Quick meals, fewer dishes, and dinner on the table in minutes once made the air fryer feel revolutionary. Recently, though, a different kind of appliance has been taking its place. A larger, sleeker countertop machine is appearing in kitchens, promising to combine multiple appliances into one. Instead of just frying, it can bake, steam, grill, slow-cook, and more. Online, people share photos of crowded counters transformed into a single setup, drawn by the promise of nine cooking modes in one device and the idea of finally retiring half their gadgets.
During one hectic weekday evening in a small London flat, dinner involved multiple appliances competing for space and attention. Timers beeped, something wasn’t preheated, and stress filled the room. A few weeks later, the same kitchen looked different. One silver appliance handled salmon, vegetables, and rice at the same time. Steam drifted softly, no one hovered, and the old air fryer sat unused in a cupboard, already forgotten.
Why All-in-One Cookers Are Replacing Single-Use Gadgets
Walk into any large home store and you’ll notice the shift. Air fryers are still there, but attention is moving toward all-in-one countertop ovens advertising bold multi-mode features. These machines blend the roles of a convection oven, steamer, grill, dehydrator, and air fryer. The appeal is simple: fewer plugs, less appliance clutter, and one tool that handles breakfast, dinner, and leftovers with minimal effort.
Many households realised that air fryers never fully replaced ovens. They worked well for small batches but struggled with family-sized meals. Newer 9-in-1 machines close that gap. They roast, steam, grill, and slow-cook efficiently, allowing users to prepare varied meals without switching appliances. For many, this practicality has quietly pushed the air fryer out of daily use.
The Practical Logic Behind the Change
The shift isn’t driven by hype but by everyday convenience. Air fryers replaced deep-frying and some baking, but families still relied on ovens, rice cookers, and slow cookers. The idea of a single solution felt incomplete. Modern multi-cookers manage heat and moisture differently, offering steam-assisted baking, ultra-low slow cooking, high-heat grilling, and gentle dehydration. With one box handling so many tasks, the air fryer begins to feel limited by comparison.
How People Actually Use a 9-in-1 at Home
The real value doesn’t come from memorising every preset. Most satisfied users pick a default weekday mode and rely on it repeatedly. From there, other functions appear only when needed. Slow cooking becomes a Sunday habit, grilling fits into quick weeknight meals, and dehydrating happens occasionally. Just a few reliable modes are enough to replace the air fryer in daily life.
There’s also an emotional benefit. Several users describe feeling less pressure around cooking. Preparing food earlier, using delayed starts, or combining modes reduces the sense of chaos after work. Dinner shifts from a daily struggle to a predictable routine, even if only four of the nine modes are used regularly.
Common Mistakes New Owners Make
The biggest frustration comes from trying everything at once. Jumping between modes in the first weekend often leads to uneven results and disappointment. Another issue is choosing a model that’s too small. Capacity matters more than features, especially for families. Cleaning also requires a simple routine; switching modes without wiping trays can mix flavours in unpleasant ways. Once these habits are in place, the mental load drops significantly.
What Separates a Useful 9-in-1 From a Gimmick
- Generous capacity with trays and baskets that fit full meals
- Steam or steam-bake options for moist reheating and baking
- High-heat grill function that truly sears food
- Clear presets that are easy to read and access
- Dishwasher-safe parts that simplify cleaning
When these basics are met, most owners report the same outcome: the air fryer is stored away “just in case” and rarely used again.
Getting Real Value From Nine Cooking Modes
The key is assigning each mode a specific role in your week. Start small with two or three dependable uses and tie them to routines you already have. Over time, confidence builds, and experimenting with other modes feels low-risk. You don’t need to use every function daily for the appliance to earn its place.
People who enjoy their 9-in-1 accept that some features are occasional bonuses. The goal isn’t perfection but repeatable comfort. Even on busy nights, falling back on a single-touch mode doesn’t mean the machine has failed. It simply means dinner was made easier.
The Quiet Direction of Modern Kitchens
Kitchen changes rarely feel dramatic. They happen gradually, until a new setup feels normal. The air fryer once filled that role. Now, multi-function ovens are becoming the default. What stands out is not just the technology but the feeling users describe: less stress, fewer takeaways ordered from exhaustion, and meals that happen almost automatically.
At its core, the 9-in-1 trend reflects a move toward simplicity. One appliance, one interface, and fewer decisions when the question arises: “What’s for dinner?” The air fryer didn’t vanish overnight. It simply lost the daily contest for usefulness, as kitchens shifted toward fewer tools that do more with less effort.
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Key Takeaways at a Glance
- Multiple cooking modes replace several single-use appliances
- Default settings make daily use simple and consistent
- Capacity and cleaning ease matter more than flashy features
