Air Fryer For Meat: Is It Possible?

Air fryers are a popular appliance for cooking a variety of foods, from French fries to chicken breast, steak, and salmon. But can you cook raw meat in an air fryer? The answer is yes, it is perfectly safe to do so as long as you follow proper food handling procedures and monitor the internal temperature of the meat with a thermometer to ensure it is cooked to the correct temperature.

Chicken breast

Yes, you can cook chicken breast in an air fryer. Air fryers are a type of convection oven, so they can cook raw meat. Chicken breast can be cooked in an air fryer in under 20 minutes.

To cook chicken breast in an air fryer, cut the raw chicken breast into bite-sized pieces. You will need to flip the chicken halfway through cooking to ensure it cooks evenly. The internal temperature of the chicken should reach 165°F.

Air fryers are a convenient, hands-free approach to preparing family dinners or a quick, high-protein meal for one. They are also easier to clean than a stove or oven.

Chicken thighs

Yes, you can cook chicken thighs in an air fryer. Air fryers are mini convection ovens that use hot air circulating rapidly to cook food. This results in fast evaporation, which means your food cooks fast enough to not dry out, while getting a crispy exterior.

To cook chicken thighs in an air fryer, first pat the thighs dry and brush the skins with olive oil. Then, make a spice blend with kosher salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder, oregano and onion powder, and sprinkle it all over the thighs. Preheat your air fryer to 380F for 5 minutes. After pre-heating, spray with cooking spray, if desired.

Place the chicken, skin side up, in the air fryer basket. Cook for 12 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165F. Be sure to flip halfway through. Remove the chicken thighs from the air fryer and let them sit for five minutes before serving. Boneless chicken thighs should be fully cooked after about 18 minutes in an air fryer preheated to 400 degrees F.

Steak

Yes, you can cook steak in an air fryer. It's a clean, efficient way to cook steak without the mess or clean-up of searing steak in a pan or on a grill.

When selecting the best air fryer steak, look for a cut of meat that's about an inch thick. Anything thinner than that could cook too quickly, leaving you with chewy, dry and overcooked meat. Thicker cuts, like sirloin, are best as they turn nice and browned on the outside without overcooking. Other fantastic air fryer steaks are filet mignon, ribeye or New York strip.

Before cooking, let the steak sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. Preheat a 3.5-quart air fryer to 400 degrees F. Season the steak on both sides with a generous pinch of salt and several grinds of black pepper. Air frying a steak helps create a thick, crunchy crust, which is even tastier when it's well-seasoned.

As is the case with any steak, you should allow air fryer steak to rest for about 10 to 15 minutes before slicing it. Cooking steak in an air fryer leaves you with juicy, tender steak, so you can easily serve it with traditional steakhouse sides. Mashed potatoes, creamed spinach, crispy onions or roasted asparagus all pair nicely with this air fryer steak.

Pork

Yes, you can cook meat in an air fryer. Air fryers are small convection ovens, so they can be used to cook most things that you would cook in a regular oven.

To cook pork in an air fryer, you will want to preheat the air fryer to 375-400°F. Then, season your pork with your desired spices and place it in the air fryer basket. For thicker cuts of pork, like pork chops or tenderloin, you will want to cook at 375°F for 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway through. For thinner cuts, like pork belly or bacon, cook at 400°F for 5-8 minutes, again flipping halfway through.

The internal temperature of the pork should reach 145°F to be considered safe to eat. You can use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. Once the pork has reached the desired temperature, remove it from the air fryer and let it rest for a few minutes before slicing and serving.

You can also cook other types of meat in the air fryer, like steak, chicken, and seafood. Each type of meat will have slightly different cooking times and temperatures, so be sure to check a reliable source for specific instructions. Enjoy experimenting with your air fryer and discovering all the delicious meals you can create!

Seafood

Yes, you can cook meat in an air fryer. It's a small convection oven, so it's perfectly safe to cook meat in it, as long as you follow proper food handling procedures.

You can cook seafood in an air fryer. It's recommended that you cook seafood to an internal temperature of 145°F. You don't need to flip fish fillets halfway through cooking, but for other types of seafood, you will need to flip them to ensure thorough and even cooking.

Frequently asked questions