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What foods are best in Airfryer?

Air fryers have become incredibly popular in recent years as a healthy way to cook delicious fried foods. An air fryer uses hot air combined with high speed air circulation to produce crispy food similar to deep frying, but with significantly less oil. While most foods can be made in an air fryer, some foods turn out better than others. Here are some of the top foods that are perfect for air frying.

French Fries

French fries are one of the most popular foods to make in an air fryer. The hot air circulates around the fries to make them crispy on the outside while keeping the inside soft and fluffy. Air fryer fries use little to no oil compared to deep frying, resulting in fries that are lower in fat and calories. Follow these tips for perfect air fryer french fries:

  • Use thick cut potatoes like russets or Yukon golds.
  • Soak the fries in water for 30 minutes to remove excess starch.
  • Pat the fries dry before air frying.
  • Lightly coat the fries in oil before air frying for a crispy exterior.
  • Flip the fries halfway during cooking.

Chicken Wings

Crispy chicken wings are a sports bar staple, but you can make them easily at home with an air fryer. The air fryer gives the wings a perfectly crispy skin without needing to submerge them in oil like traditional fried wings. Tips for air fryer chicken wings:

  • Pat the chicken wings dry before seasoning.
  • Coat them lightly in oil or baking powder before air frying.
  • Space the wings out in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
  • Flip the wings halfway during cooking.
  • Toss in your favorite sauce after air frying.

Vegetables

From Brussels sprouts to butternut squash, vegetables come out amazing when air fried. The hot air circulates around the veggies, roasting and crisping their exterior while keeping the interior tender. Air frying uses no oil, making it a healthy way to prepare veggies. Some great veggies to try are:

  • Brussels sprouts – cut in half, toss with oil, air fry at 400F for 15 mins.
  • Broccoli – cut into florets, air fry at 400F for 8 mins, toss halfway.
  • Butternut squash – cut into 1-inch pieces, toss with oil, air fry at 400F for 18-20 mins.
  • Asparagus – trim ends, air fry at 400F for 8-10 mins.
  • Green beans – trim ends, toss with oil, air fry at 400F for 10 mins.

Chicken Nuggets

Kid-friendly chicken nuggets become crunchy and delicious prepared in an air fryer. The hot air makes the exterior extra crispy without the fat and calories from deep frying. Follow these tips:

  • Use chicken breast or tenders and cut into bite-sized pieces.
  • Bread the nuggets with eggs, breadcrumbs and seasoning.
  • Mist the nuggets with oil spray before air frying.
  • Air fry at 400F for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway.

Fish

From fish fillets to fish sticks, the air fryer makes fish ultra-crispy in minutes. The hot air quickly cooks the fish while creating a perfectly crunchy crust. Some tips for air frying fish include:

  • Use firm white fish like cod, haddock or halibut.
  • Brush fish fillets lightly with oil before air frying.
  • Air fry fish at 400F for 8-12 minutes depending on thickness.
  • Bread fish sticks or nuggets before air frying until golden brown.
  • Spray fish cakes lightly with oil before air frying.

Shrimp

Jumbo shrimp come out tender and flavorful when cooked in an air fryer. The hot air crisps the exterior while keeping the shrimp juicy. Follow these tips for air fryer shrimp:

  • Peel and devein shrimp, leaving tails on if desired.
  • Pat shrimp dry and season with salt, pepper, spices.
  • Lightly mist shrimp with oil spray before air frying.
  • Air fry at 400F for 5 minutes, tossing halfway.

Potatoes

Cubes of potatoes become perfectly crisped when cooked in the air fryer. Potatoes prepared this way have a fraction of the oil and calories as deep fried. Great ways to prepare potatoes in an air fryer include:

  • Home fries – cube potatoes, toss with oil, air fry at 400F for 15 mins.
  • Potato wedges – cut into wedges, mist with oil, air fry at 400F for 18 mins.
  • Tater tots – mist frozen tots with oil, air fry at 400F for 10-12 mins.
  • Hash browns – pat shredded potatoes dry, mist with oil, air fry at 400F for 15 mins.

Pizza

Making pizza in an air fryer results in crispy crust and melty cheese in minutes. The hot air quickly cooks the dough while toasting the exterior. Follow these tips for air fryer pizza:

  • Use store-bought dough or make your own thin crust.
  • Stretch dough out to fit air fryer basket.
  • Add toppings, avoiding excess moisture.
  • Mist crust with oil spray before air frying.
  • Cook pizza at 400F for 6-8 minutes until crust is crispy.

Bacon

No splatter and less time is needed to make crispy bacon in an air fryer. The hot air cooks the bacon evenly for crisp results. Follow these tips for perfect air fryer bacon:

  • Place bacon slices in a single layer in air fryer basket.
  • Cook at 400F for 8-10 minutes, depending on bacon thickness.
  • Drain bacon on paper towels after air frying.
  • For bacon wraps, air fry rolled bacon at 375F for 10 minutes.

Meatballs

Juicy, flavorful meatballs can be made quickly and easily in an air fryer. The hot air cooks the meatballs while creating a nice browned exterior. Follow these tips for great results:

  • Use ground beef, pork, turkey, or chicken.
  • Add eggs, breadcrumbs, and seasoning to meat.
  • Roll into balls, spacing apart on air fryer basket.
  • Mist with oil spray before air frying.
  • Cook at 375F for 10-12 minutes until browned.

Donuts

Air fryer donuts have a crisp exterior and fluffy interior, without all the fat from frying. Make donut dough or use store-bought, and follow these tips:

  • Roll out dough 1/2 inch thick and cut into donut shapes.
  • Place donuts in air fryer basket, mist with oil spray.
  • Air fry donuts at 400F for 4-6 minutes per side.
  • Glaze or coat donuts in cinnamon-sugar after air frying.

Quiche

Quiche made in an air fryer has a perfectly cooked custard and crisp, flaky crust. Pre-bake your crust before adding filling and follow these tips:

  • Fill pre-baked crust with whisked eggs, milk or cream, cheese, veggies or meats.
  • Cook quiche at 300F for 18-22 minutes until set.
  • Let quiche rest before slicing to allow filling to set.

Chicken Tenders

Chicken tenders become juicy and crispy when cooked in an air fryer. The hot air surrounds the tenders, sealing in moisture and making the exterior crispy. Follow these tips for perfect air fryer tenders:

  • Use chicken breast tenderloins or slice chicken breasts into strips.
  • Marinate tenders in buttermilk, spices, or sauce.
  • Coat tenders in breadcrumbs or flour before air frying.
  • Mist tenders with oil before cooking.
  • Cook at 400F for 10-12 minutes until cooked through.

Empanadas

Empanadas with a crispy crust and savory filling can be made easily in an air fryer. The hot air crisps up the pastry shells as the filling cooks. Follow these tips for great results:

  • Use empanada dough rounds or make your own dough.
  • Fill with cooked meats, beans, cheese, or veggies.
  • Fold dough over filling and seal edges with fork.
  • Mist tops with oil spray before air frying.
  • Cook at 350F for 14-18 minutes until golden brown.

Conclusion

Air fryers allow you to cook a huge variety of foods that turn out incredibly crispy and delicious using little to no oil. From french fries to chicken wings, empanadas to bacon, air fryers make your favorite fried foods crunchy and flavorful. Following these tips will ensure picture-perfect results. With an air fryer, you can indulge in guilt-free versions of fried favorites any night of the week.