Hands covered in dough, the oven on, and there you are scrolling through your phone to find the next step. Just then the screen goes dark and you start over with sticky fingers. Getting on your nerves yet?
What if we told you there's an air fryer that takes this part of cooking off your hands. It has the recipes built in and walks you through them step by step.
What cooking looks like when the display leads the way
With the Lauben CookPilot+® Air Fryer 6500SB, it’s simple. You pick a dish, a photo and the individual steps appear on the display, the air fryer sets the temperature and time itself, and you just add the ingredients and press start. You have fifteen programmes to choose from, from chicken through vegetables and frozen food to pizza.
Two things will please anyone who tends to feel a bit lost while cooking. On selected programmes, the Flip function tells you halfway through when to turn or shake the food. And through the clear window you can see inside, so you check the colour and crispiness without interrupting the cooking. No opening, no guessing.
We've picked three dishes you can manage from the display, even if it's your first time at the air fryer.
Crispy Chicken Thighs for When You Get Home Late
A classic you can't really get wrong. The skin turns golden, the meat stays juicy, and you'll have time to make a side alongside.
Ingredients:
- 4 chicken thighs
- 1 tbsp oil
- salt
- ground sweet paprika
- 1 clove of garlic
Method:
- Pat the thighs dry and rub them with oil, salt, paprika and the crushed garlic.
- Choose the Chicken programme on the display and place the thighs skin-side up in a single layer.
- Cook for roughly 25 minutes at 200 °C.
- When Flip sounds, turn the thighs so they cook through on all sides.
- You'll know they're done by the crispy skin. If you want to be sure, pierce the thickest part. The juices should run clear.
Serve with potatoes or a salad. All six and a half litres mean the thighs for the whole family fit in at once.
Pumpkin the Vegetables Programme Handles With Ease
Autumn at the market means piles of Hokkaido pumpkin. In the air fryer you'll turn it into a crispy side in minutes, one that vanishes off the plate before the main course.
Ingredients:
- half a small Hokkaido pumpkin
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- salt
- caraway or a sprig of thyme
Method:
- You don't need to peel Hokkaido. Scoop out the seeds and cut it into wedges or thick chips.
- Toss with the oil, salt and caraway.
- Choose the Vegetables programme and spread the pieces in the basket in a single layer.
- Cook for about 18 minutes at 190 °C and stir halfway through.
- Through the clear window you'll see when the edges reach that deep golden colour.
Carrots, sweet potatoes or cauliflower work just as well. Autumn vegetables are happy in the air fryer.
Pastel de Nata? The Air Fryer Has Its Own Programme for It
Portuguese custard tarts are the last thing you'd expect from an air fryer. And yet it has a dedicated programme that keeps an eye on the temperature for you. Perfect weekend baking for when it's raining outside.
Ingredients:
- 1 pack of puff pastry
- 250 ml milk
- 3 egg yolks
- 60 g sugar
- 1 tbsp plain flour
- zest of half a lemon
- a pinch of cinnamon
Method:
- Roll out the puff pastry, roll it into a log, cut it into rounds and press them into a muffin tin.
- From the milk, egg yolks, sugar and flour, cook a thick custard and flavour it with the lemon zest.
- Pour the custard into the pastry, but not all the way to the rim. It rises as it bakes.
- Choose the pastel de nata programme and let the air fryer do the work.
- The tarts are done when dark spots appear on the surface. Let them cool for a while before tasting, the custard inside is hot.
Why This Air Fryer Is Worth It
The main advantage? You don't have to hunt for recipes anywhere. The Lauben CookPilot+® Air Fryer 6500SB has more than 50 recipes with photos and step-by-step guidance right on the display, in four languages including Czech. No phone, app or Wi-Fi.
Six and a half litres is no small thing either. You can prepare 5 to 6 portions at once, so you feed the family in one go and don't have to bake twice. Less oil comes as a bonus. Compared with traditional frying you'll use up to 80% less fat, and neither the taste nor the crispiness suffers for it.
And the clean-up? The non-stick basket goes in the dishwasher, and the surface stays cool to the touch thanks to Cool Touch, so you won't burn yourself even when you reach for a side at the last minute.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a phone or an app for the air fryer? No. All the recipes and guidance are right on the display and work even without an internet connection. You can leave your phone where it is.
How many portions fit in the air fryer? The 6.5-litre basket holds 5 to 6 portions at once. That's plenty for an average family.
Do I have to turn the food during cooking? On selected programmes the air fryer tells you with the Flip function. On the others, just glance through the clear window now and then.
How much oil does it take? Compared with traditional frying you'll use up to 80% less oil. For vegetables or meat, one tablespoon is often enough.
Can the basket go in the dishwasher? Yes. The non-stick basket is dishwasher-safe, so you won't have to scrub anything by hand after cooking.
Cook, Don't Search
The best thing about this approach is that the annoying part of cooking disappears. No searching, no greasy tapping at a screen, no dashing off to your phone. You pick a dish, add the ingredients, and the air fryer walks you through the rest. Try starting with that pumpkin. It's in season right now.
