Overheard my neighbor claim air fryers are just tiny convection ovens

I was at a backyard BBQ last Saturday and my neighbor Dave goes on this rant about how air fryers are just overpriced miniature convection ovens. He said people waste money on them for no reason. I sat there quiet but inside I was like, have you even tried making crispy Brussels sprouts in one? I got my air fryer 6 months ago from Target for like $40 and I use it almost every day. Last night I made salmon fillets with a crunchy panko crust in 12 minutes flat and they came out perfect. Sure technically it does the same thing as a convection oven but it heats up faster and uses less energy for small batches. Has anyone else had to defend their air fryer against the skeptics at a cookout?

2 comments

2 Comments

wood.john14d ago

Tbh, I felt this deep in my soul because I once tried to make frozen pizza rolls in my toaster oven and set off the smoke detector so bad my roommate thought the building was on fire. Honestly, people like Dave don't get that an air fryer is basically a cheat code for anyone who can't be trusted with actual kitchen appliances. Ngl, I'm just glad I can make crunchy veggies without having to explain to my insurance company why the oven is covered in grease again.

angelac6314d ago

Read an article a while back that said air fryers are basically mini convection ovens with better airflow. The real difference is the fan is stronger and the basket lets air circulate all around the food. That's why stuff gets crispier without flipping everything halfway. A regular oven just doesn't have the same air movement unless you spend way more on a fancy convection model. Your neighbor probably hasn't had cold leftover french fries that taste like fresh ones after thirty seconds in an air fryer. Maybe he should try your Brussels sprouts before he judges so hard.