oh I just dislike tiktok because it's a bigger crack cocaine for a lot of ADHD than most things x3 Short-form video like that is a lot easier to get stuck on than longer form and I've burnt hours on shorts on YT which is basically the same thing, until I blocked access to shorts on it.

But I don't use Twitter anymore and haven't in quite a while other than click through, just here x3 but I get the sentiment entirely!

Hell, I've been trying to make a strong effort to disconnect that thought process with regards to Chinese-made goods, electronics or otherwise. People can be cheap and shitty anywhere, regardless of societal pressures in a given culture or region.

On a related note to that last bit, it feels like it makes discussing "no-name brands", "keysmash brands", and "ama brands" difficult because even if they are equally garbage, 90%+ of those brands are being made in a Chinese prefecture(?) and so inevitably that gets taped on even if it's irrelevant to the shadow company behavior and slapdash manufacturing involved, and I find myself struggling to be better there when talking about them, primarily in regards to home automation or other consumer electronics. Not saying that Chinese brands are bad in the slightest, loads are great, but all of them I can think of have rememberable and predictable names (NIUI, Cosori, Treatlife, aukey, just to name a few). Hell, the same manufacturers are often pumping out for brand name and Amabrands!

I dunno, it just feels like a weird spot cause I struggle to discuss any of it without feeling like I'm gonna overstep into sinophobia when in reality my thoughts are "this same thing could be from England or Italy or the US and it'd be equally garbage". X3

@KayOhtie Chinese-made goods are such an oddity because there's not a lot of limitations on what they can manufacture. Patents and IP go right out the window, and the regulation of what they can sell in international markets is pretty poor compared to what they're allowed to sell at home. On the one hand it's cool because that lack of limitations leads to a lot of cool, innovative products, but it also leads to a lot of cheap crap, or products that are the same exact thing just in different shells (like how every microwave is literally the same microwave, just in a different shell with a different logic board).

Chinese products, just like anywhere, are a mixed bag. I fault Chinese manufacturers probably less than I should because, frankly, our laws on imported goods are garbage. It seems like it should be on our legislation to catch and prevent a lot of the scam products.

sometimes that's a good thing, like Midea making so many of the dehumidifiers and portable AC units that their own brand is now well-recognized and liked! Or microwaves like you said.

I'm still not sure with air fryers. Sometimes it's very different, but a lot of basic brands look nigh identical and sound it often too - Cosori, the Insignia one I used to have, my Bella one I have now (whee recall). I feel like there is a common manufacturer for those, but I haven't figured it out yet. Or maybe there's two common manufacturers, one for housings and one for controller boards, and then various assembly houses that sometimes do shittier job than others, like the case of the Insignia one having a recall.

okay so legitimately, I shit on air fryers for a really long time. Like, years. I just said they were glorified convection ovens, because on some technical level, they are.

What I failed to recognize was that the ratio of the heating element size to the cook space is dramatically different than that of an oven, and that the air is forced around way faster because of it. And that it really does make a pretty fucking big difference. X3

I really like my air fryer now, I use it somewhat regularly, sometimes even for things where it's more roasting than frying. I don't usually think of you as the type of bab who has picky eating issues, But if you struggle with greens, toss a bag of frozen broccoli florets with olive oil (NOT extra virgin) or canola/vegetable oil as well as a big pinch of kosher salt and fresh ground pepper. Dump it in, set from 15 mins @ 400°F to 20 mins @ 365°F. The result is deeply crispy edged broccoli that is downright addictive. I can easily house an entire pound of broccoli cooked that way >.>

@KayOhtie Oooh I'm a picky eater with condiments but not really much else, but I also heckin' love broccoli so I'd definitely be into that. Would it work okay with frozen broccoli? We have some bags of it that I've been trying to figure out what to do with since 9/10 I prefer fresh produce.

Also yeah, made fun of air fryers for a long time, but it's nice having a machine that can crisp things up easily or double as a little toaster oven. The big oven takes too long to preheat for small stuff, so toaster oven mode is nice.

airhead dog; I said frozen, silly x3 it might work for fresh but for much less cook time! Probably frozen cauli too, would be great with Cajun seasoning all over it!

Don't sleep on frozen veg though, it's just as nutritious as fresh, just used differently, and harder to roast but entirely roastable! Just needs help like the air fryer hehe ^^ For Brussels I've oven roasted frozen but required thawing and par-cooking though the result isn't the same as with fresh for sure. Definitely prefer fresh for bruss!

@KayOhtie Yeah I am an airhead ;^; Somehow missed that. I have a habit of skimming in a really weird order where I miss words a lot.

I don't mind frozen veggies, the problem is they just live in the freezer too long and get freezer burnt by the time I get to em