For years, the air fryer has reigned supreme on kitchen countertops. It was the gadget that promised crispy food with less oil, fast results, and a healthier twist on frying. From fries to chicken wings and even reheated leftovers, the air fryer became a habit for busy home cooks everywhere. But now, a new generation of kitchen appliances is emerging that doesn’t just air fry—it does everything. These next‑generation devices offer nine distinct cooking methods in one compact unit, making many single‑purpose appliances, including the beloved air fryer, feel obsolete.
These multifunction cookers are not just another gadget on the shelf; they’re a transformation in the way ordinary people cook daily meals. They promise a future where one smart machine replaces a dozen appliances—streamlining meals, saving space, and expanding what’s possible in home kitchens.
The Evolution: More Than Just Frying
The air fryer was marketed as a healthier alternative to deep frying. By circulating hot air rapidly around food, it created a crispy exterior with significantly less oil. Many home cooks adopted it for its convenience, quick cooking times, and relatively easy cleanup. It became a must‑have kitchen staple, especially among busy families and health‑conscious individuals.
But as with all technology, the novelty eventually faded. Once the “easy crispy goodness” became routine, many users began to ask: What else can this thing do? The answer, for most single‑function appliances, was not much. They could air fry, and some could reheat or bake—but that was about it.
That’s where the nine‑in‑one units enter the picture.
Nine Cooking Methods, One Appliance
The core appeal of the new kitchen devices lies in their versatility. Rather than owning separate appliances for every task, a single unit now combines nine cooking methods—all programmable via one interface. These typically include:
- Air Fry – For crispy fries, nuggets, and crunchy vegetables.
- Bake – Cakes, breads, gratins, and desserts.
- Roast – Whole chickens, roasted vegetables, and Sunday dinners.
- Grill – Burgers, halloumi, kebabs, and charred veggies.
- Steam – Dumplings, rice, fish, and delicate greens.
- Slow Cook – Stews, soups, pulled meats, and sauces.
- Pressure Cook – Beans, grains, risottos, and tough cuts in record time.
- Sauté – Browning onions, searing meat, or starting sauces.
- Dehydrate – Fruit chips, herbs, homemade snacks.
Some models also include specialized functions like reheat, warming, or proofing/yogurt fermentation, expanding their utility even further. Above all, these are not merely nine cooking modes slapped together—they interact intelligently. Advanced temperature and moisture control help food cook evenly with better texture and flavor.
How It Changes Everyday Cooking
To understand why these multifunction cookers are gaining traction, it helps to reimagine the way most people cook:
1. Start With What You Know
Often, cooking begins with a handful of familiar dishes: roast chicken for Sunday dinner, steamed vegetables for a weeknight side, or that go‑to batch of fries after work. Rather than preheating an oven, firing up a pan, and monitoring multiple pots, the nine‑in‑one machine lets you drop food in, select the method, and walk away.
2. Two‑Phase Cooking
A hallmark of these devices is combining cooking phases. For example:
- Steam or pressure cook meat with seasoning to get it juicy inside.
- Then finish with grill or air‑fry mode for texture and color.
The result can rival restaurant quality—all from one machine.
This two‑stage technique mirrors professional kitchens, where chefs cook low and slow to maximize tenderness, then apply high heat to add browning and crisp. It’s a strategy almost no traditional air fryer can replicate.
3. One Pot, Less Cleanup
Instead of using multiple pots and pans, the multifunction device allows layered cooking with racks and trays. Steam above while pressure cooking below, or sauté then slow cook all in one vessel. That simplicity translates to fewer dishes and less mental load after a long day.
4. Better Leftovers
One of the lesser‑talked benefits is how well these devices handle leftovers. Reheating in a small, heat‑controlled chamber keeps food moist without drying it out—something traditional reheating methods often fail at.
Why Air Fryers Aren’t Enough Anymore
There’s no denying that air fryers changed home cooking. They made crispy food fast, with less oil, little fuss, and reasonable health benefits compared to deep frying. They earned a place on millions of counters because they delivered results without complexity.
However, once the novelty wore off and users began imagining what else they could cook, limitations became clear. Air fryers typically excel at a narrow slice of tasks—mostly small portions and high‑heat, dry cooking. They rarely excel at slow cooking, steaming without drying food, pressure cooking, or dehydrating.
That’s not just a matter of preference. It’s a fundamental shift in how people view kitchen efficiency and food creativity. Rather than owning five or six appliances for different jobs—slow cooker, steam cooker, pressure cooker, toaster oven, dehydrator—the multifunction units consolidate those needs. That consolidation appeals to modern lifestyles.
Real‑World Impact
Many early adopters report the transition feels less like changing a tool and more like changing their cooking rhythm. Instead of asking, Which appliance should I use? the question becomes, What do I want on the plate? Then the answer flows naturally: bake for breakfast, slow cook for lunch, and grill at dinner—all from the same device.
This is not to say air fryers will vanish overnight. For some households, especially those with limited kitchen space or simple cooking habits, an air fryer is still useful for quick snacks and simple meals. Yet once users experience the breadth of what a nine‑function machine can do, many find themselves reaching for it first and ignoring the air fryer entirely.
The Future of Kitchen Tech
The rise of multifunction cookers is part of a broader trend toward smart, integrated kitchen technologies. As appliances learn to think more like chefs—combining temperature control, moisture monitoring, and program automation—the gap widens between single‑task gadgets and all‑in‑one solutions.
Already, the most advanced models include smart presets, temperature sensors, and even AI‑assisted cooking suggestions that adapt to the food you’re preparing. Some devices notify you when to switch modes or adjust seasoning—bringing professional techniques into everyday cooking.
Space‑saving benefits also matter. Many kitchens, especially in urban apartments, struggle with limited countertop and storage space. A nine‑in‑one device clears clutter by replacing four or five separate items, giving homeowners more room to think, prep, and enjoy cooking.
Conclusion: Beyond “Just Frying”
The air fryer had its era—and a good one. It made fried textures healthier, cooking faster, and kitchen routines easier. But its limitations are now more obvious in a world where multifunction devices promise far more than frying. The new nine‑mode appliances deliver a spectrum of cooking possibilities—baking, steaming, slow cooking, sautéing, dehydrating, and more—all from one smart box.
Whether this spells the end of the air fryer or simply the next chapter in kitchen evolution depends on how individuals cook. But one thing is clear: cooking technology is catching up with real life, offering solutions beyond convenience—to efficiency, creativity, and joy in the kitchen itself.
