A great-grandmother who has resolved to cook her entire Christmas dinner using only air fryers has called her approach ‘a no-brainer’.
Beverley Jarvis, 75, from Ashford, Kent, is cooking a festive meal for 14 loved ones with the help of five air fryers rather than a traditional oven – and she says that certain dishes come out ‘better than perfect.’
The cookery writer told BBC Kent that she uses the appliances – which reportedly slash the cost of cooking in an oven by half – ‘all the time.’
‘Cheaper, quicker and healthier,’ according to Beverley, air fryers work by circulating very hot air, very fast, all around the food.
Beverley explained that she keeps four air fryers in the kitchen and one in the utility room.
This year, she is serving up a sugar and rum glazed baked gammon and salmon with satsuma, chilli and parsley – all of which will be prepared using her favourite kitchen gadget.
She is confident that all the elements of a Christmas dinner can be cooked successfully in an air fryer, from a turkey breast roll, which would take 55 minutes at 180C to roast potatoes, which need 35 minutes at 190C.
According to Beverley, even snacks such as pigs in blankets and sausage rolls come out ‘better than perfect.’
Beverley Jarvis (pictured), 75, is cooking a Christmas dinner for 14 this year – and will be using five air fryers instead of a traditional oven
Beverley also said that other meats, such as gammon, can be cooked effectively in an air fryer.
The air fryer expert hopes to convert the nation – and has already apparently had the backing of Great British Bake Off star Prue Leith.
Beverley first started using the kitchen gadget in May 2022 after her son bought her one – and quickly fell in love.
The author of the Everyday Air Fryer Cookbook, Beverley first put her skills to test last Christmas.
Back in December 2023, the great-grandmother-of-two said: ‘I’m doing pigs in blankets, two roast turkey breasts wrapped in bacon, I’m cooking basmati rice in the air fryer for a Christmas salad.
‘Honestly the roast potatoes I made were the crispiest potatoes ever and I just used a tablespoon of oil and two teaspoons of goose or duck fat, and they were delicious.
‘I’m also doing a vegetable medley including Brussel sprouts, a salmon side with sliced clementines, parmesan crisps to have with drinks and carrot and cranberry muffins.
‘Another thing I do is a whole camembert with a little bit of rosemary and garlic – put it in the air frier and a few minutes later you’ve got a wonderful dip.
The great-grandmother-of-two first started using air fryers, which she describes as ‘cheaper, quicker and healthier’, in May 2022
The author of the Everyday Air Fryer Cookbook, Beverley first put her skills to test last Christmas
‘Prue Leith said “I never thought I’d be an air fryer fan, but Beverley Jarvis has me hooked” – the advantages are amazing to be honest. And it’s three-and-a-half times cheaper to use than an oven.’
Beverley first started cooking with an air fryer in May 2022 after her son purchased one and the pair tried cooking frozen sausages and chips in the gadget.
Impressed by how they came out, she went home and immediately bought one of her own.
She began experimenting more and quickly realised how versatile the piece of kit was – and as she developed more recipes, she decided to put together a cookbook.
She even ran a demonstration for charity on how to use the air fryer at her local town hall.
She says people were so keen to see her festive grub the demo sold out – and now she encourages friends and family to take the plunge and invest in the gadget.
‘One thing that’s fabulous for Christmas is dried clementine slices – they take about an hour to an hour and 15 minutes,’ said Beverley, who is also a grandmother-of-19 and a mother-of-seven.
She continued: ‘I just cook them on 82 degrees, and they’ll be on display. For Christmas dinner, I would cook turkey boned and rolled with bacon around it and parboiled potatoes tossed in little oil and goose or duck fat, they only need a little bit.
Beverley is confident that all the dishes that make up a traditional festive feast can be prepared in an air fryer
This year, Beverley is serving up sugar and rum glazed baked gammon (pictured) and salmon with satsuma, chilli and parsley
A turkey breast roll (pictured) can be cooked in an air fryer – it requires 55 minutes at 180C
‘I put the potatoes around the turkey joint, and you’ll find it’s cooked in 55 minutes as opposed to an hour and 40 minutes in the oven.
‘I also make an alternative Christmas cake – I’ve got a delicious recipe for a yogurt and oil cake with cranberries and chocolate chips. It’s so quick in the air fryer.
‘What I say to people is if you’re wondering whether to take the plunge, don’t hesitate – you will really benefit from having one in your kitchen.
‘I use it every day for almost everything and am now working on my second air fryer cookbook.
‘It’s the efficiency of them that I’m so impressed with, they can cook from frozen, reheat food, it can do fish, meat, veg, poultry – the scope is unbelievable.’
