31 Flavorful Air-Fryer Recipes That Prove the Appliance Is Great for Every Meal (2024)

FAQs

What foods turn out best in an air fryer? ›

Veggies like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, potatoes, zucchini, mushrooms & onions, and cauliflower all turn out incredible in the air fryer. You can also make your main dish IN the air fryer. It works magic with proteins like tofu, chicken drumsticks, meatballs, pork chops, fried chicken… even steak.

'From a chef's perspective, air fryers can be a great gift option. They have become popular due to their ability to provide a healthier cooking alternative to deep frying. Air fryers use hot air circulation to cook food, requiring little to no oil, which can result in crispy and delicious results.

Cook food in a single layer, in batches

The air fryer is all about — well — air. Meaning, you need to allow for good airflow to create all the browning and crisping the appliance was designed for. As such, you don't want to crowd the food in the basket too much, leaving space for the air to circulate.

However, a small amount of oil is usually necessary to achieve a crispy texture. A drizzle or a quick oil spray is all you need for restaurant-quality fries and golden brown fried chicken, while other foods don't need any oil, like pizza or leftovers you might reheat.

French fries are arguably the most popular thing to cook in an air fryer. Air fryers use a fraction of the oil as deep-frying, and making French fries in one results in an appreciably crisp exterior and fluffy inside without the greasiness.

Brussels sprouts are the best place to start your air-fried vegetable journey. They crisp up beautifully and take no time at all. If you're making these for a crowd, we suggest frying them up in batches as overcrowding the basket can lead to soggy results.

And because they also use little to no oil compared to other traditional cooking methods, they're also seen as a healthy alternative. But now, shoppers have been ditching their air fryers in favour of a different gadget that's said to be even cheaper - and even healthier - when it comes to preparing meals.

Sales of air fryers increased by 76% between 2019 and the end of 2021. While they've slowed a bit now, they're still the hottest kitchen countertop cooking item on the market today. Every second American household has an air fryer in their collection today. Their popularity boomed over the past few years.

I find the texture of most air-fried food a bit off-putting

Air fryers are advertised as a healthier cooking option, mostly because they don't require a lot of oil. But fat has a big impact on the texture of foods. I've found that the appliance typically produces dishes that are more dry than crisp.

What I wish I knew before I get an air fryer? ›

Don't Use Foil When It's Not Necessary

If you line the basket with foil you're preventing the air from circulating over the bottom; foods won't cook as speedily and the bottom may be soggier. Cook directly on the basket when you can for best results and to avoid wasting foil.

"Normally, you'd put salt and pepper on a steak for a bit before cooking it, to draw some of the moisture to the surface," he said, "but that moisture turns to steam in an air fryer and the steak won't get that brown, crispy caramelization on the outside that way."

(The reason you allow it to sit, is because Flour is very dry. Dry ingredients do not brown in the air fryer, so without some sort of moisture, the Flour will not brown and you will get powdered Chicken.) If there are any dry patches of Flour, use the Olive Oil Sprayer or Olive Oil Pam, and lightly spray the Flour.

As with all dry-heat cooker methods (grilling, broiling, pan frying and oven roasting), tender beef cuts perform best in the air fryer. Those cuts include Top Sirloin, KC Strip, Ribeye, Tenderloin and Tri Tip. Ground beef also can be easily prepared in an air fryer.

Foil is safe to use in an air fryer so long as you follow three basic rules: never let foil touch the heating element; make sure the foil is weighted so it doesn't blow around the basket; and avoid contact with acidic ingredients, which can cause the foil to leach onto your food.