Food in an air fryer isn’t fried; it’s prepared like in a convection oven. Baking and air-frying are different processes. Philips Electronics has been granted a patent for a small appliance that claims it can replicate deep-frying using hot air and little to no oil.
According to NPD Group research, nearly 40% of U.S. homes had one of these devices by July 2020. This popularity boomed in recent years. Air fryers can cook cookies, roasted vegetables, homemade french fries, and frozen chicken wings.
Air fryers do what?
The air fryer’s top contains the heating system and fan. When you turn on the fryer, hot air rushes down and around the food before reaching the bottom. Rapid circulation gives food a deep-fried-like crispness without oil.
How to use an air fryer
- Put food in the basket by
Depending on the size of your air fryer, the basket can hold 2 to 10 quarts (ca. 9 l). To make food crispy, add one or two teaspoons of oil. Using foil in an air fryer can speed up cleanup.
- Give time and weather
Air fryer cooking times and temperatures range from 5 to 25 minutes at 350 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (ca. 204 °C).
- Cook food
To ensure even crisping, flip the food halfway through cooking. Clean your air fryer after cooking.
Want golden brown, crispy air-fried food? We have tips for using an air fryer to ensure recipe success and common mistakes to avoid.
Who makes the best air fryers?
Three manufacturers stood out after being tested in our Test Kitchen. Our experts love the Philips Advance Turbo-Star Air Fryers and the Black + Decker Purify and PowerXL Vortex. Here are the best air fryer for large families
If you are on a budget and what something pocket friendly, then here are the 11 best air fryers under $100.
The price depends on device size and capabilities. You may also want to buy the air fryer’s accessories.
Which foods air fry best?
Even though many air-fryer recipes are for deep-fried foods, you can also roast vegetables, cook meat, and bake cookies.
Appetizers frozen
The air fryers excel at cooking frozen foods with a deep-fried flavor. Air fryers can cook frozen chicken nuggets, mozzarella sticks, and French fries.
Appetizers homemade
Investing in an air fryer is smart if you prefer to make homemade snacks and sides from scratch. Air fry potato chips, pickles, and sweet potato fries. Try these air fryers appetizers, like egg rolls and ravioli.
Fresh cheese melts into a gloppy mess, but frozen mozzarella sticks taste great (so homemade cheese curds are out).
There’s meat, poultry, and seafood
Air fryers produce juicy, tender chicken. Try Nashville hot chicken in an air fryer. Air-fried keto meatballs make a lighter, healthier meal. These air fryer’s crumb-topped soles and air fryer cod are our favorites.
The air fryer can cook comfort foods like roast pork loin and meatloaf.
Roasting
Air fryers are miniature conventional ovens, making them ideal for roasting vegetables for one or two people. Air-fried potatoes, asparagus, garlic-rosemary Air-fried Brussels sprouts, and herb-and-lemon cauliflower are two of our favorites.
Avoid cooking leafy greens in this appliance.
Baked goods
Air fryers can make single-serving desserts like cookies and apple fritters (for instructions on how to make cookies in an air fryer, see here). You can also make the air fryer’s mini Nutella doughnut holes or the air fryer’s peppermint lava cakes for the holidays. Here are both recipes. Air fryer’s breakfast recipes include bourbon bacon cinnamon rolls and French toast sticks. Turn on the air fryer before breakfast.
You have no liquid batter, so you can’t make anything (unless you freeze it first).
Air fryer FAQ
Air-cooked food: safe?
Air-frying is healthier than deep-frying because it uses less oil. Air-fried frozen French fries have 4 to 6 grams of fat per serving, while deep-fried fries have 17 grams.
Air fryer’s pros and cons
Air fryers can quickly and more nutritiously prepare frozen foods than deep frying. The results are better than oven frying, and your kitchen stays cool.
Even the largest air fryers have a limited capacity, so you may need to cook in batches if you’re feeding a large group. Air fryers take up more counter space than toasters due to their size. Finally, the cost varies widely depending on the model.
Air fryers: worth the money?
More models have lowered the price of this popular home appliance in recent years. Many models are now under $200, and some are under $100. If you often fry foods from scratch or from frozen, reheat leftovers, or enjoy experimenting with new kitchen gadgets, an air fryer is a smart investment.
