Air fryers are the right option to prepare dinner snacks like juicy hen wings, crisp French fries and different tailgating meals. They will even do it with just about no cleanup. However whereas there are particular go-to air fryer favorites will prove nice each time, there are a couple of meals you may toss in that’ll come out completely succulent and engaging. You would possibly even be shocked to be taught what they’re: from entire roasted chicken to fillets of salmon, and even burgers and hot dogs. With regards to serving up these meals, I am sticking to the air fryer solely any further.
With regards to speedy cooking with high quality outcomes, nothing beats the air fryer. The microwave has its perks, however meals usually comes out rubbery or inconsistently heated, and toaster ovens do not impart fairly the identical degree of warmth for crispy pores and skin and edges the best way an air fryer can.
Listed here are seven issues I will solely prepare dinner within the air fryer any further.
Salmon
Broiled salmon is an easy, wholesome weeknight dinner staple. It is 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 power for a small quantity of meals. Pan-seared salmon is nice and fast, however there’s nearly no option 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 preheat time. The closed cooking chamber captures all the grease and even hides a few of the fishy scent 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.
This is learn how to make perfect air fryer salmon.
Roasted hen
This one shocked me essentially the most since I make a roast hen most Sundays and had develop into content material with my methodology 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 unimaginable to screw up.
This is learn how to make a fast roasted chicken in the air fryer.
Bacon cheeseburgers
Air fryer cheeseburgers have develop into a staple round my dwelling. The exception is throughout summer time when the grill is in full swing, however throughout cooler months, I flip to the air fryer for this American traditional. It is not solely cleaner than pan frying, however the burger does 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 may also stick the bun and a few slices of bacon in with the burger and you’ve got the complete meal with nearly no cleanup to handle.
This is learn how to make a cheeseburger from top to bottom in the air fryer.
Hen cutlets
Earlier than 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: Finest Air Fryers: Low cost vs. Costly
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. Merely coat the hen in overwhelmed egg wash adopted by bread crumbs combined with salt, pepper and different spices. Prepare dinner at 375 levels for about quarter-hour.
You’ll be able to spray the cutlets evenly with a little bit of oil earlier than cooking to get an additional crispy crust, nevertheless it’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.
Cauliflower steak
One among my favourite issues to prepare dinner within the air fryer is cauliflower. A slab of cauliflower makes a superb hearty facet dish or principal course should you’re going plant-based. Merely 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 a stupendous caramelized crust, and it cooks the dense veggie quick sufficient in order that the within of the cauliflower does not develop into mushy.
Leftover pizza
Whereas not each kind of meals is finest reheated within the air fryer, numerous them are. Air fryers are the right option to revive leftover pizza, fried hen, grilled meats and greens. A microwave heats meals inconsistently and tends to impart a rubbery texture. Air fryers give meals a second life by way of convection warmth for a crispy crust and even heating.
This is the best way to reheat every type of leftover.
Sizzling canine
It is onerous to screw up a scorching canine, however if you would like a superbly charred wiener in below 5 minutes with basically no cleanup to handle, look to the air fryer. Air fryer scorching canine are so simple as easy will get, and the superconvection oven provides them an ideal browning in two or three minutes.
This is learn how to make hot dogs in the air fryer all summer time.