With the countdown to Christmas now approaching its conclusion, many households will be putting together their battle plan for cooking the most iconic of all meals – the Christmas dinner.
While you might have been looking forward to it all year, making a Christmas dinner is very expensive. Whether it’s the selection of ingredients or the accompanying drinks, hosting Christmas can cost a lot.
However, considering the current cost-of-living crisis, many would-be chefs will also be looking for the most energy-efficient way to prepare their meals.
Enter, the air fryer.
Particularly popular of late, air fryers are simple to use and require less energy than an oven.
Indeed, according to research by Iceland and Utilita, an air fryer costs around £52.74 per year to power, while electric and gas cookers cost about £316 and £264 a year, respectively.
But can you do any of the Christmas dinner items in an air fryer?
Here is what you need to know.
How long does it take to cook a Christmas dinner in an air fryer?
One of the advantages of cooking using an air fryer is the reduced cooking time. Many of the items you would traditionally cook as part of a full Christmas dinner can be done in just fifteen minutes or less.
Remember, it is essential to check the specific cooking instructions for anything you plan to make, especially whether they are suitable for cooking in an air fryer.
When cooking meat, always ensure the product is cooked thoroughly and remember to defrost anything frozen properly before cooking.
Approximate cooking times for Christmas dinner items
According to Tefal, there are the approximate suggested cooking times for a Christmas dinner in an air fryer:
- Turkey joint (1.25kg) – 42 mins
- Roasted honey parsnips (from frozen) – 15 mins
- Roasted honey parsnips (from fresh) – 25 mins
- Brussel sprouts (whole fresh) – 15 mins
- Pigs in blankets and sausage stuffing balls (mixed) – 15 mins
- Roast potatoes (no part-boiled needed) – 40 mins
Remember, you may also have to adjust cooking times if portions or meat sizes are bigger than stated.
You can tell a turkey is cooked when the meat is steaming hot all the way through, there is no pink meat when you cut into the thickest part of the bird, and the juices run clear when you pierce it.
Another advantage to using an air fryer is that they present a much healthier cooking option than other cooking methods.
When using an air fryer, you should only use approximately one or two teaspoons of oil.
It’s also important to remember to keep other items warm while cooking to enjoy a hot meal.
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