The 6 step air frying guide for creating a festive feast this Christmas – including the exact time to put stuff in

LET’S face it – no Christmas day is complete without more-ish pigs in blankets, crispy roast potatoes and tender roasted vegetables.

But with the ongoing cost-of living crisis affecting the nation, many of us will be looking to change and adapt the way we cook – and the air fryer could be the ideal tool due to its energy saving benefits.

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And lucky for us, a chef at leading household appliance brand has created some festive air fryer recipes to inspire you this Christmas to make your cooking easier than ever.

Speaking exclusively to Fabulous Digital, the experts commented: “Air Frying is a much more energy efficient way to cook versus a conventional oven as you are heating up a smaller space and the preheat time is faster, meaning you have the unit on for a shorter amount of time than you would cooking with your conventional oven.

“Across the whole Russell Hobbs air fryer range you can save between 44-68% energy versus a conventional oven.

“Cooking in an air fryer also usually requires you to heat to a lower temperature and cook for less time than conventional and fan ovens, meaning further energy and cost savings.”

They added that while a standard oven has a wattage between 2000-5000, Russell Hobbs Air Fryers are around 1500-1750.

So, at the current energy price cap, this is around 45p per hour for the air fryer and anywhere between that and around £1.35 per hour – making it quite a significant saving if you’re using an air fryer vs an oven every day.

Stuffed & Rolled Turkey

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Preparation Time: 45 minutes

Cooking Time: 20-30 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 small turkey breast
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 4 pieces of string, approximately 15-20cm long
• Olive oil

For the stuffing:

• 200g sausage meat
• 75g of shallots, finely chopped
• 1 clove of garlic, minced
• 45 blanched chestnuts, chopped
• 30g cranberries, presoaked in 1 tbsp of brandy
• 50g apricots, chopped
• ½ bunch sage, chopped
• 25g of breadcrumbs
• Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

1. Firstly, heat 2 tbsp of olive oil in a saucepan over a high heat, and add the shallots and garlic. Turn the heat down to medium and cook until soft, approximately for 2-3 minutes. Stir regularly, and remove from the heat, leaving them to cool.
2. Place all of your stuffing ingredients and seasoning to taste in a large bowl, and once cooled add your shallots and garlic. Mix well, and set aside.
3. Next, butterfly the turkey breast. Place the turkey breast on a chopping board with the larger part at the bottom end of the board closest to you. Place your hand on top with your fingers slightly pointing up. Carefully run the knife from the top of the breast to the bottom whilst simultaneously moving the knife horizontally from left to right.
4. Lay the butterflied turkey breast out flat, and season all over. Take your stuffing mixture and evenly spoon it down the middle of the turkey breast on the longest distance, shaping it into a cylinder shape as you place it down.
5. Then, roll one side over to meet the other. Tie the first piece of string approximately 2cm from the end of the turkey. Tie the other 3 pieces of string at even points along the turkey. Trim each end so it remains flat.
6. Roll the turkey in cling film and place in the fridge for around 20 minutes, or until it is ready to cook. This preparation can be completed the day before cooking to save time.
7. Once ready to cook, remove the cling film and brush the turkey with some olive oil and lightly season. Place in the air fryer and cook at 190C for 30 minutes, turning the turkey after 15 minutes of cooking.

Chipolatas (Pigs in Blankets)

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Cooking Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

• 8 chipolata sausages
• 8 rashers of smoked streaky bacon
• Olive oil

Method:

1. Wrap one rasher of bacon around each sausage.
2. Brush with olive oil, and place in the air fryer.
3. Cook at 190C for 10 minutes until juices run clear.
4. If you prefer your chipolatas extra crispy, leave in the air fryer for an extra 5/10 minutes until cooked through.

Orange Scented Chantenay Carrots

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Preparation Time: 15-20 minutes

Cooking Time: 20-25 minutes

Ingredients:

• 400-500g of Chantenay carrots
• 1 orange, zest
• 1 tbsp of maple syrup
• 1 tbsp of olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

1. Firstly peel the carrots and trim the ends slightly. Then give them a good wash with cold water. Alternatively, you can purchase pre-prepared carrots.
2. Combine the orange zest, maple syrup, olive oil and salt and pepper in a bowl. Toss the carrots in the mixture ensuring they’re evenly coated.
3. Next, remove the crisping plates from your air fryer basket. Set the air fryer to 200C and allow it to heat for 5 minutes.
4. Add the carrots to the air fryer, and cook for 20 minutes until soft and golden brown.

Honey Glazed Parsnips

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Preparation Time: 15-20 minutes

Cooking Time: 20-25 minutes

Ingredients:

• 4-6 medium parsnips (approximately 400g)
• 3 tbsp of honey
• 1 tbsp of olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

1. Firstly, peel the parsnips and cut the top and tail off. Cut the parsnips into quarters lengthways and remove the middle core.
2. Combine the honey, olive oil and salt and pepper in a separate bowl. Toss the parsnips in the mixture ensuring they’re evenly coated.
3. Next, remove the crisping plates from your air fryer basket. Set the air fryer to 200C and allow it to heat for 5 minutes.
4. Add the parsnips to the air fryer and cook for 20 minutes until soft and golden brown.

Duck Fat Roast Potatoes

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Preparation Time: 10 -15 minutes

Cooking Time: 40 minutes

Ingredients:

• 3-4 medium sized potatoes
• 3 tbsp of duck fat
• 2 sprigs of rosemary, finely chopped
• Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

1. Peel the potatoes and cut into 3 or 4 pieces, making sure they are of similar size.
2. Place your potatoes in a pan and cover with water, then season with a pinch of salt, and bring to the boil.
3. Allow the potatoes to cook on a rolling boil for 2-3 minutes, then drain the potatoes in a colander and leave for 1-2 minutes.
4. Next, place half of the duck fat into the bottom of your air fryer basket. Set the temperature to 200C and allow the air fryer to heat for 5 minutes.
5. In the meantime, mix the potatoes with the remaining duck fat, chopped rosemary and salt and pepper. Once the air fryer has heated for five minutes, carefully place the potatoes into the air fryer and cook for 35 minutes.
6. Turn the potatoes a couple of times during cooking to ensure crispiness all around, and cook until golden brown.

Air Fried Brussels Sprouts

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Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 12 minutes

Ingredients:

• 350g-450g of Brussels sprouts
• 1 ½ tbsp of olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

1. Trim the bottom of the sprouts and remove any excess leaves.
2. Cut each sprout into half and wash thoroughly under cold water. Drain and pat dry with a cloth or kitchen paper.
3. Next, combine the sprouts, olive oil and salt and pepper in a bowl, and mix evenly.
4. Place your Brussels sprouts in the air fryer and set the temperature to 200C.
5. Cook for 12 minutes until golden brown, shaking occasionally.