Christmas is just two weeks away, and families across the country are looking forward to spending time with loved ones, opening presents, and devouring the perfect roast dinner with all the trimmings.
Making the perfect festive feast can be a tricky task when you are simultaneously cooking crispy roasties, basting your juicy turkey, steaming your crunchy veg and roasting the perfect stuffing.
With the main character of the dish being your meat of choice, sometimes, your Christmas sides get neglected and aren’t as tasty as they should be.
Luckily, an air fryer expert has shared the secret to creating delectable stuffing in an air fryer with an easy, time-efficient method. Philips’ air fryer chef, Martin Senders, promises a moist centre and a flawlessly crunchy exterior.
The expert revealed his top tip is to add a generous splash of stock to your stuffing mix. This small step ensures that your stuffing stays wonderfully moist inside while crisping up perfectly on the outside.
Martin Senders, Philips’ air fryer chef, said: “No Christmas dinner is complete without the classic side dishes, and many people don’t realise that stuffing cooks brilliantly in an air fryer.
“To make sparkling stuffing this Christmas, adding stock to your mix is a failsafe way to ensure stuffing balls stay moist and flavourful, whilst remaining crispy on the outside.
“Another brilliant time-saving hack is using your air fryer to beat the Christmas rush by cooking your stuffing in advance. Your favourite side dish can then be fresh and table-ready after just five minutes of reheating at 180 degrees.”
Another tip is not to overcrowd your air fryer; he said: “Air fryers work best when hot air can circulate freely around the food.
“Overcrowding the basket can lead to uneven cooking or soggy stuffing. If you’re prepping a large batch for the big day, it’s best to cook in smaller portions for consistently golden and delicious results.”
For an extra crisp, he said to lightly brush a small amount of oil or melted butter over the surface of your stuffing before air frying.
He shared: “This simple step not only enhances the colour but also adds an extra layer of crispiness that brings out a rich, satisfying texture. It’s the perfect finishing touch for a deliciously crisp topping.”
The expert suggests using the Philips 5000 Series NA555/09 Dual Basket Steam Air Fryer, which is available on the John Lewis site for £249.99. This air fryer has two baskets for frying, baking, roasting, and grilling, with one also equipped for steaming.
It is also available at Currys and retails for the same price. Alternatively, you can grab a Philips 3000 Series NA351/00 9L Dual Basket Air Fryer at a cheaper price of £179.99.
This air fryer boasts 4.9 stars; one happy customer shared: “Easy to use and the time for all cooking is already set up.” However, one person gave a critique and commented: “Lovely product! We have tried all the food that we usually fry in deep oil.
“We had the same result with one spoon of oil use and in a quicker time. The only negative thing is no book in the box all online which is time-consuming for me and no defrost function on the machine.”
Elsewhere, Ninja is selling its Foodi Dual Zone Air Fryer—AF300UK—for ££14.99, down from £199.99; find out more here.
