Cooks Share Their Favourite Meals to Make in an Air Fryer

For loads of residence cooks, the air fryer has change into as ubiquitous because the microwave. In truth, shopper habits perception firm Circana estimates that two-thirds of American households personal one — a statistic that apparently contains many working cooks. 

“Air fryers are god’s reward to mankind, an invention akin to fireside for the human race,” says Andrew Lim, the chef/proprietor of Perilla Korean American Fare in Chicago. “They’re a a lot more healthy solution to ‘fry’ meals and get that crispy, ethereal exterior, with no tub of fats and oil to accompany it.”

Since air fryers are basically countertop convection ovens — which work by circulating sizzling air to prepare dinner and caramelize meals — they’re very best for crisping up generally deep-fried meals like hen wings and french fries with minimal oil. Some fashions additionally embody capabilities for toasting, broiling, proofing bread dough, and dehydrating, furthering the probabilities of this small-but-mighty equipment. 

We requested chef followers from across the nation how they use their air fryers at residence, and so they got here again with tons of sensible concepts you’ll wish to steal to your personal kitchen. 

“Baked” potatoes 

“I like to do ‘baked’ potatoes or candy potatoes within the air fryer. Not solely is it sooner, nevertheless it creates an important shell whereas sustaining a very fluffy texture.” — Andrew Lim, chef/proprietor of Perilla Korean American Fare in Chicago

Instantaneous corn on the cob  

“I’ve been making corn on the cob in my air fryer practically each night time this summer time! A few minutes at 400 levels F cooks it completely. Then I roll it in Kewpie mayo and chili crunch. It’s the best and best-tasting dinner facet.” — Stephanie Izard, F&W 2011 Finest New Chef and chef/proprietor of Lady & The Goat, Little Goat, Duck Duck Goat, and Cabra in Chicago and Los Angeles

Fast cocktail garnishes 

“Should you like making stunning cocktails and don’t wish to spend the cash on costly bar garnishes, strive thinly slicing citrus or apples (an particularly great way to make use of up the slighter older ones kicking across the backside of the fridge) and air-frying them. Retailer the dehydrated fruit slices in an hermetic jar and use them at your subsequent cocktail gathering. We preserve them in glass jars at our bar so as to add to the decor!” — ​​Claudia Sidoti, chef and co-owner of Mill and Predominant in Kerhonkson, New York

The simplest garlic bread

“For dinner, we make crimson sauce and garlic bread usually. I soak ciabatta loaves in olive oil, fry them within the air fryer, after which rub them with garlic and parsley. It’s scrumptious and tremendous fast.” — Steven Redzikowski, proprietor of OAK at Fourteenth in Boulder, Colorado

The perfect hen wings

“Baked wings are the very best as a result of the fats renders out correctly, and the crunch issue is the very best. The air fryer simply amplifies this. A pleasant little tip for making wings within the air fryer is to completely prepare dinner them after which use a sauce that comprises sugar and vinegar. Put your cooked wings right into a bowl, add your sauce, give it an excellent combine, after which put them again into the air fryer to glaze them up. You’ll thank me later!” — Alejandro Najar, govt chef of The Butcher’s Cellar in Waco, Texas

Further-crunchy baguettes

“Air fryers are helpful when warming up straight-from-the-freezer meals and skipping the thawing course of in a pinch. Because it’s small, it’s extra environment friendly and doesn’t waste fuel or a considerable amount of power that occurs when turning on a full-sized oven.

I exploit the air fryer to bake mini frozen French baguettes. Due to the small house, I can get an important lead to a brief period of time. A tip is to fill a small heat-proof vessel with about 4 ounces of water and half a teaspoon of sea salt and place it within the air fryer with the bread. The steam releases and offers the baguettes a pleasant crust.” — Geoffrey Zakarian, Meals Community host and founding father of Zakarian Hospitality Consulting

Dehydrated egg yolks

“My favourite factor to do in an air fryer has nothing to do with ‘frying’ in any respect. In my humble opinion, the very best fashions to get are those that include a dehydrator setting — two kitchen home equipment in a single actually helps with counter house.

You may dehydrate herbs and greens, however my private favourite is egg yolks. First, remedy them in salt and sugar for a couple of week. Rinse your eggs off and get them on a rack in your air fryer at 150 levels F. After about two hours on the dehydrator setting, you may have this stunning egg that you could microplane over all types of meals to offer them a salty umami addition.” — James Galbraith, chef/proprietor of Houndstooth and Anemel in Benton Harbor, Michigan, and soon-to-open PostBoy in New Buffalo, Michigan

Crispy English peas

“A surprisingly good facet within the air fryer is English peas! I combine them with our This Little Goat Chili Lime Crunch, toss them within the fryer for 5 minutes, after which add slightly little bit of mint and queso fresco. It’s so fast and straightforward — the longest half is cleansing the peas from the pods (in case you’re getting them recent from the farmers market).” — Stephanie Izard

Weeknight fish dinners

“A favourite go-to dish for my air fryer is huli huli seabass. I’m going fishing as usually as I can on my days off and get a recent catch. I make a huli huli glaze to cowl the bass, air-fry it, and serve it in a taco or on high of sticky rice and scallions. That is all the time a crowd-pleaser when I’m entertaining a gaggle or if I’m simply cooking for 2.” — Nate Leonard, govt chef of Tide Room on the Ashore Resort & Seaside Membership in Ocean Metropolis, Maryland 

“My absolute favourite dish to make in an air fryer is salmon filets. First, I marinate them in sake, soy, mirin, and garlic puree. Then I prepare dinner them for eight to 10 minutes at 425 levels F, which creates an unbelievable crust with out overcooking. For greatest outcomes, I like the middle reduce filet that’s roughly two inches thick.” — Kevin Lee, director of operations at Phat Eatery in higher Houston space

Bakery-level hand pies 

“I exploit my air fryer much less as a ‘fryer’ and extra for what it really is: a mini convection oven. Hand pies are most likely what it will get used for greater than something in my home, and that might be something from a candy black raspberry and damson one to a venison pithivier.” — Travis Milton, chef of Hickory at Nicewonder Farm & Vineyards in Bristol, Virginia

The crispiest rice

“Considered one of my favourite hacks is to purchase Dealer Joe’s cooked rice and pop it proper within the air fryer to crisp it up. Then I combine the crispy rice right into a salad. Perfection!” — Edy Massih, chef/proprietor of Edy’s Grocer in Brooklyn

Completely seasoned french fries…or candy potato fries