Last Tuesday, I watched my neighbor Sarah donate her beloved air fryer to Goodwill. This was the same woman who’d evangelized about crispy Brussels sprouts for two solid years, posting Instagram stories of perfectly golden chicken wings every Sunday. But there she was, boxing up her once-prized appliance with the enthusiasm of someone decluttering old magazines.
“I just can’t justify the counter space anymore,” she explained, gesturing toward a sleek black device that had recently claimed the air fryer’s prime real estate. “This thing does everything the air fryer did, plus eight other cooking methods I actually use now.”
Standing in her kitchen that day, surrounded by the usual small-appliance graveyard we all recognize, I realized something significant was happening. The air fryer revolution wasn’t ending—it was evolving into something bigger.
The air fryer fatigue is real, and there’s a solution
Walk through any modern kitchen and you’ll spot the telltale signs: countertops crowded with single-purpose gadgets, extension cords snaking between appliances, and that one device everyone bought during lockdown now gathering dust. The air fryer dominated kitchen conversations for years, promising crispy food without the oil and guilt.
But reality has a way of creeping in. The air fryer’s limitations became impossible to ignore—limited capacity, loud operation, frequent cleaning cycles, and that nagging feeling you’re eating the same five foods on repeat.
“I started feeling like my air fryer was controlling my menu instead of expanding it,” says Maria Rodriguez, a working mother of three from Denver. “Every meal became about what would fit in that basket.”
Enter the new kitchen gadget that’s quietly revolutionizing home cooking: the nine-method multi-cooker. This isn’t just another appliance promising everything and delivering nothing. It’s a genuinely versatile tool that can roast, bake, steam, slow cook, sauté, grill, ferment, dehydrate, and yes—air fry too.
Nine cooking methods that actually matter for real families
The magic isn’t in the number nine—it’s in how these cooking methods work together to solve actual dinner problems. Here’s what this new kitchen gadget brings to your countertop:
| Cooking Method | Best For | Time Savings |
|---|---|---|
| Air Frying | Crispy foods, reheating leftovers | 30% faster than oven |
| Slow Cooking | Tough cuts of meat, stews, beans | Set-and-forget convenience |
| Steaming | Vegetables, fish, dumplings | Preserves nutrients better |
| Baking | Bread, desserts, casseroles | No preheating required |
| Grilling | Indoor grilling year-round | No outdoor setup needed |
| Sautéing | Quick vegetables, browning meat | Direct heat control |
| Dehydrating | Fruit leather, jerky, herb drying | Lower cost than buying dried foods |
| Fermenting | Yogurt, kimchi, sourdough starter | Consistent temperature control |
| Roasting | Whole chickens, vegetables | Even heating, less monitoring |
The real breakthrough happens when you stop thinking about individual functions and start seeing the possibilities. Tuesday’s leftover rice becomes Wednesday’s crispy fried rice base. Sunday’s slow-cooked chicken becomes Monday’s shredded filling for steamed dumplings you can make in the same device.
- Morning: Steam eggs while your coffee brews
- Lunch: Quickly sauté yesterday’s vegetables with fresh herbs
- Afternoon: Dehydrate apple slices for tomorrow’s lunchboxes
- Evening: Slow cook tomorrow’s dinner while you handle homework duty
“The game-changer was realizing I could prep multiple components of meals throughout the day,” explains James Chen, a food blogger who replaced his air fryer six months ago. “It’s like having a sous chef that works quietly in the background.”
What this means for your kitchen and wallet
The financial math tells an interesting story. The average kitchen houses $800 worth of small appliances, many used sporadically. A quality nine-method cooker costs between $200-400, potentially replacing five or six dedicated devices.
But the real value isn’t monetary—it’s mental bandwidth. Instead of deciding which appliance to drag out, which cord to find, and which cleaning routine to face afterward, you’re making actual food decisions. What flavors work together? What textures complement each other? What can I prep now for later?
The shift affects grocery shopping too. When your cooking options expand beyond air fryer-friendly foods, your ingredient choices naturally diversify. Fresh herbs make sense when you can quickly steam, sauté, or dehydrate them. Tough cuts of meat become appealing when slow cooking is an option. Seasonal vegetables feel manageable when you can preserve them through dehydration.
“I’m buying ingredients I never touched before because I know I can actually use them,” says Rodriguez. “My grocery cart looks like it belongs to someone who knows how to cook, even though I’m still learning.”
The appliance manufacturers are taking notice. Several major brands have announced new multi-method cookers launching this spring, each promising their own spin on the nine-function formula. Early reviews suggest the technology is becoming more reliable and user-friendly as companies learn from air fryer mistakes.
The bigger picture: how we’re changing the way we cook at home
This shift represents something larger than appliance preferences. We’re moving away from single-purpose solutions toward tools that grow with us. The air fryer taught us to value convenience and health-conscious cooking, but it couldn’t evolve with changing needs.
Home cooking in 2024 looks different than it did even two years ago. We want flexibility without complexity, variety without chaos, and efficiency without sacrificing flavor. The new kitchen gadget addresses these needs by consolidating functions rather than adding more devices.
Restaurant industry consultant Lisa Park observes, “People aren’t just cooking more at home—they’re cooking more adventurously. These multi-method devices are giving home cooks confidence to experiment because they reduce the risk of total failure.”
The environmental impact matters too. Fewer appliances means less electronic waste, reduced packaging, and lower energy consumption overall. One well-designed multi-cooker uses less electricity than running three separate devices throughout the week.
Early adopters report an unexpected benefit: their teenagers and young adults show more interest in cooking when the process feels less intimidating. Having one device that handles multiple techniques removes barriers to experimentation.
As Sarah, my air fryer-donating neighbor, puts it: “I thought I was just buying a better appliance. But I ended up changing how my whole family approaches dinner. My kids ask what we’re making instead of assuming it’s chicken nuggets again.”
The air fryer earned its place in kitchen history by proving we wanted healthier, faster cooking methods. Now it’s passing the torch to devices that deliver on that promise while offering room to grow. That’s not a failure—that’s evolution.
FAQs
Can these nine-method cookers really replace an air fryer?
Yes, most include air frying as one of the nine functions, often with better capacity and quieter operation than standalone air fryers.
How much counter space do these multi-cookers need?
They’re typically about the same footprint as a large air fryer but taller, designed to replace multiple appliances rather than add to them.
Are they difficult to learn how to use?
Most feature intuitive controls and preset programs for common cooking tasks, making them accessible for beginners while offering customization for experienced cooks.
What’s the average price range for a quality nine-method cooker?
Expect to pay $200-400 for a reliable model from established brands, with some budget options starting around $150.
Do they take longer to cook food than dedicated appliances?
Cooking times are generally comparable to dedicated appliances, with the advantage of not needing to switch between devices for complex meals.
Is the cleaning process more complicated with multiple functions?
Most feature removable, dishwasher-safe parts and non-stick surfaces that clean easily regardless of cooking method used.
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