7 Foods I Now Make Exclusively in the Air Fryer

In the five years since I was using an air fryer, it has slowly but surely replaced the cooking tasks previously performed by my wall oven or stove. The air fryer has proven itself capable of cooking all kinds of food, not just frozen fries and chicken wings, although it does a pretty good job of both.

The main reason I use my air fryer is for the delicious results – air fryers give foods a great crust through fan-driven convection cooking – but it also takes less time to prepare food than most other methods. Air fryers are also easy to clean, as most have a non-stick basket that only requires a quick rinse with soapy water, and very rarely is there food stuck to the bottom that needs to be scrubbed off. The air fryer basket also contains any splatter that might otherwise make a mess on the counter or stove.

While there are a few things I still cook in the big oven or on the stove, the list gets smaller every year. Here are seven things I will only cook in the deep fryer from now on.

Salmon

Baked salmon is a simple, healthy weeknight staple. It’s not hard to make in the oven, but if you’re only cooking for one or two people, the preheat time is a pain in the ass. Pan-seared salmon is great and quick, but there’s almost no way to cook salmon on the stove without creating a greasy, fishy mess. In addition, you will have cleaning pan after.

I tried to cook a broiled salmon in the deep fryer and it came out perfectly in about 10 minutes, including the preheat time. The closed cooking chamber even masked some of the fishy smell from taking over my apartment.

Okay, so you might catch me throwing a fillet every now and then grilled salmon during the warmer months, but gone are the days of wiping fish oil off the back of the kitchen stove.

Here’s how to make your own perfect air fryer salmon.

Grilled chicken

This surprised me the most as I make roast chicken most Sundays and was happy with my method using the wall oven. But I quickly learned that an air fryer does an even better job of being able to quickly crisp the skin without overcooking the meat. Deep-fried chicken takes about 45 minutes—about 15 percent faster than in the oven—and is nearly impossible to screw up.

Here’s how I do it quickly deep fried chicken.

Cheeseburgers

Air fryer cheeseburgers have become a staple in my house. The exception is in the summer when grilled is in full swing, but in the cooler months I turn to the deep fryer for this American classic. Not only is it cleaner than pan-frying, but the burger doesn’t cook in its own fat, so you get a lighter, healthier meal (if you’re into that sort of thing). You can also glue the bun and a few slices of bacon with the burger and you have the full meal with almost no cleanup.

Here’s how to make a cheeseburger upside down in the deep fryer.

Chicken cutlets

Before the air fryer, I used to fry breaded chicken cutlets for chicken parmesan and other recipes, but the air fryer does the same job with less mess and produces less greasy “fried” chicken.

I recommend using boneless chicken thighs that have enough fat content to withstand all that convective heat without drying out. Simply brush the chicken with beaten egg followed by breadcrumbs mixed with salt, pepper and other seasonings. Bake at 375 degrees for about 15 minutes.

You can brush the cutlets lightly with a little oil before cooking to give them an extra crispy crust, but it’s not necessary. I tried the same method with chicken breasts; works well but has a greater risk of drying out the meat.

Cauliflower steak

One of my favorite things to cook in the deep fryer is cauliflower. A plate of cauliflower makes an excellent hearty side or main dish if you’re plant-based. Just toss one or two thick slices of cauliflower with olive oil, salt and pepper or some seasoning and air fry for about 10 or 12 minutes on high. The deep fryer imparts a beautiful caramelized crust and cooks the dense vegetable quickly enough to keep the inside of the cauliflower from turning mushy.

French fries

Admittedly, I didn’t make French fries that often before I got a deep fryer, but now that I have one, it’s the only method I’ll use. Frozen fries tend to dry out when baked in a large oven because they take much longer to cook in this large oven.

An air fryer with its compact cooking chamber and fast-moving air gives a quick crust to the outside of fries in minutes without drying out the potatoes. Frozen fries don’t take more than five or six minutes to cook in the air fryer, and you can make fries from scratch in about 15.

Most leftovers

While not every type of food is best reheated in a deep fryer, many are. Deep fryers are the perfect way to revive leftovers pizza, fried chicken, grilled meats and vegetables. A microwave oven 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 it is the best way to reheat any kind of leftovers.