A big question this time of year is whether you can cook your Christmas dinner in an air fryer. We’ve tested it out and you absolutely can – but that doesn’t mean you should.
I’ll explain why below, and suggest some better ways to use your air fryer over Christmas.
How to cook Christmas dinner in an air fryer
First of all, it’s perfectly possible to cook a Christmas dinner – or any roast – in an air fryer and get excellent results. An air fryer doesn’t actually fry food. It’s a mini convection oven, which means it cooks by circulating hot air around the food, much like a fan-assisted oven. The difference is that the smaller cooking space heats up faster and gives crispier results.
I cooked a Christmas dinner for two in a dual-drawer air fryer. In one basket, I roasted a 0.5kg turkey breast joint (and there was space for at least double the volume), and in the other, a generous amount of potatoes and carrots – enough to feed three people, at least.
I used the 10.4l Ninja Foodi FlexDrawer, which is a kitchen staple for me, and one of the best air fryers we’ve reviewed.
Emma Rowley / Foundry
To see how it compares with other Ninja models, have a look at our round-up of the best Ninja air fryers and countertop cookers.
If you’ve never roasted potatoes in an air fryer, it’s simple. Parboil them as usual, then roll them in oil, or spray them using an oil spray bottle (£9.99, from Amazon), then cook them using your air fryer’s roast setting for around 30-40 minutes. For best results, give them a shake midway through cooking.
The turkey breast joint had cooking instructions of 55 minutes at 180°C (or 160°C in a fan-assisted oven). As an air fryer has a smaller cooking cavity, you’ll be able to adjust the time and temperature downwards. I cooked it for 45 minutes at 150°C, and it was juicy and well done.
Emma Rowley / Foundry
If you want extra help with a roast, use a meat probe to test the internal temperature of a large joint and make sure it’s cooked through. You can buy one for as little as £10 from Amazon.
For even better results, you can get a wireless probe, such as the Meater Plus, which you can leave in during cooking. This is a pricier option but it’ll provide much better results as the accompanying app on your phone will alert you when the meat is cooked.
The other option is to choose an air fryer with an integral meat probe. The excellent Ninja Foodi Max Dual Zone (AF451) features a probe – but earlier models of this air fryer don’t, so make sure you buy the right one if that’s the feature you’re after.
Lee Bell / Foundry
Why you shouldn’t cook your Christmas dinner in an air fryer
If there’s just one or two of you for Christmas dinner, a dual-drawer air fryer or an air fryer oven is an excellent choice. It’s the fastest and most economical way to cook and there will be plenty of space for large portions and leftovers.
Check out the best dual-drawer air fryers and the best air fryer ovens we’ve tested for our top recommendations.
Cooking portions for two means you won’t be tempted to overcrowd your air fryer, which will lead to less crispy and even results as the hot air won’t be able to reach everything.
But if you only have a single drawer air fryer, or if you have a larger group gathering for Christmas, it’ll be much more economical to use all the space in your oven to cook. If you’re running your air fryer twice or more, it’ll be cheaper to use an oven. Plus, you’ll get better results in the oven, as you won’t be tempted to crowd food into drawers.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t make use of your air fryer over Christmas.
How to use your air fryer over Christmas
If you have a larger gathering, or a smaller air fryer, here’s how to use it instead:
- As a separate cooking zone for veggies, vegans or people with food allergies
- To cook starters or heat up canapés
- To heat up rolls or pastries
- To cook your Christmas pudding
- As a hob replacement. Instead of boiling one of your Christmas vegetable sides, like Brussels sprouts or carrots, roast them in the air fryer instead
For more air fryer cooking ideas, have a look at our article: Air fryer cooking: five mistakes you’re making.
