What are the best kinds of foods to cook in an air fryer?
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Air fryers are versatile appliances that use hot air circulation to cook food, giving it a crispy texture similar to deep frying but with less oil. Here are some of the best kinds of foods to cook in an air fryer:
- French fries: Air fryers can produce crispy and delicious fries using a fraction of the oil used in traditional deep frying.
- Chicken wings: Cook evenly in an air fryer, resulting in crispy skin and tender, juicy meat.
- Breaded fish and seafood: Foods like breaded shrimp, fish fillets, and calamari can be cooked to a crispy, golden-brown finish.
- Vegetables: Cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and zucchini can be cooked quickly and easily in an air fryer, with a crispy exterior and tender interior.
- Mozzarella sticks: Cooked in an air fryer, these cheese-filled snacks have a crispy outside and gooey inside without the greasiness of deep frying.
- Sweet potato fries: Similar to French fries, sweet potato fries can be cooked to a crispy finish with minimal oil.
- Jalapeno poppers: The air fryer’s circulating heat cooks the jalapeno poppers evenly, giving them a crunchy exterior and melty cheese inside.
- Onion rings: Air fryers can create crunchy, golden onion rings that are much healthier than their deep-fried counterparts.
- Empanadas and pastries: Foods like empanadas, samosas, and other stuffed pastries can be cooked to a crisp, flaky texture in an air fryer.
- Nuggets and tenders: Chicken nuggets and tenders are ideal for cooking in an air fryer, giving them a crispy coating without excess oil.
When using an air fryer, it’s important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cooking times and temperatures. In general, you should shake or flip the food halfway through the cooking process to ensure even cooking and browning, but some air fryers have rotating baskets that remove the need for this.
