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Kookie 🍪 Free Palestine 🇵🇸

@TechConnectify
Me, as a teen: watches videos about games consoles I don't have

Me, as an adult (tm): watches videos about home appliances I don't have

gudenau

@TechConnectify I've been waiting for air fryers from you. Thanks for all of your great content.

Clinton Anderson SwordForHire

@TechConnectify

We really like our Ninja Flip Convection/Toaster Oven/Air Fry thingy.... With just two of us, we use it far more often and only use our regular oven when we're doing big, "stuff the freezer" cooking

We even relegated our microwave to deep storage

I just wish the Ninja thingy was easier to clean, especially inside

Montgomery Gator

@NotFunnyIsAlive @TechConnectify They are specially configured convection ovens, that cook foods quickly. Their early selling point, is that you could cook deep-fried foods without unhealthy seed oil. To "fry with air", rather than oil.

MatchaMakes

@TechConnectify OH SHIT, getting my popcorn ready. (ill use the popcorn button)

Philipp

@TechConnectify I disagree with the conclusion that you can't combine a toaster oven with an air fryer. This thing lives in my kitchen and does mini-ovening and air frying both very well. It's on the expensive side, but at least when I got it it was below 100€ on sale. Honestly probably the best kitchen appliance I ever bought. ninjakitchen.de/produkte/ninja

Technology Connections

@philipp I'm sure there are better combo units out there, but to me the ergonomics of the basket and handle are worth having a second device.

Philipp

@TechConnectify Yeah, that is the biggest pain-point of this device. My trade-offs are probably a bit different because my oven does has no convection functionality. However I have been throwing the basket in the dishwasher for years now and it's not showing any signs of degradation, so that makes it a bit easier to handle.

Jax

@TechConnectify @philipp I have a similar combo unit. For me it was worth it to save the counter space. It's a decent air fryer and has a LOT more basket space, but not as good at cooking as my cheap standalone one was.

Montgomery Gator

@philipp @TechConnectify I've seen that one, and it's significantly more on the upscale side. It's about twice the cost of my Ninja in the traditional configuration. I'm guessing since Ninja makes both, they put some effort into making their machines work on-par with one another. That would actually explain why mine seems to be a bit more powerful than air-fry package directions seem to anticipate on food.

Checkmite

@TechConnectify From freeze dryers to air fryers. An appropriate transition that also conveniently rhymes.

gom

@TechConnectify
The most shocking bit is again the prices of kitchen appliances in the US. $1,000 for a basic convection oven?

Montgomery Gator

@gom @TechConnectify Keep in mind, the most common kind here is the full-range. That being said, I went looking for the absolute cheapest convection oven without caring about fuel source, stovetop, or if it would match anything else in the kitchen, and Lowe's with a $627.99 Hisense HBE3501CPS came in as the lowest. The absolute lowest new range period was a 20" Avanti at $450.96 that looks like a toy. Google Shopping was trying to point me at used ranges at this point (which isn't a bad idea, a lot of times people will renovate their kitchen and replace working appliances. A lightly used later-model oven being tossed because it's black and not stainless is a great deal!)

@gom @TechConnectify Keep in mind, the most common kind here is the full-range. That being said, I went looking for the absolute cheapest convection oven without caring about fuel source, stovetop, or if it would match anything else in the kitchen, and Lowe's with a $627.99 Hisense HBE3501CPS came in as the lowest. The absolute lowest new range period was a 20" Avanti at $450.96 that looks like a toy. Google Shopping was trying to point me at used ranges at this point (which isn't a bad idea, a lot...

gom

@MontgomeryGator

Well, for 450€ (incl. Vat) you can get the entry model from Bosch, or some prober models of 2nd class brands.

Ok there are some devices over 1,000€ but built in devices are more common at this price range.

(This side should switch language to English depending on your settings of your browser, if not I'm sorry)
geizhals.de/?cat=hstandherd60&

Montgomery Gator

@gom Bosch is considered a luxury brand in the US, so it's SO MUCH WORSE 😂

InsertUser

@TechConnectify
So ...
Convection oven = oven with a gentle breeze.
Air fryer = small oven with strong breeze

Sounds like we need a standard for how often the air is recirculated to be considered "air frying".

(and possibly the air change rate, but I don't know if that's actually a positive thing.)

More speed generally gives more heat transfer so I think the argument is that they're supposedly approaching the heat transfer from hot oil but I have seen no one actually do the maths.

gigantos

@TechConnectify sometimes I think I'm living in the past. I could swear I watched this video a few months ago. Weird

Wolfensteijn

@TechConnectify They are! I love mine! Though I also have a combination microwave convection oven 😁

Montgomery Gator

@wolfensteijn @TechConnectify If you could use both at the same time, you'd have a Turbochef. That oven thing Subway uses to warm subs and make pizza.

Wolfensteijn

@MontgomeryGator @TechConnectify I can, and it also has a broiler (which I've never used). But the convection over part doesn't have air jets like a Turbochef has, just a normal singular fan in the back.

It has some programs that combines the three heating options for specific purposes. Like heating frozen pizza. But using just the oven makes for a better cooked and crispy pizza in the end 😄

Boyd Stephen Smith Jr.

@TechConnectify Have you done current generation pressure cookers (ex brand: InstantPot)?

ISTR you doing an excellent job of covering rice cookers and the heating is similar if not identical, but I'd love to know more about the pressure control and safety features.

Air fryers reminded me, because my father's InstantPot has an alternate lid that turns it into an air fryer instead.

leberschnitzel

@TechConnectify I'm surprised that the conclusion was that positive :D
I've had an air-fryer for a bit but than gave it to a friend after I noticed that there's no difference between my modern convection oven and the air fryer.
I only understood afterwards that they are basically the same. But I understand the use if you often make smaller amounts or don't have an convection oven at all!

Wanja

@TechConnectify Fascinating video, thanks!

I wonder: did you ever measure the air fryers' power consumption? Does their smaller size and higher airflow make them more energy-efficient at cooking food?

Chris Vest

@TechConnectify ok, did not expect that plot twist from the intro. Love that this has a story arc

Phil

@TechConnectify That was a genuine joy to watch! Now I finally know what these things are about :D

Ryan Finnie

@TechConnectify
- I have a KitchenAid convection oven as well (but not as modern as yours) and it also cycles the fan.
- I actually just bought that exact same Black & Decker toaster oven a few weeks ago, to replace a nearly identical model of 10+ years which had failed. You're right, they took the model and replaced the word "convection" with "air fry".

Wilbur

@TechConnectify No Effort November! It's back again for another year!

Michael Santaly

@TechConnectify I feel like my toaster oven/air fryer doesn’t do either well, and I bought over the air fryer hype 🙁

Martinius

@TechConnectify Awesome video. May I suggest a connextras video? It would be interresting to know how much power is required to cook 0.5 kg of fries in the different ofens. Thx again for your hard work.

Doug Jayne

@TechConnectify the no or low effort November videos are a real help to the perfectionist crowd. We need to embrace "good enough" from time to time.

Mike DeMaria

@TechConnectify My only problem with dedicated air fryers was that the basket was too small, whereas the toaster oven style could cook enough with similar results. I suppose this is a bit situational, as it might not matter to one or two person households.

That said, the fryer cool touch handle is great for younger cooks and accessibility needs.

cerement

@TechConnectify

> “Air fryers are Easy Bake Ovens for adults.”

(no idea where I heard that)

The Duke In Purple

@TechConnectify
Our Air Fryer was possibly the best kitchen expense in years, despite the BS marketing. The big Oven also cycles the fan like yours and never really got close to what the small things can accomplish, therefore uses up SO much more energy in comparison and for a worse result in at least double the time. Plus the thing is cute and easy to clean. It, for it's specific purpose is just superior to essentially technologically identical kitchen appliances. 😅

Wattana

@TechConnectify Pleasantly surprised to see you on Mastodon!

disky

@TechConnectify Just finished watching this. I wonder how the Instant Pot air fryer lid stacks up to these. Probably not great, but my counter space is limited and for me, Instant Pot is life.

Scott Wachter

@TechConnectify I guess i'll get one of those oven baskets, then.

Quixoticgeek

@TechConnectify I had the counter space for either an instant pot, or an air fryer, and the ability to make stock easier won out.

Is the instant pot on your list of appliances to do a video about ?

Central Illumination Agency

@quixoticgeek @TechConnectify I’d go for an “instant pot vs rice cooker” dueling devices video

Quixoticgeek

@slothrop @TechConnectify Are they really the same thing? I know I can cook rice in my instant pot. But can I make stock in a rice cooker in a couple of hours ?

Central Illumination Agency

@quixoticgeek that’s precisely the question I’d like @TechConnectify to answer!

I would say: yes, you can definitely make stock in a rice cooker.

It’s a very simple device, providing constant heat until the temperature rises above a certain point. So you can probably just dump in your ingredients, and set it to boil for as long as you want.

Central Illumination Agency

@quixoticgeek @TechConnectify OTOH please seek out more informed advice. Until not too long ago, I honestly thought that “instant pot” was a marijuana-based convenience product of some sort 😂😂😂

Quixoticgeek

@slothrop @TechConnectify you can make stock in anything that can boil water. But the key thing with the instant pot is the pressure function. Where as making beef stock on the stove is a job that requires about 12 hours of boiling. In the instant pot it can be done in about 2. The pressure is the point

Central Illumination Agency

@quixoticgeek @TechConnectify Ah, I see! So far, I’ve mostly just boiled my stocks for many hours.

But I was thinking about getting a pressure pot anyway.

I also have a wonderful recipe for veggie ramen stock that I can prepare in under an hour

FallsMom 🟦 🌻

@TechConnectify

Making decisions about small appliances is soothing when the world goes 💩

Thanks for the info!

rhempel

@TechConnectify I was very resistant to an air fryer until my brother in law used it to roast mini peppers.

I thought they were for making wings and fries - and I don't need easier ways to make more of them :-)

But now I use it to make perfect Costco Lamb Chops or even small steaks, and peppers, and roasted potatoes, and all kinds of quick healthy hot food.

I do keep it outside to avoid smelling up the house, and now I can't shut up about how awesome the air fryer is.

Laria

@TechConnectify And I just convinced myself, that I don't need an air fryer 😬

Acesabe

@TechConnectify
And now, finally, I know what an "air fryer" really is!

So the question remains; do I really need a small worktop conviction oven for roasting small quantities of (probably frozen?) food, or not?
@SwiftOnSecurity

Binder

@TechConnectify counter top convection oven.

Give it a new name and people go nuts.

JeffTP

@TechConnectify I love the good Midwestern humility of No Effort November. I laughed out loud at the announced hard cut.

DELETED

@TechConnectify
Are they a good thing to have? I am not one for kitchen gadgets, but if I would use it frequently.....? (When microwaves came out I was not sure, but now I use them enough to make them worth it.)

mrkite

@TechConnectify Speaking of toaster ovens.. what do you think about the flip-down toaster ovens that save counter space?

Felix Urbasik

@TechConnectify Oh my goodness! Just what I asked for! I will enjoy this video. Thank you, kind household appliance nerd. 🙏

(This must have been already in the making when I nudged you about it.)

🇨🇦 OhOkKay

@TechConnectify
I love my Instant Vortex Plus 6-Quart Basket Air Fryer.
It was my first one and thought maybe I should get a more expensive one as an upgrade. So I bought what everyone was raving about, a Ninja 3.8L ...
OMG WHAT A DUD!
Doesn't heat as fast, takes longer to crisp up anything and less space inside.
It now in my closet waiting for a friend to come get it for her cottage.
I'll stick with my cheap-o Instant Vortex which I use everyday damn day!

Paul Holloway

@TechConnectify I was not delighted at having to find space in my kitchen for a fancy one of these after being gifted one last Christmas, and I was pretty certain I didn't need one either. I already have a (big) convection oven anyway. Turns out I'm an idiot: the thing gets used all the time, does a great job and will have already reduced my electricity usage. Enjoyed the video.

Instant Arcade

@TechConnectify I've been using an air fryer for years, and for once, Alec didn't correct me or make me buy something :)

Please don't change, we love your thorough content.

hackbyte (friendica)
@InstantArcade @TechConnectify Well, no effort november whatsoever.... i think, air fryers made it well in that frame... ;)
Montgomery Gator

@TechConnectify *chef's kiss* like no bake baking, this no effort November video was no efforted to perfection. It's great, and I'll surely be sending it to people who berate me for not just using the oven.

Paul Martin

@TechConnectify I expect this to generate a lot of heated replies.

BB

@TechConnectify: this video felt oddly like you put some effort into it?

...In November, even?

LiquidParasyte

@TechConnectify clearly you own an air fryer 😏

nice to see you again

Skullvalanche

@TechConnectify may I suggest a review of one of these way-too-many-things-in-1 devices??

a.co/d/iecLUAY

Enid Win

@TechConnectify
Hi Technology Connections, your review is really great, are you interested in reviewing Dash Cam?

John Foley

@TechConnectify "eventually you can ov-off eat the food"

bogdan_vasut

@TechConnectify On top of being more convenient and having less thermal inertia than a convection oven there is also the advantage of composite cookers: in the same unit I can steam, slow cook, pressure cook, bake and (air) fry stuff. None of them are new inventions but having them in the same place and not using a ton of pots and pans --

ashchap

@TechConnectify maybe this is only a thing in the UK but cooking instructions always have two temperatures listed, one for conventional ovens and one for fan ovens. I don't think I have ever not used the fan mode on an oven (except for grilling)

C.N.

@TechConnectify The portion sizes look like they would be quite small. If you'd make french fries for 5 persons, would the airfryer still work well?

Eugen Rochko

@TechConnectify I had to explain the "of in the cold food" thing to my wife.

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