c/air-fryer-recipes

My neighbor convinced me to try a whole chicken in the air fryer

I was talking to my neighbor, Carol, over the weekend and she mentioned she cooks a whole 4-pound chicken in her air fryer every Sunday. I told her that sounded like a mess and the skin would never get right. She just said, 'You have to trust the basket. It holds the bird up so the hot air gets all around it.' I tried it yesterday, and she was totally right. I patted the chicken dry, rubbed it with some oil and salt, and put it in at 360 degrees for about an hour. The skin was so crispy all over, and the meat was still juicy. I feel silly for thinking it was only good for small things like fries or wings. Has anyone else done a whole chicken, and do you have a favorite rub or seasoning mix for it?

Can we talk about frozen french fries in the air fryer

I used to bake them on a sheet pan and they always came out soft. Last week, I saw a tip online to soak them in cold water for 30 minutes first, then dry them well. I tried it with a bag of store brand crinkle cuts and the difference was huge, they got so crispy. Has anyone else found a simple trick that fixed a basic food like that?

Warning: I used to burn my frozen fries every single time

Honestly, I just gave up on them for like 6 months. Then I saw a video from a guy in Dallas who said to soak them in cold water for 10 minutes before you air fry. Tried it with a bag of store brand crinkles and they came out perfect, not a single burnt spot. Has anyone else found a trick for a different frozen food?

Showerthought: I just found out my air fryer uses way less power than my big oven

I was looking at my electric bill from last month and saw the cost was a bit high. My son said to check what appliances use the most, so I looked it up online. I found a chart that said a regular oven can use about 2400 watts to heat up. My air fryer, the basic model I got from Target, only uses around 1500 watts. That's a big difference. I started using the air fryer for small things like chicken strips and roasted veggies instead of turning on the whole oven. I think it saved me some money. Has anyone else noticed a change in their power bill after using their air fryer more?

I had to pick between a frozen pizza or a bag of fries for my air fryer dinner

I went with the pizza, cooking it at 380 for 12 minutes, and it came out perfectly crisp. Anyone have a go-to frozen brand that air fries well?

I was reading a food science blog and found out you can actually air fry a whole head of cauliflower without pre-steaming it first.

I mean, I tried it for 45 minutes at 375 and it came out perfectly tender inside with a nice crust, which totally surprised me because every recipe I'd seen before said you had to steam it first.

PSA: My neighbor in apartment 3B told me to stop spraying oil directly on my fries before air frying.

She said it makes them soggy and to toss them in a bowl with a teaspoon of oil instead. Has anyone else tried this method with different veggies?

Vent: I keep seeing people cook frozen fries in their air fryer without shaking the basket once.

Talked to my neighbor about his air fryer chicken and it blew my mind

He said he always soaks his chicken thighs in pickle juice for an hour before he cooks them. I tried it with some leftover juice from a jar of dill pickles and the chicken came out super juicy with a tangy flavor. What's the weirdest thing you've used to marinate something in the air fryer?

My air fryer caught fire trying to make frozen onion rings

I was in my kitchen in Springfield last Tuesday, following the box instructions for 400 degrees and 12 minutes. About 8 minutes in, I saw orange flames inside the basket through the window. I unplugged it right away and let it cool on the stovetop. The onion rings were completely black and the basket has some scorch marks that won't scrub off. Has anyone else had a frozen food item cause a flare-up like this?

Unpopular opinion: I think the whole 'no oil' air fryer rule is a myth

I read a study from the University of Nebraska's food science department that tested different cooking methods. They found that using a light spray of oil on vegetables in an air fryer can actually help your body absorb more vitamins. I tried it with broccoli last night, just a quick mist, and it came out way more tender and flavorful than my usual dry method. Has anyone else found that a tiny bit of oil makes a real difference?

I read that air fryers can cut cooking oil use by up to 80% compared to deep frying

I was looking up some facts for a school project my kid was doing and found this on a university food science website. They tested things like fries and chicken tenders. The air fryer used just a tablespoon of oil for a whole batch that would have needed over half a cup in a deep fryer. That's a huge difference! It made me feel way better about making crispy snacks at home. Has anyone else seen a big drop in their oil bottle usage since getting an air fryer?

Rant: My whole family thought I was nuts for trying to air fry a whole chicken

Last week, I saw a video from a cooking channel in Seattle where they did it in under an hour... I tried it on Sunday with a five pound bird from the market. I rubbed it with just oil, salt, and pepper, and it came out so juicy, but the skin wasn't as crispy as I wanted. Has anyone else tried this and found a trick for getting that perfect, all-over crunch?

Can we talk about frozen fries in the air fryer?

I tried cooking a bag of regular crinkle cuts versus some shoestring fries I had, both at 400 degrees for 15 minutes. The shoestrings came out way crispier and didn't get soggy in the middle like the thicker ones did. What's your go-to frozen potato for the air fryer?

Honestly, trying to get crispy air fryer tofu that wasn't a soggy mess took me like 8 attempts over two months

Pro tip: That $20 silicone egg bite mold for the air fryer was a total game changer

I saw it online and thought it was just another gadget, but I bought it anyway. Now I make egg bites every Sunday for the week, and they come out perfect every time. It saves me at least $30 a week because I was buying breakfast sandwiches before. The best part is you can throw in leftover veggies or cheese and they never stick. Anyone have other good ideas for stuff to bake in those molds?

I finally gave up on air fryer salmon after three soggy attempts

Last week, I followed a popular recipe that said to cook a 6-ounce fillet at 400 degrees for 12 minutes. It came out wet and steamed, not crispy at all. I tried it two more times with less time and more oil, but it just never got that nice sear I can get in my cast iron in half the time. Everyone raves about it, but I think the air fryer is just wrong for certain fish. Has anyone else had this problem and found a trick that actually works?

Just realized I was cooking frozen fries wrong the whole time

For the past year, I'd just dump a bag of frozen fries straight into the basket, set it to 400, and walk away. They were okay, but never great. Last week, my friend said to soak them in hot water for 10 minutes first and pat them dry. I thought it was a waste of time, but I tried it with a bag of store brand crinkle cuts. The difference was crazy. The outside got way crispier without burning, and the inside was actually fluffy, not that weird gummy texture. It only took an extra 15 minutes total, and they tasted like they came from a real diner. I guess that quick soak pulls out some of the extra surface ice. Has anyone else found a simple trick that made a huge difference with a basic frozen food?

I finally tried air frying tofu after my friend in Portland said it would change my mind about it.

My neighbor said something about frozen vegetables that made me stop and think

We were chatting over the fence yesterday and she mentioned she only uses fresh broccoli in her air fryer. I told her I always buy the frozen florets from the store to save time. She just shrugged and said, 'But you're missing the crunch.' I tried her way tonight with a fresh head, and she was totally right. The texture is way better. Does anyone have tips for getting fresh veggies really crispy without burning them?

Showerthought: My mom's comment about frozen fries changed my whole air fryer game

Was at my mom's place in Toledo last weekend. She saw me shaking the basket for my frozen fries. She just goes, 'You know, you should spray the fries, not the basket.' I always sprayed the basket to stop sticking. She said it makes the fries soggy underneath. Tried her way on a bag of store brand crinkles. Put them in, gave a light oil spray right over the top. Cooked at 400 for 12 minutes, shaking once. Came out way crispier. Bottom was perfect. Never going back. Anyone have a different trick for getting frozen stuff extra crispy?

Tried to make air fryer sweet potato fries for my kid's school lunch and had to pick between crispy or healthy.

I had to choose between coating them in a little oil for crunch or just using a dry spice rub to cut calories. I went with the dry rub, and they came out a bit tough and chewy, not the crispy treat I promised. Anyone have a trick to get them crispy without drowning them in oil?

My neighbor said air fryer chicken wings are always dry

I heard him talking over the fence yesterday and he was totally convinced you can't get a good wing from an air fryer. I've been making them for my crew's lunch every Friday for about 6 months now, so I told him my method: 180 degrees for 12 minutes, then crank it to 400 for 8 more, tossing halfway. They come out perfect. Has anyone else found a better temp/time combo for wings?

I bought a $35 'air fryer liner' set that melted into my basket...

Some folks say liners are a must for easy cleanup, but mine just made a huge mess and wasted money. It was a silicone set from a big box store, and it warped at 400 degrees. Anyone have a liner brand that actually holds up, or should I just skip them?

My friend in Phoenix said my air fryer salmon was the best she'd ever had, and now I'm chasing that high.