Air Fryers and Modern Cooking
In October 2023, we bought an air fryer. Specifically the Ninja Foodi Max which was on special offer on QVC UK. We were intrigued by the possibilities and the convenience the device was alleged to offer. Fortunately, most of the hype proved correct and air fryers are quick and convenient. It takes awhile to determine cooking times but eventually you become as familiar and comfortable cooking with an air fryer, as you would using a conventional oven. They are also easy to clean. The baskets can be wiped down with hot, soapy water and the drip trays can be put in the dishwasher. Over a year later, we have grown attached to our air fryer due to its versatility and quick cooking times. Having one has substantially changed our cooking habits and the traditional oven is used far less.
Just before Christmas 2024, we decided to buy a Ninja Combi Multi-Cooker. This purchase was again prompted by a promotion on QVC UK. This device can cook in 14 different ways, such as roasting, baking and steaming. At the flick of a switch it can also provide additional air frying services. Again its major selling points are speed and efficiency. A small chicken, cooked using the Combi Crisp setting, which steams and roasts simultaneously, takes about 30 minutes. The meat is thoroughly cooked but remains moist. If used in conjunction with our air fryer, a full roast dinner with three additional vegetables can be cooked in less than an hour (including the preparation time). Again, the mess is minimal and clearing up afterwards is straightforward. All of which makes cooking per se a lot easier.
During the course of my lifetime there have been several cultural shifts around home cooking. Our national diet in the UK has changed substantially with some traditional meals falling out of favour. Overall a broader continental approach to cooking has become prevalent. The other change being a move away from the exclusive use of ovens and hobs to cook. Microwaves ovens have become ubiquitous and can do a lot more than people think. Slow cookers are also a practical means to time-manage cooking. Air fryers and combi-ovens further contribute to this social change. Naturally there are a percentage of people who are happy to cook in a traditional fashion but I think this is becoming a smaller demographic group.
Despite the rise of modern cooking devices and techniques, convenience foods, ready meals and ultra processed products have sadly quelled a lot of peoples home cooking aspirations. Time is such an important factor in people’s decision making these days. With the modern work-life balance the way it is, a lot of people just don’t have the stamina to come home from work and cook, even if there are easier options than the traditional approach. It’s difficult to compete with a meal that is superficially tasty and ready in a matter of minutes. Cooking used to be a skill that was often passed down from parent to child. However, that is not necessarily the case nowadays, although the internet can provide an alternative source of information. Modern food products have made cooking skills non-essential.
That being said, there is a growing culture of trying to live a healthier lifestyle these days. For those who want to cook more themselves the air fryer does offer a practical stepping stone. Even if you’re not interested in cooking meals entirely from scratch, they can cook convenience food as quickly and easily as whole foods. In fact air fryers cooking times are now becoming quite common on food packaging along with standard instructions. Simply put, cooking today does not have to be the same as it was 30 years ago. The entire process can be approached in a far more casual manner and it is a lot easier to experiment. For those that are already enthused by “modern cooking” there are gadgets for everything. If you are looking to make a change and have simpler aspirations then I would recommend an air fryer as your first step.
