Can You Cook Raw Meat In An Air Fryer
You can use an air fryer to cook raw meat in the same way you would a range cooker or hob. Steak is very simple to cook in an air fryer you simply need to turn it halfway through the cooking process. Frozen chicken nuggets, as well as fresh, raw chicken, can also be prepared using an air fryer.
Sausages are also suitable for air frying and, depending on the size and how many youre cooking, can be done in around 10 minutes. If youre cooking particularly fatty cuts of meat such as bacon, air frying wont cook off the fat, but you wont end up with greasy slices of bacon either, because you wont need to use additional oil.
Its not just cuts of meat that you can cook in your air fryer dishes such as meatballs are suitable for cooking in this way, and theyll come out with a deliciously crisp outer coating. Be aware, though, that as cooking temperatures are so high its very easy to burn your food, so keep an eye on it.
Air Fryer Veggie Chip Medley
Sweet, earthy beets and crispy, salty potatoes come together in this easy air-fryer chip medley that’s inspired by the favorite store-bought variety. It will take a couple batches to complete, but the final result is a super satisfying snack you can enjoy any time of the day.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Veggie Chip Medley
What Meals Can I Make With An Air Fryer
If you have ground beef, make meatballs in air fryer with baked potatoes on the side stuffed with all the things! With any leftover potatoes, scoop out the middles and mash. Then store in the fridge and make air fryer potato pancakes the next day.
- Or keep things simple and make air fryer egg rolls with an array of dipping sauces on the side.
- Spring rolls are really a complete meal if you add chicken or pork inside.
- And air fryer cornish hens really rock, next to our favorite air fryer tri tip or ribeye in air fryer recipes.
There are lots of different steak recipes because we cook a lot of beef. You can use the same dry rub to make air fryer flank steak and all other sorts of things.
Lets talk chicken a bit here. You could make chicken fries in air fryer for a snack or a fun dinner idea. My girls love trying different sauces but air fryer bbq chicken wings would be their fave.
We love air fryer fried chicken thighs, that arent really fried but taste like they were. For a low carb choice, try our air fryer chicken tenders no breading recipe with air fryer brussel sprouts.
Also Check: Air Fryers On Sale At Walmart
Works Well: Certain Baked Goods
Prepare to have your mind blown: You can use an air fryer to make sugar cookies! And lava cakes! And chocolate chip oatmeal cookies! Just make sure you follow a recipe specific to an air fryer, because traditional baked goods might turn into a kitchen fail. This is the difference between air frying and baking.
The Foods Are Too Wet
Essentially, dry food delivers better results than wet food because the moisture is more easily removed during cooking. Remember, moisture is the opposing force that keeps your meal from becoming crispy. The air fryers can handle these foods well and the results tend to be good.
In order to maintain the crispiness and quality of deep-fried foods, its best to cook them more dry than wet.
Also Check: Home Depot Air Fryer Range
Air Fryer Chili Garlic Tofu
We’re usually hesitant to make tofu at home because we can never achieve that satisfying sear, but the air fryer changed that for good. The icing on the cake is the sauce made with chili sauce, garlic, ginger, and soy sauce. Get the recipe for air fryer chili garlic tofu here.
Air Fryers Can Help You To Avoid Soggy Zoodles
It may sound odd, but zoodles are actually an ideal air-fryer food, according to Jess Dang, the founder of Cook Smarts.
“Zucchini releases a ton of moisture during cooking, so you can quickly wind up with a soggy mess in a pan,” Dang told Insider. “In the air fryer, however, all that excess moisture just drips out of the basket, leaving you with perfectly al dente zucchini noodles.”
Don’t Miss: How To Cook Salmon In An Air Fryer
Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Recipes
Were not done yet though, and it doesnt matter what brand is on the outside of your hot air machine. We have many more EASY instructions for all types of food too. Things like cooking Italian sausage air fryer style is one we use often on busy days. Pair with some veggies and dinner is served.
Weve got more to share like how to make chicken fried steak and more. If finger food isnt your fancy and you actually want to have a fancy dinner I understand. Maybe a few air fryer lamb chops are more your style.
- Air fryer peppers are great as a side, or throw air fryer onions in with beef for fajitas.
Pizza rolls in the air fryer are OH MY goodness better than any other method out there. When it comes to anything frozen youll be surprised at how good it does turn out. Even frozen hot dogs in air fryer turn out tender but with crisp on the outside. Perfection I tell you.
If its the holidays and youre making a large brunch you might want to try our air fryer ham and or sausage links in air fryer!
You Can Cook A Flavorful Steak In An Air Fryer
Yankel Polak, head chef at ButcherBox, told Insider that it’s possible to cook a delicious steak in an air fryer.
“Rub the steak with a little olive oil and a generous amount of salt and pepper before cooking,” he said. “The olive oil helps it get a really good sear and the salt and pepper give a simple, yet satisfying flavor.”
To make sure your steak cooks evenly, Yankel added, flip it over halfway through the cooking time. This ensures both sides of the meat have contact with the hot surface of the basket.
Also Check: Best Air Fryer 5 Qt
Avoid Putting Large Roasts Or Whole Chickens In The Air Fryer
“Beyond the obvious question of whether they’ll fit in the air-fryer basket, larger roasts and whole chickens just won’t cook evenly in the air fryer,” Pixley said.
The portion closest to the heat source, according to Pixley, will burn and dry out well before the portion farthest from the heat source is safe to eat.
Shake The Basket In Between Air Fryer Cooking
This ensures an even distribution of heat throughout the entire basket. Shake the basket every few minutes if need be.
An alternative to this would be to flip the items in your air fryer basket over. However, sometimes we cook circular items and itll be easier just to gently toss the basket a little to mix up the food so the air fryer can cook more evenly.
Read Also: Emeril 360 Air Fryer Cookbook
The Best Foods To Cook
Air fryers use dry heat, so think of foods that cook with dry heat as opposed to ones that cook with wet heat . Crispy shallots, frozen puff pastry donuts, dehydrated tomato slices, puzzlingly low-carb bagels, reheated leftover pizza…dont be afraid to experiment.
That said, weve noticed some foods really excel in an air fryer. Drum roll, please:
Pre-fried frozen foods: Classics like chicken tenders, fish sticks, tater tots, and pizza rolls are made for the air fryer. In general, portion-sized frozen foods or ones in bite-size pieces heat up and get appealingly crisp in an air fryer in no time. They could re-name this thing the College Kid/Single Dude Dinner Machine.
From-scratch recipes that mimic pre-fried frozen foods: Think air-fried chicken, air fryer mozzarella sticks, air-fried crab cakes, et cetera.
Now it’s time to think outside the deep fryer! I also really love using the air fryer for:
Doesnt Work So Well: Feeding A Crowd
While air fryers come in a range of sizes, even the largest model can only fit food for a handful of people, which is why finding the best air fryer size for your needs is crucial. If you have a large family or you plan on using your air fryer for a bigger gathering, youll have to make your food in batches. Youll probably be better off using these dinner recipes guaranteed to feed a crowd.
Don’t Miss: What Can You Make In An Air Fryer
Use The Appliance To Make Your Own Kale Chips
Since air fryers use extremely hot air to both cook and remove surface moisture from foods, they’re actually great for making kale chips.
Cummings said he recommends tossing kale with coconut oil and sea salt before adding the leaves to your air fryer.
“The air fryer brings out the aroma of the coconut while keeping the kale chips light,” he explained.
With Practice And Patience You Can Make A Beautifully Cooked Steak In An Air Fryer
Since air fryers can serve as miniature ovens, they can also be used to cook steak, Pixley told Insider.
With a little bit of practice you can get a beautifully cooked steak in the air fryer, allowing you to skip the smoke and flames from the grill, according to Yankel Polak, the head chef at ButcherBox.
Plus, it frees up the stovetop and doesn’t leave the mess that searing a steak typically produces, Pixley added.
Read Also: Best Air Fryer Under $200
Cheese Can Create A Huge Mess In An Air Fryer
You also want to avoid putting cheese in an air fryer, according to Polak.
“An air fryer is not actually a fryer, so there isn’t the instant outer crust you would get from actually deep-frying cheese for, say, something like a mozzarella stick,” Polak told Insider. “Instead you’ll get a cheesy mess in your fryer.”
Air Fryer Chicken Thighs With Salsa Verde And Lemony Kale Salad
An air fryer practically guarantees crispy, juicy chicken thighs. Seasoned simply with lemon zest, salt and pepper, they make a satisfying meal with an Italian-inspired salsa verde and bright kale salad . Air fried panko is the final crunchy touch.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Chicken Thighs with Salsa Verde and Lemony Kale Salad
You May Like: Cheese Sticks In Air Fryer
The 25 Best Things To Cook In An Air Fryer
You don’t really need an air fryer, but if you’ve got one, this is what you should cook first.
Air fryers have suddenly found their place on a number of home kitchen counters. The appliance uses convection plus high circulation effectively a small oven with increased air flow to achieve, ideally, the crispy exterior of deep-fried food without the fat content. Really, air fryers are just tabletop convection ovens with a buzz-worthy name, but the countertop gadget works well for any dish that would usually be cooked in an oven or on the stovetop, without producing as much residual heat in your home . Here are 25 things to cook if you’ve got an air fryer.
What Cant Be Cooked In An Air Fryer
Not surprisingly, there are some foods that cant be cooked in an air fryer. Generally speaking, dishes that have a wet batter arent suitable for air frying the batter wont set properly, and itll be very difficult to clean the machine after, so youre better off sticking with a deep fryer.
Other foods that dont work so well include raw greens such as broccoli, and dishes that require water, like rice. If youre a big cheese fan, then air frying foods with cheese isnt going to be the best idea – youll end up with a whole load of mess rather than a tasty treat.
Sophie writes about all things appliance-related and is currently the Home Editor at TechRadar’s sister site, Top Ten Reviews. When she’s not testing coffee machines and appliances, Sophie is thinking of eating delicious food, and asking people what they’re having for dinner.
Recommended Reading: Ninja Digital Air Fryer Oven Accessories
Foods You Didnt Know You Could Make In An Air Fryer
You know all about the meats, fried foods, gameday snacks, and other obvious things you can make in an air fryer, but that versatile appliance can also make some foods that might surprise you. Some of these are straightforward, others take some creativity, but here are 20 foods you didnt know you could make in an air fryer.
Air Fryer Crab Cakes With Chipotle Sauce
These deliciously crisp cakes are loaded with sweet crab. Not overmixing and allowing the mixture to rest before cooking helped the crab cakes hold their shape better, as did cooking them in an air fryer. Serve these hearty morsels with creamy chipotle sauce and you’ll have a decadent dinner in no time.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Crab Cakes with Chipotle Sauce
You May Like: The Sharper Image Air Fryer
Easy Things To Make In Air Fryer
It has given me the ability to cook a lot healthier, and homemade meals on a more regular basis. Now I might make a meal in a few batches like:
And my kids favorite new snacks are air fryer cauliflower wings and this eggplant air fryer recipe! WE have made homemade mozzarella sticks air fryer style too which were yummy with marinara.
What Size Do You Need
Heres the rub: You cannot fit a lot of food in basket-type air fryers. You and your air fryer will have a much better relationship if you accept this.
An air fryer with a 1.75- to 3-quart capacity is best suited for preparing meals for one or two people. Dont expect leftovers, either.
Even a large air fryer often needs to run food in batches. If a recipe serves more than two people, youll likely need to cook it in more than one batch.
Consumer Reports found that the actual capacity of some air fryers was a tad smaller than what manufacturers claimed. This can seem like a drag, but remember, air fryers cook food fast.
Recommended Reading: Ninja Indoor Grill Air Fryer
Things You Can Make In An Air Fryer
Have you met an air fryer evangelist yet? Youre at a party, sipping your drink, and then, boom: someone corners you about the unbelievable wings/ French fries/ doughnuts they just air-fried. Suddenly, youre hungry and a convert.
Heres how an air fryer works, what tools you need, and all the marvelous foods you can crisp up using it.
The Foods Are Too Small And Light
The food is too small and light. This happens when people forget that the fryer theyre using is full of hot fast-moving air, which means if the food doesnt have any weight on it, it will be flying around.
Dont put anything inside your air fryer thats less than 1 or 2 ounces. And if you have to, then leave it on the bottom underneath the heavy stuff.
Also Check: How To Fry Wings In An Air Fryer
What Is An Air Fryer
An air fryer is an all-purpose cooking appliance that can crisp nearly anything, from sweet potatoes to sizzling bacon. It provides a compact environment thats generally smaller and more lightweight than a microwave, for heated air to be blown around quickly in order to heat up and cook whatevers inside it. The hot air crisps the food actually frying the edges, Bruce Weinstein, author of the The Essential Air Fryer Cookbook, explained so you barely have to use any oil at all. But you must use some , he added.
Simply add a spritz of oil atop a slab of steak, for example, and put it in the air fryer. Its outsides will get crispy and the taste of the food will get more flavorful as the moisture evaporates and flavors condense.
Important Tips To Keep In Mind
- Always have the grate in the basket. This allows hot air to circulate around the food, and also keeps the food from sitting in excess oil.
- Air fryers are loud. When its running, youll hear whirring fans.
- Its hands-on. Even browning requires you to remove the basket and shuffle the food around every few minutes.
- It’s fine to pull out the basket for a peek. You can do this at any point into the cooking process. No need to shut off the machine, as it shuts itself off when the basket is out.
- Accordingly, make sure the drawer is pushed all the way in, or it wont turn back on. Youll know, because the air fryer will be suddenly quiet.
- Food cooks fast, faster than youre used to! Its one of the best attributes of the air fryer. Your air fryers manual likely has a handy table of cooking times and temperatures for common foods. The less food in the basket, the shorter the cook time will be the more food, the longer it will be.
- You may need a slightly lower temperature. A lot of air fryer recipes call for lower temperature settings than their conventional counterparts. This might seem fishy, but just go with it. Once again, air fryers get hot very fast and move that hot air around, so a slightly lower temperature will help keep food from getting too dark or crispy on the outside, while still being properly cooked on the inside.
You May Like: Combination Microwave Convection Oven Air Fryer
