Ella Walter
Air fryers are a versatile appliance that can cook a wide range of foods, from mains to sides, snacks, and desserts. They are particularly good for achieving a crispy texture without the need for deep frying in oil, making them a healthier option. You can cook meats such as chicken, beef, pork, fish, and even a whole turkey breast in an air fryer. Vegetables such as potatoes, asparagus, carrots, and Brussels sprouts are also well-suited to the air fryer, as are snacks like chocolate chip cookies, cinnamon rolls, and donuts.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Meat | Chicken, Beef, Pork, Salmon, Crab, Sausages, Turkey, Cornish Hens |
| Vegetables | Potatoes, Brussel Sprouts, Green Beans, Asparagus, Spring Carrots, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Mushrooms, Zucchini, Avocado |
| Snacks | French Toast, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Donuts, Cinnamon Rolls, Chips |
| Meals | Fried Rice, Chicken Wings, Cheeseburgers, Chicken Parmesan, Tacos, Pizza, Crab Cakes, Beef and Broccoli |
| Desserts | Apple Pie, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies, Berry Crisp, Vegan Zucchini Chocolate Cake |
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What You'll Learn
- Meat and fish, including chicken, salmon, steak, and burgers
- Vegetables, like potatoes, asparagus, carrots, and sprouts
- Snacks and appetisers, such as stuffed mushrooms, devilled eggs, and zucchini skins
- Desserts, for example, apple pie, chocolate cake, and cinnamon rolls
- Frozen foods, like chicken tenders, fish, and chips
Meat and fish, including chicken, salmon, steak, and burgers
If you're a meat eater, an air fryer can help you cook up a storm. Chicken is a popular choice, with chicken wings, chicken tenders, chicken fingers, and chicken nuggets all ideal for air frying. You can also cook a whole chicken in an air fryer, which is a great way to keep the meat juicy. For a spicy kick, try coating your chicken in a spicy coating before air frying.
Beef lovers can cook up crispy chilli beef, meatballs, and burgers in their air fryer. For a Sunday roast, a 1.25kg beef topside roasting joint can be cooked in an air fryer, roasted at 220ºC/425ºF for 15 minutes, then turned down to 100ºC/210ºF and cooked for a further 45 minutes for a rare joint. Lamb is another option, but it depends on the size of your air fryer; lamb chops are a great midweek meal but require a bit of extra prep. Pork belly is another show-stopping meal, which can be cooked in an air fryer with the perfect crackling.
Fish is also a great option for air frying. Salmon, seabass, cod, haddock, pollock, and mahi mahi are all good choices. For salmon, a pomegranate glaze is a great choice, or a sweet mustard topping. For a whole seabass, slice up some lemons and fennel and lay them out in the cavity of the fish before cooking. For a simple option, a thin white fish fillet can be cooked in a few minutes with a golden, crispy, spicy breadcrumb and cornmeal coating. For a fancier option, you can cook fish en papillote, which is a fancy way of saying cooked in paper! Add a splash of liquid to the parcel to help steam the fish and get the flavour into the flesh.
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Vegetables, like potatoes, asparagus, carrots, and sprouts
Vegetables are a great option to cook in an air fryer. You can cook them in large batches, and they come out crispy and tender.
Some vegetables that can be cooked in an air fryer include potatoes, asparagus, carrots, and Brussels sprouts. Potatoes, being a root vegetable, are considered a hard vegetable and take longer to cook. It is best to cut them into uniform-sized pieces, toss them in olive oil, and season them with salt and pepper before placing them in the air fryer. You can also add some grated Parmesan cheese for a crispy outer layer. Cook at 375°F for 15 minutes, or until tender and browned, tossing halfway through.
Asparagus is a softer vegetable and cooks faster. You can toss them in olive oil, salt, and pepper, and cook them at 400°F for 10-15 minutes. For a simple and healthy side dish, you can combine asparagus and potatoes. However, cook the potatoes first and add the asparagus towards the end to avoid overcooking.
Carrots are another great option for the air fryer. Cut them into batons or thin slices, toss them in olive oil, salt, and pepper, and cook for about 10-15 minutes. You can also add some honey and grain mustard glaze for extra flavour.
Brussels sprouts are also a popular choice for air frying. Cut them in half, toss them in olive oil, salt, and pepper, and cook for 8-10 minutes at 200°C. You can also add some minced garlic and Parmesan cheese for extra flavour.
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Snacks and appetisers, such as stuffed mushrooms, devilled eggs, and zucchini skins
Air fryers are a great way to make snacks and appetisers, such as stuffed mushrooms, devilled eggs, and zucchini skins, quickly and easily. Here are some ideas and recipes to get you started:
Stuffed Mushrooms
Stuffed Tuscan mushrooms are a delicious and easy-to-make appetiser in your air fryer. You can use a variety of mushrooms, such as shiitake, baby portobellos, and white mushrooms, to make them extra special. For a more substantial snack, try adding quinoa, eggs, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, and mozzarella to the stuffing.
Devilled Eggs
Air fryer devilled eggs are a fun twist on a classic recipe. They are a great last-minute appetiser, as they can be made in half the usual time. The air fryer gives them a unique texture and flavour that will impress your guests.
Zucchini Skins
Loaded zucchini skins are another quick and tasty snack option. For a cheesy twist, try coating zucchini slices with a herby panko and cheese mixture before air-frying them. You can also make zucchini chips or fries in the air fryer, which make for a crispy and healthy snack.
Other Ideas
In addition to the above, you can also experiment with other snack and appetiser ideas in your air fryer. Some options include avocado fries, chickpeas, crab cakes, and even desserts like apple pie "baked" apples or vegan zucchini chocolate cake. The air fryer is a versatile appliance that can handle a wide range of ingredients, so feel free to get creative!
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Desserts, for example, apple pie, chocolate cake, and cinnamon rolls
Apple pie, chocolate cake, and cinnamon rolls are all tasty treats that can be made in an air fryer.
For apple pie, you can make mini hand pies filled with a buttery apple-cinnamon mixture, topped with a sweet powdered sugar glaze. Combine apples, brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon in a nonstick skillet. Cook over medium heat until the apples have softened, about 5 minutes. Dissolve cornstarch in cold water and stir into the apple mixture. Cook for another minute, then remove the filling from the heat and set it aside to cool. For the crust, unroll the pie crust on a lightly floured surface and roll it out slightly to smooth the dough. Cut the dough into rectangles small enough so that two can fit in your air fryer at once. Place the pies in the air fryer basket lined with parchment paper and spray them with oil. Set the air fryer temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and air fry for 5 minutes. Flip the pies, spray with oil, and air fry for another 5 minutes. Dust the pies with powdered sugar and enjoy!
For chocolate cake, you can make a fudgy and gooey cake in your air fryer. Preheat your air fryer to 320 degrees Fahrenheit (160 degrees Celsius) or 180 degrees Celsius. Spray a small fluted tube pan or a 5-6 inch cake pan with cooking spray. Beat sugar and butter together in a bowl using an electric mixer until light and creamy. Add an egg and jam, and mix until combined. Sift in flour, cocoa powder, and salt, and mix thoroughly. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and level the surface with the back of a spoon. Place the pan in the air fryer basket and cook for about 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. If you prefer a firmer cake, cook for an additional 2-3 minutes. Cut the cake in the tin once it has cooled, then serve with Greek yogurt and berries.
Finally, for cinnamon rolls, you can make homemade or use canned cinnamon roll dough. If making homemade, you will need self-rising flour, baking powder, salt, thick vanilla yogurt, butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and cream cheese. Mix the dry ingredients, then add the yogurt to form a dough. For the filling, mix butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Roll out the dough, spread the filling, and roll it up. Slice the dough into eight portions and place them in the air fryer basket. Air fry for 6-9 minutes, or until the dough is fully cooked. Once cool, frost the tops with cream cheese and enjoy!
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Frozen foods, like chicken tenders, fish, and chips
Frozen foods are a great option for air fryers, and you can cook them from frozen, which is perfect for a quick and easy meal. Chicken tenders, fish, and chips are all delicious when cooked in an air fryer and can be healthier than deep-fried alternatives as they require less oil.
Chicken tenders can be cooked in the air fryer with a simple dredge of egg and flour, and a breadcrumb coating for a delicious, crispy texture. You can also experiment with different coatings, such as hot fries crumbs, for a spicy kick. For a healthier option, you can even cook chicken tenders without any oil, and they will still come out crispy and juicy.
Fish is another excellent option for the air fryer. The convection heat of the air fryer cooks fish perfectly, with a crunchy coating, and it also locks in the moisture, so the fish is tender and flaky. The air fryer also contains the fishy smell, so your kitchen doesn't smell like fish for the rest of the day!
Chips, or French fries, are a classic side dish to the aforementioned fish, and the air fryer is the perfect appliance to cook them. You can cut up potatoes and season them with spices and a drizzle of oil, or use frozen, thick-cut steak fries for convenience. The air fryer will give you crispy, golden chips without the need for deep-frying in a pan of oil.
You can also experiment with cooking other frozen foods in your air fryer, such as chicken wings, which come out perfectly crispy and juicy. The air fryer is a versatile appliance that can cook a wide range of frozen foods to a high standard, so it is worth experimenting with your favourite foods.
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Frequently asked questions
Some easy foods to cook in an air fryer include chicken wings, potato chips, and frozen foods.
Air fryers are great for cooking vegetables, like Brussels sprouts, green beans, asparagus, and cauliflower.
You can get creative with your air fryer and make dishes like crab cakes, salmon, beef & broccoli, and even desserts like apple pie "baked" apples or donuts.
Yes, you can cook meat in an air fryer. Popular options include chicken (wings, tenders, breasts, and cutlets), steak, pork chops, burgers, and bacon.
Yes, air fryers are great for heating up frozen foods. You can also cook pre-made foods like frozen sausage rolls or chicken tenders.
