I Set Out to Prove My Air Fryer is Useless

Let me start by saying I didn’t want an air fryer.

I didn’t ask for one. I didn’t believe in one. In fact, I bought a one and never used it. It still sits in the box. 

I thought air frying was just another Pinterest-fueled, influencer-pushed countertop fad invented to sell gadgets and destined to gather dust next to the spiralizer and that sad panini press I used twice in 2018. 

But then something happened. We got a new Toaster Oven. It came with an Air Fryer built in. I smiled, and like a normal adult, immediately began plotting where I could hide the bulky frying basket in my crowded cabinet.

But then... I plugged it in. You know, just to use it once to make French Fries and see what all the hot air fuss was about. Because that’s all it is, hot air.

So Wait… It’s Just a Tiny Oven?

Yes. There’s the twist. An air fryer is basically a convection oven with a glow-up.

It blasts hot air around your food like a tiny tornado, giving it that crispy, golden finish you usually need a vat of oil and a gallon of stove cleaner afterward to achieve. OK, you do toss in a tablespoon of oil—maybe—and hit a few buttons. But 12 minutes later, your crispy, crunch potato fries are perfectly browned and your house doesn’t smell like a county fair.

It’s absurdly simple. Suspiciously simple. And OMG, the fat and calories you save! Like, how did this not exist 20 years ago?

The Health Glow-Up: Fries Without Regret

Now, I’m not here to shame deep fryers. We all know they make food taste like sin and happiness.

But let’s talk calories.

A typical serving of deep-fried French fries? About 350 calories, thanks to all that glorious oil. The same fries made in an air fryer? Closer to 160 calories. That’s almost 200 calories saved—without sacrificing crunch. That's not dieting. That’s just... not drowning your food in a tub of hot grease.

Also: way less fat, way less guilt, and way fewer naps from food comas. You're welcome, arteries.

One Week Later: Who Even Am I?

By the end of Day 1, I had air-fried fries, roasted broccoli that didn’t suck, and crisped chickpeas like a boss. Who even knew that chickpeas could be great, healthy snacks?

By Day 3, I was air-frying leftover dumplings, chicken wings, banana slices (don’t ask), and grilled cheese sandwiches with the fervor of someone in a relationship with their appliance.

By the end of the week? I am staring at my GE Toaster Oven like, “OK, what else have you got? Can you really make eggs in an air fryer? Show me.”

From a Skeptic to a Convert

I used to think air fryers were for people who wear matching pajamas and use hashtags like #weeknightwonder. But now? Now I think they’re for anyone who likes food that tastes fried without feeling fried. 

Trying to lose a few pounds and tired of starving? Ditch the processed snacks and air fry your way to a better weight.

Do I feel slightly betrayed by how easy it is? Yes. Do I feel stupid for resisting its pull all these years? A little. Do I care? Not at all.

So, if you’ve been on the fence like I was, let me shove you lovingly off it: Get one. Use it. Air-fry all the things. Then come back and apologize to it like I did.

It’s one hot ticket you won't be sorry you bought.