Given that air fryers have made their way onto our countertops with the promise of low-fat fries, healthier cooked meats, and even a whole chicken, it’s understandable that this is what many among us tend to cook in it.
However, most air fryers are capable of offering more, from easy snacks and breakfasts, to helping you when you’re cooking. Read on to find out why you should use your air fryer every time of the day, not just at dinner.
1. Start getting dehydrated
If your air fryer can reach the low temperatures needed for drying (rather than cooking), there are tons of foods you can turn into healthy snacks. This includes processing thin slices of meat into jerky (around 65-80°C/150-175°F). Beef is popular, but you can also try less common meats, like venison or buffalo.
You can also dry slices of fruit (around 55-60°C/130-140°F), such as apples, pineapples, bananas and oranges. Six to eight hours should give them a chewy texture or you can dry them longer for a crispier result.
Rachel Ogden / Foundry
Rachel Ogden / Foundry
Rachel Ogden / Foundry
You can even use your air fryer to make meringue: bake it at 120°C/250°F for 20 minutes, followed by drying at 95°C/200°F for 70 minutes. Leave to cool for an hour in the basket and you will have crispy meringues for desserts.
2. Make a batch of yogurt
Some air fryers have a dedicated yogurt setting, but even if they don’t, as long as one of the presets goes down to 42°C/107°F and lasts at least six hours, you can ferment . A “proof” preset can often double for making yogurt.
Rachel Ogden / Foundry
Rachel Ogden / Foundry
Rachel Ogden / Foundry
It is advisable to first use a microwave or hob, along with a thermometer, to heat the milk up to 82°C/180°F (this kills any bacteria and tends to give a thicker finished yogurt), before quickly cooling it in a water or ice bath to around 47-52°C/117-126°F.
Next, you can mix up a generous spoonful of live yogurt, put it in lidded containers that fit in the basket of your air fryer—glass jars are ideal—and let it ferment for up to 12 hours. Once the program is finished, let the jar(s) cool to room temperature then place them in the refrigerator.
3. Be a better baker
Making cakes, rolls, donuts, and even bagels traditionally means turning on the oven, but if you have an air fryer, you may not have to do that.
Not only do many have a “proof” preset (around 32-38°C/90-100°F) – perfect for helping dough rise gently without having to store it in an airy cupboard or run your oven on low. temperature – you’ll also find a bake setting (usually preset at 180°C/355°F) on most models, allowing you to cook almost anything you can in your oven, but on a smaller scale.
As a guide, set your air fryer 20°C/70°F lower than the specified oven temperature and reduce the time by 20-25%.
4. Get Perfect Eggs
No stove? No problem. You can use your air fryer to “boil” eggs: just make sure you cook them longer than on the stovetop and not at air frying temperatures.
Eggs can crack or, in extreme cases, explode in an air fryer if cooked in their shells over intense heat. This is because a high temperature causes steam to build up too quickly inside the egg, increasing the pressure and causing the shell to burst.
Rachel Ogden / Foundry
Rachel Ogden / Foundry
Rachel Ogden / Foundry
Using temperatures of 170°C/340°F and above will cause them to crack. Instead, set your air fryer to 150°C/300°F and cook 8 minutes for soft and 12 minutes for hard, based on one medium egg. For larger eggs, increase the time slightly.
Air fryers can also be used for other types of eggs, such as poaching eggs (7 minutes at 180°C/355°F) in ramekins with a little hot water.
5. Fluff your pastry
The high temperatures and fast cooking times in an air fryer allow you to make anything from a batch of canapes or apple turnovers to shortcrust tartlets.
The key to getting it right is preheating: while you can cheat and saute some foods in a cold air fryer, the pastry should go in when the air fryer is already at 200°C/390°F. This helps it rise properly and be light and crispy. It’s also a good idea not to clutter the basket as this will prevent the heat from circulating as it should. Cook in batches rather than trying to do several at once.
The dough can burn quickly, so check it halfway through cooking, especially if it is thin, and keep a skewer handy to check if the crusts are done.
Given the wide variety of uses, even if kitchen counter space is at a premium, your air fryer will definitely earn its spot.
Looking for an air fryer? To browse our recommendations, take a look at our roundup of the best air fryers, best Ninja air fryers, and, for more cooking capacity, best air fryer ovens.
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