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.
How Does Cooking Look When the Display Guides You?
With the Lauben CookPilot+® Air Fryer 6500SB, it’s simple. You can choose from more than 50 built-in recipes with photos directly on the display. Each recipe includes the ingredients you need and step-by-step instructions. Once everything is ready, simply press a button – the air fryer automatically sets the temperature and cooking time and gets to work.
If you already know what you want to prepare, you can choose one of 15 preset programmes instead. Select Chicken, Vegetables, Frozen Food or Pizza, for example, and the air fryer will automatically set the time and temperature. Unlike the built-in recipes, however, these programmes don’t include ingredients or step-by-step instructions.
With selected programmes, the Flip function also lets you know halfway through when it’s time to turn or shake your food. And thanks to the transparent viewing window, you can keep an eye on the colour and crispiness without interrupting the cooking process. No opening, no guessing.
So, what can you prepare using the preset programmes? We’ve picked 3 dishes that let you put them to the test straight away.
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.
What Else Will You Appreciate?
A 6.5-litre capacity gives you plenty of room to work with. You can prepare 5 to 6 portions at once, so you can feed the whole family in one go without having to cook in batches. Using less oil is another bonus. Compared with traditional frying, you can use up to 80% less fat without sacrificing flavour or crispiness.
And the clean-up? The non-stick basket can go straight into the dishwasher, while the Cool Touch surface stays cool to the touch, helping prevent burns even when you’re reaching for a side dish at the last minute.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a phone or an app to use the air fryer? No. More than 50 built-in recipes, including ingredient lists and step-by-step guidance, are available directly on the display. They work without an internet connection, so you can leave your phone to one side.
How many portions can I prepare in the air fryer? The 6.5-litre basket can hold 5 to 6 portions at once, which is plenty for an average family.
Do I need to turn the food during cooking? With selected programmes, the Flip function lets you know when it’s time to turn or shake the food. With the others, you can simply check through the transparent viewing window from time to time.
How much oil do I need? Compared with traditional frying, you can use up to 80% less oil. For vegetables or meat, one tablespoon is often enough.
Is the basket dishwasher-safe? Yes. The non-stick basket is dishwasher-safe, so there’s no need to scrub it by hand after cooking.
