Air Fryer Versatility: What Foods Can Be Fried?

Air fryers are a popular kitchen appliance, thanks to their ability to cook food quickly and easily without the need for deep-frying. They work by circulating super-hot air to give food a crispy, fried texture and golden-brown colour. You can make a wide variety of foods in an air fryer, from appetizers and snacks to main dishes and desserts. Some popular options include chicken wings, French fries, onion rings, mozzarella sticks, and even chocolate chip cookies. However, it's important to note that not all foods are suitable for air frying, as some may be better cooked using other methods.

Chicken wings

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs chicken wings (drums and flats)
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• Olive oil

Method:

• Prep the chicken wings by separating them into drums and flats. Make sure they are defrosted.
• Pat the wings dry with a paper towel to remove excess moisture. This step is important to ensure crispy skin.
• Place the wings in a bowl and drizzle olive oil over them.
• Add the garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Toss to coat the wings evenly with the spices.
• Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for a few minutes.
• Place the wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure they are not overlapping.
• Cook the wings at 400°F for 10 minutes.
• Open the air fryer, flip the wings, and cook for another 8-12 minutes at the same temperature, or until the skin is golden brown and crispy.
• Serve the wings with your favourite dips or sauces.

Tips for crispy wings:

• Ensure the wings are thoroughly dry before placing them in the air fryer.
• Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket. Allow enough space for air to circulate freely around the wings.
• Be flexible with the cooking time, depending on the size of the wings. Larger wings may need a little more time, while smaller wings may need less time.
• For extra crispy skin, dunk the cooked wings in sauce instead of tossing them in a bowl.

Enjoy your delicious and crispy air-fried chicken wings!

French fries

To make French fries in an air fryer, start by chopping your potatoes into fries of a similar size, around 1/4-inch thick. You can peel the potatoes, but leaving the skin on will help them crisp up. Then, toss the potato pieces in olive oil and salt. Spread the potatoes in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving a little space between each one, and air fry at 380 degrees Fahrenheit for 12 to 15 minutes, flipping them halfway through. You may need to cook the potatoes in batches to ensure they all get crispy. Finally, toss all the fries back into the air fryer for one to two minutes to warm up and crisp up together.

There are many ways to season your French fries. You can keep it simple with just salt and pepper, or try something different like chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, or fresh herbs. You can also serve your fries with a variety of dipping sauces like ketchup, mustard, chipotle sauce, chimichurri, or vegan cheese.

Breakfast foods

Air fryers are a great way to make breakfast, as they are faster than pan-frying or oven-baking, and produce less grease and mess.

Eggs

Eggs are a breeze in the air fryer, and you can make them in a variety of ways. You can make fried eggs, soft-boiled eggs, poached eggs, and even hard-boiled eggs. You can also make an omelette with spinach, roasted red pepper, and goat cheese.

Breakfast meats

The air fryer is great for cooking breakfast meats such as bacon, sausage patties, and turkey bacon. You can also make Scotch eggs, which are a UK dish consisting of hard-boiled eggs wrapped in sausage.

Breads

Air fryers can be used to make a variety of breakfast breads, including cinnamon rolls, biscuits, banana bread, and even doughnuts. You can also make toast in an air fryer, and use it to heat up frozen waffles.

Hash Browns and Home Fries

The air fryer is a great way to cook hash browns and home fries, giving them a crispy texture without the need for a lot of oil.

Breakfast Burritos and Tacos

You can make breakfast burritos with egg, sausage, potato, and cheese, as well as breakfast tacos with scrambled eggs, cheese, and avocado.

Pancakes

The air fryer is also great for making pancakes, including banana pancake dippers, which are perfect for a mid-week treat.

Fruit

For a healthier option, you can cook fruit in your air fryer, such as baked apples or roasted oranges.

Other Breakfast Ideas

Some other breakfast ideas for your air fryer include breakfast cookies, French toast, breakfast bombs, egg cups, breakfast pockets, and quiche.

Vegetables

Air fryers are a great way to cook vegetables, giving them a crispy exterior without the need for deep-frying or oven-roasting. Here are some tips and tricks for frying vegetables in an air fryer:

Preparation

Before cooking your vegetables, chop them into evenly sized pieces. For tender vegetables, such as zucchini, bell peppers, tomatoes, mushrooms, and onions, you can optionally drizzle them with olive oil for a more roasted flavour. For firm vegetables, such as root vegetables and winter squash, you can also optionally drizzle them with oil, but be sure to chop them into smaller pieces to promote even cooking. It is important not to overcrowd the air fryer basket, as this will cause the vegetables to steam instead of browning. Arrange the vegetables in a single layer and cook in batches if necessary.

Cooking

For tender vegetables, preheat your air fryer to 360-375°F (180-190°C). Add the vegetables and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, shaking the air fryer pan once or twice during cooking to promote even cooking. For firm vegetables, use the same temperature but cook for 20 to 30 minutes, shaking the pan a few times during cooking. If you are cooking frozen vegetables, simply add a few minutes to the cooking time to account for thawing.

There are many vegetables that can be cooked in an air fryer, including:

• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Brussels sprouts
• Zucchini
• Bell peppers
• Mushrooms
• Onions
• Green beans
• Asparagus
• Root vegetables (carrots, beets, potatoes, parsnips)
• Winter squash (butternut, acorn, pumpkin)
• Avocado
• Eggplant
• Radishes
• Sweet potatoes
• Corn
• Peas
• Cabbage
• Okra
• Artichokes

Seasoning

You can season your vegetables with salt, pepper, and various herbs and spices. For example, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, and chili flakes are all popular choices. You can also try using Chinese five spice, curry powder, or balsamic vinegar. Additionally, a squeeze of lemon juice can add a fresh flavour to your dish.

Proteins

Air fryers are a great way to cook proteins, giving you the same crispiness as deep-frying but with less oil and fat.

Chicken

Chicken is a versatile protein that can be cooked in a variety of ways in the air fryer. You can cook chicken wings, chicken thighs, chicken cutlets, chicken tenders, chicken nuggets, chicken parmesan, and chicken sausages. For breaded options like chicken tenders, the air fryer helps to create a deep-fried crispy crust without the need for a lot of oil.

Fish and Seafood

Fish and seafood are also great options for the air fryer. Salmon, shrimp, and cod are popular choices, but you can also cook other types of fish such as halibut or tilapia. You can cook fish fillets, fish cakes, fish sticks, or fish tacos. For seafood, options like coconut shrimp, garlic butter shrimp, or popcorn shrimp are tasty and quick to make.

Meat

Meat options like pork chops, pork schnitzel, and steak bites are also possible in the air fryer. You can also cook meatballs, either from frozen or homemade.

Vegetarian Options

For vegetarian proteins, tofu is an excellent choice. You can cook crispy tofu cubes in the air fryer, either plain or with an orange sauce. Chickpeas are another great option; simply toss them with olive oil and your desired seasoning, and roast them until crunchy.

Frequently asked questions