Tell me about air fryers - worth it?

I've been told by people that a fried turkey in an air fryer is just as good as a deep fryer.

I don't believe it.

Would love for someone who has done a true comparison to chime in.

I had some home-cut fries cooked in one, they were probably 90% as good as fried.

I fry several turkeys a year the conventional way in my designated turkey frying pot with peanut oil.

My brother-in-law got one of those air fryers a couple years ago and he has fried a few turkeys in it and I've only had some of his once. It is close, but not the same as oil fried turkey.

Definitely cheaper to use since peanut oil runs about $25 for the size container I buy and you don't need to go out and buy propane. Plus clean-up is much easier too not waiting for oil to cool, then strain it so it can be re-used at a later date.

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Definitely cheaper to use since peanut oil runs about $25 for the size container I buy and you don't need to go out and buy propane. Plus clean-up is much easier too not waiting for oil to cool, then strain it so it can be re-used at a later date.

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And a lot less of a risk to burn your house down. I'm not saying you in particular, but every holiday season multiple people burn themselves or their houses down frying turkeys.

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And a lot less of a risk to burn your house down. I'm not saying you in particular, but every holiday season multiple people burn themselves or their houses down frying turkeys.

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I've seen some of those u-tube videos on how to NOT fry a turkey. People are sometimes just too damn stupid to be put near hot oil and a high volume burner.

The ones that kill me are the idiots that overfill the pot with oil not compensating for displacement when the turkey is added. Then throw in the idiots that think you can simply drop in a frozen turkey and watch in horror as the oil almost explodes in violence.

I've probably fired a couple hundred turkeys by now and have never had any sort of mishap due to negligence on my part. On Thanksgiving day I'll fry as many as 5-6 turkeys for myself, friends and extended family.

I have a countertop convection oven and get decent results with it.

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I have a countertop convection oven and get decent results with it.

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I recently got this Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer and it does everything I need. I only have one countertop appliance now.

If it's just you, a small generic one works just fine. I have both the Power XL air fryer and the Cuisinart Air Fryer Toaster Oven. The first was too small for me after a while and the latter has many more functions.

250 for 15 minutes. If you like the yolks a little more runny, I'd go 13 minutes. Peels as easy as it does via the Instant Pot. Plus, it's quicker.

As far as the omelette, mix everything you want together, butter or oil the bottom of whatever bakeware, and go air fry it 4-5 minutes at 350. Go under first, if anything the residual heat will continue to cook it if it's a bit under.


There's just so many recipes out there online. You can really cook almost anything. I did try a ribeye in there before and I will never do that again.