Sultry screen chef Nigella Lawson has shocked fans by admitting she knows 'nothing' about air fryers – and has only just used one for the first time.
The food writer, 63, made the surprising revelation during her one-off BBC special, 'Nigella's Amsterdam Christmas', which airs on Thursday, December 21 at 8pm.
According to The sunthe acclaimed food writer has long preferred a traditional cooking oven to the modern version, which works by circulating hot air around the food and requires a minimal amount of oil and fat.
Shocking fans, she said: “I don't know anything about the world of air fryers.”
In the hour-long festive show, Nigella reveals her method for making crispy chicken thighs in an air fryer, as part of her special Indonesian biryani recipe.
She added, “I have something extra for my biryani. When I cooked the chicken thighs they had no skin and that's because I removed the skin and whipped them in the air fryer at maximum speed so the chicken crackles and sprinkles over the top.'
Sultry screen chef Nigella Lawson, 63, has shocked fans by admitting she knows 'nothing' about air fryers
The acclaimed food writer has long preferred a traditional cooking oven to the modern version, which works by circulating hot air around the food and requires a minimal amount of oil and fat (Image: Airfryer/stock image)
The London-born food journalist – famous for her pin-up looks and domestic prowess – made another astonishing admission.
Nigella has declared there is one household chore she will never do: ironing.
In fact, the TV chef's hatred for this task is so great: she doesn't even have an ironing board and opts for a steamer instead.
Speaking to Zoe Ball on BBC Radio 2 on December 15, Nigella revealed: 'I steam, I don't iron. And as you can see, in my natural state I am not exactly a blameless human being.”
She added, “Plus, I seem to have bits of cake batter on my sleeve.”
Mrs. Ball was so shocked that she asked her guest three times if the confession was true.
But while ditching an iron is anathema to some, it seems to be growing in popularity among millennials. Lakeland's 2023 Trends Report shows that 30 percent of 18 to 34 year olds do not own an iron.
When asked why, a fifth said their clothes did not need to be ironed, while another fifth said the chore was simply 'not important'.
The food writer made the surprising revelation during her one-off BBC special, 'Nigella's Amsterdam Christmas', which airs on Thursday, December 21.
Nigella also revealed that, apart from ironing, wrapping Christmas presents is 'the job I hate most', despite once selling wrapping paper with the illustrations from her cookbook How To Be A Domestic Goddess.
She said: 'It's just that I'm so incompetent that everything goes wrong. There are always bits of hair under the Sellotape, it's a nightmare.
“My late husband John always said I was the only person who could wrap a book up and make it look like it was a bottle of wine.”
While this may come as a surprise, it's not the first time the TV chef has admitted to skipping more laborious household tasks.
Earlier this year, Ms Lawson revealed she has 'lost the habit of big dinner parties'.
She told the Times: 'I have a person or a few people over very often and I continue to plan to have people with me in a real adult way, but I haven't done that yet. I have to!
“I feel a little guilty because people ate me and I didn't have them anymore.”
Nigella is also not necessarily someone who sticks to Christmas tradition.
She told The Sunday Times: 'Although I love a slice of thick, moist Christmas cake, especially when eaten with a slice of strong, sharp cheese, I am surrounded by people who hate dried fruit in all its seasonal manifestations .
“If no one in your family likes dried fruit, there's no point in letting a Christmas cake gather dust or just be eaten by the suffering.” If chocolate cake appeals more to you, go for it.”
Nigella also revealed the one household chore she will never do: ironing (Image: Nigella Lawson appears on Zoe Ball's star-studded breakfast show on December 14, 2023)
Nigella's festive retreat in Amsterdam tells the story of her love for the 'beautiful' city at Christmas time, capturing the extraordinary beauty of the glittering lights over the canals, the hustle and bustle of the celebration and the sophisticated, enchanting atmosphere of the 'Venice of the North' are displayed. '.
With visits to Christmas markets, artisan food shops and her favorite places in this historic and architecturally captivating city, Nigella will gather ingredients for her festive celebrations, finding moments of calm and reflection among the lights and a cheerful buzz to bring the Christmas spirit home. .
The recipes are inspired by local ingredients from both Amsterdam's Dutch and Indonesian culinary cultures, creating dishes that are both simple and festive to make our Christmas wonderfully doable and joyful!
Shot in both London and Amsterdam, the special reveals accessible, high-reward recipes as she takes us on a deeply personal journey through Amsterdam this Christmas.
Nigella said: 'There's nothing better than being able to share enthusiasm and joy, and I look forward to showing viewers the unique magic of Amsterdam at Christmas and unveiling new recipes that, while drawn from the history, culture and ingredients of this breathtakingly beautiful city, give ideas for a delicious, carefree feast here at home'.