Disappointed with Air Fryer Eggplant

Ever since we got our air fryer last year we have been using it for a lot of things - including eggplant. The first recipe was really good, but you needed breadcrumbs and egg batter to make it. Then we tried smaller pieces of it but the first time they were overcooked and the second time it was better, but still not as good as the first recipe. Then we found another recipe that seemed simple enough. It called for one half inch rounds but only a bit of oil and oregano and garlic salt/powder. The eggplant was too large and the rounds too big. Perhaps the temperature needed to be higher and the slices thinner. I think I put too much oil and they didn’t crisp up enough. So this week we got two smaller eggplants and gave it another go. I was really looking forward to it too. So the smaller eggplants were cut in quarter inch rounds and left to dry out for thirty minutes. I tried spray olive oil instead of brushing it on, and added organo and garlic salt. Because there were too many pieces both the small and large air fryers were used. For whatever reason they still didn’t turn out right. They weren’t crispy enough and just didn’t seem cooked through. After all of the time and effort it took to make these things it was quite disappointing. The first recipe was the best, but it was also the messiest and you needed egg batter and bread crumbs. I guess that is the secret to a better outcome. 

Air Fryer Pork Chops and Brussels Sprouts

We have had an air fryer for about six months. I’m not sure why it took us so long to realize we needed one! My husband is a big French fry fan and that was the incentive. We started with a small basket type and then got a larger combi oven that could accommodate more without having to do batches. Now we often use them both at the same time. We weren’t planning on making pork chops since we usually don’t eat a lot of meat. We prefer salmon, shrimp and chicken. At the grocery store this week my husband asked if we should try pork chops. So we found a package that looked reasonably good - although I prefer no bones. He was also wanting to have Brussel sprouts. When we got home I looked for air fryer recipes for both and found two that looked good. I’m not a big Brussels sprouts fan, but they turned out pretty well in the air fryer. We didn’t soak them in water - if you prefer them a bit softer. We may try that the next time. As for the pork chops, they also turned out pretty well. I always like things on the well done side. These chops were peretty thin so we could have used less time cooking them. We added the leftover pierogi to the mix and the dinner was quite good. The next evening we had leftover pork chops with pesto pasta, using another new recipe for the pasta. I still don’t know why anyone would use a large oven to cook dinner. The air fryer is simply so much easier - especially when it’s just the two of us. 

We Love Our Air Fryers

We got our first air fryer a few months ago. I’m not sure why it took us so long to get one. My husband loves French fries and that was the impetus. So we started out with a small four quart basket type - just to see if we liked it. And we did. It was easy to use, had a window, and is easily handled and washed. But it was a bit cumbersome because everything had to be made in batches. So we got another larger oven style type. It was not only larger but it had more functions. But you need to use oven mitts to handle the trays and the buttons are on the front rather than the top - so it is not as easy to see. But now we were able to make French fries, pizza, eggplant, and shrimp in one setting. But now since we have two appliances it is not unusual to use both of them at the same time. The air fryers have made making dinner so much easier. We also have tried combi dinners - chicken, rice and a vegetable that are all made at the same time. I am still amazed how nicely the chicken turns out. So routinely we make salmon, shrimp, hamburgers, chicken breasts, French fries, pizza, eggplant, and even pillsbury French bread, various potatoes, frozen packaged foods like Barber stuffed chicken breasts, and Phillips crab cakes. We like buying the fresh seafood and making it the same day or the day after. I don’t know why we would we use the oven - it took forever to preheat. I suppose if you have a large family the need for the traditional oven will always be there. But for two people, the air fryer is perfect! 

Air Fryer Parchment Paper

We have two air fryers. We got the first one a couple of months ago. It was a small basket style. We liked it so much we decided we needed a bigger one that could cook a pizza and a whole potato worth of French fries. That one is more of an oven/air fryer style. Upon the suggestion of a friend, it was recommended that we get parchment paper to collect the oil and whatnot from cooking. That way you don’t need to wash the pans every time. So I ordered two different sizes to see it it really makes a difference. We never really thought it was much of a hardship to wash the pans, but we would give the parchment a try. For the larger air fryer the parchment paper has holes - so it sort of defeats the purpose. So last night we tried the paper with French fries in one and crab cakes in the other. Since we use olive oil there is a certain amount of residue. We were also interested to see how it would affect the overall cooking - it didn’t make sense that things would air dry as well if the bottom was covered. After all, the idea is to have the hot air circulate on all sides. In the end the paper does absorb a lot of the oil and debris, and seems to work fairly well. You can’t preheat with the paper in place and when you do use it, it needs to be covered by enough food so as to avoid it flying around and hitting a heating element. We still ended up cleaning the pan - especially using the paper with holes. Perhaps it’s better to use the paper for certain foods. I guess it all gets down to personal preference. 

Air Fryer Hamburger and Fries

I have to admit that cooking dinner has become more “fun” since we got an air fryer. We started out with a four quart basket type just to see if we even liked it - and we did. Everything cooks so quickly and there just isn’t a mess afterwards. So we added a larger oven type that allows us to make a small pizza and larger portions. It even has a toast function that comes in handy for breakfast. Technically we could get rid of the toaster. So last evening we made hamburgers in the smaller device. This time we mixed one pound with a half cup of Italian seasoned bread crumbs. We made two and saved two min the freezer for the next time. The burgers turned out so much better than ever. Then we made some French fries in the larger device - all at one time rather than in two batches. We have a gullotine decor that cuts the potato in to small strips. On the side we microwaved some broccoli and my husband made the usual salads with feta cheese and green olives - a favorite for the time being. Tonight the plan is to make fresh salmon and we may try the same Italian breadcrumbs we used on the hamburgers. The other day we made chicken breasts and baked potatoes. All I can say is that anything that you used to make in the oven can easily be made in the air fryer. The oven takes forever to heat up and it’s longer to cook. The air fryer takes a minute or two and takes less time. Do yourself a favor and get one! 

Eggplant Stew

Ever since we got a small air fryer we have found that it’s the best way to make eggplant. It’s crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. We like it all by itself, and have tried it on eggplant Parmesan. My husband has a recipe - in his head - for a type of eggplant stew with meatballs and other assorted things. He always made it with the eggplant in the stew and it was always good, but the eggplant was mushy. So we thought we would try the air fried eggplant for this dish. So we whipped up a batch of air fried eggplant and then added it in the stew at the last minute - just enough for the servings we would have. The rest would be saved for the leftovers to do the same thing again. It was not a disappointment! Plus, the air fryer is great for reheating. What made it really nice was that we got another air fryer that is a larger size so we can make things like egg plant and French fries and pizza all at once rather than having to do it three times and interrupt the meal. It also is nice because we can make two different things at once. One is a small basket type and the other one is an oven that has several functions including toast. So literally we could get rid of the toaster. The air fryer has brought a new dimension to cooking - and supposedly it’s healthier. What could be better?