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It’s no secret that air fryers cook staples like chicken wings, French fries, and frozen foods better than other methods and with almost no cleanup. But there are some unexpected foods that are perfect for air frying. From whole roasted chicken to salmon fillets and even hamburgers and hot dogsthe air fryer is now the only place where I prepare these seven dishes.
When it comes to fast cooking with quality results, nothing beats the air fryerThe . microwave has its benefits, but food often becomes rubbery or unevenly heated, and toaster ovens do not emit the same heat for a crispy crust and crunchy edges as an air fryer.
Here are seven things I’ll only prepare in the air fryer from now on.
Salmon
Just 8 minutes in the airfryer and you have perfect medium-rare salmon.
Baked salmon is an easy, healthy weeknight main dish. It’s not difficult to make in the oven, but if you’re only cooking for one or two people, the preheating time is annoying and you’re wasting a lot of energy for a small amount of food. Baked salmon is great and quick, but there’s almost no way to cook salmon on the stovetop without creating a greasy, smelly mess.
I tried cooking roasted salmon in the airfryer and it came out perfect in about 10 minutes including preheating time. The closed cooking chamber traps all the fat and even hides some of the fishy smell so it doesn’t overtake the space.
Okay, you might catch me throwing a fillet every now and then salmon on the grill in the warmer months, but the days of wiping fish fat off the back of my stove are gone.
This is how you make it perfect salmon from the airfryer.
Roasted chicken
Chicken roasted in the air fryer is a revelation.
This one surprised me the most, because I make a roast chicken almost every Sunday and was happy with my oven method. I quickly learned that the air fryer does an even better job, because it can quickly crisp the skin without overcooking the meat. Roasted chicken in the air fryer takes about 45 minutes — about 15% faster than the oven — and it’s nearly impossible to mess up.
Here’s how to quickly make a roasted chicken in the airfryer.
Bacon Cheeseburgers
You can cook a burger perfectly medium or medium rare in an air fryer.
Airfryer cheeseburgers have become a staple in my home. The exception is in the summer when the roast is in full swing, but in the cooler months I turn to the air fryer for this American classic. Not only is it cleaner than pan frying, but the burger isn’t cooked in its own fat, so you get a lighter, healthier meal (if you’re into that sort of thing). You can also swap out the bun and a few slices bacon with the burger and you have a complete meal, which requires almost no cleaning.
Here’s how to do it make a cheeseburger from top to bottom in the airfryer.
Chicken cutlets
With an air fryer you can make beautiful chicken fillets.
Before I had the air fryer, I would pan fry breaded chicken breasts for chicken parmesan and other recipes. The air fryer does the same job, but makes less mess and also makes for a less greasy fried chicken.
Check this out: Best Airfryers: Cheap vs. Expensive
I recommend using boneless chicken thighs, which have enough fat to withstand all that convection heat without drying out. Simply brush the chicken with beaten egg, followed by bread crumbs mixed with salt, pepper, and other seasonings. Bake at 375 degrees for about 15 minutes.
You can lightly spray the schnitzels with a little oil before frying to get an extra crispy crust, but that is not strictly necessary. I have tried the same method with chicken breasts; it works well, but there is a greater risk of the meat drying out.
Cauliflower steak
Airfryer cauliflower steak has become a regular side dish in my kitchen.
One of my favorite things to cook in the air fryer is cauliflower. A slice of cauliflower makes a great savory side dish or main dish when you’re going plant-based. Simply toss a thick slice or two of cauliflower with olive oil and salt and pepper or whatever spices you like, and fry on high for 10 or 12 minutes. The air fryer will give it a nice caramelized crust, and it cooks the dense vegetable quickly enough that the inside of the cauliflower doesn’t get mushy.
Leftover pizza
This leftover pizza got a whole new life thanks to a quick trip to the air fryer.
While not every type of food is best reheated in the air fryer, many are. Air fryers are the perfect way to breathe new life into leftovers pizzafried chicken, grilled meats and vegetables. A microwave heats food unevenly and tends to give it a rubbery texture. Air fryers give food a second life through convection heat for a crispy crust and even heating.
Here is the best way to reheat any type of leftovers.
Hot dogs
You can prepare a whole pack of hot dogs in just a few minutes.
It’s hard to mess up a hot dog, but if you want a perfectly charred sausage in under five minutes, with no cleanup, look no further than the air fryer. Air frying hot dogs is about as easy as it gets, and the super convection oven will give them a perfect browning in two to three minutes.
This is how you make it hot dogs in the airfryer all summer long.
