this post was submitted on 03 Mar 2026
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Tbf, an instant pot can replace a slow cooker and pressure cooker, and so is less of a single use item.
And the air fryer is kinda just a riff on the toaster oven, and imo, this is a good thing for the american pallette. The problem with a full sized oven is that it takes time to heat up, so people are hesitant to use it when they just want to heat up something quick for themselves. The toaster oven/air fryer makes oven cooking more convenient. It isn't the alternative to the oven, it's the alternative to the microwave, so your leftovers will actually have texture instead of being a soggy mess.
I share a lot of your sentiment here about buying hoards of single use items. But I really put the instant pot and air fryer in a different category than, say, the vegetable juicer, electric can opener, or rolly pizza cutter.
The air fryer is my #1 used appliance. I used to throw out leftover french fries, but 4 minutes in the air fryer gets them hot and crispy again. Same thing with leftover fried chicken or a steak.
I liked it so much I bought a larger version that can cook a frozen pizza. Now the oven only gets used for the holiday cooking - ham, turkey, and big casserole dishes. And having two air fryers means I can easily do fish and chips for the family.
The IP also works as an air fryer, separate lid you put on top that works fairly well and like you said is great for leftovers. I also have a toaster oven/air fryer on the counter but that’s more due to the fact that the shitty oven in my apt doesn’t heat evenly.
I have literally never needed a pressure cooker or slow cooker. If I need stock in less than 8 hours I will just buy some from the grocery store and spruce it up with fresh aromatics. On the other hand, if I need to make stew or pork shoulder or chili, I'll use a dutch oven.