These 8 Air Fryer Foods Are So Good I Almost Cried

Air fryers have fully modified the sport for fast and simple house cooking. With hotter climate and extra time exterior, it is the right software that can assist you make scrumptious meals with out spending hours within the kitchen. While not each meals works nicely in an air fryer, those that do come out completely crispy on the skin and tender on the within, all with method much less oil than conventional frying.

Though fries and wings are the go-to air fryer staples, these powerhouse home equipment can deal with rather more numerous elements. From whole-roasted hen and flaky salmon to seasonal greens like asparagus and spring carrots, air fryers will get you glorious outcomes with minimal effort. But there are specific meals that really feel like they have been virtually made to cook dinner in an air fryer. You’ll discover a ton of Reddit threads with house cooks asking for the last word air fryer recipes, and we have put collectively this information that can assist you out with our favorites.

If you are looking for an air fryer or to improve your present oven, we’ve a new favourite mannequin with a glass cooking chamber that is simple to wash and doubles as a meals storage container. 

Looking for one thing nice to make? Check out the eight meals you completely must cook dinner in an air fryer beneath. 

1. Salmon filets

Broiled salmon is a straightforward, 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 a number of power for a small quantity of meals. Pan-seared salmon is nice and fast, however there’s virtually no strategy to cook 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 all the grease and even hides a few of the fishy odor from taking on 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 the right way to make good air fryer salmon.

2. Whole hen

This one stunned me probably the most since I make a roast hen most Sundays and had grow to be content material with my methodology of utilizing the oven. I realized quick that the air fryer does a fair 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 unattainable to screw up.

Here’s the right way to make a fast roasted hen within the air fryer.

3. Bacon cheeseburgers 

Air fryer cheeseburgers have grow to be 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 does not cook dinner in its personal grease, so that you get a lighter, more healthy meal (should you’re into that type 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 the right way 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 resist all that convection warmth with out drying out. Simply coat the hen in overwhelmed egg wash adopted by bread crumbs combined with salt, pepper and different spices. Cook at 375 levels Fahrenheit for about quarter-hour.

You can spray the cutlets flippantly with a little bit of oil earlier than cooking to get an additional crispy crust, but it surely’s not obligatory. I’ve tried the identical methodology with hen breasts; it really works nicely, however there may be extra threat of drying out the meat.

5. Cauliflower steak

One of my favourite issues to cook dinner within the air fryer is cauliflower. A slab of cauliflower makes a superb hearty facet dish or predominant 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 alternative, and air fry for 10 or 12 minutes on excessive. The air fryer provides it an exquisite caramelized crust, and it cooks the dense veggie quick sufficient in order that the within of the cauliflower does not grow to be mushy.

6. Leftover pizza

While not each kind of meals is greatest reheated within the air fryer, a number of them are. Air fryers are the right strategy 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 greatest strategy to reheat each kind of leftover.

7. Hot canines

It’s arduous to screw up a scorching canine, however if you’d like a superbly charred wiener in below 5 minutes with primarily no cleanup, 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 the right way 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 below 8 minutes whereas the air fryer blasts the sides and pores and skin to a crispy perfection. It’s a restaurant-quality baked potato in lower than 12 minutes. Here’s the right way to make the greatest air fryer baked potato ever. 

Oh, and should you’re nonetheless unsure what an air fryer is and the way it works, take a look at our full information to air fryers.