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CNET
an hour ago
- General
- CNET
The Underrated Method of Making Grilled Cheese That Changed Everything
The air fryer is the perfect appliance to cook up delicious side dishes and game-day snacks but there's one more comfort food it makes perfectly: Grilled cheese that's crispier, cleaner and somehow even better than the frying pan version. I used to swear by cooking grilled cheese in a skillet but once I tried making the classic dish in the air fryer, there was no going back. It delivers that golden, crunchy exterior without drowning your bread in butter and it keeps your kitchen cooler-perfect for those hot summer days when firing up the stove sounds like a bad idea. If you haven't made this switch yet, here's why your next grilled cheese should start in the air fryer. If you're a purist, I salute you, too. The old school method for making grilled cheese is just fine but it's not without flaws. Pan-fried grilled cheeses also tend to fall apart or stick to the pan if they're not cooked and flipped properly and if you don't have the heat up high enough, you'll never get that coveted crunch. If you don't own an air fryer, I recommend Ninja's new glass-bowl model. It's the best we've tested and makes a mean grilled cheese. Below you'll find tips for making the best air fryer grilled cheese of your life. Why the air fryer is a perfect appliance to make grilled cheese As you can plainly see, the air fryer grilled cheese leaves little mess to contend with after preparing. Pamela Vachon/CNET An air fryer is basically a small convection oven with nonstick surfaces, circulating hot air around whatever you put in its basket. Unlike your saute pan or skillet, it cooks from all directions at once and typically in less time. Unlike your oven, it is compact and efficient, heats up quickly and may not even require preheating. Your toaster oven could never do this. While toasted cheese is a possibility (and reheated toaster oven pizza is a revelation), grilled cheese is not. Your toaster oven is not designed to support fat on the underside of whatever you're cooking and you'll end up with a mess too complicated to clean. For your grilled cheese, the air fryer is working on both of the bread surfaces and the cheese all at once, resulting in a quicker melt, which adheres the cheese to the bread slices together making for a much easier flip. (Flipping is still recommended but with far less drama.) The air circulation provides deep crunchiness, not only to the surfaces that received the butter or mayo treatment but to the entire crust. Any inclusions beyond cheese in the interior of the sandwich are also transforming because of the ambient heat. Simply placing a lid on your saute pan or skillet can't achieve the same results, as the components will become steamed and potentially soggy. Here's how I make air fryer grilled cheese Humble ingredients are transformed into something great inside an air fryer. Pamela Vachon/CNET Assemble a grilled cheese as you would otherwise Sliced bread Sliced or shredded cheese (I like American cheese for a basic grilled cheese and a combo of gruyere and cheddar for an upgrade.) Butter or mayonnaise for the outside of the bread slices (dealer's choice) For a basic grilled cheese, you can assemble the sandwich in the basket of your air fryer: bread with buttered side down, followed by sliced or shredded cheese, then topped with the final slice with buttered side up. Be it a simple sandwich or a fancier combination of cheese, bread and fixings, the air fryer makes a crispy, gooey grilled cheese in minutes. Pamela Vachon/CNET Set the heat to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for 3 to 6 minutes on each side, flipping halfway through. The already melted cheese will keep your sandwich nicely together during the flip. You can get a lightly golden grilled cheese in less time but I recommend hanging on for 5 to 6 minutes for a deeply crunchy sandwich. Another perk of the air fryer is that you can more easily peek to see where you are without adversely affecting the outcome. The air fryer is best for making fancy grilled cheese Add a fruit element and cured meats for a fancier air fryer sammy. Pamela Vachon/CNET This is where the air fryer really shines in the grilled cheese realm. Every element of an upgraded grilled cheese adds a degree of difficulty when trying to cook in a skillet, much of which is mitigated in the safe confines of an air fryer. Thicker bread. Thicker cheese, like hunks of camembert or brie. And think of all the great grilled cheese ingredients that can be slippery: apple slices, roasted red peppers, tomatoes, pickles, etc. Any grilled cheese with more than two components can be challenging to flip gracefully in a skillet, even for trained cooks. Bag a loaf of good bread and stuff your sandwich with upmarket cheese. Pamela Vachon/CNET To prove a point, I assembled a fancy grilled cheese with camembert, prosciutto and apple slices. (Plus mayonnaise on the exterior, because I was being fancy, and mayo gives your sandwich a little extra tang.) Because of its height, I assembled it fully outside of the air fryer and then carefully placed it in the drawer. Et voila! Pamela Vachon/CNET After 6 minutes of air fryer cooking, the flip was seamless and the sophisticated outcome belies the fact that you spent all of one minute assembling the masterpiece. The exterior of the ham even got a little bonus crisping. So the air fryer invites you to go to town with whatever you can dream up for your grilled cheese: cured or cooked ground meats, grilled veggies, various sauces and relishes -- you name it. An epic grilled cheese variation is limited only by the confines of your imagination. Do I need to preheat an air fryer for grilled cheese? A grilled cheese is a quick-cooking sandwich no matter how you do it so you don't want to add on minutes of additional time for something that only takes minutes to accomplish. That said, while preheating your air fryer may be a waste of time for certain preparations, I think putting it on for just a minute to heat up the nonstick surface that the sandwich sits on is worthwhile to get that golden crust working right away. Are there drawbacks to making air fryer grilled cheese? Depending on your model and size of air fryer, and the shape of bread you choose, it can be tricky to make more than two sandwiches at once, so it might not be the most family-friendly method for making grilled cheese. But for a solo meal or date night, your air fryer is the grilled cheese hack you didn't know you needed.
Tom's Guide
3 hours ago
- Tom's Guide
I just found out my Ninja air fryer has this hidden feature — and my mind is blown
If you own a Ninja Foodi Max dual air fryer (one of the best air fryers out there in my opinion), you might not realize a useful feature that's been sitting in your kitchen all along. Tucked away in a small side compartment is a digital meat probe that many owners never discover. I'll be honest, I've had my air fryer for nearly three months before I found this thing. I never bothered reading the manual thoroughly, and the compartment isn't exactly obvious. The probe itself is more sophisticated than you'd expect from something that comes free with an appliance. Unlike regular meat thermometers that you stick in and remove, this one stays in your food throughout cooking. It monitors the internal temperature and communicates with the air fryer to let you know when your meat is done. The main advantage is eliminating guesswork from cooking meat. Instead of relying on cooking times that can vary based on thickness, starting temperature, or even how frozen your meat was, the probe gives you exact internal temperature readings. This means no more overcooked chicken that's dry and tough, or undercooked meat that poses food safety risks. You can also cook different cuts of meat to your preferred doneness - rare, medium, or well-done - with confidence. The probe is particularly helpful for larger cuts like whole chickens, roasts, or thick steaks where visual cues don't tell you much about what's happening inside the meat. Check the side of your air fryer for a small compartment door. The probe stores inside when not in use. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. To use it, insert the metal tip into the thickest part of your meat before starting the cooking cycle. The probe connects to a port inside one of the cooking drawers. Once connected, you can select preset temperature settings or set custom temperatures depending on what you're cooking. Landing the number one spot on our list of best air fryers in 2024, the Ninja Air Fryer Pro 4-in-1 will fit up to 5 pounds of French fries or 9 pounds of chicken wings. And despite its 6.5 quart capacity, it has a neat compact design that won't overwhelm your countertop. With air crisp technology reaching 400°F you can enjoy crispy food cooked with little or no oil. Aside from providing crisp food, it can reheat pastries, roast and dehydrate, perfect for when you want to dry fruits and other foods. Cleaning up is a cinch with a nonstick basket and crisper plate. This feature is only available on Ninja Foodi Max Dual air fryer models that specifically include the probe. Not all versions of this air fryer come with the meat probe, so check your model specifications if you're unsure. If your Ninja air fryer doesn't include a built-in meat probe, you can purchase the Ninja Foodi Smart Thermometer ($22 at Ninja Kitchen) separately, which is compatible with certain Ninja models. There are also third-party meat thermometers available that work with various air fryer brands and models. The probe follows standard food safety temperature guidelines, helping ensure meat reaches safe internal temperatures for consumption. Now that you've learned all about the Ninja Foodi Max Dual's hidden feature and how to find it, why not explore some of our other articles related to this appliance? Take a look at how to clean an air fryer's heating element and 5 top tips when using aluminium foil in the air fryer. And if you're interested in how to restore your air fryer's non-stick coating, we've got you covered.
Wales Online
3 hours ago
- Business
- Wales Online
Ninja's 'best' air fryer with upgraded features now cheaper than Amazon at little-known store
Ninja's 'best' air fryer with upgraded features now cheaper than Amazon at little-known store The fan-favourite Ninja air fryer is now on sale for £179.94 - £110 cheaper than on the Ninja website and Amazon The extra-large air fryer is great for families (Image: QVC ) An air fryer has become a must-have in many homes and kitchens, offering a quicker, easier, and arguably tastier way to cook food. With a plethora of brands on the market, it can be a bit of a task to decide which one is the best fit. Air fryers can often come with a hefty price tag, given the wide array of brands available. However, bargain hunters can now snag the popular Outlet Ninja Double Stack XL 2 Drawer 9.5L Air Fryer with Smart Cook for £179.94, reduced from £289.99, at QVC - a price that undercuts even the official Ninja website and Amazon. This air fryer boasts a family-sized cooking capacity thanks to its two-drawer design, making it perfect for family gatherings, parties or bulk meal preps. It can accommodate a whole 1.5kg roast chicken in each 4.75L drawer, serving up to eight people. It also features six customisable functions - air fry, max crisp, roast, bake, reheat and dehydrate - providing customers with a variety of cooking options. READ MORE: Shift worker says he's 'literally saved' from 'countless sleepless nights' with supplement READ MORE: Disney+ gives streamers a subscription for £1.99 a month - but it's ending soon For those looking to prepare two dishes simultaneously, the two-drawer SYNC function allows you to synchronise your cooking settings across both levels - meaning you can cook chicken and potatoes together and have them ready at precisely the same time. The non-stick drawers, crisper plates and wire racks are all dishwasher-safe and easy to clean, saving you even more time, reports the Express. Ninja Double Stack XL 2 Drawer 9.5L Air Fryer £289.99 £179.94 QVC Buy here Product Description The air fryer is designed to fit under cabinets On QVC, savvy shoppers can snap up bargains like the Outlet Ninja Foodi 8-Mode 6L PossibleCooker Rice & Slow Cooker for £89.96, a reduction from £120 and also less than the prices listed on both the Ninja and Amazon websites. If these options aren't for everyone, however, there are other options to choose from on other websites, such as the Tefal Easy 8.3L Dual Air Fryer for £99 from Argos, which includes dishwasher-safe parts, a removable bowl, two cooking compartments and a digital timer. Another option is the Dunelm 4L Manual Air Fryer for £30 from Dunelm, which has a 4-litre capacity, non-stick coating and no oil required. However, shoppers have praised the Ninja airfryer on QVC highly. One person said: 'Simply the best from NINJA to date. The double stack model lets you free up worktop space. The control over double cooking is simple and easy to control.' Another said: 'This is an upgrade for us we had the side by side one before. This model has a more up to date interior making it much easier to clean and so far is proving to be a fantastic buy. It doesn't take up so much space which is also a plus.' Article continues below 'Good price and reasonable delivery,' said another. However, some people didn't agree with this. One shopper said: 'I was disappointed with this version compared to the original one.' However, for a great deal on a fan-favourite gadget, the Outlet Ninja Double Stack XL 2 Drawer 9.5L Air Fryer with Smart Cook from QVC sounds like a steal.
The Sun
8 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
Ninja's summer sale buy with £70 off ‘keeps food cold for five days' – ideal for camping, festivals and BBQs
Planning to explore the great outdoors this summer? Ninja has slashed the price of a popular solution for keeping food cold. The Ninja FrostVault cooler has been reduced from £199.99 to £129.99, saving £70 off. 1 Ninja FrostVault 28L Hard Cooler £129.99 (was £199.99) With the current heatwave and the school holidays approaching, many of us are planning day trips and staycations within the UK. Summer is the time to make the most of exploring new places, but having the right kit can make days out much more enjoyable. Investing in a good cooler keeps food costs down and saves you time queuing, and the Ninja FrostVault is worth considering while it's on sale. The FrostVault is designed to keep food cold for an exceptionally long time - with ice remaining frozen for up to five days. Thanks to it's large size, the Ninja cooler can be filled with cans, bottles and food, and the 28L size fits up to 48 cans, so it's enough to cater for a large family or group of friends. It's ideal for festival-goers, as the events are notoriously expensive for food and drinks, while some campsites have no refreshment options at all. Picnics and beach days are made easier too, or if you fancy a day sunbathing in the garden, you can avoid trips back and forward to the kitchen. For food that's not meant to be ice-cold, there's a handy Dry Zone drawer on the outside, which can be used to store sandwiches, fruit and anything else you want to grab easily. The built-in handles also mean you can just grab the cooler and go. Shoppers are praising the highly-rated cooler, with one saying: ''I'm so happy I had my Ninja FrostVault at a recent festival, it kept my drinks and snacks cool from Wednesday to Sunday (five days!!) and having a cool drink was just so needed when it had been a hot day walking round fields!'' ''I would highly recommend for regular campers or festival-goers.'' Another shopper commented: ''Excellent, does what it says it does.'' ''Great for keeping drinks nice and cool and great when having BBQs.'' It is worth keeping in mind that you will need a large amount of ice prepped when packing the cooler, as one shopper vouched: ''Good size compartment and tray - need a lot of ice for a few days which I have not yet tested.''
Forbes
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
15 Things Hilary Swank Loves, Including An Odd Beauty Essential
Shop Like is a column in which Forbes Vetted asks some of the most stylish and notable personalities about their favorite items to buy, gift and receive. Look no further for shopping advice and inspiration. W ith 2-year old twins to raise and five rescue dogs to manage, actress Hilary Swank is all about surrounding herself with efficient and safe products to help simplify her family's routine, coupled with some fun and unique items that keep herself feeling good and her kids entertained. 'I'm spending most of my days watching my twins [daughter Aya and son Ohm] learn about themselves and the world around them,' says Swank. 'It's a joy unlike anything I ever could have imagined.' When she's not engrossed with her kids or working, Swank can be found taking long walks with her dogs, tending to her garden or home improvement projects, and hanging out with her husband, entrepreneur Philip Schneider. 'Life is very full, I am very blessed,' she says. Health and longevity have always been near and dear to her heart, which parlayed perfectly into her joining HealthyBaby, a nontoxic diaper and baby care brand, as chief innovation officer. 'When I'm not on set or developing film projects, my work with HealthyBaby is incredibly inspiring and exciting for me,' she says. 'To be part of a company that is on the forefront of making healthy products for babies and women feeds my soul.' Despite her decades-long success as an Oscar-winning actress, Swank says she lives a pretty normal day-to-day, which she attributes to her 'messy mom chic' style. 'Many times out in public, I'm asked if I'm aware I look like Hilary Swank,' she laughs. 'No one believes I'm me, as I don't think I'm fitting their expectation of how I should be dressed. It's my secret disguise!' Below, Swank shares some of her favorite products to buy, gift and receive, including plenty of longevity equipment, some fashion staples and the products that keep her kids entertained and healthy. Hilary Swank's Favorite Things — A Custom Necklace That She Cherishes Daily 'My favorite jewelry and jeweler, who also makes beautiful custom pieces [is Haverhill]. I have a necklace with both my babies' names hanging together that I got when they were born and wear constantly. Having a timeless, curated piece like this that I can wear forever is so special.' Haverhill 5 Letter Necklace $858 A Set Of Chemical-Free Cookware 'I bought these healthy nonstick pans for my mom so she could cook confidently without forever chemicals that most generic pans are coated with, which seep into our food.' Caraway Cookware Set (12-Piece) $445 The Ultimate Ice Cream Maker 'We love ice cream but are dairy-free, so to satisfy our sweet tooth without a bunch of added refined sugars, dairy and unhealthy additives, we make our own ice cream using just fruit and raw coconut, and it tastes better than the store-bought processed stuff!' Ninja Creami $200 Her Single-Step Mama Makeup Routine 'I don't typically wear makeup, but when I do, I opt for something simple, and it has to be all-natural. This 100% mineral sunscreen with non-nano zinc oxide has the perfect amount of tint to even out my complexion and give me a nice glow. It's my one-step mama makeup routine!' RMS Beauty SunCoverup Super Tint SPF 50 $49 An Incredibly Fun Toy For Lake Life 'Living on a lake, my husband and I love our hydrofoil board. It enables us to surf (and hover!) without needing waves. It's quiet, exercises your balance and, as a bonus, hits your leg and core strength.' Fliteboard From $10,340 The Mack Daddy Of Wellness Equipment 'I chose to have children later in life, which drives my commitment to staying healthy, energetic and fully present as they grow. I support that through daily meditation, aerobic and resistance training, whole-food nutrition and evidence-based technologies that promote long-term vitality. My hyperbaric chamber, backed by clinical research for its role in cellular repair, inflammation reduction and longevity, was one of the most impactful investments I could make—not just for myself, but for my family.' OxyHelp Hyperbaric Chamber Price Upon Request Her Uncommon Favorite Beauty Product 'This is going to sound strange, but it's my gym. Working out releases a ton of hormones that boost your emotions and your skin's appearance. It even increases collagen production, which repairs skin cells, firming up your skin. Last I checked, there's no single beauty product out there that can do all this. If I had to choose one piece of equipment, it'd be either the AmStaff Fitness SD-5000 All-In-One Smith Machine or the AmStaff Leg Press Hack Squat.' AmStaff Fitness SD-5000 All-In-One Smith Machine $6,430 Her Travel (And Life) Essential 'These earplugs are a lifesaver! I discovered them at a little corner store when I was living in Paris, and thankfully you can buy them online now. They're also great for travel.' Quies Wax Earplugs $12 What She's Currently Reading ' Raising Securely Attached Kids by Eli Harwood provides such an important message about resilience, empathy and staying connected while raising our children.' Raising Securely Attached Kids by Eli Harwood $15 An Emergency Must-Have 'We discovered these zero-waste batteries and keep them on hand for all our office supplies. Batteries are so wasteful and don't decompose, so this company has created something truly special with their built-in recycling program.' Better Battery Co. Variety Pack $30 A Unique Way To Keep The Twins Entertained 'Our kids love music, and I thought it would be fun to learn a new instrument alongside them, so I have taken up the banjo, which I've always wanted to learn, and it's been such a great reminder of how important it is to never stop learning new things—and that it's never too late to try.' Gold Tone AC-1 Composite Openback 5-String Banjo $300 Her Tried-And-True Carry-On 'This is my ride-or-die luggage. They're the only ones that can handle the test of time!' Tumi Alpha 3 Collection Dual Access Continental Carry-On $1,050 The Vitamins That Got Her Through Her Pregnancy 'Fifteen percent of prenatal vitamins contain lead, exceeding California's Proposition 65 threshold of 0.5 micrograms per serving. This means we're consuming dangerous heavy metals while trying to do something good for our bodies. These are the only prenatal vitamins I trust, and they have different formulas based on your needs for every stage of your pregnancy journey.' HealthyBaby Our Prenatal: Preconception & 1st Trimester $85 The Laundry Staple She Swears By 'One thing about me is that I take a lot of pride in my laundry. If someone needs a stain out, I'm the one they come to, and they're always amazed that I'm able to do it using 100% natural plant-, mineral-, water-based products that aren't harsh on our clothes, our skin or our planet.' HealthyBaby Laundry System $35 Item She Can't Live Without As A Mother To Twins 'Obviously this changes a lot at different ages, but right now it's the Buckle Me Baby coats: This one-mama-owned small business took a common struggle and safety concern and solved it in style. Her Buckle Me Baby car seat coats have a front panel, which allows a harness to fit securely around a child's chest and shoulders rather than on top of a bulky winter coat. Which not only is more comfortable for the children but also solves a huge safety concern during a collision—the impact typically flattens the puffiness of jackets, which creates space, and therefore kids are prone to flying out of their coat/car seat.' Buckle Me Baby Toast Car Seat Coat $70 Preorder At Buckle Me Baby
