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Air fryers may have entered the culinary scene as a healthier way to make crispy chips, but we now know they’re capable of more than just a quick midweek meal. What I’m wondering, though, is if I could save time (and oven space) by cooking the roast in an air fryer. To find out, I decided to go all out and try cooking an entire meal using just what I had – sides and all. Ninja Air Fryer.
Preparing a delicious roast dinner is a finely tuned operation that can fail even the most confident home cook. From trays of vegetables and stuffings to gravy and meat, roasting is a culinary acrobatics that can take years to master, and the oven fills up quickly, and time slows down as you try to make sure all the elements are cooked and ready to plate at the same time.
However, with some forward planning, an air fryer can take on a surprising amount of work, free up your main oven, and generally deliver better results in the process: crispier baked potatoes, quicker cook times, and far less time wandering around the kitchen.
But it’s important to remember that size matters. If you want to cook a whole bird or large cuts of meat in an air fryer, you’ll want to make sure your device has the right capacity.
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this best air fryer Of course, when cooking a roast dinner, Double drawer air fryeras they give you the freedom to cook meat in one drawer and side dishes in another. But we like the challenge here independentfor this experiment I used my trusted Ninja 15 all in one foodi max air fryer. Even though it has bake and steam functions, I just used the regular old air fryer settings for all the steps.
As with any roast dinner, it pays to plan ahead. Start by making a list of what you want to include – this will help you determine the timing before you start cooking. My meals were turkey crown, carrots, parsnips, roast potatoes, stuffing balls, Yorkshire puddings, pigs in blankets and Brussels sprouts (a preview of my Christmas dinner).
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How to cook turkey in the air fryer
The turkey is the star of the show for me, but of course, you can choose different types of meat or meat-free alternatives. You’re unlikely to put a whole turkey in the air fryer, so opt for a crown (like I did) or a smaller one of another type of meat (note that cooking times may differ from those listed below).
Cooking a turkey in the air fryer is faster than using a traditional oven, but the time will depend on the size of the turkey or cut of meat. I chose a small 1.9kg turkey crown, which will feed about five to seven people.
First, you need to prepare the meat. I started by patting the crown on the turkey, then added garlic oil, salt and pepper, and placed it skin side down in the air fryer. Cook skin side down first, this will help it stay juicy and prevent the skin from drying out prematurely. Then I cooked it at 180C for 25 minutes.
Then, it’s time to flip the turkey and baste with sauce. You can use the juices that have already come out, or (here’s the secret to a great turkey), mix some oil and butter with a little garlic and brush it over the top of the turkey. Cook for a further 25 minutes at 180C.
After 25 minutes, oil again, this time using the juices from the bottom of the air fryer, and set it to 165°C for about 35 minutes. You don’t want the temperature to be too high as it will dry out the meat or toughen the skin.
It’s a good idea to invest in one of these The best meat thermometer. Your turkey should have an internal temperature of 75°C. Once it reaches this point, you know it’s cooked. If you don’t have a thermometer, insert a sharp knife into the thickest part of the turkey – the juices should run clear (which means the meat is cooked through). If they don’t drain clean, cook the bird for another 5 to 10 minutes and check again.
Once the turkey is cooked, remove it from the air fryer, cover loosely with foil, and let rest for about 40 minutes. The residual heat will continue to cook the meat and give the juices time to settle. This also gives you enough time to cook the rest of your meal.
How to Cook Vegetables and Roasted Dinner Side Dishes in the Air Fryer
While the meat is cooking, it’s time to prepare the vegetables and side dishes. Once the vegetables are peeled and chopped, the trick is to cook them until they are half-cooked. You don’t have to do this, but it speeds things up and can make a difference. I boiled the potatoes for about 10-12 minutes; the carrots and parsnips for 7-10 minutes, and the Brussels sprouts for no more than four minutes – the last thing you want is soggy sprouts.
Start by cooking the roast potatoes. There are several ways to do this. First, you can do what I did and cook the roast in turkey fat. Since you just took the turkey out and it’s already hot, keep in mind that you’ll get a hint of garlic from the basting.
You can also use goose fat if that’s not your thing. Add one to two tablespoons of fat to the potatoes while they are still hot (after parboiling and draining) and shake well. The heat from the potatoes should be enough to melt the fat to coat them, with the same effect as pouring them into a roasting tin with hot fat. If you prefer a slightly healthier option, there are some spray oils available.
No matter how you cook them, don’t forget to season your potatoes—salt, pepper, and garlic will up your roasted potato game. Put directly into the air fryer, 210 degrees, 15 minutes. Shake and cook for another 10 minutes. At this point I added the carrots and parsnips – optional if you don’t have the space. I’ll share my tips for keeping everything warm later.
To prepare the vegetables, glaze the carrots and parsnips with a teaspoon of honey (or maple syrup) and a pinch of olive oil, salt and pepper. Mix to make sure they are evenly coated, then place them in some tin foil. When the roasted potatoes have finished cooking, add them to the roasted potatoes and we will crisp them up at the end.
If you have room, you can also add Brussels sprouts. Add some olive oil, salt, pepper and garlic, then transfer them to foil and leave them in with the potatoes and other vegetables for about 10 to 12 minutes.
Once the potatoes are cooked, place them in foil to keep them warm while you eat the rest of dinner. Next, it’s time to cook the pig in blankets and stuffing balls. Add these to the air fryer basket and cook at 210°C for about 14 minutes.
Once they’re cooked, it’s time to serve. While you’re carving the meat, add the vegetables back to the air fryer along with the Yorkshire puddings and cook for about seven minutes. This will crisp up the vegetables, cook the Yorkshire pudding perfectly, and give you time to put the rest of dinner on your plate.
Speaking of gravy, I’ll let you get that out. I used instant gravy which takes just seconds to make. Although you can make it a bit tastier by adding a little red wine If you want people to think it’s not coming out of a bathtub, use an Oxo cube.
That’s it. All elements of the roast dinner are complete and ready for you to enjoy.
Tips for Cooking Roast Dinner in the Air Fryer
Foil will become your best friend, but not all foil is created equal. If possible, choose thick foil – this will be a bit more expensive than basic supermarket foil, but it will hold its shape better and retain more heat, which is ideal when trying to keep multiple dishes warm.
Talk about staying warm if you have slow cooker, Now it’s time to take it out. Use the keep warm feature to ensure all your sides stay warm and ready to serve. Wrap them in foil before adding them to the pan so they stay at the perfect temperature. If you don’t have a slow cooker, a large pot with a lid will suffice. The heat will stay in the pot, and while it won’t stay as warm as with a slow cooker, you won’t lose as much heat.
Another important tip is not to overcrowd your basket. It’s best to cook in batches to ensure everything is heated evenly.
Finally, clean as you go. There’s nothing worse than having to deal with the washing up everywhere after a roast dinner. The great thing about cooking in an air fryer is that you don’t have to do as much washing up compared to traditional cooking. So, while you’re waiting for your food to cook, pour yourself a glass of something nice and wash it down while you’re at it—you’ll thank yourself later.
Conclusion: Cooking Roast Dinner in the Air Fryer
Cooking a roast dinner in the air fryer is a treat. This might not be the best option if you’re cooking for a large group, but if you’re a couple or a small family, it’s ideal. It only takes a fraction of the time compared to traditional cooking methods. Cooking Sunday dinner is easy as long as you stay organized.
Ninja 15-in-1 Air Fryer
The model I use is the Ninja 15-in-1 Air Fryer, which ranks #1 in my guide. best air fryer. As an air fryer, it’s great. The temperature reaches up to 240°C so you get a good crisping result, and it even sounds an alarm halfway through cooking so you know when to give the basket a little shake for even cooking results.
Cosori smart air fryer twinfry
Another great option for cooking grilled meats is Dual air fryer – This Cosori model won the IndyBest competition guide to the best. Reviewer Katie Gregory notes that this model is “truly impressive” in terms of cooking and speed, and that air fryer enthusiasts will “enjoy the pro features and WiFi connectivity.”
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