It was my best friend who introduced me to air fryers, during a discussion about the latest culinary inventions. I love kitchen gadgets almost as much as I love fried food, and I had to know more. You may have heard of air fryers, or even have one, and have questions like I did.
What are the Most Popular Foods to Cook in an AirFryer?
Some consumers buy an Air fryer for this purpose alone, and it is also suitable for people that are not cooking enthusiasts, or those with limited kitchen space.
People love using air fryers for:
- French Fries
- Onion Rings
- Chicken Tenders
- Pizza
| French Fries/Potatoes | Mozzarella cheese sticks | shish kebobs |
| chicken parts | Corn | French Toast |
| chicken wings | Frozen Hamburger Patties | pies |
| pork chops | cake | Battered dill pickles |
| fish | Cheeseburgers | Frozen waffles |
| steak | fruit turnovers | Hot Sausage Sandwich |
| egg rolls | Garlic Bread | Cornbread |
| Roasted vegetables | cookies | sliced mushrooms for steak |
| hot dogs | eggs | Chimichangas beef and chicken |
| sausage | Cinnamon Rolls | Stir Fries |
| bacon | Breaded Mushrooms | SPAM slices (tasty shame lol) |
| onion rings | Donuts | Dumplings |
| Pizza | Stuffed Mushrooms | Jerky |
| whole chicken | Chicken Fried Steak | Tomatillos for making salsa |
| shrimp | Crab Cakes | pop corn |
| baked potatoes | casseroles | Calzone |
| pork ribs | London Broil | fried wontons |
| pork tenderloin | Frozen biscuit dough | Cupcakes |
| Burgers | Meatloaf | Banana bread |
| Brats | pork butt |
Air fryers cook these snacks evenly, and the aroma is heavenly. Instructions for cooking the type of fried foods that come frozen and ready to heat can be found in the manual that comes with your air fryer.
For an excellent guide, check out this cooking chart.
To convert prepared food instructions on your own, reduce the temperature shown on the package by about 50 degrees and 3-5 minutes. Don’t forget to turn the foods or shake the basket.
- Hardcover Book
- Homolka, Gina (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 304 Pages - 10/09/2018 (Publication Date) - Clarkson Potter (Publisher)
- Pitre, Urvashi (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 224 Pages - 10/30/2018 (Publication Date) - Harvest (Publisher)
What Entrees Can You Make in an Air-Fryer?
Air fryers became a runaway hit because they make a less fattening fried foods, including home made ones, with little or no oil and far less mess. All your favorite fried dinners will work in an air fryer.
An air fryer can cook virtually any fried, baked, pan fried or sauteed main dish, even pizza, and roast beef.
It’s important to note that some recipes do call for a tiny amount of oil to be applied to the ingredients to keep them moist, so not all recipes are free of added fats.
Looking for something quick and simple? Two recipes that sparkle are:
@BlueJeanChef
Pickle Brined Fried Chicken
The unusual brine (3-4 hours) and crumb coating are well worth trying.
Onion Pork Chops
Made with just onion soup mix, these chops are wonderful, easy, and no oil is required at all! They taste like they had been fried in a pan, just as the author says. See full recipe
Side Dishes
Air Fried ‘Sauteed’ Veggies
A good side dish will make our low-fat meal even healthier. I found these recipes helpful, as Emeril provides exacting instructions for people who are new to air frying, and the You Tube video shows us the process step by step. Both of these recipes call for a small amount of oil, but it’s worth it.
Note Emeril’s late stage addition of tarragon. What a nice, professional touch.
For heartier accompaniments, try
@recipethis
Air Fryer Spicy Sweet Potato Wedges at www.recipethis.com a healthy weekly staple favorite.
Cadry’s Air fryer Baked Potatoes with all the Fixings at www.cadryskitchen.com. Yum!
Appetizers
What about having friends over and showing off with some yummy appetizers?
Good starters are Air Fry Spicy Garlic Prawn, Vegan Air Fry Buffalo Cauliflower, and Air Fryer Fried Dill Pickles.
Links to the recipes are below.
@spabettie
I know that the fashionable vegan ‘buffalo’ cauliflower will be a big success with everyone, as it suits almost any diet, and really tastes like buffalo wings.
@thecreativebite
These air-fried pickles require no oil at all and come out crispy.
Need more ideas? Check out this air fryer recipe book by Meredith Laurence
- Laurence, Meredith (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 270 Pages - 11/14/2017 (Publication Date) - Walah! LLC (Publisher)
Will an Air Fryer Work with your Favorite Recipes?
Air fryers may be the next culinary must have.
They are multi-purpose space savers, and the non-stick parts can be washed in the dishwasher.
Whether you love freezer-to-fryer chicken tenders or enjoy being creative, an air fryer is a great kitchen tool for beginning cooks and experts alike.
Air fryers stimulate fried food without immersion in oil, and also do the same work as a convection oven, circulating heat all around the food.
Professional Chefs prefer this type of heating, and an air fryer improves recipes that respond well to even air flow, such as cakes and meat dishes.
Take note that it is important to toss, stir, or turn foods.
Stir fries are usually tossed in a touch of seasoned oil before cooking, and lean meats such as skinless chicken breast should be brushed with a little fat to prevent dryness.
Your cake, muffin, and cookie recipes need no changes, and if your home oven is conventional, the results may be better than before.
Air fryer cooking times will be different, so consult similar recipes for instructions.
I’ve been thrilled with my air fryer, and you’ll probably feel the same about yours.
featured image source: BELLA Life