Don’t Even Think About It: Cook These 8 Foods in Your Air Fryer

Ah, the common-or-garden air fryer. Not solely does it substitute a number of of my kitchen home equipment to avoid wasting counter house, but additionally it could possibly assist me get a meal out on the desk in half the time. Plus, it is extremely simple to wash. Not each meals is best made within the air fryer — however so many are that I take into account this gadget all however indispensable.

From salmon filets to whole-roasted hen and even just a few grilling requirements, it looks like each few days I add one other to the checklist of meals I’ll make solely in an air fryer. Below I’ve listed eight air fryer all stars that may come as a shock. 

If you are questioning what an air fryer is and the way it works, take a look at this full information to air fryers. If you have already received one and are able to discover recipes, listed below are just a few meals I’ll prepare dinner solely within the air fryer to any extent further.

1. Salmon filets

Broiled salmon is an easy, wholesome weeknight dinner staple. It’s not tough to make within the oven, however should you’re solely cooking for one or two folks, the preheating time is a ache and you may waste numerous vitality for a small quantity of meals. Pan-seared salmon is nice and fast, however there’s virtually no method to prepare dinner salmon on the range with out creating an oily and odorous mess. 

I attempted cooking roasted salmon within the air fryer, and it got here out completely in about 10 minutes, together with preheating time. The closed cooking chamber captures the entire grease and even hides a number of the fishy scent from taking up the house. 

OK, so that you would possibly catch me throwing the occasional filet of salmon on the grill throughout hotter months, however gone are the times of me wiping fish grease from the backsplash behind my kitchen range. 

Here’s tips on how to make excellent air fryer salmon.

2. Whole hen

This one shocked me essentially the most since I make a roast hen most Sundays and had turn into content material with my methodology of utilizing the oven. I discovered quick that the air fryer does an excellent higher job because it’s capable of crisp the pores and skin rapidly with out overcooking the meat. Air-fryer roasted hen takes about 45 minutes — about 15% faster than the oven — and it is almost unimaginable to screw up.

Here’s tips on how to make a fast roasted hen within the air fryer.

3. Bacon cheeseburgers 

Air fryer cheeseburgers have turn into a staple round my house. The exception is throughout summer season when the grill is in full swing, however throughout cooler months, I flip to the air fryer for this American traditional. It’s not solely cleaner than pan frying, however the burger would not prepare dinner in its personal grease, so that you get a lighter, more healthy meal (should you’re into that kind of factor). You also can stick the bun and a few slices of bacon in with the burger and you’ve got the total meal with virtually no cleanup to handle.

Here’s tips on how to make a cheeseburger from high to backside within the air fryer.

4. Chicken cutlets 

Before the air fryer, I used to pan-fry breaded hen cutlets for hen Parmesan and different recipes, however the air fryer does the identical job with much less mess and produces much less oily fried hen too. 

Watch this: Best Air Fryers: Cheap vs. Expensive

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I like to recommend utilizing boneless hen thighs, which have sufficient fats content material to face up to all that convection warmth with out drying out. Simply coat the hen in crushed egg wash adopted by bread crumbs blended with salt, pepper and different spices. Cook at 375 levels for about quarter-hour.

You can spray the cutlets evenly with a little bit of oil earlier than cooking to get an additional crispy crust, nevertheless it’s not mandatory. I’ve tried the identical methodology with hen breasts; it really works effectively, however there’s extra threat of drying out the meat.

5. Cauliflower steak

One of my favourite issues to prepare dinner within the air fryer is cauliflower. A slab of cauliflower makes a superb hearty aspect dish or fundamental course should you’re going plant-based. Simply toss a thick slice or two of cauliflower with olive oil and salt and pepper, or some seasoning of your selection, and air fry for 10 or 12 minutes on excessive. The air fryer provides it a good looking caramelized crust, and it cooks the dense veggie quick sufficient in order that the within of the cauliflower would not turn into mushy.

6. Leftover pizza

While not each sort of meals is finest reheated within the air fryer, numerous them are. Air fryers are the right method to revive leftover pizza, fried hen, grilled meats and greens. A microwave heats meals erratically and tends to impart a rubbery texture. Air fryers give meals a second life through convection warmth for a crispy crust and even heating. 

Here’s the finest method to reheat each sort of leftover.

7. Hot canines

It’s exhausting to screw up a scorching canine, however if you need a wonderfully charred wiener in beneath 5 minutes with basically no cleanup to handle, look to the air fryer. Air fryer scorching canines are so simple as easy will get, and the tremendous convection oven provides them an ideal browning in two or three minutes. 

Here’s tips on how to make scorching canines within the air fryer all summer season.

8. Baked potatoes

OK, so technically this one begins out within the microwave after which will get completed within the air fryer. The microwave softens the within in beneath 8 minutes whereas the air fryer blasts the perimeters and pores and skin to a crispy perfection. It’s a restaurant-quality baked potato in beneath 12 minutes. Here’s tips on how to make the finest air fryer baked potato ever.