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 you recognize will end up nice each time, there are just a few meals you possibly can toss in that’ll come out completely succulent and engaging. You would possibly even be stunned to study what they’re: from entire roasted chicken to fillets of salmon, and even burgers and hot dogs. In the case of serving up these meals, I am sticking to the air fryer solely any more.
In the case of speedy cooking with high quality outcomes, nothing beats the air fryer. The microwave has its perks, however meals typically comes out rubbery or inconsistently heated, and toaster ovens do not impart fairly the identical stage of warmth for crispy pores and skin and edges the way in which an air fryer can.
Listed below are seven issues I will solely prepare dinner within the air fryer any more.
Salmon
Simply 8 minutes within the air fryer and you’ve got completely medium uncommon salmon.
Broiled salmon is an easy, wholesome weeknight dinner staple. It isn’t tough to make within the oven, however for those who’re solely cooking for one or two folks, the preheating time is a ache and you may waste a whole lot of power 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 preheat time. The closed cooking chamber captures all the grease and even hides a number 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 is how you can make perfect air fryer salmon.
Roasted hen
Air-fryer roasted hen is a revelation.
This one stunned me essentially the most since I make a roast hen most Sundays and had grow to be content material with my technique utilizing the oven. I discovered quick that the air fryer does a fair higher job because it’s in a position to 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 practically inconceivable to screw up.
Here is how you can make a fast roasted chicken in the air fryer.
Bacon cheeseburgers
You possibly can prepare dinner a burger to excellent medium or medium uncommon with an air fryer.
Air fryer cheeseburgers have grow to be a staple round my residence. 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 isn’t 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 (for those who’re into that form of factor). You can too stick the bun and a few slices of bacon in with the burger and you’ve got the complete meal with virtually no cleanup to handle.
Here is how you can make a cheeseburger from top to bottom in the air fryer.
Hen cutlets
Air fryers end up picture-perfect 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 blended with salt, pepper and different spices. Prepare dinner at 375 levels for about quarter-hour.
You possibly can spray the cutlets evenly with a little bit of oil earlier than cooking to get an additional crispy crust, however it’s not essential. I’ve tried the identical technique with hen breasts; it really works properly, however there’s extra danger of drying out the meat.
Cauliflower steak
Cauliflower steak made within the air fryer has grow to be a staple aspect dish in my kitchen.
One among my favourite issues to prepare dinner within the air fryer is cauliflower. A slab of cauliflower makes a superb hearty aspect dish or principal course for those who’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 ravishing caramelized crust, and it cooks the dense veggie quick sufficient in order that the within of the cauliflower would not grow to be mushy.
Leftover pizza
This leftover pizza obtained a complete new life because of a brief journey to the air fryer.
Whereas not each kind of meals is greatest reheated within the air fryer, a whole lot of them are. Air fryers are the right method 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.
Here is the best way to reheat every type of leftover.
Sizzling canine
You possibly can prepare dinner a whole package deal of sizzling canine in only a few minutes.
It is exhausting to screw up a sizzling canine, however if you would like a wonderfully charred wiener in underneath 5 minutes with basically no cleanup to handle, look to the air fryer. Air fryer sizzling canine are so simple as easy will get, and the superconvection oven provides them an ideal browning in two or three minutes.
Here is how you can make hot dogs in the air fryer all summer season.
