9 Surprising Things You Can Make in an Air Fryer

9 Surprising Things You Can Make in an Air Fryer…and 6 You Can’t

Are you looking for things you can make in an air fryer? Well, we are here with a complete guide on this topic. Just keep reading for details of surprising things you can make in an air fryer.

Air fryers are very popular because they are versatile and easy to use in preparing quick meals. They can be utilized for cooking frozen foods, baking cookies, and even frying bacon.

You can cook safely with air fryers as there’s none of the hassle and danger involved like with things like deep frying. However, there are many dishes that you can cook in an air fryer, and then there are some that you can’t.

To get you started and make the best use of your air fryer, here are nine foods that you can cook in an air fryer. Dive in to know more!

What’s All the Fuss About Air Fryers?

• Healthier

Air fryers have been all the rage among health enthusiasts. That’s because you can enjoy your favorite foods cooked in one without feeling guilty about the calories that oil can add.

French fries are a favorite with everyone. But air frying them instead of deep-frying them is healthier for you. There are lots of other surprising things you can make in an air fryer too which we will look at further down.

• Time-saver

Another benefit of air fryers is that they get hot fast and there’s no preheating needed. Thus, you also save time when cooking in an air fryer.

Speaking of saving time, cooking frozen foods in an air fryer takes much less time to cook than when you do it in a pan on a stove.

• Retains taste and texture in leftovers

Leftovers tend to lose the taste and texture when you reheat them. But, with an air fryer, you can recrisp leftover chicken or prevent the leftover pizza from going soggy.

Don’t forget to clean your air fryer properly to keep in hygienic and in good working order.

Surprising Things You Can Make in an Air Fryer

The air fryer is a versatile tool. It has multiple purposes and is easy to use. Below is a list of foods you can make in an air fryer.

1. French Fries

If you’re wondering how to make frozen French fries in an air fryer, well, you’d be amazed to find out how easy it is! It’s definitely one of the best surprising things you can make in an air fryer!

After you’re done cutting the potatoes lengthwise in the same size, put them on a single layer on the air fryer basket. The total time for air frying is 12 to 15 minutes. Don’t forget to give the basket a toss when you reach halfway – about 6 minutes.

2. Fried Bacon

Frying bacon in an air fryer is convenient. Because the fat drips off the bacon and goes into the tray, the bacon is leaner than normal fried bacon. It splatters much less than pan frying and requires little attention.

You just need to preheat your air fryer to 390°F (200 degrees C). Try to put the bacon in one layer, although a little overlap is fine. Fry it for around eight minutes, turn, and cook for another seven to eight minutes or until the bacon is crispy.

3. Fried Chicken Wings

Fried chicken wings are delicious, but they are not easy to make in the oven. In the air fryer, they are quite easy, and they taste amazing.

Before seasoning, blot your chicken dry to make the wings crispy. You can even chill the chicken wings for an hour or two in the refrigerator. A generous sprinkling of kosher salt will guarantee that the chicken is tasty.

4. Steak

In an air fryer, you can cook a tasty steak. It’s very easy and keeps it nice and juicy.

You need to rub the steak with olive oil, pepper, and salt. The olive oil aids in achieving a great sear, while the salt and pepper provide a basic but pleasing flavor.

Though there are other ways to cook beef ribs, you can definitely use the air fryer for good results.

5. Fried Chickpeas

Chickpeas can be fried for a crunchy, flavorful snack. Air-fried chickpeas could be the solution if you’re seeking the ideal salad topper or want a healthy snack.

Air-fried chickpeas are delicious, crispy, and portable. To spice them up a touch, mix in some spices and seasonings, as well as a small amount of oil.

6. Chicken Nuggets

This device can assist you in preparing crunchy, handmade chicken nuggets. Instead of buying store-bought chicken nuggets, you can make your own with an air fryer at home.

The air fryer is fantastic for keeping the crispy-coated chicken moist and tender. Simply brush your chicken with a little olive oil or mustard to keep the breading in place.

7. Homemade Chips (Crisps)

People have had a lot of success preparing handmade potato chips in their air fryers. You don’t have to limit yourself to russet potatoes.

It’s easy to create potato chips in it, and they’re a great crispy side dish for lunch. But you can also make sweet potato chips, kale chips, and beet chips. Even pickle chips is a good option.

So, if you are craving chips, you can start making your own.

8. Fried Coconut Shrimp

This is a great combination for any foodie! The spicy mayo complements the sweet coconut well in this air fryer coconut shrimp recipe.

You need to season the flour and add breadcrumbs and eggs to it. Then add some coconut milk, dip the shrimp in the mix, and put it in the air fryer. You can fry coconut shrimp in the air fryer very easily.

9. Air Fried Bananas

You may not have considered frying a banana in the fryer. But the principle is similar to making fried fruits and vegetables as a delicious side dish for a breakfast meal.

Simply preheat your air fryer at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, slice your bananas lengthwise, spray with vegetable oil, and dust with coconut sugar. The sliced bananas will cook in the air fryer for around 12 minutes. And then they’ll be ready to eat.

The sugar in the bananas, combined with the coconut sugar and oil, creates a “caramelized” effect that makes them extra sticky and tasty.

These are the dishes that you can make in an air fryer. They are easy to make and delicious and healthy as well. You can even cook Indian food in an air fryer.

On the flip side, there are some dishes that you can’t make in an air fryer.

6 Food Items You Can’t Prepare in Air Fryer

An air fryer is an amazing piece of equipment, but there are certain dishes that you should avoid making in it. It can vary from person to person, but these dishes can create problems and mess in the fryer. So stick to the surprising things you can make in an air fryer above instead and avoid the following:

• Fried Food with Wet Batter

When you fry fish, corn dogs, and chicken wings in oil, the batter crisps up into a wonderful shell. The hot oil swiftly changes the batter into the trademark crispy coating.

Air fryers can’t handle wet batter or coatings. They can’t set it. Traditional batter, on the other hand, will simply drip off while the item cooks.

You may think you’re making wonderful corn dogs for the family, but you’ll just make a mess.

• A Whole Roasted Chicken

An air fryer is an awesome appliance, and the hype for it is very much justified.

However, it has limitations when it comes to large roasts and whole chickens. Depending on the model, the basket or cooking racks have a smaller capacity than an oven, therefore a roast may not fit.

The roast will be burned and half done on different sides if you roast it in an air fryer.

In an air fryer, the chicken will be dried out and the skin will become rock-hard.

• Grilled Cheese

The melted cheese, like wet batter, makes a huge mess. As a result, grilled cheese is particularly difficult to make in an air fryer.

• Raw Vegetables

With an air fryer, certain vegetables shine. Others are complete flops.

When it comes to raw produce, an air fryer doesn’t have the same crisping power as a deep fryer. Regardless of the temperature, the results are soggy and unappealing. The outcome is far more uniform when raw veggies are stir-fried.

• Excess Amount

The air fryer’s size imposes several restrictions. Air fryers with extra-large capacity can hold up to 16 quarts, although the normal capacity is just two to three quarts.

A regular air fryer won’t be enough for a family-sized lunch.

It’s best for a light meal for two people. Cooking a second batch would be required to feed a family. For some cooks, the extra cooking time is counterproductive.

However, if the set-and-forget method makes meals easier, cooking in batches might be a suitable strategy.

• Popcorn

It’s not ideal to pop some corn in the air fryer because the heat needed to do this is higher than that of the maximum temperature a typical air fryer can reach – 350 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Conclusion

An air fryer is, no doubt, an indispensable gadget you can do with if you want to save time and opt for foods that use very little oil to cook.

However, beware that although you can cook some foods like French fries and steak easily in an air fryer, you won’t meet the same success with others. For example, if you want to cook whole roasts and raw veggies, you’ll end up making a mess and creating more work for yourself.

Hope this article on the nine surprising things you can make in an air fryer will come in handy and help you settle for a healthier way of cooking.

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