8 Foods That Taste Better When Cooked in an Air Fryer

If you’re still waiting for your potatoes to be fully cooked in the oven, it’s time to stop. Still waiting for water to boil for hot dogs or pasta? Those days are over. If you haven’t adopted an air fryer yet, or at least considered inviting one into your home, now is the time for you to do so. It’s fast, healthy, and cleans up quickly. Not to mention it makes just about everything taste delicious. real, not every food Of course, it’s best made in an air fryer, but I’ve become accustomed to cooking a few things in my pan—many of which I never thought I’d do.

from salmon Fish fillet arrives Whole grilled chicken There are even some BBQ standardsit feels like every few days I’m adding another food to the list of foods to make only in the air fryer. Below I’ve listed eight air fryer all-stars that might surprise you.

If you want to know what an air fryer is and how it works, check this out The Complete Guide to the Air Fryer. If you already have one and are ready to explore recipes, here are some of the foods I will only cook in the air fryer from now on.

1. Salmon fillet

Grilled salmon is an easy, healthy weeknight dinner staple. It’s not difficult to make in the oven, but if you’re only cooking for one or two people, the preheating time is a pain and you’re wasting a lot of energy for a small amount of food. Pan-fried salmon is delicious and quick, but there’s almost no way to cook salmon on the stove without getting greasy and smelly.

I tried cooking grilled salmon in the air fryer and it came out perfectly in about 10 minutes, including preheating time. The enclosed cooking chamber captures all the grease and even hides some fishy smells from taking up space.

Okay, so you might find me throwing in the occasional fish fillet Salmon on the grill in the warmer months, but gone are the days of me wiping fish oil off the backsplash behind the kitchen stove.

This is how to make it Perfect Air Fryer Salmon.

2. Whole chicken

This surprised me the most because I cook roast chicken most Sundays and am happy with the way I use the oven. I quickly learned that the air fryer works even better because it crisps up the skin quickly without overcooking the meat. Air fryer chicken takes about 45 minutes, about 15% faster than in the oven, and almost impossible to mess up.

Here’s how to make it quickly Roast chicken in air fryer.

3. Bacon cheeseburger

Air fryer cheeseburgers have become a staple in my house. Summer is an exception, at this time Grilled It’s in full swing, but in the cooler months I’ll be turning to the air fryer for this American classic. Not only is it cleaner than pan frying, but the burgers don’t cook in their own fat, so you get a lighter, healthier meal (if you’re into that kind of thing). You can also stick bread and a few slices bacon Served with a burger, it’s a complete meal with little to no cleanup required.

Here’s how Make cheeseburgers in the air fryer from top to bottom.

4. Chicken steak

Before using the air fryer, I used to pan-fry breaded chicken cutlets for Chicken Parmesan and other recipes, but the air fryer does the same job with less mess and results in fried chicken Less greasy too.

I recommend using boneless chicken thighs, which have enough fat to handle all the convective heat without drying out. Simply coat the chicken with beaten egg and sprinkle with bread crumbs mixed with salt, pepper and other spices. Cook at 375 degrees for about 15 minutes.

You can lightly spray the cutlets with a little oil before cooking for extra crispy skin, but it’s not necessary. I’ve tried the same method with chicken breasts; it works well, but there’s a greater risk of the meat drying out.

5. Cauliflower Steak

One of my favorite foods to cook in the air fryer is cauliflower. If you choose to go plant-based, a head of cauliflower can make a hearty side dish or main dish. Just toss a thick slice or two of cauliflower with olive oil, salt and pepper, or some seasoning of your choice and air fry on high heat for 10 or 12 minutes. The air fryer gives it a beautifully caramelized crust, and it cooks the dense veggies fast enough so the cauliflower doesn’t become mushy on the inside.

6. Leftover pizza

While not all types of food are best reheated in an air fryer, many are. Air fryers are the perfect way to recycle leftovers pizzafried chicken, grilled meat and vegetables. Microwave ovens heat food unevenly and tend to produce a rubbery texture. The air fryer gives food a second life through convection heat, making the outside crispy and even hot.

This is The Best Ways to Reheat All Kinds of Leftovers.

7. Hot dogs

It’s hard to mess up a hot dog, but if you want perfectly seared Vienna sausages in five minutes with essentially no cleanup, the air fryer is the way to go. Air fryer hot dogs are so easy, and the Super Convection Oven browns them perfectly in just two or three minutes.

This is how to make it Hot dogs in air fryer All summer long.

8. Baked potatoes

Okay, technically this is from microwave Then finish in the air fryer. The microwave softens the inside in 8 minutes, while the air fryer cooks the edges and crust to crispy perfection. Restaurant-quality baked potatoes in less than 12 minutes. Here’s how to make it Best Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Ever.