PSA: I called air fryer chicken thighs a waste of time for 2 years and a $9 pack from Aldi changed my mind
My sister got me an air fryer for my birthday and I shoved it in the cabinet for 8 months because I figured it was just a small oven with extra steps. Then a Tuesday last month I got home at 7:15 after a 10 hour day on a water heater swap in Gary and had nothing thawed but a pack of bone in chicken thighs I grabbed for $9. I rubbed them with salt, paprika and a little oil, 400 degrees for 25 minutes, flipped once, and they came out with crispy skin and juice running clear. The whole thing took less time than my oven would have preheated, and one basket fed me and my kid with zero leftovers. Now I do thighs every Sunday and reheat them Monday. What else am I sleeping on in this thing, because I am clearly not using it right.
The "small oven with extra steps" part got me because that was my exact take for way too long. My wife finally broke me by doing frozen wings in it and they came out better than the ones I used to babysit in oil on the stove. The real game changer for me was baby potatoes with a little oil and garlic salt at 400 for about 18 minutes, shake the basket halfway, crispy outside and fluffy inside. Also reheat pizza in it, two minutes and the crust comes back to life instead of going soggy like the microwave does.