Air Fryer
 

Our kids got us an air fryer for Christmas. Well actually we had to send that one back because it was a “smart” one and was supposed to connect to a smart phone. We are not “ smart” enough to have figured out how to turn it off and on ( there was not off/on button!)
Anyway now have one we can figure out. It has other settings such as bake, toast , roast.
So, what recipes do you use for your air fryer, toaster oven appliance ?

Even our tv is too smart for us. Had air fryer but took too much counter space.

Had a super simple one that i loved. Got talked in to getting a “better” one. So took simple to cabin. Love it. Easy to operated and clean. Nice one is way too many buttons, hard to clean, and big. Started keeping in in a cupboard drawer so now dont use it often. Too much hassle to lift out.
that being said. We do hamburger patties, have done steak and a roast. We buy calzones and bake at home in there. All frozen pastries.. I think it has a lot of good uses, if you have the desire and the space.

I found out that Air Fryers are basically specialized easier to clean (small) convection ovens. When we moved we didn't bring our heavily used toaster oven and I am missing some of the things I used to make. I am considering getting another toaster oven for a number of reasons and I will want the convection features if I do.

Chicken parts like thighs and legs worked particularly well. Fast and crispy.

One of my friends has medical conditions that limit her foods. After her gall bladder removal she just couldn't tolerate fats and her beloved french fries were taken away from her as well -- Air Fryer to the rescue!

We bought one at the beginning of the pandemic. It was cheap and didn't last too long. One thing that I learned is that oil is still needed, just not as much. We would lightly toss French fries in olive oil. We did not replace it.
I have found the oven at 425 degrees does the same thing. We make oven fries all the time. Recently, I discovered that a bag of frozen veggies tossed in oil on parchment paper, baked for 25 minutes is perfect.
We switched from fresh to frozen vegetables because the fresh would spoil before using it all. Haven't thrown out any rotten veggies!

I use my air fryer more then my oven. I found one that works for us. Farberware 6 quart. It is the quietest one I have used. I do bacon, pork chops, chicken, meat balls, most any meat that I was frying before. Biscuits, raw or frozen bake up fluffy. Before I turn on my oven for one thing to bake I test it in the air fryer. My husband and grands like the Pepperidge Farm frozen fruit turnovers. 25 min in a 400 degree oven or 8 min in the air fryer. My oven won't preheat in 8 min. And such waste to bake one or two. It makes cold pizza taste like fresh baked. Lots of youtube videos how and what to cook using one are amazing. I bought another when it was on sale to keep for a spare.

I used to use a toaster oven for toasting and baking small items as it's just me. Why heat up the oven for something that will fit into a toaster oven? Anyway, got myself a Ninja SP101 8 in 1 countertop air fryer. It toasts, bakes, roast, dehydrates, keep warm and air fries. Gave my toaster oven to my neighbor. This air fryer took up only a couple more inches of the countertop than the toaster oven. I was having my kitchen completely remodeled and once everything was put back in place, my oven on my stove decided to take a nosedive 4 weeks into the season. Plus it was during the pandemic so you know it took months to get another stove to replace it. Luckily the burners still worked but that air fryer came in handy. My new stove has an air fryer mode on it but I have yet to try it out. My Ninja takes just 90 seconds or less to heat up, I can bake a medium size pizza in it with no trouble, pot pies, fruit pies, air fry my hashbrown patties, etc.

My sister finally broke down and bought one during the Black Friday sales. Her's is a 13 in 1 with a meat thermometer gadget. She's slowing trying different things with it but so far she likes it.

I rarely ever use my oven these days unless I'm using a cookie sheet . Plus the oven seems to take forever to heat up and I use the convection mode on it too.

We like toasted hot sandwiches so I wrap the sandwich in foil and put in the air fryer. I have a toaster oven with the air fryer feature but it doesn't perform as well as the air fryer only. We seldom use the toaster oven so it stays in the cabinet until wanted. I am a nothing on countertop person so to keep any appliance on the counter it has to earn its spot. Our air fryer and coffee maker are the only two that have so far.

I got one at a real bargain but don't use it a lot. We also didn't eat that many fried foods before getting it. I do like sausages done in the air fryer. Especially breakfast sized. And cook from frozen burgers--especially the salmon ones from Costco. They are delicious and never overcooked. I do not like the size but have a little corner on the counter that keeps it out of the way until needed.

You asked for recipes, Terry, but you didn't specify what you like to eat.
My air fryer came with a book full of recipes... meals, breads, meats, veggies, deserts etc. You can make almost anything in it that you can make in your regular oven....it's just a lot smaller and faster. Things on average take half the time to cook...or less.
here are a few good places for recipes

This site reference and a cookbook came with my air fryer: https://cosori.com/blogs/recipes

5 fast air fryer meals: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4Rop9ZXbHo

air fryer chicken breast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxKgRQCtV7A

how to cook frozen veggies without making them soggy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zd_GKFYqxvQ

my fave...lots of air fryer recipes here: https://www.foodtalkdaily.com/search...ryer%20recipes

air fryer cheesecake: https://www.foodtalkdaily.com/recipe...ecipe-44517204

This tutorial helped me a lot when I was first learning to use mine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1MpZrOy0-A
and the sidebar has lots more of her very informative videos.

edit: This creamy garlic chicken recipe is good too: https://cosori.com/blogs/recipes/air...garlic-chicken

and this from food network: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/...-fryer-recipes

First Rule: Never put your air fryer basket into the dishwasher!!!!
Second not really rule: have fun :)

If you can bake it, you can air fry it. I really like grilled cheese sandwiches when done in the air fryer! We always use parchment liners to help with cleanup.

By research, considering how I cook, counter space, what my kitchen lacked; I decided on needing toast, bagel,warm,proof, air fry, dehydrate. Only 1 appliance on counter=instant coffee, heat water in microwave. Capacity is important for proof and dehydrate. Never deep fry anything. Even before gall bladder issues it made me ill. Hubby’s fav breakfast was donuts. I’d get so ill, vomit was the only solution. One time had fried chicken and gravy- aching stomach then diarrhea and vomit. Breaded and fried are impossible. French fries are history. Thought air frying would be better, using less fat.

usually cook for one; hubby /I eat very different. His diet is mostly meat and potatoes. Mine is whole grains and vegetables.

solution; Breville Smart Oven-Air Fryer Pro. Can do small meals. Can proof sour dough bread. Easy to clean.

We live in So. Cal. and electricity and gas for the home are high cost - we have gone so solar so I wanted the larger air fryer because it basically replaces my oven. It's just my DH & I - it's the EL 360 and sits on a microwave cart. Depending on how hot I need it, but it's usually pre-heated in less than 3 minutes. Then the cooking time is maybe 1/2 the time of many items no more that 3/4 the time. I can't give up my toaster though - there is something about a piece of toast I can't give up. All the side dishes that fit in the air fryer - go in there. But if I am making a full size turkey - it will go into the big oven. I bought some David's cookies and my grandson loves when I ask,"Should we bake a cookie?" They are ready in 15 minutes from freezer to plate and we are watching his favorite movie. (He's 3.). Won't be too long and his little sister will be joining us for cookies and milk too.

Good point-electricity costs, need more efficiency. Another good point- cooking 1 potion at a time, quickly.

My air fryer has basically replaced my microwave. I have one that toasts, bakes, air frys, broils, dehydrates, and lifts up out of the way when I'm not using it. It heats up faster than my oven. Family favorites - jojo potatoes, breaded chicken tenders, broiled brussels sprouts.

I have one that I only use for frozen sweet potato fries. I've just never explored other things I can do with it. I guess I'm just set in my ways. I have a huge laundry room off the kitchen I store the air fryer in one of the cabinets. Out of site out of mind, it's a rainy day, perhaps I should spend the day trying new things in it.

Peckish, sounds like you have one of the Ninja air fryers as mine lifts up when not in use also. Love mine and it came in handy when my oven decided to kick the bucket on me just after getting my kitchen remodeled. My new oven has the air fryer mode but I have yet to try it out as my Ninja fits me to a T. My sister just got one of those 13 in 1 Ninja air fryers during the Black Friday sales and paid only half the normal price. She finally after all these years bought a toaster oven as mother likes toast. She's put that in storage for now as the air fryer is in the spot the toaster oven was in.

a couple of years ago, I bought an insta pot. and I picked up the air fryer attachment. Then I replaced my stove. It has an air fryer setting. I love the air fryer setting. I am alone, I have a very small kitchen without much counter space at all. Yep, the insta pot has never been used. I found the new electric stove heats up so much faster than my old one did and I love the air fryer setting in it. I think I actually use that setting the most.

We got a Ninja "flip" which had many functions so we use it as a toaster, oven and air fryer. I don't use it to reheat, broil or dehydrate. I Google when I want to cook something. Like "pork chops in air fryer" or "chicken tenders in air fryer"
or "reheat pizza in air fryer". Then I can see which recipe and method combo appeals to me.i use this for my instant pot Too. Also I have a convection oven and I don't find it interchangeable with the air fryer.

This was the first recipe I cooked in my air fryer. The air fryer instructions are at the bottom.

Apple Crisp

Place rack one level lower than center. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Baking spray an 8-1/2” x 8-1/2” Corelle baking dish.

Pie:

4 (2-pounds, room temperature) Granny Smith apples, sliced thin

1/4 cup Brown Sugar

1-1/2 teaspoons Cinnamon

1 tablespoon Lemon Juice

3 tablespoons melted Butter

2 tablespoons Flour

3 tablespoons Water

1/2 teaspoons Vanilla

Combine all pie ingredients and place in the baking dish.

Topping:

1/3 cup cold Butter

1/2 cup All-Purpose Flour

1/2 cup Old Fashioned Oats

1/2 cup Brown Sugar

1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder

1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon

Using a pastry cutter combine all topping ingredients until it resembles pea-sized crumbs. Spread crumbs on top of the pie mixture in the baking dish, and gently pat to even it out.

Bake 40-50 minutes until golden brown and bubbly. Serve warm…

Air Fryer:

Use an 8” round pan, 350 degrees, 35 minutes (or until juices are bubbly). The apples will continue to cook as they cool. Cool on a wire rack.

I forgot to add that my 8" round pan is metal and 3" high. All the ingredients wouldn't fit in a 2" high pan.

I don't have an air fryer, but I've been curious about them. I like the idea that they cook faster and use less oil to make traditional, fried foods. But, like Petthefabric, I have very little counter space, so there's just no room for one. I had to laugh at the comment that their's was "too smart" for them. I also get frustrated with "smart" appliances.

check out the Ninja Flip. You can use it as a toaster and toaster oven too and it flips up out of the way when not using.

Thanks for the air fryer recipe links. I should use mine more often, but counter space is a premium at my house.

The new convention range I bought came with an air fryer setting. The air fryer setting basically works like a convention setting but the fan blows harder so they get crisper. I tested this out. Indeed breaded chicken fingers and breaded fish stick bits came out crisper than when just heated in the oven on regular back and convection. So now I do things like sweet potatoe fries and the breaded stuff on the "Air fryer" setting on my regular stove. So if you are thinking about getting a new stove, think about getting one with that setting. I don't have the counter space for a separate air fryer or toaster oven so I am pleased with this option

very happy to read this, this morning. We just bought a new stove and it has the "Air Fryer" setting. We were not looking for this option but you know how it goes... with years (I am 75 yo) there is always something new that stores offer so we decided to go with it.
I will certainly be tempted to learn to use this.

BTW, for those of us that watch British cooking shows (like the Bake Off) when they say "with fan" that is the same as using convection.