Latest news with #airfryer
Washington Post
a day ago
- General
- Washington Post
Bake in your air fryer with these cookie, cheesecake and other recipes
I am the proud, happy owner of an air fryer. I can't decide whether branding it as a 'fryer' was either a brilliant stroke of marketing or a surefire way to confuse home cooks. Considering the popularity of the countertop appliance, I tend to agree with the smart branding perspective. Even so, the name doesn't always do this handy kitchen tool — or the people who want to use it — justice.
CNET
2 days ago
- Health
- CNET
The Absolute Best Air Fryer Money Can Buy Has One Key Feature Most Others Don't
CNET's expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise. 9.2 / 10 SCORE Ninja Crispi $180 at Amazon $180 at Target $180 at Best Buy Pros Cook, serve, and storage capabilities Easy to clean: almost everything is dishwasher-safe Intuitive operation No concern about PFAS Ability to see cooking in progress Can buy additional glass vessels for maximum food prep Small storage footprint with nesting capabilities Portable Cons Price is on the high side for air fryers Some exposed hot elements during operation Ninja Crispi 9.2/10 CNET Score $180 at Amazon We take air fryers very seriously around here. Much of our testing involves what and what not to cook in the easy-to-use ovens, but we also test the ovens themselves. This spring, we stumbled upon a new type of air fryer with a glass cooking chamber and it fast become out favorite, earning CNET's Editor's Choice and landing on top of the list of best air fryers for 2025. The Ninja Crispi is our new favorite air fryer. Ninja What's so great about glass? Most air fryers use aluminum cooking baskets with a nonstick coating. Those coatings tend to chip and breakdown if you're not careful. Plenty of folks are concerned about the health ramifications for ingesting nonstick chemicals that chip of of cookware. With a glass-bowl air fryer, there's no worry. If that's not enough, glass is much easier to deep-clean than nonstick surfaces and you can use the dishwasher without issue. A glass chamber also means you can watch your food as it cooks and ensure the food inside doesn't burn or dry out. And for some icing on the cake, the glass basket doubles as ood storage container. The Crispi comes with airtight lids so you can just pop leftovers in the fridge or bring your meal to a gathering without dirtying another dish. Pretty smart, right? Read more: Air Fryer Fails: 8 Foods That Just Can't Handle the Heat The Crispi is one of the more expensive air fryers we've tested at $180. But if you're hunting for an air fryer that's easy to use, easy to clean, built to last and causes no concern about ingesting cookware chemicals, the Ninja Crispi is worth checking out. Ninja Crispi 4-in-1 portable glass air fryer at a glance Style : Modular air fryer with two sizes of glass cooking vessels and a separate cooking pod in three color options : Modular air fryer with two sizes of glass cooking vessels and a separate cooking pod in three color options Dimensions : 13.5 by 12 by 13.5 inches : 13.5 by 12 by 13.5 inches Power : 1,500 watts : 1,500 watts Weight : 15.74 pounds : 15.74 pounds Price $160 Ninja Crispi setup Here's everything that comes with the Ninja Crispi. Pamela Vachon/CNET Despite not looking anything like a typical air fryer, the Ninja Crispi was intuitive to set up and use. Each of the glass cooking vessels has a built-in stand with feet that keeps it off the counter surface. Side handles are also fitted on the stands of the bowls, which allow not only for easy transporting between the counter and the table (because the vessels can also be used to serve) but also make it easy to shake the contents as needed during the cooking process. The nonstick crisper plates were packaged separately and simple to place inside the bowls and to remove for cleaning. Lids for the 6-cup and 4-quart bowls were also included: a snap-on lid for the smaller and a simpler press-on lid for the larger. The cooking pod itself has an ergonomic shape for easy lifting and also has feet for safe placement on the counter when not in use. The cooking pod sits easily on top of the 6-cup bowl and a big-batch adapter frame fits the cooking pod onto the larger bowl. Between unwrapping and rinsing all of the washable parts, I was ready to go in about 2 minutes. Ninja Crispi operation Being able to visually track progress is one of the big draws for Ninja's new air fryer. Pamela Vachon/CNET The cooking pod itself includes crisp, bake, air fry and max crisp functions. Crisp is intended to revive leftovers, while max crisp is the ideal setting for packaged frozen foods. While it is tempting, given its baking dish look, the glass TempWare bowls are not intended to be used as the actual cooking vessels for batters in bake mode, because air still needs to circulate below the cooking vessels to be effective. (Will I try anyway? The temptation is real…) Pressing any button will indicate a digital timer to which you can add or subtract minutes. (The timer defaults to 10.) Below 1 minute, the timer changes into seconds and the device beeps to alert you when the cycle is complete. Overall, the sound level of the Ninja Crispi was similar to conventional air fryer models, with just a moderate whir when operating. What I liked about the Ninja Crispi The cooked food is ready to be packed away or brought to a party as soon as it's ready. Pamela Vachon/CNET As expected, the ability to see the cooking in progress was really satisfying, both from a nerdy perspective and also to be able to look for visual cues in terms of when to flip your items or to assess doneness. Both chicken parts and Brussels sprouts were cooked evenly and efficiently with little risk of over-cooking given the 360-degree window into the proceedings. The versatility, however, makes the Ninja Crispi tremendously interesting, especially for avid meal preppers. Full meals or individual cooked components can go right from cooking into the fridge, with the included lids for easy storage. (Although I am bound by refrigerator logistics to tell you to let it all cool first, so you don't inadvertently raise the temperature inside your fridge.) Additional cooking bowls in a variety of sizes can be purchased separately, allowing for the possibility of a multitude of individually cooked meals with no cleanup required in between use: just transfer the cooking pod from one cooking vessel to the next, assembly-line style. Sunday meal prep has never been easier, nor required fewer dishes. My brussels sprouts got a good char in the Crispi. Pamela Vachon/CNET The Ninja Crispi is also easy to store, with a footprint and height requirement that is far less than a lot of conventional models. It also makes for easy portability -- ideal for a potluck situation or even just a hot-meal self-care moment -- where you could even justify cooking on site. Either of the cooking bowls and the cooking pod could easily fit in a shoulder bag. If I worked in an office, it would thrill me to bring the whole thing with me to have a hot, healthful lunch without reheating. Although if you're contemplating being the person to cook fish directly at your desk -- maybe don't. Not only can the larger 4-quart bowl be used directly as a family-style serving vessel -- whose practical feet preclude the need for a trivet or pot holder -- but one could argue that the smaller 4-cup vessel can be used to eat out of directly, significantly reducing the number of dishes to wash. Speaking of washing, everything except the cooking pod itself is dishwasher-safe. What I didn't like about the Ninja Crispi Convenient as it, the glass cooking chamber does get hotter than your average air fryer base. Pamela Vachon/CNET As a modular device with a ton of built-in practicality and versatility, I do think the Ninja Crispi is a game-changer in the air fryer market. That said, at $180 it's on the higher side, price-wise, for an air fryer. Those with little ones in the house also may want to note: When the cooking pod is being used with the adapter for large batches, the adapter can become hot and is potentially exposed once the heating pod is removed. Never minding little ones, if you're an absent-minded cook yourself, it can be a hazard. Read more: 8 Foods That Go From Good to Great in an Air Fryer Final verdict on the Ninja Crispi If you're a disciple of air fryer cooking and, especially if you have a serious commitment to meal prepping, the Ninja Crispi is arguably one of the most versatile models on the market. It's satisfying to use and easy to store and clean. I may look for it on sale during Prime Days or the like, but even without a discount, its utility and the reputation of the Ninja brand merits its price tag.
CNET
2 days ago
- Health
- CNET
One Bite and I Was Hooked. These Air Fryer Recipes Slap
My air fryer has officially earned a permanent spot on my kitchen counter. When the weather's hot and I'd rather be outside than sweating over a stove, it's a total game changer. I can throw together snacks, sides or full meals without heating up the whole house, and cleanup's a breeze. Not everything turns out great in an air fryer, but the foods that do? They're next-level. Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and way less oily than traditional frying. If you haven't played around with your air fryer much, now's the perfect time to see what it can really do. Though fries and wings are the go-to air fryer staples, these powerhouse appliances can handle much more diverse ingredients. From whole-roasted chicken and flaky salmon to seasonal vegetables like asparagus and spring carrots, air fryers will get you excellent results with minimal effort. But there are certain foods that feel like they were practically made to cook in an air fryer. You'll find a ton of Reddit threads with home cooks asking for the ultimate air fryer recipes, and we've put together this guide to help you out with our favorites. If you're searching for an air fryer or to upgrade your existing oven, we have a new favorite model with a glass cooking chamber that's easy to clean and doubles as a food storage container. Looking for something great to make? Check out the eight foods you absolutely have to cook in an air fryer below. 1. Salmon filets Just 8 minutes in the air fryer and you have perfectly medium rare salmon. David Watsky/CNET Broiled salmon is a simple, healthy weeknight dinner staple. It's not difficult to make in the oven, but if you're only cooking for one or two people, the preheating time is a pain and you'll waste a lot of energy for a small amount of food. Pan-seared salmon is great and quick, but there's almost no way to cook salmon on the stove without creating an oily and odorous mess. I tried cooking roasted salmon in the air fryer, and it came out perfectly in about 10 minutes, including preheating time. The closed cooking chamber captures all of the grease and even hides some of the fishy smell from taking over the space. OK, so you might catch me throwing the occasional filet of salmon on the grill during warmer months, but gone are the days of me wiping fish grease from the backsplash behind my kitchen stove. Here's how to make perfect air fryer salmon. 2. Whole chicken Air-fryer roasted chicken is a revelation. David Watsky/CNET This one surprised me the most since I make a roast chicken most Sundays and had become content with my method of using the oven. I learned fast that the air fryer does an even better job since it's able to crisp the skin quickly without overcooking the meat. Air-fryer roasted chicken takes about 45 minutes -- about 15% quicker than the oven -- and it's nearly impossible to screw up. Here's how to make a quick roasted chicken in the air fryer. 3. Bacon cheeseburgers You can cook a burger to perfect medium or medium rare with an air fryer. Pamela Vachon/CNET Air fryer cheeseburgers have become a staple around my home. The exception is during summer when the grill is in full swing, but during cooler months, I turn to the air fryer for this American classic. It's not only cleaner than pan frying, but the burger doesn't cook in its own grease, so you get a lighter, healthier meal (if you're into that sort of thing). You can also stick the bun and a couple of slices of bacon in with the burger and you have the full meal with almost no cleanup to manage. Here's how to make a cheeseburger from top to bottom in the air fryer. 4. Chicken cutlets Air fryers turn out picture-perfect chicken cutlets. David Watsky/CNET Before the air fryer, I used to pan-fry breaded chicken cutlets for chicken Parmesan and other recipes, but the air fryer does the same job with less mess and produces less oily fried chicken, too. Watch this: Best Air Fryers: Cheap vs. Expensive 19:24 I recommend using boneless chicken thighs, which have enough fat content to withstand all that convection heat without drying out. Simply coat the chicken in beaten egg wash followed by bread crumbs mixed with salt, pepper and other spices. Cook at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for about 15 minutes. You can spray the cutlets lightly with a bit of oil before cooking to get an extra crispy crust, but it's not necessary. I've tried the same method with chicken breasts; it works well, but there is more risk of drying out the meat. 5. Cauliflower steak Cauliflower steak made in the air fryer has become a staple side dish in my kitchen. David Watsky/CNET One of my favorite things to cook in the air fryer is cauliflower. A slab of cauliflower makes an excellent hearty side dish or main course if you're going plant-based. Simply toss a thick slice or two of cauliflower with olive oil and salt and pepper, or some seasoning of your choice, and air fry for 10 or 12 minutes on high. The air fryer gives it a beautiful caramelized crust, and it cooks the dense veggie fast enough so that the inside of the cauliflower doesn't become mushy. 6. Leftover pizza This leftover pizza got a whole new life thanks to a short trip to the air fryer. David Watsky/CNET While not every type of food is best reheated in the air fryer, a lot of them are. Air fryers are the perfect way to revive leftover pizza, fried chicken, grilled meats and vegetables. A microwave heats food unevenly and tends to impart a rubbery texture. Air fryers give food a second life via convection heat for a crispy crust and even heating. Here's the best way to reheat every type of leftover. 7. Hot dogs You can cook an entire package of hot dogs in just a few minutes. David Watsky/CNET It's hard to screw up a hot dog, but if you want a perfectly charred wiener in under five minutes with essentially no cleanup, look to the air fryer. Air fryer hot dogs are as simple as simple gets, and the super convection oven gives them a perfect browning in two or three minutes. Here's how to make hot dogs in the air fryer all summer. 8. Baked potatoes Air fryer baked potatoes had crispy skin and were light and fluffy inside. Brian Bennett/CNET OK, so technically this one starts out in the microwave and then gets finished in the air fryer. The microwave softens the inside in under 8 minutes while the air fryer blasts the edges and skin to a crispy perfection. It's a restaurant-quality baked potato in less than 12 minutes. Here's how to make the best air fryer baked potato ever. Oh, and if you're still not sure what an air fryer is and how it works, check out our complete guide to air fryers.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Why longevity doctor threw away popular kitchen gadget that hundreds of thousands of Aussies use every day
It's one of the much-hyped kitchen gadgets found in many Aussie homes - but a longevity doctor is warning against using it. Dr Poonam Desai, from New York, has revealed why air fryers may cause more harm than good. 'I am a longevity doctor and I threw out my air fryer,' she said. 'While air fryers provide a healthier alternative to dep frying by using less oil, they can produce acrylamides - chemicals linked to cancer - during high-heat cooking.' According to the SafeWork NSW, acrylamide is classified as potentially cancer-causing to humans. Acrylamide is a white crystalline solid, a chemical that forms naturally in certain foods - particularly in starchy foods like potatoes - when cooked at high temperatures. 'The longer and hotter the food is cooked, the more acrylamide it can produce,' Dr Desai claimed. 'Many air fryers contain non-stick coatings that contain PFAS that can be harmful to health.' While current exposure to PFAS in Australia is generally considered low and not directly linked to widespread health issues, the Australian Government PFAS Taskforce has reported potential associations with certain cancers. Dr Desai said she would avoid using air fryers for health reasons - but if she had to cook in one, she'd choose an all-stainless steel model. However, she emphasised that she would only use it occasionally. In Australia, air fryers are considered safe to use - as long as they don't have a PFAS-based non-stick coating, which can pose health risks when exposed to high temperatures. Her video has been viewed more than five million times - with many surprised with the statement. However, not everyone was convinced, with one pointing out: 'They said this 40 years ago with the microwave. Funny thing, every house still has one.' Dr Desai's warning comes just months after she revealed why she recommends her patients with no dietary restrictions drink regular cow's milk instead of the skim alternative. 'Here's why I prefer whole milk over skim milk. I choose whole milk because the fat helps with better absorption of fat-soluble vitamins like A and D (which are often added back into milk),' she explained. 'The fat also helps slow down glucose spikes, making it a more blood sugar-friendly option.' Dr Desai explained how the process of making skim milk can result in the loss of natural health benefits - including vitamins. Most skim milk is typically made by spinning full cream milk in a centrifuge at high speed, forcing the fat to separate from the liquid. 'To make skim milk, manufacturers take out the fat content. But with it, they also take out the healthy stuff like vitamins A and D. They then add them back in as an additive,' she said. 'I don't know about you but I prefer to get my nutrients in its most natural form. Not only that, vitamins A and D are fat soluble vitamins. 'What that means is they need fat for optimal absorption so skim milk has less fat, then it has vitamin A and D as an additive but it's not even absorbed as well as the vitamins in whole milk.' In Australia, skim milk, also known as fat-free milk, contains the lowest amount of fat and calories compared to other dairy milks, with no more than 0.15 per cent fat per 100g. Despite offering less fat and fewer calories, Dr Desai explained why she avoids skim milk at all cost. 'Skim milk is not good for your metabolic health because it causes a faster rise in glucose levels,' she said. 'Milk naturally has lactose, which is a carbohydrate and carbohydrates will spike your blood sugar but they will spike it even faster without fat content. 'Fat content in whole milk helps curb that sugar high that comes when you have carbohydrates. 'So if you ask me, I prefer to drink whole milk over skim milk because it provides better nutrient absorption and less of a glucose spike.'
The Independent
3 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
I was an air fryer skeptic until I tried this model with its hidden gadget
Design and setup Compared to other basic air fryer models, the Ninja Foodi dual basket air fryer is a hefty machine. I won't go so far as to write it off as an eyesore, because surprisingly, even with its enormous size, it doesn't look that bad. Plus, its flat top surface doubles as a mini shelf for spices or random other knick knacks. And while I eventually came around to its size, it still takes up a lot of precious counter space. So I have to dock some points. Its interface is fairly intuitive, although I would suggest checking in with its manual to really understand how to use all of its settings. Buttons for its special smart finish and match cook settings, along with its six cooking modes — air fry, bake, roast, reheat, air broil, and dehydrate — are prominently displayed front and center. You can manually control the temperature for each mode but there are restrictions. For example, the air fry setting doesn't go below 300F. I understand this is for safety reasons, but it was frustrating when I wanted to hard-boil eggs at 270F. On one side of the machine sits the meat thermometer probe (a great hidden feature), which I found to be a clever placement — hooray for machines that include built-in storage for additional tools. There's a plug-in next to the left basket, where a meat dish is intended to cook if you're looking to use the probe. The top of that particular basket has a small divet where the wire is supposed to go, so it doesn't get crushed when it's closed. Additionally, the baskets have a capacity of 5qt, making a total of 10qt. They felt a bit small in comparison to my Cosori's 6qt basket, but in the end, they were spacious enough for every dish I prepared. I generally did like that there were two separate baskets that both conveniently included crisper plates and a removable tray that allowed heat to circulate around food to create a crispy texture. One feature that I missed from my Cosori was its 'shake' timer, which allows you to program a basket to alert you when it's time to flip or shake its contents for more even cooking. Of course, the simple solution for this is to set a separate timer for the Ninja foodi. Cooking Packed with six different cooking modes, the Ninja foodi could be an easy replacement oven for those living in a place without one. I personally favored the air fry and reheat modes, as I don't often need to do much more than that, as I prefer to defer to my oven when possible. To put the smart finish technology to the test, I cooked pork chops and fries. On the left side, I baked the pork chops, using the probe thermometer to alert me when they hit the desired medium-well-done temperature I was looking for. (I followed the manual's suggestion to reduce the temperature by 25 degrees when converting traditional oven recipes.) On the right side, I air-fried waffle-cut fries. After programming both baskets at different temperatures and cook times, I let the machine do its thing. It started by cooking the pork chops. Then, when just 15 minutes remained on the clock, the fry side kicked in, so that both could finish at the same time. Once the timer went off, the pork chops were perfectly cooked, but the fries needed a little more time, likely because there wasn't enough room in the basket to cook them in a single layer. By the time dinner was served, everything tasted solid. The fries were nicely crispy, though slightly overdone in some spots. And the pork chops turned out a bit drier than they would've been if I had cooked them in the oven, but still flavorful. This was definitely a trend I noticed whenever I cooked meat in the air fryer — it tended to lack that juice I usually get from oven or stovetop cooking. Though honestly, an air fryer would never be my first choice for cooking meat, anyway. Its reheat setting was nifty and convenient when I needed to warm up a pesto chicken sandwich and didn't want it getting soggy in the microwave. However, admittedly, I had no idea how long or at what temperature to set it, so it also came out a bit crispier than intended. After cooking several more dishes, I started to realize that Ninja's air fryer might be a bit more powerful than my Cosori. The temperatures and cook times that worked perfectly in the latter usually needed some tweaking to get right in the foodi. But with a little more time — and a few minor adjustments — this will become an indispensable kitchen companion. Cleaning This machine is one of the easiest things to clean. The baskets are made of a certain non-stick material that makes it quite easy for you to wash away any mess, either by hand or in the dishwasher. After simpler recipes, I washed both baskets and crisper plates in the sink with warm water and soap. But when it came to cooking a more messy meal or when I felt it required deeper cleaning, I used the dishwasher, and it came out spotless.
