Emilie Meyer
Air fryers are a convenient and versatile cooking option, allowing you to create a wide range of dishes with minimal oil. They are perfect for achieving that crispy, golden texture on the outside while keeping the inside juicy. From mains to sides and even desserts, there's a lot you can cook in an air fryer. You can use it to make everything from chicken wings and salmon to roasted veggies and potatoes. It's also great for reheating foods like leftover pizza, giving them a fresh-out-of-the-oven taste without the hassle of turning on your oven.
What can you cook in an oven air fryer?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Meat | Chicken, Chicken Wings, Chicken Thighs, Chicken Tenders, Chicken Breasts, Chicken Parmesan, Pork Chops, Sausages, Bratwurst, Bacon, Beef, Steak, Fish, Salmon, Tofu |
| Vegetables | Brussels Sprouts, Green Beans, Potatoes, Sweet Potato Fries, Chickpeas, Broccoli, Asparagus, Chilli Peppers, Beans, Peas, Broccoli, Cabbage, Sprouts |
| Frozen Snacks | Spring Rolls, Mozzarella Sticks, Frozen Chicken Tenders, French Fries |
| Breads | Bread, Pizza, Breaded Chicken, Meatloaf |
| Desserts | Berry Crisp, Vegan Zucchini Chocolate Cake, Apple Pie, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies, Brownies |
| Other | Eggs, Halloumi, Pasta, Casserole |
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What You'll Learn
Meat and fish
Air fryers are miniature convection ovens that can cook almost anything you would cook in a conventional oven. They work by circulating hot air rapidly with an internal fan, simulating deep frying without the oil.
Meat
When cooking meat in an air fryer, it is important to ensure that it is fully defrosted, seasoned, and monitored. While some pre-cooked foods can be placed frozen in an air fryer, raw meat is recommended to be thoroughly defrosted to allow for more even cooking. For juicy pork chops, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, the air fryer is a great option. It is also perfect for cooking steak, chicken drumsticks, chicken wings, chicken tenders, meatballs, tofu, and even a whole chicken.
Fish
The air fryer is a great way to cook fish, especially if you are looking for a golden, crispy, and delicious dish with very little oil. It is recommended to use moderately thin, white, and flaky fish such as cod, haddock, pollock, or mahi-mahi, which can be fresh or thawed frozen. Thicker fish fillets like tuna or swordfish are not advised as they will take longer to cook. To prepare the fish, cut it into strips, then dip in flour, egg, and a seasoned breadcrumb mixture. Spray the coated fish with cooking spray and cook in batches. For fish fillets like Faroe Island salmon, avoid flipping during the cooking process as they are more delicate and can fall apart.
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Vegetables
Air fryers are a great way to cook vegetables, offering a quick, easy, and healthy way to prepare a wide variety of veggies. They are ideal for small batches or cooking for 2-4 people, and they produce a crispy finish without the need for lots of oil, making them a healthier alternative to deep-frying.
There are many different types of vegetables that can be cooked in an air fryer, including:
- Tender veggies like asparagus, Brussels sprouts, and green beans
- Root vegetables such as carrots, beets, potatoes, parsnips, and turnips
- Summer squash, zucchini, and yellow squash
- Bell peppers, especially red and orange varieties
- Onions, with red onions being a popular choice
- Mushrooms
- Eggplant/aubergine
When preparing vegetables for the air fryer, it is important to cut them into small, evenly sized pieces to ensure they cook evenly. You can then season them with olive oil, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper, or try a zesty Dijon-herb blend. Place the vegetables in a single layer in the air fryer basket, and cook at 350-400°F for 8-15 minutes, or until tender and browned. You may need to cook in batches to avoid overcrowding the basket, which can cause the vegetables to steam instead of brown.
Air fryer vegetables are a versatile side dish that can be served with a range of meals, or even as a healthy snack, such as crunchy zucchini chips or cauliflower bites. They can also be served with a dip, such as marinara sauce or cottage cheese, or topped with Parmesan cheese or vegan Parmesan.
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Snacks
Air fryers are incredibly versatile, allowing you to make a wide variety of snacks with minimal oil and mess. Here are some snack ideas to try in your air fryer:
Crispy Vegetables
Air fryers are perfect for cooking vegetables to crispy perfection. Try air-fried broccoli florets, which come out tender and crispy-tipped. You can also air fry carrot sticks seasoned with garlic, lemon, and fresh herbs, or slender stalks of asparagus. For a more indulgent option, try frying zucchini sticks coated in panko breadcrumbs. Serve them with your favourite dipping sauce, such as ranch dressing or marinara sauce.
Chips and Fries
Air fryers are renowned for producing super-crispy chips and fries with very little oil. You can air fry potatoes to create the perfect roasties—fluffy on the inside and golden on the outside. Sweet potato fries are also a delicious, healthy option. For a unique twist on traditional chips, try making cinnamon apple chips or Brussels sprout chips.
Meat and Poultry
Cooking meat in an air fryer yields juicy results with a delicious crispy skin. Chicken wings, chicken nuggets, and chicken tenders are all popular choices for snacks. You can also make tofu batons coated in sesame seeds or beef empanadas. For a healthier alternative to deep-fried bacon, try air-frying it to achieve the perfect crisp without swimming in grease.
Egg-based Snacks
Eggs are incredibly versatile in the air fryer. You can make hard-boiled eggs, devilled eggs, or even egg cups with bacon and vegetables. For a more substantial snack, try French toast, which will come out crispy on the outside and evenly cooked on the inside.
Sweet Treats
Air fryers are not just for savoury snacks—they can also be used to make sweet treats. You can make cookies, such as peanut butter and chocolate chip or cinnamon rolls. For a healthier option, try air-frying banana halves studded with cinnamon, nuts, and raisins, served with Greek yoghurt, honey, or ice cream.
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Desserts
Air fryers are a great way to cook desserts, as they are faster and more energy-efficient than traditional ovens. They are perfect for creating crispy, crunchy, and evenly browned treats. Here are some dessert ideas that you can make in an oven air fryer:
Cookies and Brownies
Air fryers are excellent for baking cookies and brownies. You can make classic chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter cookies, raspberry, almond, and oat cookies, or even giant toffee chocolate chip cookies. For brownies, you can make fudgy, double chocolate brownies with dark chocolate and white chocolate chips. You can also add walnuts to your brownies for some extra crunch.
Cakes
While air fryers may not be ideal for perfectly even cakes, they can still bake delicious and fuss-free cakes. Try a lemon drizzle cake, banana bread with pecans and chocolate chips, or a vegan zucchini chocolate cake. For a small and sweet treat, try a chocolate ramekin cake with a crisp top and gooey centre.
Fruit-based Desserts
Air fryers are perfect for fruit-based desserts such as apple pie baked apples, apple fritters, apple cider donut bites, or even baked cherries. You can also make a classic apple crumble or experiment with other fruits like pineapple upside-down cake.
Other Treats
The possibilities with air fryers are endless. You can make French toast sticks, cheesecakes, s'mores, cinnamon rolls, doughnuts, churros, or even fried Oreos. Get creative and experiment with different ingredients to find your favourite air-fried dessert!
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Reheating food
The air fryer is particularly good for restoring crispiness to fried foods, making it ideal for reheating dishes like French fries, onion rings, chicken tenders, and chicken wings. Simply lay them out in a single layer in the air fryer basket to ensure even cooking. For best results, preheat your air fryer for about 5 minutes at a temperature between 350°F to 400°F (175°C to 200°C). Reheat French fries and similar foods at 380°F for 5-7 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through. For chicken wings, use a temperature of 400°F and reheat for 8-10 minutes.
You can also use your air fryer to reheat pizza, sandwiches, and baked goods. Pizza slices can be reheated in the air fryer basket or on the rack at 375°F for 5-8 minutes, while sandwiches should be placed directly in the basket or on the rack. Baked goods like croissants and muffins can be warmed in the air fryer, which helps them retain their crisp exterior while keeping the inside soft, something that microwaves and ovens often fail to achieve.
In addition to fried foods and baked goods, the air fryer is excellent for reheating meats like steak and chicken. When reheating steak, it is recommended to slice it or cook it whole, depending on your preference. Chicken can also be reheated in the air fryer, but it is best to slice whole roasts like roast beef or chicken before reheating. For chicken tenders and breasts, the air fryer ensures a crispy exterior without drying out the meat inside.
While the air fryer is versatile, there are some foods that are not suitable for reheating in it. Leafy greens like spinach or arugula should be avoided, as they can fly around and land on the heating vents. Cheese without a coating will melt and drip through the basket, so it is best to use grilling cheeses like halloumi or place the cheese in an air fryer-safe dish. Soups and stews can technically be reheated in an air fryer-safe bowl, but you won't get the same benefits as with other foods.
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Frequently asked questions
You can cook a variety of vegetarian dishes in an air fryer, including:
- Vegetables like potatoes, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, green beans, and broccoli
- Frozen snacks like spring rolls and mozzarella sticks
- Sweet potato fries
- Halloumi
- Tofu batons
- Beans
You can cook a variety of non-vegetarian dishes in an air fryer, including:
- Chicken, including chicken wings, chicken breast, chicken Parm, chicken tenders, and chicken thighs
- Fish, including salmon and fish tacos
- Meatballs
- Steak
- Pork chops
- Sausages
- Chicken nuggets
Yes, you can cook ready-to-eat frozen foods in an air fryer. In fact, frozen snacks like spring rolls and mozzarella sticks cook better and faster in an air fryer compared to a microwave or oven. You can also reheat leftover pizza in an air fryer.
You can make desserts like berry crisp, vegan zucchini chocolate cake, apple pie "baked" apples, and gluten-free peanut butter chocolate chip cookies in an air fryer. You can also reheat desserts like leftover pie or a brownie in an air fryer.
