FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Did you know that cooking meals in your oven can cost up to 10 times more than using appliances such as your microwave, slow cooker or air fryer? Save money by turning it off and becoming an expert in other cooking methods. Sarah Maber reveals how…
MAKE MORE OF YOUR AIR FRYER
Air fryers work by circulating hot air to create a ‘fried finish’ on foods with very little fat needed, so they are great if you are watching your calories. They cook ingredients quickly and are more energy efficient than ovens for cooking smaller quantities. Buy a 2 to 4.5-litre capacity model if there is just one or two of you; larger families should buy a bigger one.
USE IT FOR: Roasting, baking, reheating and grilling.
WHICH MODEL? ‘Mini oven’ air fryers use slide-in trays and are roughly the same size as a microwave. Basket-style air fryers are a great option for small kitchens; they are taller and narrower – but generally hold less food.
Don’t expect great results without oil. Instead, use a spray bottle to lightly coat food and the base of the air fryer to achieve a super-crisp finish.
Becky Excell, author of Quick and Easy Gluten Free (Quadrille, £20). Follow her on Instagram @beckyexcell
Make sure you shake the food around inside the basket regularly to ensure everything gets a crisp finish, otherwise the food in the middle won’t get crispy. This especially applies when air frying chips or potatoes, diced vegetables or coated meats and fish. Becky Excell
Vegetables keep their f lavour in the air fryer, so try dishes like stuffed peppers, Cajun-spiced roasted veg, or roast potatoes ready for Sunday lunch.
Clare Andrews, author of The Ultimate Air-Fryer Cookbook (Michael Joseph, £20) – out 16 February. Follow her on Instagram @airfryerUK
Buy a reusable liner to keep your air fryer residuefree and make cleaning easier, or add a base layer of foil before adding ingredients; either way, make sure that hot air can still circulate.
To make healthier fakeaways, preheat your air fryer for two minutes. You’ll get ultra-crispy coatings as the food instantly hits the heat.
Nathan Anthony, author of Bored of Lunch: The Healthy Air Fryer Book (Ebury, £20), out 16 March. Follow him on Instagram @boredoflunch
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