Importance Score: 40 / 100 🔵
Achieve Crispy Roast Potatoes in an Air Fryer: A Mayonnaise-Based Recipe
Air fryers offer a swift and economical alternative to conventional ovens for preparing a variety of dishes. As Easter approaches, and with Cuisinart’s latest air fryer now available, it presents an opportune moment to refine your roast potato technique. Many online recipes advocate for a surprising ingredient in lieu of traditional animal fat or oil: mayonnaise. The concept is akin to coating potatoes in oil, but with an added layer of flavour. Despite initial scepticism, the results of using mayonnaise for air fryer roast potatoes proved remarkably satisfactory.
Testing the Cuisinart AirTwin XXL Dual Zone Air Fryer
The “Roast” setting on the air fryer facilitated potato cooking comparable to oven roasting. The Cuisinart AirTwin XXL Dual Zone Air Fryer, priced at £149.99 on the official website and boasting a five-star average consumer rating, was employed for this recipe. Praised by users as a “must-have” for frequent air fryer usage, this appliance was put to the test.
First Impressions and Setup
Upon unboxing, the appliance impressed with its streamlined and elegant design. Setup was intuitive, requiring no consultation of the instruction manual. After washing the baskets and crisper plates, the air fryer was ready for operation.
The interface features readily understandable icons, providing access to adjustable presets, synchronised cooking zones, and numerous other practical functionalities.
With its twin basket configuration, generous 10.4L capacity, and competitive price point, the Cuisinart model emerges as a strong competitor to Ninja and similar brands. It enables the simultaneous cooking of different foods with synchronised completion times, offering user-friendly controls, adaptability, and rapid cooking – attributes demonstrated while preparing roast potatoes.
Recipe: Air Fryer Roast Potatoes with Mayonnaise
Ingredients:
- Four Maris Piper potatoes
- 1.5 tablespoons mayonnaise
- Salt
Method:
Commenced by peeling and chopping the potatoes into roughly 1-inch pieces, followed by parboiling for 15 minutes. This parboiling step is crucial for yielding a fluffy interior and accelerating the air frying process. Next, the parboiled potatoes were transferred to a bowl, coated evenly with mayonnaise, ensuring thorough coverage.
Subsequently, the mayonnaise-coated potatoes were placed into one of the air fryer drawers, ensuring the inclusion of the crisper plate. This element elevates the potatoes, promoting optimal air circulation beneath and around them, crucial for achieving uniform crispiness.
Cooking and Results
The drawer capacity proved surprisingly ample, accommodating four portions of potatoes without any overcrowding. Operation is straightforward: simply plug in the appliance, press the power button, and select the desired cooking parameters and basket. For this recipe, the “Roast” function was engaged, automatically setting the temperature to 200°C for 20 minutes. Users retain the flexibility to adjust both temperature and cooking duration even within preset modes.
The “Shake Reminder” function was also activated, providing an alert after 13 minutes – a beneficial feature for those who may momentarily forget to check on their cooking progress.
After the initial 20-minute cycle, an additional 10 minutes of cooking was deemed necessary to achieve desired browning. A notable feature is the automatic transition to a keep-warm setting upon completion of the programmed cooking time, unlike many air fryers that simply switch off.
A final touch of sea salt was added post-cooking. The resultant roast potatoes exhibited exceptional crispness, surpassing previous air fryer attempts. While a subtle hint of mayonnaise flavour was present, it was minimal, with the enhanced texture being the dominant positive outcome.
Cleaning and Considerations
Post-cooking cleanup, often a drawback of air fryer usage, proved effortless with this model. Grease residue wiped away readily, due to the design minimizing crevices and areas where food particles could accumulate.
Potential drawbacks are primarily size-related. Those with limited counter space or smaller kitchens should consider the appliance’s footprint. However, its versatility as a potential oven replacement might justify allocating space.
Pricing and Alternatives
Currently offered with a 40% discount, the Cuisinart Airtwin XXL Dual Zone Air Fryer is available on Amazon for £89.99, supported by numerous 4.5-star customer ratings on the platform.
Alternatives are available for those seeking different features. The Ninja Double Stack XL 9.5L Air Fryer, retailing at £269.99, presents a more compact dual-zone option.
For individuals seeking a more aesthetically vibrant appliance, the Swan Retro 8L Dual Basket Air Fryer, priced at £99.99 (reduced from £129.99), offers a colourful kitchen addition.