Iceland has thrilled air fryer fans up and down the UK by launching a new freezer aisle dedicated to the gadget.
Chock full with over 287 items, the new aisle is apparently a world's first according to the budget supermarket chain.
Stocked with everything from Greggs sausage rolls to Aunt Bessies Bacon Chicken Crowns, the new aisles have been created to help people save money, reports The Manc.
Consisting mainly of frozen foods, alongside instructions on how to cook it in the air fryer, the new aisle features treats like Greggs sausage rolls and Aunt Bessie’s Bacon Chicken Crowns.
Research from consumer company Which? found nearly half of UK households have purchased an air fryer in the past five years, and that 57% of respondents used their air fryers multiple times a week.
20% of air fryer owners said they used it every day, whilst 44% said they are using their regular ovens a lot less.
Most importantly, perhaps, 68% said they made the switch because it was more affordable for them, with research from Utilita Energy showing an average annual saving when switching from an electric cooker to be £80.50.
The appliances have become something of a TikTok sensation in recent years, with users on the social media platform proving that where there’s a will there’s (nearly) always a way.
Some of the most viral air fryer recipes to appear on the video platform in recent months include mac and cheese, PB&J, stuffed mushrooms and espiropapas.
What the videos have show is that it’s not just freezer food that can be cooked in an air fryer, and that, in fact, you can do anything from bake a cake to roast a chicken inside the tidy little gadgets.
Iceland is currently working on including air fryer instructions on a wide variety of different food ranges, not just frozen items, and has already begun making changes to 300 products.
Iceland executive chairman Richard Walker said: “We pride ourselves on knowing exactly what our customers coming through our store doors are looking for, matching their changing shopping trends with fresh ideas.
“Introducing the world’s first air fryer aisle at our Food Warehouse is another exciting example. As the popularity of air fryer cooking grows, this aisle will give customers easy access to products that work perfectly in this time and energy saving cooking appliance.”
Featured image – Iceland
Eats
Salon Madre – a new tequila bar and pool hall is opening in Leeds this month
Manchester's favourite Mexican bar is about to become your newest nightlife destination in Leeds.
It's been a long time coming, but Salon Madre is officially ready to open in Leeds.
Although we may have to wait a little bit longer for Madre, the day-to-night eatery that has made waves over in Manchester and Liverpool, Salon Madre, its lively tequila bar and pool hall sibling, is officially opening on Friday 20 February.
Salon Madre, which will be located just around the corner from Madre at 114 Wellington Street, is where the party really gets started.
Image: The Manc Group
Expect tequila-fuelled nights, pool tables, lively DJs and Lucha Libre on the big screens.
There will also be plenty of tacos being flung out the kitchen to keep you going until the early hours.
If you’ve ever visited one of their venues in Manchester or Liverpool, you’ll know it’s an absolute riot and we can’t wait to welcome them to the city.
Images: The Manc Group
Co-founder Sam Grainger, inspired by countless trips to Mexico, says: “Mexico is alive with passionate artisans and cooks, mastering everything from street tacos to regional delicacies. It’s a world where traditions blend and evolve and we’ve built that ethos into the heart of both Madre and Salon Madre.”
Madre Leeds will open soon and you can even grab yourself a free margarita by signing up to their newsletter here.
We’ll keep you up to date with their opening times but for now, we'll see you at Salon Madre for a boogie, margarita and game of pool next week.
Award-winning Leeds restaurant announces shock closure just months after opening
Clementine Hall
Emba in Leeds will be closing its doors with the owner blaming rising costs and pressure on the hospitality sector.
Back in April last year, one of Leeds' top restaurants The Owl closed its doors.
Run by renowned Chef Liz Cottam, The Owl was reimagine into Emba - a trendy restaurant tat bridged 'the gap between cosy bar and vibrant dining room'.
To open Emba, Cottam opened a Crowdfunder where supporters would be awarded with prizes such as VIP dinners and merch depending on how much they donated.
But sadly just months after opening, Emba is to close permanently.
Cottam confirmed the sad news with a statement shared with customers over the weekend, saying she was completely "heartbroken".
She said: “This is no longer the right time to own independent restaurants like Emba,” she said. “Under the current conditions they cannot survive and the recent budget confirmed what so many of us already knew: no meaningful help is coming for hospitality.
"The experience of being here and the harsh financial reality of running a business here no longer stack up.
"Being award winning, popular, admired and loved no longer means profitable and as an industry if we’re honest most of us have not truly been okay since Covid."
She signed off the statement promising to return to the restaurant world, she said: “What I do know is this, I am not done. I will keep cooking, keep creating and keep finding ways to do the thing I love.”
Georgina Pellant -
20th June 2023 
