Air Fryer Toaster Ovens: Easy Meals And Snacks

Air fryers are small countertop convection ovens that can be used to cook a variety of dishes. They are known for producing crispy food with a tender inside, without the need for large amounts of oil. Air fryers are also convenient as they take much less time to preheat than conventional ovens. This makes them perfect for cooking a range of foods, from potatoes and vegetables to meat and tofu. They can even be used to make desserts, such as apple pie roll-ups. With their ability to fry, bake, grill, and roast, air fryers are a versatile addition to any kitchen.

Baked potatoes

Ingredients:

• 2 medium-sized Russet potatoes (also known as Idaho potatoes)
• 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt or sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon of granulated garlic
• Black pepper to taste
• 1 teaspoon of avocado oil, olive oil, or any other vegetable oil

Instructions:

• Preheat your air fryer toaster oven to 400°F for about 5 minutes.
• While the oven is preheating, prepare the potatoes. Start by scrubbing the potatoes under running water to remove any dirt. Dry the potatoes thoroughly with a towel.
• Using a fork, poke holes all over the potatoes. This step is important as it allows steam to escape during cooking and prevents the potatoes from bursting.
• Drizzle the potatoes with oil and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and garlic. Massage the seasonings onto the potatoes to ensure they are evenly coated.
• Place the potatoes in the air fryer basket, making sure they are not touching each other. Spacing them out will ensure that the skins crisp up nicely.
• Cook the potatoes for 20 minutes at 400°F. Then, using tongs, carefully flip the potatoes.
• Continue cooking for an additional 10-25 minutes, depending on the size of the potatoes. You will know they are done when they feel soft when squeezed in the middle, and a knife or fork can be easily inserted into the center.
• Once the potatoes are cooked to your desired doneness, remove them from the air fryer and place them on a plate.
• Slice each potato lengthwise down the center, being careful of the steam.
• Using a fork, fluff the inside of the potatoes. This creates a light and airy texture.
• Season with additional salt and pepper, if desired, and add your favourite toppings. Some popular toppings include butter, sour cream, chives, bacon bits, shredded cheese, jalapenos, and green onions.

Notes:

• For a toaster oven air fryer, you may need to adjust the temperature and cooking time. Lowering the temperature to 375°F can help prevent the potatoes from over-browning before they are fully cooked.
• If you are using a pan under the air fryer basket, choose a pan that has holes to allow for proper air circulation. Alternatively, you can place the potatoes directly on a wire rack to ensure even cooking and crisping.
• If you are cooking multiple potatoes, make sure they are all similar in size for even cooking.
• For extra crispy skins, place the cooked and fluffed potatoes back into the air fryer at 400°F for 4-5 minutes.

Roasted vegetables

To make roasted vegetables in your air fryer toaster oven, start by prepping your veggies of choice. You can use a variety of colourful vegetables such as zucchini, yellow squash, bell peppers, mushrooms, onions, carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower. Cut them into small, evenly sized pieces to ensure even cooking.

Next, place the chopped vegetables into a large bowl and drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil. You can also use avocado or coconut oil. Add your desired seasonings and toss to coat the veggies evenly. Some recommended seasonings include Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.

Once your veggies are seasoned, arrange them in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Make sure not to overcrowd the basket, as this will cause the vegetables to steam instead of crisping. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the veggies in batches.

Preheat your air fryer toaster oven to between 360-400 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, place the basket into the oven and cook for 8-15 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender and browned. Remember to toss the veggies halfway through the cooking time to ensure even browning.

Finally, remove the veggies from the air fryer and serve immediately. You can squeeze some fresh lemon juice over them and garnish with chopped fresh parsley. If desired, sprinkle with grated Parmesan or vegan Parmesan cheese.

And that's it! You now have a delicious and healthy side dish of roasted vegetables made right in your air fryer toaster oven. Enjoy!

Grilled cheese sandwiches

Ingredients:

• Unsalted butter (or salted butter)
• Bread (e.g. rustic bread, country white, whole-wheat sandwich bread, Texas toast, or sourdough)
• Cheese (e.g. sharp cheddar, Monterey Jack, Gruyère, low-moisture mozzarella, Swiss, provolone, American, Fontina, or Havarti)
• Optional: ham, mayonnaise, pimento cheese, or other fillings

Method:

• Preheat your air fryer toaster oven to between 340-375°F.
• Soften the butter at room temperature.
• Grate the cheese.
• Assemble the sandwiches: spread butter on one side of each slice of bread. For extra flavour, you can mix the butter with mayonnaise. Add your cheese to the non-buttered side of the bread. If you are adding ham or another filling, place it in between the cheese slices. Close the sandwiches with the remaining slices of bread, butter-side up. Press the sandwiches slightly to close. Secure the sandwiches with toothpicks to prevent the top slice of bread from flying off.
• Place the sandwiches in the air fryer basket, leaving space around them. You may need to cook them in batches.
• Air fry for 3-5 minutes.
• Flip the sandwiches and air fry for another 2-5 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown. If the bottom of the sandwich is not yet golden brown, flip again and air fry for another 1-2 minutes.
• Remove the toothpicks and serve.

Cookies

The air fryer is a countertop convection oven that cooks food with quickly circulating hot air. It is a convenient way to make cookies without having to heat up your entire kitchen. The high fan speed and concentrated heat of the air fryer make the outside of the cookies crispy while keeping the inside soft and gooey.

• Place 2 sticks of unsalted butter in a bowl and let it soften.
• Add 3/4 cup each of granulated sugar and packed dark brown sugar. Beat on medium speed until combined and fluffy (3 to 4 minutes).
• Add 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract, 2 large eggs, and 1 teaspoon of kosher salt. Beat until just combined.
• Add 1 teaspoon of baking soda and 2 1/3 cups of all-purpose flour in increments, mixing until combined.
• Add 2 cups of chocolate chunks and 3/4 cup of chopped walnuts. Stir with a rubber spatula until combined.
• Preheat your air fryer toaster oven to 350°F.
• Line the air fryer racks or basket with parchment paper, leaving room around it for air to circulate.
• Drop 2-tablespoon scoops of the cookie dough onto the racks, spacing them 1 inch apart.
• Gently flatten each scoop slightly to form a cookie shape.
• Bake in the air fryer for about 5 minutes, or until golden brown.
• Remove the racks from the air fryer and let the cookies cool for 3 to 5 minutes to set.
• Repeat with the remaining cookie dough.

Your chocolate chip cookies are now ready to serve and enjoy! You can store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Frozen food (e.g. pizza, broccoli, fries)

Frozen Food in an Air Fryer Toaster Oven

Frozen Pizza

Air fryer toaster ovens can be used to cook frozen pizzas, but it's important to note that the circulating air in an air fryer may blow away some of the toppings. To get around this, you can try poking holes in the bottom of the crust with a fork and spraying it with oil before cooking. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F and cook the pizza for around 7 minutes.

Frozen Broccoli

Air fryer toaster ovens are a great way to cook frozen broccoli. You can use bagged frozen broccoli florets, and add seasonings and avocado oil spray to get a crispy, tasty result. Preheat the air fryer to 380°F and cook the broccoli for 12 minutes, shaking the basket at the halfway point to ensure even cooking.

Frozen Fries

Both air fryer toaster ovens and toaster ovens can cook frozen fries, but air fryers offer more convenience and speed. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F and cook the fries for 12 minutes, shaking the basket and spritzing with oil halfway through. For toaster ovens, preheat to 425°F and cook the fries directly on the rack for 15 minutes.

Other Frozen Foods

In addition to the above, air fryer toaster ovens can be used to cook a wide range of frozen foods, including:

• Tofu
• Vegetables (e.g. carrots, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower)
• Fake meat (e.g. vegan nuggets, fish fillets, chik'n nuggets)
• Pizza (leftover)
• Veggie burgers

Frequently asked questions