Air Fryers: small convection ovens that fry up foods just like a deep-fat fryer, but without the need for gallons of oil! To some, these devices sound too good to be true, but today, we are going to show you not only how great these devices are for your health, but also some of the truly amazing things you can whip up with them! Let’s get started.
Are Air Fryers Healthy?
Absolutely! Air fryers differentiate themselves from more traditional fryers by the fact that they operate entirely by using air and heat to cook anything placed in its central chamber. To do this, air fryers generate heat, via a heating element located at the top of the unit, and then cycle that heat around using air from a convection fan. This causes the central cooking chamber to get nice and hot, ready for cooking!
The best thing about air fryers, aside from being compact and energy efficient, is the fact that you don’t actually need to use any oil or fat to achieve a perfect ‘Fried’ effect with your food! This not only saves you money, but is also incredibly healthy, helping to prevent heart disease and obesity!
And to make it all the sweeter, most air fryers also come with drip trays, allowing for any excess fat to drip away from your food as it cooks, leaving you with much healthier meals!
Air fryers are incredibly healthy, requiring only a few drops of oil, yet cooking your favourite foods to absolute perfection. This helps to make air fryers much healthier than your standard deep-fat fryer, without sacrificing any of the flavour and satisfaction.
What Can You Cook In An Air Fryer?
While air fryers might be incredibly healthy, you might be wondering whether they can still cook up delicious meals. Luckily, we can confirm that air fryers can be used to cook tons of amazing food. In fact, we’ve gone ahead and put together a list of some of our very favourite dishes that you can cook up in an air fryer, so that you can see the culinary potential for yourself!
Foods that you can cook in your air fryer include:
- Crispy roast potatoes
- Tofu bites
- Pumpkin seeds
- Fish and chips
- Salmon
Crispy Roast Potatoes
It’s practically impossible to resist the allure of a batch of freshly cooked roast potatoes. Luckily, with the use of an air fryer, you can achieve perfectly crispy roast potatoes, with fluffy insides, and crispy skins, and all while using only a small teaspoon of oil!
All you need to do is grab your potatoes, chop them up as desired, and boil them for around five minutes. This helps to ensure that the insides are nice and fluffy! Once done, simply drain the potatoes for a further 5 minutes, before popping them in the air fryer, with your choice of seasonings, and a teaspoon of oil.
It only takes a few minutes, and allows you to enjoy guilt-free roasties whenever you want!
Tofu Bites
Using an airfryer allows you to create all kinds of delicious fried treats, such as homemade chicken nuggets, chips, and even doughnuts. However if you wanted to shake it up with something a little more healthy, then we totally recommend using it to create some deliciously moreish tofu bites!
This meat-free alternative has all of the texture and flavour of chicken nuggets but is so much easier to create! Start by grabbing your tofu, and chopping it up into uneven shapes. Feel free to season the tofu as you go. We recommend garlic for an amazing flavour! Once done, lightly batter the bites, cover them in breadcrumbs, and drop them into the air fryer for around 15 minutes!
Pumpkin Seeds
If you ever find yourself a little bit peckish, then this is a perfect little snack that you can whip up at any time, and even store away for later!
Grab some pumpkin seeds, drizzle over a small amount of olive oil, and then scatter over some salt and garlic powder. Make sure to give the seeds a good stir so that they are all evenly coated in flavour.
Now, all you need to do is leave them to air fry for around 10 to 15 minutes, and soon you will have the perfect any-time treat. You can easily make large batches of these snacks, ready for whenever those cravings hit you!
Fish And Chips
When we think of healthy meals, fish and chips is not often the first to pop to mind, but with the magic of air fryers, anyone can easily whip up a healthy version of this British staple.
Chop up some cod fillets, season them up, coat them with breadcrumbs, and then throw them into your air fryer, and you will very quickly have a low-fat version that stands toe-to-toe with your favourite local takeout!
And don’t forget that you can even cook up some chips in the same air fryer, to save you a whole lot of washing up.
Salmon
Air fryers are not just good for creating fried foods, but all kinds of meals. We found that salmon fillets in particular took to cooking in an air fryer perfectly. The meat comes out incredibly moist, and bursting with flavour.
It’s also incredibly easy to do. All you need to do is grab your favourite seasonings, coat the fillets, and carefully place them into the air fryer basket. Salmon will easily cook in as little as ten minutes, making the air fryer a great low-hassle cooking method!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Cook Frozen Chips In An Air Fryer?
Want to quickly rustle up some chips to serve with your main course? Grab a bag of your favourite frozen chips, and drop them into your air fryer, at a heat of 200c, for around 8 to 20 minutes. We recommend giving them a little shake every five minutes for a nice even crispiness!
Can You Put Aluminum Foil In Air Fryer?
One added bonus of using an air fryer over a microwave is the ability to safely use your favourite tin foil! You can easily wrap foods up in foil, and then place them in your air fryer to cook. Just make sure that the foil does not touch the heating element, and that it is weighed down, to keep it from flying around the basket!
Where Should I Put My Air Fryer In My Kitchen?
One of the best things about an air fryer is that you can easily unplug it and store it away between uses, allowing you to retain vital countertop space! When in use, we recommend placing your air fryer on the counter, and ensuring that it is well-ventilated and unobstructed, to keep it from overheating.
What Cannot Be Cooked In An Air Fryer?
While air fryers can cook a massive array of foods, there are still limitations. Avoid cooking excessively wet foods, as well as oily and fatty foods like cheeses, as these are particularly messy.
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