner ingredients (think chicken breasts and dumplings), I sprinkle a little bit of olive oil. The oil keeps the meat from over-drying.
Cleanup
Compared to stovetop cooking, the air fryer virtually makes no mess.
Bacon grease is the hardest thing to clean, especially on a gas cooktop, and for that reason alone, I’d choose an air fryer in a heartbeat.
My Philips air fryer has removable parts that are all dishwasher safe. Each piece comes apart easily and cleans nicely in a dishwasher.
Some people complain about having to clean the upper heat coil (the main heat source of most air fryers) manually because it cannot be removed.
I didn’t experience much splatter, but just in case, I purchased a model with a splatter guard, and I’m putting good use to it. The splatter guard is very useful whenever I’m cooking that’s extra greasy like hamburger or bacon.
Splatter guard that protects the heating element on top
Not all Philips air fryer comes with a splatter guard, but it is available for purchase separately.
Mine included the splatter guard.
Price and Thoughts on Other Air Fryers
Philips air fryers are more expensive than other air fryers in the market, but I think they are well worth it. The turbo star technology used on the bottom of the machine ensures even cooking, and that makes a huge difference, in my opinion. There is not a single spot that gets undercooked.
And I highly suggest getting the largest size that you can afford even if you’re only cooking for 2-3. Depending on the type of dish (like pork loin), you may need a larger cooking area. Or you might be hosting a dinner for 8!
I sort of regret getting the compact size every time I'm having some guests over, but the compact size is perfect for everyday meals.
I normally don’t leave out an appliance on a kitchen counter, but my Philips air fryer has found a golden spot on the corner of my kitchen because I literally use it every single day.
You will love an air fryer if you: