The air fryer is a modern innovation that is becoming more popular in India. And why not? You can get your favorite dishes faster and a fair bit healthier, from roast chicken to fillet, steak, and fries.
This appliance is well-known for its ability to cook healthy food quickly; air fryers cook food in 70% less time than ovens and with 95% less oil than deep frying. That’s also good for your wallet, one might add. Recent research has shown that cooking in electric ovens can be more expensive than cooking in pressure cookers and air fryers. There are simple ways to reduce energy consumption, and electric ovens are a major culprit because they use five times more energy than pressure cookers and air fryers. Cooking in an air fryer is one of the most sustainable kitchen ideas.
What can you cook in an air fryer?
Air fryers can be used to make healthier snacks like sweet potatoes and peppers and more luxurious treats like fried chicken strips or even bacon. It all comes down to personal preference. This is what the experts love about this new kitchen must-have.
Here are our top tips for cooking in an air fryer:
1. Roast chicken
Roast chicken is the top-rated food for air fryers. Independent studies show that an air fryer can save more than 80% on energy compared to an oven when roasting chicken. A small whole chicken can be roasted in as little as 60 minutes. The result will be a succulent roast chicken with crispy skin. It is simple to make crispy, moist chicken in an air fryer with a rotisserie function.
2. Tofu
Air-frying uses 95% less oil than deep-frying to make crispy, healthy tofu. The process of making tofu can be sped up too—simply season the tofu or marinate it before putting it in the air fryer. You can also monitor the cooking process with an air fryer that has a window. This will allow you to remove your tofu as soon as it is cooked.
3. Whole roasted garlic
Garlic is a pantry staple that elevates a variety of dishes, and people love it. If you are looking for a sustainable and economical way to enjoy garlic's flavor, your air fryer is the answer.
4. Burgers and patties
Fast food and hamburgers can be cooked quickly in the air fryer. Homemade burgers can be made in about 10 to 15 minutes at medium-high heat. Season the burgers and place them in a basket or rack. Air fryers heat up pretty quickly, so you don't need to preheat patties as much as with regular ovens or grills. To ensure an even color, flip the meat halfway through cooking.
5. French fries
Air fryers offer the opportunity to indulge in the occasional "guilty pleasure" with a lower fat intake. Air-frying French fries is a healthier option than deep-fat frying. They turn out every bit as crisp and delicious as the regular variety. Cut your potato slices into equal sizes and place them in an air fryer basket. You can also make batches if you have a lot of fries. Air fry for 12–15 minutes. Remember to stop and toss them thoroughly halfway through the cooking process. Admit it, this alone is a reason to get yourself an air fryer.
6. Cookies
Cookies anyone? Cookies can be made in air fryers because they’re also great for baking! if you want to share them. One note of caution here: "You must use a liner in your air fryer when baking cookies to avoid making a mess and to prevent them falling apart." Cookies can be made in 10 minutes or less once you have the ingredients ready. Leave them to cool for a few minutes before removing them from the air fryer—you don‘t want them to crumble.
7. Reheated leftovers
Air fryers are a great way to make sure you don't waste food. Use the air fryer to reheat leftover take-out food—pizza, chicken, etc.—to enjoy it again. Why do we recommend air-frying pizza when you can microwave it? Because microwaving a pizza destroys the crispness (for a thin crust) and softens the base (in all pizzas), whereas air frying preserves the crispness of the base. That’s a win for the air fryer!
8. Chickpeas
I bet you didn't see this coming! Roasted chickpeas are among the best snacks one can indulge in. They absorb the flavor of any seasoning you put on them, so they’re a great way to experiment with any spice blends. Throw a couple of handfuls of chickpeas into the air fryer and heat them for approximately 15 minutes, and you have yourself a healthy, crispy snack.
9. Eggs
Yes, eggs. Technically, these wouldn’t count as hard-boiled eggs. Because they are not boiled. But if you put eggs in an air fryer, you get pretty much the same result. You don’t need water to boil them, and you can adjust the cooking time depending on how runny you want your egg yolk. Talk about versatility!
10. Potato Chips
Regular potato chips from an air fryer? You bet! Turning thin slices of potatoes into crispy chips is a big reason air fryers are popular. This is the holy grail, folks. Good, old white potatoes, thinly sliced and "air fried" for a few minutes, yield much healthier potato chips than store-bought. For a healthier option, we recommend fries made with sweet potatoes. Season them with salt and pepper before air-frying to get the great taste of fries with the health benefits of sweet potatoes.