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CNET
34 minutes ago
- CNET
Air Fryers Are the Best Warm Weather Kitchen Appliance, and I Have Data to Prove It
No disrespect to the grill but I've got a new favorite summer cooking routine and it doesn't require standing over hot flames in triple-digit heat. It's that little countertop overachiever: the air fryer. It not only cooks fast and handles burgers. hot dogs and chicken like a pro but it won't require you to be outside in the heat and it doesn't cause the kitchen to spike in temperature like cooking on the stovetop or in the oven will. Don't get me wrong -- I love grilling. There's something primal and satisfying about cooking over open flames with a cold drink in hand. But when it's 90 degrees or more and the sun roasting, I start rethinking things. The numbers don't lie To prove why the air fryer belongs in the summer hall of fame, I ran tests to see how much the oven heats up the kitchen versus an air fryer. Spoiler alert: The air fryer trounced the oven, barely raising the temperature in my home at all. Air fryers also cook quickly and need almost no preheat time so you'll keep from turning that all-important space into a hot box. A heat wave requires creative thinking to keep the home cool and an air fryer is my ticket to getting through those sweltering summer spells without starving. The best part? A quality air fryer can be had for as little as $50. Since air fryers use less energy than an oven or grill, they'll save you money on your monthly energy costs. Trendy air fryers are all they're cracked up to be, especially when it's hot out. David Watsky/CNET I ran tests to see how much hotter an oven would make the kitchen The air fryer turns out juicy chicken thighs in under 20 minutes. David Watsky/CNET To find real-world differences, I roasted chicken thighs in my KitchenAid wall oven (less than 10 years old) and a 4-quart Dreo air fryer, according to two popular recipes from a well-known cooking site. I tested the temperature before, during and after to see how much of a difference each machine makes. My Brooklyn apartment kitchen is on the small side, but it's not enclosed and opens up to the rest of the apartment. I kept the windows closed for the test, although it's worth noting that recent studies show cooking with natural gas in an enclosed kitchen can be a health risk. I'm finding fewer and fewer reasons to turn on the big oven these days. David Watsky/CNET The standard oven recipe called for the chicken to be roasted at 375 degrees for 30 minutes in the oven. Because of its smaller chamber, the air fryer recipe only required 20 minutes of cooking at the same temperature. The air fryer requires only about a minute to come to temperature, while the oven takes more than five. An ambient thermometer is all I needed to test how much hotter a gas oven can make the kitchen. David Watsky/CNET I placed a standard ambient thermometer in the middle of the kitchen -- about 5 feet from the stove -- at counter height. I took a reading before the oven or air fryer was turned on. I took another reading halfway through the cooking time and the last one at the end of the cooking time. Between the two sessions, I waited for the kitchen to return to a resting temperature before starting the next one. Ovens may have more capacity but they warm the kitchen far more than an air fryer. Getty The oven made my kitchen 10 degrees hotter than the air fryer Midway through the recipes (15 minutes), the oven raised the temperature of my kitchen by 15 degrees from 71 F to too-hot 88 F. After 10 minutes of cooking with the air fryer on 375 F, the temperature in my kitchen had gone up only 5 degrees F, from 72 F to a pleasant 77 F. You can feel heat emanating from the air fryer if you stand close enough, but it's not enough to significantly change the temperature of the kitchen. Read more: Here's How to Keep Your Kitchen Cool (and Lower Your Energy Bill) During a Heat Wave Not only did the air fryer cause less of a temperature spike, but I only needed to have it running for roughly 20 minutes with one minute of preheat time. The oven took 30 minutes to cook the chicken and 6 minutes to preheat. Using the air fryer will cut down on energy bills Even modern ovens use significantly more energy than an air fryer. Mary King/CNET During a heat wave, your air conditioner is already working hard. Heating the kitchen up with your oven will only require them to work harder, using more energy to bring the room back down to your desired temperature. For the AC to make up the difference for one 20- or 30-minute cooking session with an oven, it may not be a total budget-buster. Spread that out over time or for longer cooking sessions and using the oven during hot months can have real fiscal ramifications. For more on this, read my breakdown of exactly how much more an oven costs to run than an air fryer. What can you make in an air fryer? Roasted chicken in the air fryer is dynamite and takes less time than in the large oven. David Watsky/CNET An air fryer can do almost any cooking job that an oven can, although air fryers are typically smaller than wall ovens so you can't cook as much in one go. I've been tinkering with the air fryer a lot this year. I discovered the joy of cooking whole chickens in the air fryer, filets of salmon and even bacon cheeseburgers. The air fryer goes well beyond its reputation for cooking crispy wings and french fries. You can make dinner party-level recipes in the air fryer without breaking a sweat, literally. Here are seven foods that I only make in the air fryer now not just because they keep my kitchen cooler but because the results are as good or better than other methods. Here's our complete guide to air fryers, everyone's favorite new kitchen appliance. FAQs How much energy does an air fryer save when compared to a wall oven? An air fryer uses 50% less total energy than a wall oven does, according to calculations performed by CNET's resident kitchen home tech expert, David Watsky.
Forbes
36 minutes ago
- Forbes
Royal Caribbean Credit Card Review 2025: Sailing Nowhere Fast
The sea may be calling, but the Royal Caribbean Visa Signature Credit Card* is not. Though the card carries so much potential, most cruisers will be disappointed by its low earning rates and distinct lack of benefits while traveling. For a no annual fee card, the welcome bonus delights. You have the opportunity to earn 30,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 and a $50 discount for flights booked with Royal Caribbean's Air2Sea program after spending $3,500, both within the first 90 days of account opening. You can double the value of each point by choosing your reward redemptions carefully. Saving up your points for cabin upgrades, companion fares or cruise vacations can lead to returns of up to 2 cents per point, which is a good return if you're willing to patiently wait for your next reward. Why you can trust Forbes Advisor Our credit card editors are committed to bringing you unbiased ratings and information. Advertisers do not and cannot influence our ratings. We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate financial products and companies, so all are measured equally. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and the credit card methodology for the ratings below. This card could feel like a cruise to nowhere based on how low the earning rates are. There's only one bonus category—charges made with Royal Caribbean or its sister brands—and purchases top out at 2 points per dollar spent. The vast majority of your purchases will only earn a single point per dollar. Airline and hotel credit cards typically lavish cardholders with extras like status boosts, priority boarding or discounts, but the Royal Caribbean Visa doesn't offer a single benefit while cruising. The Royal Caribbean Visa Signature earns MyCruise points at the following rates: Additionally, as a new cardholder, you can earn 30,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 and a $50 discount for flights booked with Royal Caribbean's Air2Sea program after spending $3,500, both within the first 90 days of account opening. Royal Caribbean (and its sister brand, Celebrity Cruises) offer an assortment of redemption options for MyCruise points. Of these, onboard credit, discounts on cruises and charitable donations have the easiest-to-understand values: Your points are worth 1 cent each, meaning 15,000 MyCruise points would buy you $150 in onboard credit or as a discount off your cruise fare. More exciting options—with a higher return per point—include stateroom upgrades, complimentary companion fares or entirely free cruises. The exact value per point on these varies by the precise sailing you're booking, but could increase your point value up to two cents each. For example, the same 15,000 MyCruise points that are worth $150 in onboard credit are also enough to cover the cost of an upgrade on a four to eight-night cruise from an interior to oceanview stateroom valued at up to $300. Free cruises begin at 50,000 MyCruise points for a three or four-night cruise in an oceanview stateroom (valid on cruise fares up to $1,000). Eligible seven night sailings may be redeemed for 125,000 points. This could be a nice incentive for saving your points until you have enough for a larger redemption. Cardholders can also redeem their points for merchandise, though it generally represents poor value. Forbes Advisor uses estimated spending amounts to simulate the number of points you might earn from this card in one year. Based on data from multiple government agencies, our research shows that a household earning in the 70th percentile brings in $127,200 of income and can reasonably charge $40,398 to a credit card across the following categories: Royal Caribbean Visa Signature Credit Card* Rewards Potential The Celebrity Cruises Visa Signature Credit Card* is nearly identical to the Royal Caribbean card—both cards have no annual fee, no foreign transaction fee and earn MyCruise Rewards points at the same rate. For the most part, you'll simply need to choose between the branding that shows on your card name and design. With the Celebrity Cruises Credit Card, you'll still have access to redemptions, including cruise vacations, discounts and onboard credit at the same prices. Currently, there's one slight advantage to choosing the Royal Caribbean version of the card: Only the Royal Caribbean credit card offers new cardholders a small discount on Air2Sea bookings. The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is a fantastic, flexible rewards card, especially if you're looking for one without an annual fee (rates & fees). It has no foreign transaction fee and features flexible rewards. While you can't redeem Capital One miles directly for a free cruise, you can reimburse yourself for any travel expenses charged to the card. That's similar to the rate you'd get for onboard credit or fare discounts with the Royal Caribbean card. There are two reasons why the VentureOne could be a better choice for your needs. First, it has a higher base earning rate of 1.25 miles per $1 spent, which means your rewards will add up 25% faster. Additionally, your rewards can be transferred to partnering airlines and hotels. Not only does that add versatility, but it could lead to even greater values. One of the best ways to earn rewards on your cruise fare is with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. If you're willing to reserve your cruise through Chase Travel rather than directly with the cruise line or another agency, you can earn 5 Ultimate Rewards® points per dollar on your fare. Onboard charges earn 2 points per dollar, which is the same multiplier you'd get from the Royal Caribbean card. The Sapphire Preferred has an annual fee, though most cardholders find they get enough value from the card to offset it. You'll get a $50 credit for hotel bookings made with Chase Travel annually, perfect for a night if you arrive at your point of embarkation the night before. The card also includes numerous forms of travel insurance and the ability to transfer points to airlines or hotels for additional redemption options. Additionally, your points are worth 25% more, or 1.25 cents each, when used for travel booked through Chase Travel (including cruises). Unfortunately, the Royal Caribbean Visa Card doesn't quite hit the mark when choosing a travel rewards credit card. We love that it offers no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, but it lags many other cards in terms of earning rates, redemption versatility and the value per point. Unless you have a massive amount of regular spending with Royal Caribbean, you're likely better off looking for a card with broader options. Forbes Advisor considers a variety of criteria when assigning credit cards a rating. Cards are graded based on numerous factors, including: We give greater weight to the card features we believe cardholders will use most frequently. These factors combine to generate a star rating for each card. To learn more about our rating and review methodology and editorial process, check out our guide on how Forbes Advisor rates credit cards. *The information for the following card(s) has been collected independently by Forbes Advisor: Royal Caribbean Visa Signature Credit Card, Celebrity Cruises Visa Signature Credit Card. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Skift
40 minutes ago
- Skift
11 Fresh Options for Meeting in the Western U.S.
The Western region of the U.S has always been known for its innovation, and these new and newly renovated properties include a just-introduced culinary concept hotel and the only hotel in the U.S. with on-site flight simulators. Skift Meetings' collection of new/newly renovated venues for meetings and incentive trips is as diverse and the region, with a mix of classics like the newly renovated Hotel del Coronado in San Diego; massive convention properties like the Gaylord Pacific Resort and Convention Center in Chula Vista, CA; and desert resorts including Utah's Black Desert Resort, set among the black lava fields and red rock cliffs of Zion National Park. Explore 135 exceptional new properties hand-picked for meeting and incentive planners Also included are the first member of the new Appellation brand, designed around culinary artistry and the first carbon-positive hotel in the U.S., Denver's Populous. Here's what's new in the Western U.S., and take a look at our just-released report on 135 hotels for meetings and incentive travel here. 1. Appellation Lodi Lodi, CA The Wine & Roses Hotel in Lodi will soon become Appellation Lodi – Wine & Roses Resort and Spa, the brand's first operating property. It offers 7,000 square feet of event space across six venues, including a ballroom with capacity for up to 350 guests, and 6,000+ square feet of lawn turf. The property's two signature Charlie Palmer dining concepts bring it in line with the brand's vision of infusing culinary artistry into every aspect of the guest experience. 2. Asher Adams Salt Lake City, UT Opened in October 2024, the train-travel-themed Asher Adams hotel was inspired by Salt Lake City's Union Pacific Depot. It offers 225 guest rooms and 10,000 square feet of flexible event space across eight rooms for up to 300 guests. Centrally located, it offers direct access to The Delta Center and quick airport access, as well as four dining options. 3. Black Desert Resort Ivins, UT Set to be completed in spring 2025, Black Desert Resort is located among the black lava fields and red rock cliffs of Greater Zion in Southern Utah. The 600-acre resort will offer almost 800 guest rooms and suites, as well as 13 separate event spaces and four terraces. Amenities include seven dining options and a unique 19-hole golf course, the first to host a PGA Tour and LPGA Tour tournaments in the state of Utah since 1963. 4. Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center Chula Vista, CA Scheduled to open in May 2025, the Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center, is a 1,600-room waterfront resort with almost half a million square feet of meeting space. It features four divisible ballrooms, the largest of which can host almost 10,000 guests and doubles as an exhibit hall. Also available are 47 meeting rooms, 135,000 square feet of event lawns and terraces, 10 dining options, a spa, and views of the Pacific Ocean. 5. Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort (Conversion) Scottsdale, AZ Following a $115 million renovation, the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch reopened in November 2024 as the Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort. The resort offers 90,000 square feet of meeting and event space, including the newly expanded 24,000-square-foot Arizona Ballroom, and 48 meeting rooms. The 496-room resort includes casitas and suites, updated F&B by Chef Richard Blais, a 2.5-acre pool area, and refreshed Spa Avania. 6. Hotel del Coronado (Renovation) San Diego, CA Hotel del Coronado, originally opened in 1888, will soon complete the last phase of its $550 million renovation. The property offers 757 guest rooms and more than 96,000 square feet of event space. The hotel's largest indoor meeting space is the 15,130-square-foot Southpointe Ballroom, with capacity for 1,500, theater-style. The hotel also offers multiple outdoor event spaces, including one of the only private beaches in Southern California, and nine dining options. 7. Hotel Polaris Colorado Springs, CO Hotel Polaris is located at the North Entrance of the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs in the popular Pikes Peak region. It is the only hotel in the U.S. to offer on-site F-16 and 737 flight simulator experiences, making it popular for teambuilding. The hotel features 375 guest rooms and offers 40,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space, including a large ballroom with capacity for 1,250, theater-style. The hotel also offers six dining options, a pool, a spa, and a fitness center. 8. Kali Hotel and Rooftop, Autograph Collection Inglewood, CA Expected to open in 2026 in Hollywood Park, Kali Hotel and Rooftop, Autograph Collection will be located next to the SoFi Stadium and YouTube Theater, and close to Intuit Dome and Kia Forum. The $300 million development will have an estimated 20,000 square feet of event space, along with multiple dining options, fitness and wellness facilities, a spa, pools, a yoga deck, and on-site parking for more than 300 vehicles. 9. Meritage Collection Phoenix Phoenix, AZ Scheduled to open in 2026, the 236-room Meritage Collection Phoenix will be located in downtown Phoenix, close to major transport hubs. It will feature an estimated 22,250 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space, with the largest ballroom holding up to 450 guests, theater-style. The hotel will also offer a full-service restaurant, a large spa, a fitness center, and a rooftop bar and pool deck. 10. Populous Denver, CO Reported to be the first carbon-positive hotel in the U.S., the 265-room property offers two culinary options and five flexible meeting spaces for up to 60 guests. Populous aims to go beyond net-zero to focus on regeneration. The building itself features biophilic architecture and was constructed using low-carbon materials. The property plants one tree for every night a guest stays, it sources food from regenerative, organic farmers, and composts 100% of food waste on site. 11. The Venetian Resort Las Vegas Convention Center (Renovation) Las Vegas, NV The Venetian Resort Las Vegas is undergoing a $1.5 billion renovation. This includes a $188 million refresh to its meeting and events space, which is scheduled to open in stages through 2026. The refresh will include an evolution of the current catering program, including using organic ingredients, sustainable practices, and a food rescue program. A new 10,000-square-foot speakeasy-style lounge will be added to the resort's already ample collection of event spaces.
