It once felt like a futuristic statement, almost smug on the counter. Now it just looks a little worn. Beside it sits a new box, showing a clean, cube-shaped device that promises something borderline ridiculous: nine cooking methods in a single appliance. Roast, grill, slow cook, steam, bake, sauté and more, all packed into the same space as a bulky toaster. You slice the tape, peel away the plastic, and feel that familiar spark only a fresh gadget creates. Could one machine really replace the air fryer, slow cooker, steamer, and neglected mini-oven?
You plug it in, tap a button, and the screen glows with icons that feel like a mini control panel. A single thought lands somewhere between hope and doubt. This had better be more than a passing trend.
Why one multi-cooker is taking over kitchens
The surprise hits on a night when dinner inspiration is gone. You toss in chopped vegetables, some chicken pieces, add a light splash of oil, choose “roast + steam,” and walk away. After a few minutes lost to scrolling and group chats, the kitchen smells like you actually put in real effort. Not frozen snacks effort, but proper weeknight cooking. This new generation of multi-cookers looks at what air fryers did well—speed, crispness, ease—and quietly asks why that should be the limit.
With up to nine integrated functions, one box can air fry, bake, roast, grill, steam, slow cook, sauté, reheat, and sometimes even dehydrate. The air fryer mastered one job: fast crunch. This device aims for your entire routine. Retail data from the US and UK already shows strong growth in multi-function cookers, while classic air fryer sales are leveling off. It’s not that fries disappeared. People are simply tired of single-purpose appliances filling shelves.
How stacked cooking modes change real meals
On paper, nine modes sound like marketing noise. Roast is roast, right? Not exactly. The real strength is how functions combine. Steam plus bake helps bread rise properly instead of turning dense. Grill plus air fry creates chicken that’s charred outside yet juicy inside. Slow cook plus sauté allows stews to brown before simmering all day. You’re no longer choosing just a temperature, but balancing heat and moisture.
That precision is why many people say their oven suddenly feels awkward and slow. These compact units heat faster, stay accurate, and fit into real life gaps: a 20-minute break, the window before kids crash, or late-night hunger when starting from scratch feels impossible. The air fryer simplified snacks. The multi-cooker quietly makes full meals unavoidable.
Living with a 9-in-1, not just owning it
The real shift isn’t buying the gadget, but forming tiny habits around it. People who truly replace their air fryer usually pick a default program for busy days. Maybe it’s air fry plus roast at 190°C, or a gentle steam and bake combo. That preset becomes autopilot. One tray, one button, walk away. Over time, measuring oil and spices fades. The device stops feeling like a new toy and starts acting like muscle memory.
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Another small habit matters just as much: keeping it out and ready. Appliances hidden in cupboards get forgotten. The one already plugged in subtly changes decisions. Before reaching for a pan or opening a delivery app, your eyes land on that lit display. On exhausting days, nobody wants complex recipes. What people choose is the minimum effort that still feels like real food, and that’s exactly where this machine fits.
Common mistakes owners quickly learn
Of course, there are pitfalls. Owners mention similar ones again and again. Buying an oversized model “just in case” often leads to countertop regret. Skipping regular cleaning slowly ruins both taste and performance. Sticking only to air fry mode wastes the other features. Overloading the basket causes food to steam instead of crisp. And no appliance can rescue poor ingredients or rushed seasoning. When the device becomes greasy clutter, enthusiasm fades. When it stays clean and accessible, it anchors daily cooking.
A quiet shift happening on the countertop
When one device replaces several single-use machines, kitchens start to breathe again. Worktops clear, sockets free up, and power strips stop looking like tangled monsters. Instead of fighting for space, one appliance earns its spot. For many homes, this 9-in-1 becomes the true kitchen, with the big oven acting as backup. People bake bread in a space smaller than a shoebox, slow cook overnight without heating the whole apartment, and steam dumplings late without clanging pans.
The air fryer boom felt like a phase, driven by viral recipes and crispy visuals. This shift feels different. Not gourmet, not showy, just better suited to busy, imperfect lives. Some brands barely mention air frying now, focusing instead on all-in-one systems and smart heat control. The promise is simple: give us one square of counter space, and get back time, variety, and a bit of mental calm.
Why this change actually matters
As cooking friction drops, habits change. Maybe food delivery apps open less often. Maybe shared meals feel easier to improvise. Maybe kids grow up seeing roasted vegetables as normal as reheated pizza. The goodbye to the classic air fryer isn’t dramatic. It’s like sliding an old phone into a drawer, not because it failed, but because something else learned to do its job, and eight more, just a little better.
- Replacing multiple appliances: A single 9-in-1 can handle air frying, baking, slow cooking, steaming, and more, helping free up valuable counter space.
- Simpler daily cooking: Combined programs and quick presets make it easier to eat real food without long prep or planning.
- Lasting habit changes: A default mode, visible placement, and light regular cleaning turn an impulse buy into a reliable kitchen partner.
