We recently acquired an air fryer as a gift and yip I’ve also been somewhat puzzled by the hype on every corner. But if nothing else, with our perpetually electrifying pricing challenges, that alone makes it a good option. So thanks for the flop warnings, looking forward to trying some recipes!

The next night I heated our normal oven to 200 oC – it took about 15 minutes. Then I put (don’t laugh!) 3 average sized battered frozen haddock fillets into the oven – for 20 minutes. It was fabulous – but the oven stayed hot for probably another 30-60 minutes! We looked at the prices for Sunbeam convection oven – R900 for 14 liter – (vs R1500 for a 4 (yes 4!) liter air fryer). Bought a Sunbeam.

I can HONESTLY say – it has changed my life!!!!!! I’ve made frozen fish fillets in it – yes, it took me 25 minutes (5 minutes longer than it would have in the normal oven) BUT BUT BUT …. that included the preheat time … and it takes A LOT LESS electricity!!!!!!

Steaming veg or rice in this Sunbeam is tricky – I’ve decided I’ll just do that in my microwave. Hard-boiled eggs? A breeze in the Sunbeam convection oven!!! (Normally I would boil water in the kettle – then place small pot on our solid plate stove, add the boiling water – and still had to wait at least 5 min for it to boil. Then add the eggs and boil it for 10 minutes!!!!) In the Sunbeam convection oven, on the high tray you place the raw eggs in their shells – just like that on the tray (in the grooves) – 15 min at 200 oC. Remove with tongs, place in cold water. EASY AS PIE!!!!!!!!

Pizza took me a few tries – I used the bottom of a round loose-bottom tin – sprayed it, placed dough on top – onto the high tray. But the pizza was very oily. Next I floured the bottom of the tin, but the bottom was still soggy. Now I take the ball of dough, flour it well on the outside – flatten it onto a FLOURED dinner plate – and place it directly onto the HIGH tray. With toppings. 25 minutes at 200 oC. (Yes, I have 2 make 2 medium sized pizzas … but it’s still worth it!)

Granola (muesli) in oven – I used to preheat oven to 160 oC – sprayed a baking sheet – spoon the oats-seeds-syrup-oil mixture on top – and bake it for 30 minutes (with a stir after 15 minutes.) Yesterday I took my 2 loose-bottom cake tins. Sprayed them. Divided the mixture between the 2 tins – one tin at a time – on high tray – 225oC – 7 minutes, stir, 5 minutes. Remove, placed other tin in. Repeat the baking. Let mixture cool in both tins. IT WAS AMAZING! Saved so much electricity!!!!

Easy to clean – affordable to buy – big size – necessity in kitchen!