It used to feel like the air fryer was a game changer because it made meals faster, fewer dishes, and dinner on the table in minutes. But lately, a different kind of appliance has been taking its place. A bigger, sleeker countertop machine is showing up in kitchens. It promises to combine several appliances into one. It can do more than just fry; it can also bake, steam, grill, slow-cook, and more. People post pictures online of crowded counters turned into a single setup, drawn by the promise of nine cooking modes in one device and the thought of finally getting rid of half their gadgets.
Bye-bye Air Fryer
On a busy weeknight in a small London flat, dinner was a battle between several appliances for space and attention. There were beeping timers, something wasn’t preheated, and the room was full of stress. The kitchen looked different a few weeks later. One silver appliance could cook salmon, vegetables, and rice all at once. Steam floated gently through the air, and no one was around. The old air fryer was sitting unused in a cupboard, where it had already been forgotten.
Why All-in-One Cookers Are Taking the Place of Single-Use Tools
You can see the change in any big home store. People are still interested in air fryers, but they are now more interested in all-in-one countertop ovens that advertise bold multi-mode features. These appliances can do the jobs of a convection oven, a steamer, a grill, a dehydrator, and an air fryer all at once. The appeal is clear: fewer plugs, less clutter from appliances, and one tool that makes breakfast, lunch, and dinner with little effort.
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A lot of people knew that air fryers could never completely replace ovens. They worked well for small amounts of food, but not so well for family-sized meals. Newer 9-in-1 machines fill that gap. They can roast, steam, grill, and slow-cook well, so users can make a variety of meals without having to switch appliances. For a lot of people, this usefulness has quietly made the air fryer less useful in their daily lives.
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Why the change makes sense in real life
The change isn’t because of hype; it’s because it’s easier to do things every day. Air fryers took the place of some deep frying and baking, but families still used ovens, rice cookers, and slow cookers. It didn’t seem right to have just one answer. Modern multi-cookers handle heat and moisture in different ways. They can bake with steam, cook slowly at very low temperatures, grill at high temperatures, and gently dehydrate food. The air fryer starts to feel limited when you compare it to the one box that can do so many things.
How People Use a 9-in-1 at Home
It’s not enough to just remember every preset. Most happy users choose a default weekday mode and use it over and over again. After that, other functions only show up when they are needed. Slow cooking becomes a Sunday tradition, grilling fits into quick weeknight meals, and dehydrating happens from time to time. You don’t need an air fryer every day; just a few reliable ones will do.
There is also an emotional benefit. A lot of people say they feel less pressure when they cook. Getting food ready ahead of time, starting late, or mixing modes can help you feel less chaotic after work. Dinner goes from being a daily battle to a set routine, even if only four of the nine modes are used all the time.
Mistakes That New Owners Make Often
The most frustrating thing is trying to do everything at once. Switching modes a lot on the first weekend can lead to bad results and disappointment. Picking a model that is too small is another problem. For families, capacity is more important than features. Cleaning also needs a simple routine. If you switch modes without wiping trays, the flavors can mix in ways that aren’t good. When these habits are in place, the mental load goes down a lot.
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What Makes a Good 9-in-1 Different from a Gimmick
Lots of space with trays and baskets that can hold whole meals
Options for moist reheating and baking include steaming or steam-baking.
Grill function that really sears food at high heat
Clear presets that are easy to read and get to
Parts that are safe to put in the dishwasher and make cleaning easier
Most owners say the same thing happens when these basics are met: they put the air fryer away “just in case” and don’t use it again.
How to Get Real Value Out of Nine Cooking Modes
The most important thing is to give each mode a specific job to do during the week. Start with two or three reliable uses and connect them to things you already do. Confidence grows over time, and trying out other ways of doing things seems safe. The appliance doesn’t have to use every function every day to be useful.
People who like their 9-in-1 know that some features are just nice extras. The goal isn’t to be perfect, but to be comfortable over and over again. When you switch to single-touch mode, the machine doesn’t stop working, even on busy nights. It just means that dinner was easier to make.
The Quiet Trend in Modern Kitchens
Kitchen changes rarely feel dramatic. They happen slowly, until the new setup feels normal. That was the job of the air fryer. These days, multi-function ovens are becoming the norm. Not only is the technology impressive, but users also say they feel less stressed, order fewer takeout meals because they are too tired, and meals happen almost on their own.
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At its core, the 9-in-1 trend is a step toward making things easier. One appliance, one interface, and fewer choices when someone asks, “What’s for dinner?” The air fryer didn’t just disappear. It just lost the daily contest for usefulness as kitchens moved toward fewer tools that do more with less work.
