A year ago, it was the star of TikTok recipes and the best thing to eat on weeknights. It promised fries that were crunchy and guilt-free. It works as a toaster and a dust collector now, and it hums maybe twice a week when it’s working well.
You can find the next “must-have” kitchen upgrade on any social media feed: a big, multi-mode appliance that costs a lot and has nine ways to cook. This sleek cube has everything you need: a steamer, grill, oven, dehydrator, yogurt maker, and air fryer 2.0.
It sounds like all the power outlets are sighing at the same time.
The question that hangs over this new hype sounds too familiar.
From a miracle machine to a bunch of junk
The new generation of multi-cookers says they can do everything the air fryer can do and more. Companies brag about how their products can do nine different things, have “chef-level results” at home, and have touchscreen presets. The marketing videos are very appealing: golden chicken, bubbling lasagna, and shiny vegetables shining under studio lights.
On paper, this seems like the next logical step after the air fryer boom. This one tool can grill, steam, roast, bake, sear, reheat, dehydrate, slow cook, and air fry food. Many experts say we’re really falling into the same trap.
You start to hear the same thing when you talk to people who cook at home. Sophie, who is 37, bought one of these nine-function giants after her air fryer “changed her life” during the lockdown. She used all of the features in the first week. On Monday, she posted about salmon, on Tuesday about banana chips, and on Wednesday about a whole chicken.
She says that most of the time she only presses one button three months later. She laughs and says, “I use the air fryer and the microwave.” “The rest? I forgot how to set it up. I still use the stove to boil pasta and the oven to bake cakes.”
That’s what people who know a lot about kitchens find most annoying. They see families spending £250 or more on a machine that does the same things as things they already own, like a stove, an oven, or even a slow cooker or steamer. A lot of the time, people say their products are energy-efficient when they aren’t. Also, these products may not last as long as solid pans or a good oven.
Let’s be honest: no one really cooks in nine different ways on a busy Tuesday night. As time goes on, the “wow” factor fades, the presets seem too hard to use, and the “revolution” just becomes another appliance that takes up valuable counter space.
The new “must-have” that slowly drains your wallet
Experts say that you should do a simple, unglamorous exercise first if you want this shiny all-in-one. For a week, write down everything you really cook and how you do it. Is it possible to roast vegetables in the oven? Stir-fry on the stove? Toast on the grill? Do you put leftovers in a pan to warm them up? Put a circle around the cooking methods you used more than three times by the end of the week.
Your real kitchen looks like that list every day. Not the fake version of Sunday brunch with friends, but the real one when you’re tired, late, and half-scrolling through your phone while dinner cooks.
There is a strong emotional pull. We’ve all done it: you see a video of someone taking out perfect, shiny ribs from a high-tech gadget and think, “If I had this, I could cook like that too.” That feeling is very familiar to marketers. They don’t just sell the device; they also sell the idea that you’ll be a better, calmer, and more organized version of yourself.
The ad doesn’t show the learning curve, the extra time spent cleaning, the trial and error with undercooked vegetables or rubbery fish, or the silent calculation of energy bills when the novelty wears off.
This is where professionals are starting to be more straightforward. That nine-function unit is more like a luxury toy than something a lot of families really need. There is a lot of overlap if you already have a good oven and some pans. People talk about “energy savings,” but they usually only work in certain situations, not when you cook every day.
Consumer advocates keep saying the same thing: “A gadget that doesn’t replace anything and doesn’t change anything is just an expensive ornament.” Without the shiny interface, all that’s left are basic cooking skills that you probably already know how to do with the tools you already have.
How to ignore the hype and keep your kitchen safe and your money safe
You can handle this new wave of kitchen technology in a more laid-back way. Pick three meals that you really do cook a lot before you buy. Don’t pick recipes that you want to try. Ask yourself if this new gadget cooks it faster, better, or cheaper than what you already have for each one. Experts say that if you can’t clearly say yes to at least two of those, you’re probably paying for advertising, not real improvement.
Another thing to remember is to borrow money before you buy. A lot of people who work in an office, live next door, or are related to someone who does already have one of these machines and don’t use it very often. Cooking for a weekend with a borrowed unit will teach you a lot more than watching an influencer reel.
A lot of people think that having more presets makes things easier, but that’s not always true. In fact, having too many options can make you stop. You can’t just put vegetables on a tray and put it in the oven. You stand in front of a glowing screen and think about whether “roast,” “grill,” “air crisp,” or “combo” is the best choice. That doubt is a waste of time and energy.
Experts say that the space tax is also bad. A big gadget on the counter pushes other tools into cupboards, where they stay until you need them. The gadget you thought would make your life easier sometimes makes it harder by getting in the way of how you usually cook.
When experts talk about this trend, they often sound like they want to keep it safe. They see families buying a machine that doesn’t do anything their pans and oven can’t do instead of fresh food.
A nutritionist in London says, “People tell me they can’t justify buying good knives or good olive oil because they just bought a ‘smart cooker.'” “But their meals haven’t gotten any better every day. The money went into the shell, not the things inside.”
- Find out what it really replaces. If it doesn’t let you sell, give away, or store at least one other big appliance, that’s a sign that something is wrong.
- Check out how you really use it
- Take into account all the costs, such as the price of the item, the cost of electricity, the time it takes to clean, the space it takes up on the counter, and the cost of repairs.
- First, learn how to do things, not how to use tools. A good pan and a sharp knife can make more recipes than any nine-mode cube.
- Give it a month. It might not be an impulse if you still want it after that.
The next big thing might not be a big deal at all.
There is a quiet movement going against the grain in kitchens right now. Some people are taking a break after years of chasing the next gadget, like spiralizers, juicers, stand mixers, air fryers, and now multi-mode towers. They’re getting their heavy pots out of storage, learning one or two good ways to use a pan, and dinner suddenly seems less stressful, not more.
A lot of experts agree that the time of the air fryer taught us something. We saw how quickly a “game-changer” can become just another ad. The new machines with nine functions might end up telling the same story, but they will cost more and make bigger promises. That doesn’t mean that no one should ever buy one. People who live in a small flat without an oven or who have trouble moving around can find this kind of device very useful.
Don’t start with the ad; start with your life. This could be the real change. Look at your kitchen as if you were a stranger. What tools do you always have out, use, and keep clean? Which ones make cooking easier for you? These are the heroes who don’t speak up. Most of the time, they are simple, not branded, and not very popular.
We don’t have to stop using all of our gadgets just because the air fryer is going away. We just have to stop letting them control how we eat. When a glowing cube says it can fix all your problems, it might be a good idea to stop, open the cupboard, and say out loud, “Do I really need another box, or do I just need a better way to use what I already have?”
Main point: What the reader gets out of it
- Inquire about the nine-in-one promise.Most homes only use two or three functions on a regular basis.Helps you not pay for features you won’t use
- Start with what you really do.Before you buy anything, keep track of one week of real cooking.Tells you if a gadget really works or if it’s just a dream.
- Put people before machinesBasic tools and a few tried-and-true methods last longer than fads.Saves money and really improves everyday meals
Questions and Answers:
Are these new nine-function cookers better than an air fryer?
No, not right away. They have more modes, but most people just use them as a fancy air fryer or mini-oven, which isn’t always worth the extra money.
Do gadgets that can do more than one thing really help you save energy?
Sometimes, for small amounts or quick reheats. If you cook big meals or for a long time, the savings may not be as big as they would be with a regular oven or stove.
What do I need to have before I think about buying a multi-cooker?
You need a good pan, a strong pot, a sharp knife, and an oven or hob that works well most of the time. After those are in place, you can see if there is still a gap.
Is there anyone who really gets something out of these gadgets?
Yes, they can be very helpful for people who don’t have a lot of room, can’t get to a full oven, or have trouble bending or lifting heavy pans.
How can I stop myself from buying the next cool thing that comes out?
Follow the 30-day rule, borrow or test a friend’s device, and only buy if it clearly replaces something important or makes a meal you make every week better.
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