What Food Can You Cook In An Air Fryer?

So you've been thinking about investing in an air fryer, but what do you know about this popular appliance? Air fryers circulate hot air around your food to give it a crispy, crunchy exterior. Because of this, many believe it's the "healthier" option when it comes to frying food because it requires little to no oil.

Here are some tips on how to cook food in an air fryer:

You have to cook in batches. It's tempting to just throw everything in there, press a button, and come back when it's ready, but for food to cook properly, you have to let the air circulate.
Always check your food. Shake the basket from time to time to make sure your food is cooking evenly. If you're cooking meat, feel free to flip the food halfway before your timer goes off.
Clean it properly. The last thing you want is to damage the non-stick surface of your new kitchen BFF. Use a non-abrasive sponge and avoid metal scrubbers. If there's a weird smell, don't submerge it in water (it's still an electrical appliance after all). Instead, keep a lemon in the basket for 30 minutes.

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What can and can't you cook in an air fryer?

The short answer: "Anything you can bake, you can make in an air fryer," author Brandi Crawford told NBC. That covers "chicken breasts, burgers, steak, lamb chops—[and] they don't have to be breaded. The air fryer cooks them to the perfect temperature. They're juicy and tender." You can also cook most vegetables in air fryers. Her favorites are green beans, broccoli, and mushrooms. Potatoes and asparagus cook well, too, according to Crawford.

People think you can't cook anything with wet batter in an air fryer because there's nothing to set it so the food will just drip inside the appliance. Fortunately, there's a hack for this: Dredge your food in flour, eggs, and breadcrumbs first. Crawford used onions rings as an example and said that you can freeze them for 10 minutes after dredging so it doesn't drip.