Air fryers have been one of the hottest small kitchen appliances on the market for the past few years. The more I use My air fryerPlus I understand why there is so much hype around them!
Not only are they easy to use, but they are better at making food crispy than almost any other cooking appliance. In this post, we’ll explore some of the tastiest things you can make with your air fryer.
Check out these air fryer resources!
Whether you are a new air fryer user or use yours several times a week, my free Air Fryer Cooking Times Cheat Sheet Can be a very useful resource. It includes cooking time and temperature recommendations for all your favorite foods — including many featured in this post!
If you could use a quick refresher on what air fryers are or how they work, check out My introduction to air fryers To bone up on all the important details.
8 Great Ways to Use Your Air Fryer
1. Frozen snacks
Almost every type of frozen snack food cooks wonderfully in the air fryer! From chicken nuggets to tater tots and jalapeño poppers to taquitos, they’ll all turn out super crispy every time (and in a hurry, too!).
2. Meat
But an air fryer isn’t just for breakfast—it can come in handy for dinner, too! We’ve used ours to cook all kinds of protein, including chicken tenderloins, salmon filets, and thinly sliced pork chops.
The good thing about using it to cook meat is that you don’t need a lot of information to do it. You’ll be opening the basket to flip or shake the food anyway, so there are plenty of opportunities to see how it’s coming along.
3. “Hard-boiled” eggs
It’s easy to make delicious hard-boiled eggs in your air fryer. Simply place your eggs in the basket and cook them at 275°F for about 15 minutes. Transfer the eggs to an ice bath to cool, then peel and enjoy!
4. Chicken wings
Wing lovers rejoice; people Rev About how much they love air fryer chicken wings. Prepare your wings any way you like (breaded or not, seasoned to your liking), then cook them at 400°F for about 20 minutes.
If your wings are frozen, add about 5 minutes of cooking time and make sure the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Once cooked, toss the wings in your sauce of choice and return to the basket for another 1-2 minutes. Yum!
5. Vegetables
Roasted vegetables have great flavor and texture, especially when cooked in an air fryer. Toss green beans, broccoli or even corn on the cob in a little oil, then cook at 400°F, checking every 5-12 minutes, until cooked to your liking.
6. Warm cookies
Who doesn’t love a warm, gooey, freshly baked cookie? With an air fryer, you can enjoy that warm, gooey goodness anytime!
Pop a homemade cookie or two into the basket, then cook for just a minute or two until hot and melted. hmmm…
7. Hot dogs
Some of the best hot dogs I’ve ever eaten were cooked around a campfire! Baking or grilling hot dogs gives them a deeper, more satisfying flavor that boiling or broiling can’t beat.
You can replicate that delicious, fire-roasted flavor in your air fryer. Simply heat to 385°F, add a few hot dogs to the basket and cook them for 5 minutes for a quick and delicious hot dog experience!
8. Reheating the remainder
When it comes to heating up leftovers, the air fryer is the undisputed champion in the kitchen. It can work wonders on sad and soggy leftovers, and yes, that includes leftover French fries! They turn out beautifully crisp, which means you can really enjoy the leftover fries you brought home yesterday.
It’s also good for reheating leftover pizza. It only takes a few minutes to reheat a slice to 400°F, and the crust is deliciously crispy every time (even if it’s a little soggy after refrigerating!).
Bonus tips for air fryer success
- Pre-heat your air fryer at least 5 minutes before cooking your food.
- Do not overcrowd the basket. Overcrowding restricts airflow inside the basket, which can result in uneven cooking and less crisp results.
- Stir and/or flip your food a few times during cooking for best results.
- Add a little oil or cooking spray to your meats and vegetables so they develop a nice, crispy exterior.
Do you have an air fryer? If so, what is your favorite way to use it?
