What Can You Cook In An Air Fryer?

For most people, thinking about an air fryer stirs up the images of deliciously crispy fries and juicy wings.

But, contrary to this general conception, cooking in an air fryer goes beyond making crunchy French fries or tender chicken wings.

Think of an air fryer as a miniature version of a convection oven, and you will know its real cooking potential.

What Can You Cook In An Air Fryer? Fires, Wings, Pizza & More

An air fryer offers a wide variety of cooking possibilities. You can use it to prepare crispy wings, delicious buttered toasts, healthier snacks like sweet potato or peppers, and even air-fried broccoli.

Though cooking food also depends on your eating preferences, some of the winning best air fryer recipes are there too. Let's discuss some of the hot favorite foods you can make in your air fryer.

Chicken Wings 

Making chicken wings in an air fryer is an excellent idea. With the right amount of seasoning, you can enjoy chicken wings with crispy salty skin and a subtle flavor of garlic and lemon. Making buffalo wings in an air fryer takes around 16 minutes at 400F. 

Flip the sides of the wings after 8 minutes to cook from the other side. Once done, you will be ready to eat KFC-like chicken wings at home. You may also like to check how to reheat wings in the air fryer.

Baked Potatoes

Baking potatoes in an air fryer will give you an aroma and taste you will never forget. Coat the potatoes with oil and salt and cook them for 20-30 minutes in an air fryer basket.

We tried this recipe in a ninja air fryer basket at 350F, but some people recommend cooking it at 390F to 400F. Regardless of the temperature, don’t forget to flip the side of the potatoes when half of the timer runs out.

Delicious and Juicy Burger

Prepping fast food such as hamburgers in an air fryer is very quick. Once you taste an air-fried burger, you won’t want it made any other way again.

For making homemade burgers, cook them for 10-15 minutes at medium to high heat. Skip the preheating, as most air fryers don’t require this step.

Directly place the well-shaped patties in the air fryer basket. When halfway through, flip the side of the patties and check for doneness.

Once the patty is ready, turn off the air fryer. Assemble everything (cheese, sauces, and patties) on the bun and place it in the hot air fryer for a few minutes to melt the cheese.

Reheating Pizza In Air Fryer

You can also try different pizza recipes in the air fryer. But the air fryer reheating ability is worth mentioning.

You might ask: why an air fry when you can do the same in a microwave? Well, your air fryer does not make the pizza crust soft and soggy; instead, it keeps it crisp— as good as fresh.

You can air fry the pizza for 3 to 7 minutes at 350F. Start by reheating it for three minutes and gradually increasing the time to seven. Better wrap the pizza slices in aluminum foil to catch the dripping cheese and prevent the topping from drying out.

ALSO CHECK: How To Fix Air Fryer Is Not Heating Issue

Roast Vegetables

Apply some seasoning and oil to the freshly cut vegetables and toss them in the air fryer basket. The perfect temperature for roasting vegetables is 400F. This heat is mostly enough to create the perfectly crispy and golden-brown exterior you prefer for your veggies.

However, sometimes, the temperature can vary depending on the oil and the types of veggies. So, if you don’t get the required browning, try increasing the temperature. 

Cooking time can vary too! For soft veggies like green beans, 20 minutes are enough; for hard vegetables such as winter squash and potatoes, 30 minutes of cooking time is more suitable.

Roast Pumpkin Seeds

You can also use the air fryer for roasting pumpkin seeds. This recipe takes only a few minutes to attain the required crispiness. Unlike the traditional method, an air fryer takes only 10-15 minutes to roast the pumpkin seeds at 360F. You can also drizzle a little extra virgin oil for a better taste.

Crispy Broccoli 

For some people, air frying is the only way to make perfectly steamed broccoli with its shape intact. Cut all the florets in the same size so that the smaller ones won’t cook faster than the bigger ones. 

Add a few teaspoons of water to the base of the air fryer. Season the florets with a spritz of oil and herbs and toss them in the air fryer. Seasoning with oil and water in the base prevents broccoli from burning. 

Cook it at 340F for seven to nine minutes. The cooking time can vary by 2-3 minutes depending on the florets' size. Cooking this way will give you tender and steamy broccoli and avoid burning. 

Air Fry Bacon

Now comes the question: Can you fry bacon in an air fryer? You can fry crispy bacon in an air fryer in less than 10 minutes. Bacon is one of the easiest things to cook in an air fryer. 

Some people complain about smoke and grease splatters when cooking bacon in an air fryer. 

The best way to cook bacon is to place aluminum foil at the base of the air fryer basket and arrange the bacon on the crisper plate. 

All the fat will drip on the aluminum foil. This way, bacon will not cook in its grease and won’t smoke or splatter the interior either. Aluminum foil will also avoid the mess in the air fryer as you can toss the foil. 

Avoid layering to allow thorough cooking. The most suitable temperature for frying bacon is 350F. It will crisp the bacon, avoiding burning at the same time.

Reheating Fries

An air fryer is good at making french fries and amazing at reheating them. Many of us don’t want to waste our leftover fries made last night, but at the same time, we dread reheating them in a microwave because it makes them soggy.

With an air fryer, you no longer need to face this dilemma! Reheating fries in an air fryer makes them taste as good as they did when you made them last night. Place the fries in a single layer on the basket and adjust the air fryer to 350F for 3-5 minutes to reheat.

Below we are listing a few more items that you can try in the air fryer: 

• Meatballs
• Steak
• Avocado tacos
• Salmon
• Brownies
• Chicken breast
• Hard-Boiled Eggs
• Egg Rolls

FAQs

What cannot be cooked in an air fryer?

Any food coated with a wet batter must not be cooked in an air fryer. Also, avoid cooking leafy greens such as spinach that do not stay put. The air fryer uses hot air; therefore, such foods can burn easily. Also, putting cheese in an air fryer without any coating will not give satisfactory results. Instead, it will create a puddle of cheese sticking to the air fryer basket and the bottom.

Can I air fry whole chicken?

Yes, you can air fryer whole chicken in the air fryer. But, for this, you will need a large size air fryer because a small unit won't accommodate a full chicken. For more information, you can check our air fryer size guide.

What is the most popular food cooked in an air fryer?

The most popular foods cooked in an air fryer include frozen foods such as frozen fries, pizza, patties, and burgers. People also love to make juicy chicken wings, crispy bacon, doughnuts, roast and air-fried chicken, beef and veggies, perfectly moist salmon, rotisserie chicken, and bagels.

Can you fry eggs in an air fryer?

You can make a healthy version of fried eggs in an air fryer. Spray some olive oil, crack the egg on the pan, and set the air fryer at 370F for three minutes.

Can I toast bread in my air fryer?

Yes, you can perfectly toast your bread in an air fryer within four minutes. Set your air fryer at 400F and air fry the bread. For thin slices, three minutes are enough too. You may need a few attempts before you find the right temperature to get the right brown/crispiness on the toasts. 

If you find the slices blowing around due to hot circulating air, try putting a knife to add some weight to them. 

Some multifunctional air fryers also have a dedicated toasting function where you can choose the color (light brown to dark brown) for your toasts.

Can I put a potato in the air fryer?

Yes, you can safely put potatoes in an air fryer. Cooking potatoes in an air fryer takes 25-30 minutes at 400F. Check the potatoes after 15 minutes. Consider them fully cooked when a knife pierces through them easily.

Are steaks good in an air fryer?

Cooking steaks in an air fryer is perfectly alright. In fact, some people prefer an air fryer over a cast iron skillet because hot circulating air in an air fryer allows even cooking of steaks. Moreover, the temperature during every cooking is controlled and consistent. Therefore, you get the same taste in every attempt.

Can you put frozen meat in the air fryer?

Putting frozen meat in an air fryer is safe. Cooking frozen meat through traditional methods takes longer. But thanks to the quick and even heating technology of air fryers, you can prepare frozen foods in no time. There is also no need to thaw the frozen food before cooking it in an air fryer.

Can you make meatballs in an Airfryer?

Making perfectly tender yet crispy meatballs in an air fryer was never this easy. Make them in batches to avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket. Put a single layer of meatballs in an air fryer and cook them at 400F for 10-12 minutes.

Can I make chicken breast in an Air fryer?

Making the juiciest and most flavorful chicken breasts in an air fryer is not difficult. Seasoning the chicken breasts with a bit of oil adds flavor and helps them retain the right amount of crispiness. Cook the chicken breast for 8-9 minutes at 350F. Flip the sides and cook for another 8-9 minutes for even browning on both sides.

Final Words

When it comes to cooking in an air fryer, you might be swamped with a lot of ideas and recipes. But can you make everything in an air fryer? Of course not! For your help, we have curated a list of healthy air fryer recipes and listed them together in one article. We have also tried answering your questions about cooking in an air fryer and the best temperature and time settings for every food item.