I Love Air Fryer Cooking! Here’s Why…
Have an air fryer?
I was a tad bit skeptical about buying yet another kitchen gadget, but since so many people are buzzing about air fryers, I decided to try one out. If you’re curious about whether or not an air fryer is worth the investment and how it works, read on my friends!
On a side note, this post went live last year, but we thought it was worth resharing again for those of you who may have missed it since our whole team is air fryer obsessed!
I have completely fallen in love with air fryer cooking!
My Power Air Fryer XL has for sure earned a spot on the counter with my other must-have kitchen appliances. In fact, I affectionately tell people I don’t want to do life without it! My kids and I honestly use our air fryer just about every day now, even if it’s just to reheat leftovers or frozen foods.
Things I love about air frying:
- My air fryer was easy to use straight out of the box. It’s also very lightweight, and it’s SO simple to clean.
- Is my food cooked? You can conveniently remove the air fryer’s basket to see if food is done cooking, and then place it back in to cook longer if needed.
- I don’t have to turn on my oven during the summer! Cook times are faster in the air fryer than in conventional ovens, and it won’t heat up the kitchen like the oven does.
- Air fryers start cooking immediately. There’s no preheating involved or waiting for it to come to pressure like with the Instant Pot.
- It’s like frying without oil! Very little oil is needed to get that delicious crispy fried texture on foo because air fryers cook by circulating hot air.
- It’s so easy to use that even my kids can air fry! My pre-teens can use it by themselves to heat up an air fryer grilled cheese sandwich or to make whatever frozen foods they want in less than 15 minutes!
Here are 10 tips and reasons why I love air fryer cooking:
1.) Make the best bacon EVER with zero mess.
Cook times will vary based on the thickness of bacon, but I was able to make thick-cut, crispy bacon in just 10 minutes at 390 degrees. The best part is that the grease drains to the bottom basket for easy clean up at the end!
I’m never making bacon in the oven or on the stove again! THIS method ROCKS!
Go HERE for further air fryer bacon directions.
2.) Easily adapt oven recipes to air fryer.
Typically, you’ll just lower the cooking temperature by about 25 degrees. For instance, if your recipe states 375 degrees in the conventional oven, go with 350 degrees in the air fryer. You’ll need at least 20 percent less cooking time, although this can vary with what you’re cooking. I love that there’s no preheating involved!
Check out this helpful Air Fryer Cooking Calculator.
3.) Give foods a spray.
An air fryer can produce a crispy fried texture that’s pretty fabulous. For next-level results, consider spraying food halfway through the cook time by using an oil sprayer. I’ve read that the aerosol type oil sprays from the store aren’t recommended for the fryer basket’s non-stick finish.
4.) Shake things up.
For recipes like fries, it’s best to shake up the contents halfway through the cooking time, so your results will be extra crispy and delicious. In case you’re wondering, frozen french fries and tater tots are so crispy and delicious too in the air fryer!
Hip Tip: I made the most amazing homemade Garlic Parmesan Fries in 18 minutes by following THESE instructions, and then topping them with Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, and chopped parsley. YUM!!
5.) Make breading that sticks.
Air fryers move air so quickly that breading can separate from food. To prevent this from happening, try the following tip. Dip food in flour, then egg, and then bread crumbs to ensure the breading sticks to the food.
Hip Tip: Get this easy recipe for mozzarella sticks. They are SO GOOD and easy to make.
6.) Time to make the donuts!
Your air fryer isn’t just for savory foods. I recently made some excellent 5-minute donuts using flaky refrigerated dough! It was easy enough to do quickly on a weekday morning, and my kids were thrilled with this fun project!
Hip Tip: Love bagels instead of donuts? Try making these yummy homemade 2-ingredient bagels in the air fryer!
7.) Leftovers have never tasted better.
Seriously, you’ll never eat soggy microwaved pizza again! Just a couple of minutes in the air fryer is all you need to reheat last night’s dinner. The taste and texture is just so much better than the microwave, and it’s so convenient to throw leftovers in the air fryer.
8.) Don’t overcrowd.
This is probably the most important air fryer rule you should know! You’ll want to make sure food gets cooked evenly and crisps up deliciously.
I bought these large pre-made bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers from my local grocery store’s butcher section. I air-fried them at 370 for about 10 minutes. These are my FAVORITE thing I’ve ever cooked in the air fryer. Such a great low carb and keto-friendly snack or appetizer idea, too!
Hip Tip: Use THIS easy recipe to make homemade bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers!
9.) Meat turns out DELICIOUS and juicy.
The air fryer goes way beyond tasty fries and snacks. We recently cooked some pretty amazing burgers in the air fryer. Medium-sized patties can be cooked for about 9-10 minutes at 350 degrees, or until desired done-ness. YUM!
10.) Air fryer veggies crisp up like a dream.
I made brussels sprouts that are perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside in just 10 minutes! They tasted amazing and were so easy to make. Coat brussels sprouts with olive oil, season, and then cook in an air fryer for 10 minutes at 400 degrees. Stop and shake the basket to turn sprouts halfway through cooking.
Want more winning air fryer recipe inspiration?
Try these easy and delicious ideas:
- Copycat Air Fryer Chick-fil-A Sandwiches
- Easy Air Fryer Empanadas
- Parmesan Meatballs in the Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Cinnamon Sugar Churros
Lina, Your nails always look so good in all your posts!!
Oh ha thanks – that’s super sweet 😉
I scrolled all the way back to look at your nails.. They do look so nice Lina 😁
Oh LOL thanks Anna! So sweet 😀
Came for information on air fryers, blown away by amazing nails.
HAHA -Awesome. Thanks 🙂
I will have to try the burger and vegetables in my air fryer. Pizza too! I never thought about warming up my leftover pizza in there. My daughter warmed up Hooter’s curly fries.
I was on the fence about getting one until I saw this post, I ordered mine and it just came today! I made some chicken strips for lunch and it was so fast and perfectly crispy! I am excited to try all the recipe ideas! Thanks for the info, I really wanted someone else’s detailed opinion. 😀
I’m so glad! Yay! Now you’ll be addicted to the air fryer like me 👍
Love fresh potato fries in this !!!
Thank you for the tips!
You’re so welcome!
I don’t have an air fryer so I don’t know if this is true for them. However a tip I recently learned when frying breaded meat is to dredge it in flour and let it sit (in the fridge) for an hour. THEN finish dredging in the egg then bread crumbs. The coating will not separate. Even though this does take a little more planning to work the time in, It works. I don’t know if it will work for things like cheese sticks….
😋 yummy
I saw the infomercial for this item abouot a year or so back. I thought it sounded too good to be true but, why not give it a shot. This is by far, the Best way of cooking I have ever had. Buffalo wings, fries, shrimp and especially stromboli are all fantastic! I mentioned to some friends at work how good this was, and one by one they started buying them.
Thanks for sharing! Great tips!
Could we have your stromboli recipe please?
hi Lina D- is it just me but I think you remind me of another beautiful woman i see on tv-Jennifer Lopez! 🙂 i see similarities
your nails are pretty too:) yes i am going to buy an air fryer !!!! 🙂
Oh my goodness – thanks for the sweet comment! ❤️
where can I find more recipes
for my AirFryer
Need air fryer receipes
I’ve had my air fryer for months now, I previously bought 2 and returned them to store. , I did something wrong I guess. I need fail proof receipes, I want to experience all this excitement , HELP
Jim-becky@hotmail.com
Just wanna say I love my Air fryer Iam addicted can help it thank you For sharing this recipe notified me thanking
I too scrolled up to see nails 🙂 what color is that, I love it! And now I really want an air fryer!!!
Oh ha! Thanks it’s a powder color from my local nail place 👍
What is the exact name of this air fryer. I miss this deal on Newegg when you told us about it and hoping for another sale for the $59 keep me posted please
https://amzn.to/2GiIOTB This is the air fryer I have
Many Thanks, you have possibly restored my faith in the goodness of air frying. I am new and used the store spray oils and my finish is wearing already. Appreciate that tip to buy a sprayer. The recipes you provided are fantastic to give me ideas in lots of directions, not just french frys 🙂 Love your conversion page.
Oh good! And thanks for the feedback 👍
For Christmas I asked repeatedly for an InstanPot. My mom gets me an AIR FRYER! I was not happy. However, I have used that thing every day and am in LOVE! My son loves pizza rolls, bagel bites, taquitos, french fries… with a teenager I am forever cooking! I have made “fried potatoes”, bourbon chicken and my families favorite CHICKEN WINGS! I want to try the donuts but they would have to be glazed so I need to find a recipe for that. I just can’t believe how much I love that thing!! PS.. your nails are ON POINT!!
Yay! I use mine daily too at home! Thanks!!! And lol 👍
We make donut glaze with powdered sugar, a tsp of vanilla and milk. Just adjust the amounts to get your desired drizzle consistency.
Still get an Instatapot. I cook wings in thefe then crisp them in airfryer. Instapit makes great soup, stews etc. Between tnat and tne airfyer I rarely use my stove. Oh made airfyer eggrolls. Great.
Glaze is really just powdered sugar and milk!
I want a air fryer so bad! Keeping my fingers crossed I win one from the April fool’s contest you had yesterday.☺
Love cooking fish in mine. No fishy smell. So easy to clean up also.
That’s great to hear! I have not tried yet 👍
How do you cook fish and shrimp with the air fryer?
Anxious to learn new receipes
What size do you recommend? I have a family of 4… Thanks for all the air fryer recipes, I’m excited to get one!
I just bought the 7L Wolfgang Puck Airfryer on Woot for 50.00 (thanks Hip2Save for the heads up!) It is BIG! Perfect for a family of 4. I would not have thought it was worth the trouble for a smaller one. We LOVE ours!
I wish there is a deal like this now !
I’ve been thinking about getting one for quite awhile, a lot of appliances I buy don’t end up getting a lot of use. After a friend told me how much she loves hers i finally broke down and got one. I haven’t made a lot of things in it yet but so far it’s awesome. Great for heating up leftovers and making a quick lunch for the kids!!
Lumpia turns out AMAZING in the air fryer. Falafels cook up really nicely too. You can even make Southern “fried” chicken in it. Super crispy and cooked perfectly.
Yummy! All of that sounds delish ❤️
I didn’t realize you were on WP…here’s the falafels blog I did. https://pinkherald.com/2018/07/18/falafels-via-the-air-fryer/
Thanks for sharing Lynn!
Thanks for all your great posts!!
Does this smell up your house like a regular deep fryer?
No, I don’t believe so. Great question!
No, not at all! Makes the house smell amazing like it was in the oven!
Thanks for this-I just bought one and have been a little nervous about using it
Enjoy it! I still love mine!
My friend got air fryer and i loved how the fish stick came out. My mom is interesting in getting one as well. However, We are eyeing on Phillip digital Air Fryer at Costco as it comes with manufactor discount $40. Have anyone use this brand. As oppose to what Lina used Power air fryer XL. I saw on Amazon. Just comparing products. Thank you in advance.
Yes I know many with Philips brand. and love it too. I also have a Nuwave brand 🙂
If you like dried out food its great. Replaced our oil fryer with an air “fryer” and french fries and hush puppies were dried out messes. The cheese sticks became hard. I’m going to get rid of the air “fryer”
I shook the precut frozen fries in tiny bit of oil first. It was my first time using and they were ok. Going to try mozzarella sticks.
👍
I agree. I bought mine to do vegetables. The crispy aspect was recommended to me. I have found the crispy but it comes along with dry or dedicated. I have tried different temperatures and different amounts of oil for retaining moisture but dry dry dry every time and not well cooked, except for the outside. I am disappointed!!
I love my air fryer, super convenient, less oil, quicker. Only thing is a standard is good for 2 to 3 people cooking, get a bigger one if you have a bigger family.
Yes agree! Thanks so much for sharing ❤️
We have the power airfryer oven from samsclub and it’s wonderful! It’s large enough to fit a whole 5lb chicken or turkey and Large enough to accommodate a 9″ round pizza or cake, or a 9 x 5″ loaf pan. It Replaces your deep fryer, rotisserie oven, dehydrator, oven, toaster oven, pizza grill and microwave and anything you make in those appliances can be made in this airfryer at a fraction of the time! My favorite part is the little window and light where you can view your items while they are cooking and the racks which allow you to cook different items at once. The spinning fry basket is really nice as well as the rotisserie function. They’re $129 but they usually run lots of sales this time of year and I definitely recommend it! Our oven has quit working for about 2 months now and I haven’t missed it at all with our family of 4 and I cook almost every day!
I purchased an air fryer a couple of years ago and it took my french fries 45 minutes and the serving basket was very small so had to do 2 batches for a family of 4 — I am presuming they have improved since then? I immediately took mine back as I had paid over $100 for it
I got rid of my toaster oven! In my air fryer I have made pigs in a blanket, heated corn & flour tortillas, baked cookies, & even “boiled” eggs! For even easier cleanup, I place a sheet of parchment paper under the basket to catch dripping/crumbs.
I am super duper late to this party, but I am interested in an air fryer. My husband has asked for a fry daddy many times. This may be a compromise I could agree to. If anyone wants to recommend a unit, I am interested in trying this out. We use out toaster oven to make “fried” mushrooms, cheese sticks and “fried” fish items. But I would make a lot more if I had a good appliance. thanks!
Sallys, I was given a 4-quart Ninja Air Fryer for Christmas and I LOVE it! I’ve cooked boneless porkchops, boneless skinless chicken breasts, frozen green beans, cauliflower, broccoli and Brussel sprouts. I’ve made pigs in a blanket and breaded mushrooms. When I try something and the temperature and time are right, I add it to a simple ‘spreadsheet’ that I alphabetize for quick reference. I do not exaggerate when I say that I use this thing All. The. Time. I glean a lot of information from blogs like this one and recipes on Pinterest. Jump in and give it a try. Oh, and I use non-aerosol Bertolli 100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil Spray, 5 Fl Oz that I get at Walmart for the occasional oil needs.
Oh, and I’ve made hamburger patties, shrimp, fresh carrots, crab & cheese bites, taquitos, edamame and corn dogs. Cabbage too, believe it or not!
I recently read that it’s the propellent in non stick sprays that cause a problem with the non stick surface. I purchased an avocado oil spray in Amazon that has no propellant and it’s a neutral flavor. So try a can of olive, coconut, avocado or canola oil with no propellant. I have not had any luck with pump or squeeze oil sprayers. I find them nearly impossible to clean. The propellant free oil sprays are pricey though.
What size air fryer should I buy if there’s only two of us? I was thinking 4 quart.
A four-quart is the perfect size for 2 people, Mary!
I tried doing breaded chicken at 400 for 1.5 hours it was still raw. What am I doing wrong? I tried roasted baby potatoes they took 2 hours at 400 to get reasonably soft.