Cooking and energy use - best methods to reduce costs?

Xbigman

I have a cheapie Tower air fryer and they are great for giving air frying a go but they don't last that well. Mine is about a year old and used 4 or 5 times a week. I had to replace the tiny screws that hold the basket handle on because they started coming loose and after being tightened a few times wouldn't hold. I simply used some slightly bigger screws and replaced them. They only screw into plastic. The second issue is that the non stick coating is cheap and loses some of its non stick qualities quite quickly. Mine still has plenty of life left but I can see that it will one day need replacing. I'm thinking of one of these Remoska cookers 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07GCLMV2B/?coliid=I2622ARBJVBY1J&colid=N8F2IZRCOVIE&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it 

Not cheap but supposedly very durable and low energy consumption. Anybody tried one?



Darren

Xbigman

LindsayT said:

Someone I know bought an air fryer, cooked chips in it once and didn't like them for some reason, so she didn't use it again. I asked if I could borrow it to try as I was wondering whether to get one. I've got it now, it's a Tower 1.6 litre and is supposed to be okay for one person. Today, I'm having a breaded chicken thigh and 3 spring rolls. Obviously, the chicken thigh will take longer than the spring rolls but do I cook the thigh and rolls separately or put the thigh on the grill plate and spring rolls underneath?. Sorry if the question sounds stupid but I am completely new to this way of cooking and didn't know where else to ask.

 Put the Chicken in first and the spring rolls later. Turn every 5 minutes. Turn the temperature down a bit and cook for longer. Its a bit trial and error I'm afraid.


Darren

Mstty

Xbigman said:

I have a cheapie Tower air fryer and they are great for giving air frying a go but they don't last that well. Mine is about a year old and used 4 or 5 times a week. I had to replace the tiny screws that hold the basket handle on because they started coming loose and after being tightened a few times wouldn't hold. I simply used some slightly bigger screws and replaced them. They only screw into plastic. The second issue is that the non stick coating is cheap and loses some of its non stick qualities quite quickly. Mine still has plenty of life left but I can see that it will one day need replacing. I'm thinking of one of these Remoska cookers 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07GCLMV2B/?coliid=I2622ARBJVBY1J&colid=N8F2IZRCOVIE&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it 

Not cheap but supposedly very durable and low energy consumption. Anybody tried one?



Darren

They come with a three year warranty so no need to self repair.

QrizB

My pressure cooker is one of these (not my photo, but similar):

I've had it for 30+ years and it's still going strong. The rubber gasket and the fusible plug in the lid are both consumable items, but even so I think I've only replaced them a couple of times.

Northern_Wanderer

QrizB said:

My pressure cooker is one of these (not my photo, but similar):

I've had it for 30+ years and it's still going strong. The rubber gasket and the fusible plug in the lid are both consumable items, but even so I think I've only replaced them a couple of times.

I have a similar vintage one, got it used, changed the gasket, works great. Just cooked some chickpeas in it for hummous....yum yum.

Northern_Wanderer

wild666 said:

Blondetotty said:

I absolutely love my ninja but I know they're not for everyone and the initial expense can be off-putting (I paid in 5 interest free instalments on amazon)  

I've just purchased the Ninja air fryer pressure cooker

Which model did you get please? The local retailer only has the 6L on display, it only has the single tier rack. It's mostly just for two people, but if I want tiered cooking, I think the option for 3 tiers in the 7.5L is better? The 6L pot looks massive but the tiered rack space looks limited in the 6L version.

Northern_Wanderer

I spotted the Samsung Dual Cook Flex in electrical retailer. It has a fancy door that can open fully or splits to just open the top oven, a heat resistant divider so you can use smaller top oven alone, both ovens together or the whole large oven alone. This sounds fab, best of all worlds. It's A+ rated.

Anyone have one of these? Thoughts? Energy efficient? Something to think about when I replace my kitchen and finally get a proper oven!

wild666

I recently bought a Ninja 11-1 air fryer, steamer and pressure cooker. I cooked a gammon joint in it on Friday but have been using it every day since I bought it. I already had a 6L prestige pressure cooker that won't be used any more. 

k_man

Has anyone that has got/used an air fryer, multi super cooker also got a combination oven microwave?

Is the air fryer quicker and or cheaper to use?
Part of me thinks they are just a glorified mini fan oven!

Sea_Shell

Norman_Castle said:

I've started soaking pasta for a hour or two before cooking it. I tried this because I go camping and have a limited gas supply. I put cold water in a saucepan, add the pasta and a bit of oil then leave it to soak. I haven't tried different times and I often forget although when I forget I put the pasta into the cold water straight away rater than waiting for it to boil. If the pasta is soaked its softened and ready to eat almost as soon as the water boils. This saves leaving it simmering for 10+ minutes.

Biggest problem is remembering to do this hours before I plan to eat.

Is it really that simple???   

Sounds like great idea, as we always know what we're having for main lunch, so "pasta days" can easily be planned for.

Does whole-wheat pasta need longer?

Is it trial and error to see what timings work best?