Unpopular opinion: that $20 air fryer from the thrift store was a terrible find

Found a nearly new air fryer at Goodwill in Portland for $20 last month. Grabbed it without thinking. Got it home, made some frozen fries, and they came out like cardboard. Tried chicken wings next - dry and tough. My cousin told me I was using it wrong, needed to preheat longer and not crowd the basket. Did that. Still mediocre. I think some things are cheap for a reason. Anyone else grab a 'deal' on kitchen gear that just ended up being a waste of counter space?

2 comments

2 Comments

hayes.tara1mo ago

Read somewhere that cheaper air fryers often have uneven heating because the fan and heating element aren't as good. Maybe your $20 find is just one of those. I've seen people online swear by preheating their basket for a full 5 minutes and shaking things halfway, but if the machine itself is weak, it's still going to be a struggle. Did you check the wattage on that thing before you bought it?

paulperry1mo ago

Whoa wait, hold on. You snagged an air fryer for 20 bucks? That's insane, I didn't even know they made them that cheap. I figured anything under 50 was just a hot plate with a fan taped to it. Did you check the wattage on that thing or were you just seeing if it would explode?