Forget the symmetrical face, I am taking the air fryer

By this time, every scroll through my social media feed had become a synchronised swimming routine of dazzling wedding gowns, sarees, and engagement rings held against blurry sunsets. The captions were all some variation of "I get to do life with my best friend!" It felt like everyone was getting married.
I was doing just fine at first, hitting "love" and "care" on their posts and genuinely admiring how happy they looked. I kept telling myself, "Your time will come" (though only God knows when). I was holding it all together until my own dear friend decided to join the "Married Club." Had she forgotten all the unshed tears we shared at ungodly hours of the night? It was fine as long as we were suffering together; isn't it better to cry in a pair than alone? 

The late-night “Add to cart” I don’t regret
Speaking of peer pressure, seeing every acquaintance walk down the aisle wasn't enough; my mom had to add to the burden. Every time I answered her calls, she didn’t say "Hello"; she said, "The neighbour’s son just got promoted. He has a very symmetrical face. Shall I send him your LinkedIn?" I wondered: A symmetrical face? Wasn’t she the one watching grand wedding videos on YouTube to plan my grand wedding? Apparently, these have been my late-night weekend thoughts lately. Until I found it…

It was a 2:00 AM "Add to Cart" during a particularly lonely bout of doom-scrolling. When I first saw the Air Fryer, something about it felt promising. I have been watching those healthy pro tip videos and am almost convinced that I need an air fryer in my life. So without any further adieu I sealed the deal. The next day, it arrived in a cardboard box, unpretentious, sleek, and matte black. My own mother was giving me obnoxious side-eyes when the deliveryman dropped it at the front door. I was happy; she was not.
I didn't know then that this 15-inch, stylish-looking box would come to my rescue. I felt content knowing I’d made the right choice. My air fryer didn’t need to "find itself." My mom continued to side-eye me as I placed it on the counter beside the microwave, the perfect spot.

Quicker, crispier and less guilt
After watching a solid 10-minute YouTube tutorial, I already felt like an expert. It is that easy to use. I lined the basket with aluminium foil and popped in some store-bought chicken nuggets with a tiny drizzle of oil.
If you are using an air fryer, you must ensure the contents don't exceed the max limit, as the heating rod sits right above the basket. Airflow is everything; if you use a liner, whether it's baking parchment, aluminium, or those sustainable silicone ones, make sure you aren't blocking the air circulation.
Those nuggets were crispier than anything I’ve ever had. Crunchy on the outside, tender on the inside. It was the perfect combo that would take ages to achieve in a regular pan or microwave. In air fryer, it was only 6 minutes. I was so motivated that I started making nuggets from scratch. When it comes to healthy eating, nothing beats the guilt-free satisfaction of "fried" food made with minimal oil.

Speaking of food guilt, I always struggled with the "to eat or not to eat" dilemma regarding frozen French fries. To my utter surprise, the air fryer made fries the easiest snack in the world. They are easily my most-cooked dish, even though it took a few attempts to perfect the timing. Don't be discouraged if your first batch doesn't look like the videos; you will perfect it over time. 

Now, I’m an air-frying enthusiast 
Broccoli (which I severely burnt the first time), peanuts, eggs, even ready-made parathas, Tandoor, kebabs—name it, I’ll find a way to fit it in the fryer. My only regret? I should have bought the largest size available. My appetite for air-frying grew five times over once I started.
For a change, I told my mom we should go as an "Air Fryer Only" household, but she isn't budging. She admits she finds the process of drenching food in oil and frying it in a pan "therapeutic." So, I let her be. 

I tried it, so you don't have to
1.    Don’t Overfill the Basket: Overcrowding prevents air circulation, turning "crispy" into "soggy." When making chips (I tried Korola/bitter gourd chips and they were amazing with a bit of salt), give them room to breathe and shake the basket frequently.
2.    Adjust Your Temperature: These machines are powerful. If you use standard oven temperatures, you’ll end up with dry, overcooked meat. My chicken bites were great, but nearly burnt on the outside because I went too hot too fast.
○    Tip: Test your fryer’s power with frozen chips first.
○    Tip: Use marinades or foil to keep meat moist.
3.    Don’t Rely Solely on the Timer: The auto-off is great, but don't just walk away. Check your food regularly to avoid burnt tops.
○    Pro-Tip: If you’re baking a cake and the top is browning too fast while the middle is raw, cover it with foil to trap moisture and prevent burning.
4.    It’s Not a Direct Replacement for a Frying Pan: Steaks need fine control that an air fryer just can’t provide. You’re better off using a traditional pan than ending up with a steak that is burnt outside and raw inside. Also, those "10-pancake-at-once" viral hacks? Don't do it. You’ll just end up with a puddle of batter and a lot of parchment paper to clean up.
5.    Be Realistic About Meal Size: If you’re cooking for a crowd, use the oven. Batch-cooking in a small air fryer takes forever and wastes energy. To maximise space, use oven-proof glass trays or steel racks. Steel racks are great for toast, just watch the timer unless you want "hard-core" teeth-breaking biscuits.
6.    Don’t Be Afraid to Bake: The air fryer is a champion for pastries, muffins, and sausage rolls. It’s faster than an oven and surprisingly foolproof. Just pour your mix into a mould, set the temp, and enjoy your baked goods!

Sometimes, the most meaningful relationship you can have is with a well-timed kitchen appliance. At 2:00 AM, I tell myself that a perfectly crispy chicken wing with French fries is a pretty good substitute for love. For now, my air fryer and I are very happy together—even if my mom is still holding out hope for my marriage.