Wings & Things
or, How an Air Fryer/Toaster Oven Combo Won My Heart
I showed up late for the air fryer craze. My oven has a convection option. The air fryer, by definition, is a mini convection oven, so I didn’t feel the need to have one of my very own. Appliances have to earn their space on my countertop. Think Boardwalk and Park Place. You get the idea: prime real estate.
My friend Vicki is a caterer and shares my concerns over limited countertop real estate. Her kitchen is tight and functional. So when Vicki says she bought a Cuisinart toaster oven/air fryer combo, my ears perked up. I was intrigued, to say the least. “It’s got a grill pan and grills too,” she said. I caught myself scanning my counter in my mind.
The man in my life teaches school. Due to ongoing construction in their building, teachers have been getting shuffled around a bit, and he no longer has access to a microwave or toaster oven. That’s all I needed to hear. Guess who has a new toaster oven/air fryer?
I did my research, of course. There are tons of options in the air fryer world. But I finally came back and settled on the Cuisinart TOA-70, like Vicki’s, for several reasons. When you have an appliance that does a ton of things and has several dials, you need to be able to operate it without a lot of fuss. After reading the reviews, I determined that the digital model was a bit difficult to adjust to, and puzzling to operate. We went analog. We don’t need puzzles on the countertop. We use this thing every day. If you want to frustrate my husband quickly, give him an aggravating appliance. He needs a simple toaster oven. Don’t make it complicated.
Well, the short story is, I love it. I think a lot of air fryers are a challenge to clean. I just wipe it out and move on with my life. I line the drip tray with foil and when it gets messy I change it out. In short, I treat it like every other toaster oven I have ever owned.
The air fryer basket is large enough to cook a batch of wings for two, and it makes some amazing french fries. And get this, it will re-crisp your leftover fries! You heard right! Cold, soggy fries from yesterday? They crisp right back up in the air fryer.
Honestly, if the thing just whipped up wings for me, I would be happy. I can’t eat beef, so on nights when dear hubby wants a steak I don’t have to reengineer my life, or pull out the deep fryer. I just throw some wings in the air fryer for 20 minutes at 400 degrees (it says it right on the front), and I have crispy wings that give my steak-eating husband something to think about. “Make some extra,” he says. He carts them to lunch the next day and heats them up in our old toaster oven he brought to school. Now if that isn’t the circle of use, I don’t know what is.
I would love to type out some fun recipes for you, but the truth is, it isn’t necessary. I think the most important tips I can offer are making sure you get your basket oiled. I have used non-stick sprays but they seem to get sticky, so oiling the basket makes it more non-stick. Afterward, I give the basket a brief soak in the sink and toss it in the dishwasher.
Other Tips and Things to Keep In Mind:
You don’t have to oil the wings, but you can give them a light dose if you like. I season mine differently every time I make them. Garlic powder, herbs, or plain old salt and pepper, are all perfect. Sometimes I drench them in hot sauce after they cook, and sometimes I just eat them crispy, right out of the oven with a side of carrots and ranch.
Be careful with fries, as they can quickly overcook. Cut your potatoes as uniformly as possible. Don’t put them in until you are sure they will come out of the oven at the last minute. That is, have the rest of your meal totally ready to go so the fries don’t linger in the air fryer longer than necessary and continue to cook.
The little grill pan and grill feature on this model make it a favorite if you want to quickly grill a chicken breast, quick chop, or a steak. This makes life so much easier when I have to cook two proteins.
It’s hot outside. This little oven takes the heat out of the kitchen and gets food on your plate.
Read the little booklet and do some browsing. Between the toaster oven, the air fryer, and the grill, you can cook pretty much everything. Grill or roast some veggies. Bake some brie. Make some mac and cheese or heat up last night’s pizza.
Measure your space. This is not a small appliance (12.25"D x 15.75"W x 13.75"H) and you want it to have ventilation on all sides.
Enjoy! Do you have an air fryer or are you in the market for one? Do you have any additional tips, tricks, or air fryer meal ideas? Let me know in the comments!
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I haven't yet joined the air fryer craze either because of my lack of counter space, but you make a compelling case. We're not partial to wings, though ... can you tell me more of your favorites? That might be just what I need to make the plunge.