Monday, June 11, 2018

Air Fryer And English


I’ve posted before that I am not a fan of specialty kitchen gadgets and as I walked into the room recently there was a commercial on TV for an air fryer so I watched a couple of minutes.  Then, I went online to do a little research on them and discovered they work by having a fan circulate hot air around the food. 


I, then, realized I already have two of them on hand – a full-convection kitchen oven and a full-convection toaster oven, so no air fryer needed - $100+ saved.


Also, I continue to be concerned about the degradation of the English language and it’s no wonder we have communication issues as the meaning of words keeps changing (and this doesn't even count the new text shorthand).  In my younger days when mom said we were having fried potatoes, I knew they would be cooked in a pan (usually cast iron) with some type of fat (usually bacon) and I never had to ask if they were to be cooked in the oven or in the air fryer.  Per Webster – fried: to cook in a pan or on a griddle over heat especially with the use of fat.

So when you read about a dish coming from Almost Heaven South, you can usually assume the following:

Fried – in a pan with fat
Baked – in an oven
Nuked – in a microwave
Griddled – on the flat griddle
Grilled – over an open flame device (gas, charcoal, wood)

But wait, there are obviously some exceptions such as a grilled cheese sandwich which is cooked on the griddle or in a skillet and to make it more confusing, as a kid, we called them toasted cheese sandwiches even though they were cooked in a pan and not the toaster.  So if everyone will just start calling them fried cheese sandwiches I think all will be fine.  Hopefully this brought a little grin to your face.J

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by Almost Heaven South.

Larry

13 comments:

  1. All these terms sure are confusing, but I like the old term much better works for me.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I believe the degradation of the English language has a lot to do with everyone communicating with their thumbs. Bring back the manual typewriter.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Too confusing to me, but I usually like the end result! I get you with the AF! I love mine and use it frequently and then put it out of sight when not in use.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I don't care how we get there as long as their is good food at the end of it. Except for cheese of course. Fried, grilled, toasted, baked - makes no difference. Don't like it.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Larry, The language gets more confusing by the day, that's for sure! Computer orientated 16 - 28 year old 'kids' speak a language that's hard for us oldster/electronically limited folks, that's for sure. Of course, the reverse is true for them as well. Try telling them that everything is "hunky dory" or that they "sound like a broken record" or that something is "swell". Add misuse of the language to the changes and it becomes "all Greek to me"! Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

    ReplyDelete
  6. It brought a big grin to my face.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Just like parking on the driveway and driving on the parkway - I am so confused. I want clarity on the term "homemade." Does that mean from scratch or is it okay to say something is homemade even if it was just a box mix of brownies or something that you made in your home? Help!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Just stopping by to say hello - it's been a long while!!! Hope all is well with you. Your posts always make me smile!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Air fryers are all the rage. Like you, I have too many kitchen gadgets, and at the end of the day, I primarily only use my oven, stove top and microwave. My dad has an air fryer and loves it too. I am not convinced but, I am prepared to use Pam's Midwest recipes for him.

    Nay on "fried cheese sandwiches" It may not fit the bill but, we all know what it is. I love grilled cheese sandwiches, but, start calling them "fried cheese sandwiches" and something unhealthy emerges (laugh).

    Velva

    ReplyDelete
  10. Then there is sautéed, smothered, flambéed, poached, stewed, steamed, roasted, simmered, and pickled. Phew!

    ReplyDelete
  11. My oldest son bought me an air fryer for Mother's Day. I, too, have not one, but two full sized convection ovens. Still, he was enthused at having thought up a dandy gift for me, so I've resolved to use it and make him happy. I too am irked at misuse of language. And today I was in a charity thrift shop, hunting for I don't know what but finding a pie plate, and commented to the smiling middle aged lady that kids these days don't know how to count up to hand out the right change, as she had. I made her laugh.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I was surprised with an Air Fryer....I haven't used it yet...but eventually. I love a toasted cheese sandwich! :-)

    ReplyDelete

I appreciate and enjoy your comments