The first time it appeared, the device looked like a chunky Bluetooth speaker crossed with a mini oven. No basket, no rattling drawer, just a glossy cube humming quietly on a kitchen counter in a small London flat. On TikTok, a creator waved goodbye to her air fryer and fussed over this new machine like a pet. The comments exploded. Some dismissed it as just a fancy oven, others swore it was a lifesaver. The clip spread fast, the brand name trended overnight, and soon food writers and chefs were facing the same question: is the air fryer era fading, or simply evolving?
From air fryer favourite to all-in-one powerhouse
The classic air fryer succeeded because its promise was simple: crispy food, less oil, faster cooking, and no overheated kitchen. It was easy to understand and easy to sell. The new generation of 9-in-1 countertop ovens tells a more complicated story. These machines claim to air fry, steam, slow cook, grill, toast, bake, dehydrate, sous-vide, and sometimes pressure cook. Scroll through home cooking communities and a clear pattern appears: air fryers are being boxed up, donated, or pushed to the back of cupboards, while one multi-purpose unit takes pride of place on the counter.
Emma, 34, lives in a cramped Manchester flat with a galley kitchen barely wider than her fridge. Last winter, she owned an air fryer, bread maker, rice cooker, blender, and slow cooker stacked like Tetris on one shelf. Cooking meant moving appliances onto the sofa. After trying a 9-in-1 countertop oven, her setup changed fast. Within weeks, she shared a photo of a half-empty shelf and joked that one box now ruled them all. The rest were sold online in a single weekend.
Appliance brands have noticed this shift. Rising energy costs, smaller living spaces, and the desire for fewer but more useful tools are reshaping kitchens. A full-size oven can feel excessive for a quick solo meal, while single-use gadgets often feel wasteful. These all-in-one machines promise targeted heat, broader versatility, and faster cooking. While no device performs every task perfectly, many home cooks accept that fast and good enough often wins over perfect but complicated.
How a 9-in-1 cooker actually changes daily cooking
Using one of these machines feels different from working with an air fryer. Instead of shaking a basket, you select a mode much like choosing a playlist: steam-crisp, grill, roast, bake, slow cook, or pressure. Many models guide users with simple prompts such as adding water or flipping food. A meal can start under pressure and finish with an air-crisp cycle without any extra effort. The biggest shift is practical: the main oven often stays cold on weeknights while this countertop unit becomes the default.
The learning curve is real, and this is where some users struggle. Faced with multiple buttons and settings, they stick to air-fry mode and conclude the machine is just a larger air fryer. Those who successfully replace several gadgets usually take a different approach. They learn one new function per week. First, a pressure-cooked stew. Next, steamed vegetables. Then grilling halloumi instead of using a pan. Over time, the rice cooker and slow cooker fade out through habit rather than intention.
As one London-based chef consultant puts it, no single tool is perfect for every technique. Still, in a small flat with limited space and power, a device that scores well across many tasks can be more useful than one that excels at only one.
The quiet kitchen identity shift behind the trend
This divide is not just about appliances, but about how people see themselves in the kitchen. The air fryer symbolised speed and clever shortcuts. The 9-in-1 machine suggests minimalism and control, offering roasting, steaming, and baking from one compact box. Some chefs resist because it blurs the line between craft and convenience. Many parents embrace it because dinner arrives faster with fewer dishes. Both reactions show how emotionally charged kitchen tools have become.
There is also a generational angle. Young renters rely on countertop power when old ovens are unreliable. Downsizers prefer fewer bulky gadgets to clean and store. Energy-conscious households appreciate that these machines often use less electricity than heating a full-size oven for a single tray. At the same time, serious bakers point out uneven browning on delicate pastries, and grill enthusiasts dismiss indoor grill modes. Each criticism reflects different cooking priorities.
The real question is not whether the air fryer is disappearing, but what kind of cooking a kitchen needs to support. For those who value ritual and specialised tools, these machines may remain backups. For people in tight spaces with limited storage, they can become the main workhorse. No appliance can solve taste, time, space, and budget for everyone. What it can do is prompt a practical rethink of which tools are truly used, and which ones stay around purely out of habit.
Key takeaways for everyday cooks
- Space and clutter: One 9-in-1 unit can replace several everyday gadgets, freeing shelves and counters.
- Learning curve: Mastering one function at a time turns the machine into a true multi-tool.
- Cooking style: Ideal for quick, family-style meals, but less suited to high-precision baking or specialist tasks.
