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    Home » Recipes » How To

    What to do with your Air Fryer?

    Published: Mar 6, 2021 by Kathleen Hansen · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Did you join the Air Fryer club? Feeling intimidated and overwhelmed? I've got you covered! Tips, tricks, how to use your air fryer, and recipes!

    What to do with your air fryer and pictures of recipes in air fryer

    What is an Air Fryer?

    An air fryer is essentially a compact countertop convection oven. A fan circulates the hot air at a quick speed which creates a crispy layer on foods without needing to fry in oil.

    Is Air Fryer food healthier?

    It lets you cook foods using very little oil - significantly less than what is needed for pan frying or deep frying. But you can still get foods nice and crispy and golden.

    Do you need to preheat an Air Fryer?

    One of my favorite things about using an air fryer vs the oven is that you don't need to preheat! You'll find that some recipes recommend preheating for a few minutes, but I actually don't find a big difference when I preheat vs don't preheat. So I usually skip that step and just start cooking!

    How much food can an Air Fryer make?

    It depends on the size, but most models can make enough food for 2 to 3 servings. It's important to not crowd the air fryer - you want the hot air to be able to circulate. This is what makes food crispy. So if you're making a larger recipe, you may need to cook in batches.

    Does food stick?

    Some foods can stick. I like to spray the basket with cooking spray first, or line it with aluminum foil. Note that the food needs to be heavy enough to weigh the foil down so it doesn't get sucked into the fan.

    How do you clean an Air Fryer?

    Depending on your model, some pieces may be dishwasher safe. I prefer to wash by hand.

    The Air Fryer Basket/Drawer: Soak the basket in hot soapy water to break up the grease. For some recipes, you can line the air fryer with foil to reduce cleanup. Lining with foil does limit the air flow which can result in less crispy results. But the foil is necessary for some saucy recipes.

    The Main Body: This needs to be cleaned occasionally to remove the built up grease splatters and food. Built up grease and food can lead to smoking. Make sure it's completely cool first. I like to start by shaking out any crumbs then wipe it down using a damp rag and a little mild dish soap, if needed. You can turn the base upside down to have easier access to the heating coil on top.

    Recipes to make in your Air Fryer

    Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets

    A healthier option than the traditional fried nuggets. Made by breading chicken breast pieces with Panko and Parmesan cheese.

    air fryer chicken nuggets with honey mustard

    Bacon in the Air Fryer

    Similar to oven bacon, but perfect for making a smaller batch without having to preheat the oven. Worried about smoke? I include a tip so you can cook bacon without any smoking issues. It takes 10 minutes or less!

    Crispy Air Fryer Bacon

    Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings

    Perfect game day snack! These wings are so simple to make with an easy easy dry rub of lemon pepper, garlic powder, and salt. 

    crispy air fryer chicken wings in a bowl

    Buffalo Chicken Wings

    These wings are so simple to make with an easy easy dry rub of pantry staple spices. Then after air frying, just brush or toss with your favorite buffalo sauce (store-bought or homemade).

    Air Fryer buffalo chicken wings with carrots and celery and ranch

    Air Fryer Honey Soy Glazed Carrots

    They're easy enough to make on a weeknight, but decadent enough to make for a holiday like Easter or Mother's Day. Sticky, sweet, and with a slight spice kick. The glazes uses just a few pantry ingredients.

    Air fryer honey soy glazed carrots on a plate

    Baked Potatoes

    The skin on the baked potato becomes so thin and crispy, yet the inside is super tender. These are seriously the BEST baked potatoes!

    Air fryer baked potatoes with butter

    Chicken Parmesan

    Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan is a healthier alternative to the comforting favorite! A super easy dinner for two. Perfect for date night or make a double batch to serve the whole family!

    Air fryer chicken parmesan on a plate with spaghetti

    Some of my other favorite Air Fryer uses:

    • Most small freezer foods! The rule of thumb I use is take the oven directions and lower the temp by about 25 degrees and cut the cook time in half to start. Pizza rolls, mini pizzas, and frozen egg rolls are some of my faves!
    • Reheating leftovers! Let's be real, many foods get a little sad and soggy when reheated in the microwave. I love to reheat leftovers in the air fryer to crisp them back up again. I reheat most leftovers at 325-350 degrees F in the air fryer for 5-10 minutes until warmed.

    Those ads on the page? A portion of all ad revenue is being donated to Warrior Dog Rescue. A MN-based dog rescue that I foster and volunteer with.

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    Hi! I'm Kathleen and welcome! My favorite place to be has always been in the kitchen and I love creating recipes that are easy and approachable. Simple ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions!

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