Air fryers are one of the newest crazes in the cooking scene. They’re highly versatile and can cook almost anything well. Contrary to their name, air fryers don’t actually fry food. They’re a type of convection cooker that uses hot air to cook foods of all kinds. This cooking method gives food the same crispy coating as a deep fry — while still being much healthier. Air fryers also use less energy than ovens and microwaves, saving you a lot of money.
The Different Types of Air Fryers
At first glance, all air fryers are the same. Though the essential functions are similar, there are differences in how certain air fryers operate. Individual brands of air fryers can also come with different kinds of functionalities.
Basket Air Fryers
Basket air fryers are the most common type of air fryer. These use baskets to hold the food in place while it cooks them. Baskets make it easy to place and remove food from the air fryer — while ensuring that excess fat doesn’t soak back into the food.
However, basket air fryers also require a lot more attention when cooking. Moving the food around in the basket cooks the food more evenly. For example, foods such as fries or pasta require you to toss them in the basket while they cook.
Dual Basket Air Fryers
Many basket air fryers come in a double basket style for simultaneously cooking two different kinds of food. These feature the ability to cook two types of food at different temperatures to reduce your workload and time spent. These air fryers also generally come with many features to make things easier.
Dual-basket air fryers require more maintenance than single-basket or toaster oven air fryers. They are also much bigger than the other two types, so they need more space.
Air Fryer Toaster Oven
An air fryer toaster oven is a very different type of air fryer than the previous two. Instead of using heated air, toaster ovens cook food in a similar way to — you guessed it — conventional ovens.
In addition, instead of using a basket to hold food, toaster ovens have a tray that lays food down. This makes it suitable for cooking foods like toast, sandwiches and pizza. This type of air fryer is also easy to maintain.
Top Foods to Cook in an Air Fryer
Because they are so versatile, you can bet that many different air fryer recipes out there make the most out of all the features they offer. Here are a few to get you started!
Pork Chops
Everyone loves some well-cooked pork chops, but sometimes they come out dry or unevenly cooked. Air fryers use convection heating to ensure the pork chops are evenly and thoroughly cooked every time. A toaster oven air fryer is also perfect for these.
Beef and Broccoli
This air fryer recipe is a new take on a classic Chinese-American dish. The convection heating of a dual basket air fryer is perfect for cooking the beef and broccoli all at once — you can even set both baskets to different temperatures depending on what you are cooking.
Salmon Fillets
Seafood dishes like salmon fillets are perfect for a basket or toaster oven air fryer. The oven or convection style heating ensures the fish is fully cooked quickly without the signature fishy smell. This meal goes very well with vegetables like broccoli or a side of rice.
Sausages
Some of the best air fryer recipes involve sausages. They go great with everything and using air fryers can make it quick and easy to serve them. Cooking with an air fryer is also a great way to make a healthy meal from sausage.
Donuts
While air fryers are known for being a healthy cooking option, they’re also great for cooking up some guilty pleasures. You can make great-tasting donuts in a basket or toaster oven air fryer. Add caramel glaze and sprinkles and you’ve got a delectable treat just waiting to be eaten.
Potato Chips
You can make potato chips into a healthy snack as an air fryer recipe. They’re fast and easy to make — add some salt, pepper or other flavorings to make them delicious.
Air fryer potato chips have become so popular Kettle Brand chips are planning to introduce them into their brand.
Tofu
Tofu might sound like a surprise addition to the air fryer recipe list, but the truth is that it is perfect for cooking. The convection heating of a basket air fryer can get the crispiness of fried tofu just right.
Get Started With Your Air Fryer!
Air fryers are versatile enough to cook anything you and your family crave, from meat and pork to vegetables to delectable donuts! All of this while making even junk foods like potato chips more healthy!