Cooking a Christmas dinner is often a stressful ordeal as you juggle items going in an out of an oven.
But, a cookery writer in Kent has reimagined Christmas dinner preparation by relying entirely on air fryers, proving the versatility of these trendy kitchen appliances.
Beverley Jarvis, a self-professed “air fryer bore” from Ashford, is using five air fryers this festive season to serve a meal for 11 guests without the need for a traditional oven.
Ms Jarvis, who is well-versed in air fryer cooking, believes the appliances save both time and money, making them a “no-brainer”.
Speaking to BBC Radio Kent, she said: “Air fryers heat up so quickly, just three minutes to reach 200°C, and they use half the electricity of a conventional oven. I use mine every day, and I think they’re fantastic.”
Ms Jarvis shared tips for crafting a perfect Christmas dinner, highlighting how she prepares a turkey breast roll to perfection in just 55 minutes at 180°C.
She said: “It’s great for feeding six people, and if you have a larger air fryer, you can cook a bigger bird.”
For crispy roast potatoes, she recommended adding them towards the end of the turkey’s cooking time and increasing the temperature to 190°C for 35 minutes.
Side dishes are also a breeze. Pigs in blankets cook in 10 minutes at 190°C, while sausage rolls take 15 minutes at 200°C.
She added: “They come out better than perfect.”
Ms Jarvis has also used air fryers for other festive staples.
She described cooking a gammon joint for 10 people, wrapping it in foil and adding onions and carrots for moisture. To finish, she glazed the gammon with a mixture of maple syrup, marmalade, and whiskey.
For a festive snack, Ms Jarvis suggested parmesan crisps. The quick recipe involves heating the air fryer to 200°C, lightly oiling the base, and cooking spoonfuls of grated parmesan mixed with chili, pumpkin seeds, and herbs.
She said: “They take just four minutes and are perfect with a glass of bubbly.”
Air fryers have grown in popularity during the cost-of-living crisis, as they require less energy than traditional ovens.
Like in Ms Jarvis’s case, it can revolutionise how we prepare meals, even on big occasions like Christmas.
