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Best air fryer items


Air Fryer Guide: The Best (And Worst) Things to Cook

Leftover pizza has never tasted so good.

By Kat Thompson

Updated on 9/14/2022 at 5:46 PM

Design by Chineme Elobuike for Thrillist

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Air fryers have overtaken Instant Pots and Nutribullets as the must-have kitchen appliance to grace countertops everywhere. Whether it’s reviving stale fries, reheating fried chicken, or baking cookie dough, this multi-trick pony has won the hearts of home chefs everywhere.

But as convenient and simple as the air fryer is, not everything can successfully be prepared in one. After multiple tests and careful consideration, here are the best—and worst—things to cook up in your air fryer.

The best things to put in an air fryer

Leftover pizza
Microwaving pizza is an atrocity. The skillet method, where you heat up the crust over the stove and cover your pan with a lid so the steam can melt the cheese, is effective enough, but requires babysitting. In comes the air fryer: the perfect way to reheat pizza. You just jam it in there and leave the appliance to work its magic, and out comes pizza with melted cheese, a crispy crust, and toasted pepperoni cups—all with minimal effort. It’s almost as good as having the pizza fresh.

Frozen fries
This extends to other frozen bar foods, too, like onion rings and mozzarella sticks. If it’s a frozen fried food product, chances are that the air fryer will do its duty to make your frozen fries actually taste like they’ve come out of a fryer, without all the effort it takes to actually deep fry. My fries always come out perfectly crispy and hot, without any blackened edges or internal sogginess that’s typical for baked fries.

Cookie dough
The air fryer is perfect for baking cookies if you aren’t trying to turn on your huge oven and only need a handful (though when does one only need a handful of cookies?). Space the cookie dough as far apart as you can—depending on the size of your air fryer, you can probably make two to five cookies. After that, just bake according to the package instructions, or go a little under if you prefer your cookies gooey. Hot tip: It’s best to bake the cookie dough from a frozen state so it doesn’t spread too much.

Fish
An air fryer is like a glorified convection oven, which means cooking fish filets is a breeze. I line mine with foil and put the skin side down and let the fancy heating technology do its thing. Salmon, tilapia, and even shrimp cook perfectly in an air fryer. Drizzle garlic butter and finish with a squeeze of lemon for dinner that is ready in 10 minutes.

Potatoes
Any type of potato will do, truly. Baked Idaho potatoes, golden spuds for a potato salad, purple potatoes, red ones. Roasting potatoes has never been easier. For extra flavor, toss the potatoes in oil, garlic powder, and rosemary for a simple side dish.

Fried chicken and tenders
Whether it's leftover fried chicken or frozen tenders, the air fryer is perfect for achieving a crispy exterior and heated-through interior that doesn't dry out. Just make sure it's an already-dredged and cooked fried chicken, like leftovers, because as you'll see below, wet battered things aren't quite as successful in the air fryer. 

The worst things to put in an air fryer

Steak
What makes a steak truly special is the char and maillard reaction you get when searing your favorite cut. It’s impossible to replicate that same flavor in an air fryer—the meat gets dried out and doesn’t cook as evenly. If you’re going to eat steak, you might as well do it right and pull out your cast iron pan.

Pasta (unless you’re making pasta chips)
Pasta chips have gone viral on TikTok and those are certainly great for the air fryer. Reheating pasta leftovers, however, is a no-go. The sauce is messy and loses its silkiness, the actual pasta gets dried out, and everything becomes sad and clumpy. When it comes to pasta, stick with the microwave.

Any sort of glazed wing
Fried chicken actually fares pretty well in the air fryer, but once you involve sticky glazes and buttery Buffalo sauce, the whole thing becomes an easily burnt disaster. It’s hard to recover any sort of crunch with leftover glazed wings to begin with—this goes for cauliflower and boneless wings, too—that adding them to the air fryer just dehydrates the wings and turns the sauce goopy. If anyone knows of a good way to heat up saucy wings, I’d love to hear it.

Items with a wet dredge
I’ve seen some people on TikTok successfully fry Oreos in their air fryer in pancake batter and I’m trying to figure out what kind of alchemy made that successful. Every time I’ve tried to air fry something with a wet batter—pickle chips, fried chicken, onion rings, to name a few—it's been edible, yes, but burnt in some areas and raw in others.

Cakes and brownies
I am a huge supporter of the mug cake, mug cookie, and mug brownie. For the uninitiated, the mug-baked good is essentially a bunch of pantry ingredients you already have whisked into a mug and microwaved until you have a brownie or cake in under five minutes. The air fried cake or brownie, however, doesn’t really work. The liquid batter is usually cooked on top, but completely molten lava on the inside. Cooking it longer renders the whole thing rubbery or burnt. Save the brownie and cakes for the oven or the microwave.

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Kat Thompson is a senior staff writer of food & drink at Thrillist. Tell her your air fryer successes and horror stories on Twitter @katthompsonn. 

The Best Things to Cook in Air Fryer, According to Chefs

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Cooking bacon in an air fryer is pretty easy.

Air-fried bacon may not be as greasy as if you cooked it on the stovetop. Nataliya Arzamasova/Shutterstock

Jess Dang, chef and founder of meal-planning service Cook Smarts, told Insider that bacon is one of her favorite things to cook in an air fryer.

"Fat drips from the bacon and out of the basket, so the bacon ends up leaner," she told Insider. "It's so much less messy and requires less supervision than other cooking methods."

For a quick dessert, try cooking up some bananas.

You can pair your air-fried bananas with some ice cream, too. Sandra Mu/Getty Images

Air fryers can turn slices of plain fruit into deliciously caramelized treats, Dang said, and she recommends using bananas. 

"I slice them in half lengthwise and add them to banana splits," she explained. "Sometimes I'll brush them with a little coconut oil first for an extra-special treat."

You can cook a flavorful steak in an air fryer.

Be sure to flip your steak halfway through cooking. iStock

Yankel Polak, head chef at ButcherBox, told Insider that it's possible to cook a delicious steak in an air fryer. 

"Rub the steak with a little olive oil and a generous amount of salt and pepper before cooking," he said. "The olive oil helps it get a really good sear and the salt and pepper give a simple, yet satisfying flavor."

To make sure your steak cooks evenly, Polak said, flip it over halfway through the cooking time. This ensures both sides of the meat have contact with the hot surface of the basket.

Fry up chickpeas for a crispy, savory treat.

You can season chickpeas before you pop them in the air fryer, too. Hilary Brueck / Insider

Whether you're looking for the perfect salad topping or just want something healthy to snack on, air-fried chickpeas may be the answer. 

"Air-fried chickpeas are crispy, portable, and delicious," said Dang. "You can easily toss in some spices and seasonings along with a small amount of oil to jazz them up a little. "

Za'atar, curry powder, or chili powder are perfect seasonings to experiment with if you want to add an extra kick of flavor to air-fried chickpeas. 

Air-fried doughnuts are often light and fluffy.

You may want to top your doughnuts with powdered sugar. Getty Images / RF / fotoedu

If you're looking for a way to make homemade doughnuts a bit less calorie-dense, try using an air fryer instead of a deep fryer.  

Polak told Insider that the secret to delectable air-fried doughnuts is to avoid putting a very wet batter in the air fryer. 

"Opt for making your doughnut batter more like bread dough for a cake-like consistency. The key is to use more flour than egg," they said. 

 

This appliance can help you make crunchy, homemade chicken nuggets.

For an extra crispy nugget, double-dip your chicken in your breading. Shutterstock

Skip the store-bought chicken nuggets and whip up your own batch at home with an air fryer.  

"The air fryer is terrific for keeping crunchy, coated chicken juicy and tender," said Polak. "Just make sure to moisten your chicken with a swipe of olive oil or mustard to keep the breading adhered."

It's also important not to go overboard with breading — adding too much can lead to the coating being blown off by the airflow of the air fryer. 

 

You don't need breading to prepare juicy chicken breasts.

Be sure to season your chicken breasts before you cook them. iStock

"The air fryer yields a much juicier chicken breast than either the oven or stovetop," said Dang. "Due to the compact design of an air fryer, there's not as much room for the juices to evaporate like they sometimes do with other methods." 

Some types of fish will become moist and flaky when you air fry them.

You can prepare fish and chips in an air fryer. Yudai/Shutterstock

Using an air fryer can help take some of the guesswork out of preparing seafood. It can also help you to avoid dry, overcooked fish. 

"I recommend using an air fryer for baked or breaded fish. The hot air gets the outside of the fish nice and crispy without overcooking the inside," said Polak. 

Air fryers can take gnocchi from gummy to golden.

If you've got gnocchi in your freezer, try popping it in the air fryer. Francesco Lentini / EyeEm / Getty Images

Dang told Insider that she thinks using an air fryer is one of the best ways to prepare premade, frozen gnocchi.

"The first time I tried frozen cauliflower gnocchi, I didn't get the appeal — I just wound up with a gummy mess," she said. "But when I tried them again in the air fryer, they came out golden and crispy." 

Personal pizzas are just the right size for cooking in this appliance.

Personal pizzas are easy to customize. Joe Kohen/Getty

Dang said air fryers are ideal for cooking small frozen or homemade pizzas.

"Because an air fryer has a small cavity that doesn't require preheating, it gets the cheese bubbly and the bread toasted much faster than an oven would," she told Insider. 

Dang added that combining naan bread, tomato sauce, and mozzarella makes for a quick and tasty personal pizza that's perfect for cooking in an air fryer. 

 

You can make sweet and savory baby carrots in an air fryer.

Baby carrots can cook fairly quickly in an air fryer. iStock / Getty Images Plus / Brycia James

Chef Zach Cummings of Timbers Kauai in Lihue, Hawaii, told Insider that baby carrots are one of his favorite foods to prepare in an air fryer.  

"The intense, focused heat of the air fryer achieves this beautiful caramelization in a fraction of the time it takes to cook baby carrots that way in a traditional oven," said Cummings. 

For perfectly caramelized carrots, Cummings said, coat them in extra-virgin olive oil, toasted fennel seeds, fresh thyme, sea salt, and pepper. Cook them at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes and shake the basket halfway through.

Use the appliance to make your own kale chips.

Be sure to toss the kale in an oil before putting it in the air fryer. Getty Images

Since air fryers use extremely hot air to both cook and remove surface moisture from foods, they're actually great for making kale chips.  

Cummings said he recommends tossing kale with coconut oil and sea salt before adding the leaves to your air fryer.

"The air fryer brings out the aroma of the coconut while keeping the kale chips light," he explained. 

Stuffed peppers are an easy and versatile air-fryer dish.

You can get creative with the fillings, too. belchonock/ iStock

Chelsea Knight, chef at Fable Lounge in Nashville, Tennessee, told Insider that stuffed peppers cook well in an air fryer.

"You can use any kind of filling, from a delicious cream cheese to your favorite meat," said Knight. "I would also suggest wrapping the peppers in bacon."

For a savory, air-fryer party snack, you can also try stuffing smaller peppers with cubes of mozzarella and serving them with a marinara dipping sauce. 

Air-fried zucchini makes for a crispy snack or side dish.

Zucchini chips pair well with a sandwich. Joey Hadden/Insider

Coating fresh zucchini coins or slices in bread crumbs and popping them in an air fryer makes for a crunchy, plant-based snack.

"Fried zucchini is a healthy side dish that you can dress up with your favorite spices, or keep it simple with just some olive oil, salt, and pepper," said Knight. 

You can make your own potato chips with an air fryer.

You can also use sweet potatoes. Savanna Swain-Wilson

The ability to turn thin slices of potatoes into crispy chips is one reason air fryers are popular. But, as Knight pointed out, you don't have to stick to plain spuds for your homemade chips. 

"You can definitely use regular white potatoes, but you can also substitute sweet potatoes," said Knight. 

For best results, it's a wise idea to coat your potato slices with a touch of olive or vegetable oil before placing them in the air fryer. 

It's possible to cook crunchy chicken wings in an air fryer.

You can bread chicken wings before popping them in an air fryer. iStock / Getty Images Plus / LauriPatterson

Chicken wings are sometimes battered and cooked in oil, which can make them high-calorie and greasy. If you're looking for a lighter alternative, Knight said, try air-frying your wings instead. 

"Chicken wings are great to cook in an air fryer as a snack or a whole meal," Knight told Insider. "Air-frying means that you still get crispy wings without the added calories of deep-frying."

Looking to get an air fryer of your own? We test and recommend the best air fryers:

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Features air fryer Chefs

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How to choose a professional fryer - tips from KLEN

Fryers are professional heating equipment for the preparation of food by deep frying. The technique is easy to operate, inexpensive and therefore pays off within two to three months. French fries, donuts, crispy chicken wings are deep-fried dishes that are in demand among visitors to catering establishments.

The main advantage of using a fryer is the stable oil temperature (heating up to frying temperature). What can not be said about the traditional method of frying in a pan. The thermostat maintains the set mode. As a result, fat does not overheat, carcinogens are not released. Visitors receive delicious and healthy meals. During the operation of deep fryers, the oil does not boil, the products oxidize more slowly. At the end of cooking, deep fat is filtered, so it is used several times.

Types of professional deep fryers

By heating method

Mounting style

Industrial fryers are used for more than just fast food. Productivity and compact dimensions ensure the effective use of the equipment as a separate unit or as part of food lines of large catering establishments. For example, a model with a useful bowl volume of 8 liters cooks up to 10 kilograms of french fries in an hour, with two bowls of 18 liters each - 30 kg, 25 liters each - 50 kg.

Industrial fryer device

Professional kitchen fryers are optionally equipped with a thermostat, overheating protection device, waste fat drain valve.

Description of food fryers

The design of an industrial fryer is not too different from that of household models. The main difference is in the volume of the frying bath and the time of continuous operation. Professional devices are used during the shift without shutting down.

The principle of operation of fryers is to fry semi-finished products and raw products in boiling oil. At the end of deep-frying, the products are removed. Devices with two baths involve the use of bowls together or separately. For example, the simultaneous frying of french fries and wings. Or for preparing a large number of products on holidays and weekends, at children's parties, corporate parties.

How to choose a fryer for business

Following a few rules when buying equipment will ensure the safety of personnel, prevent burns, and make the operation of the enterprise efficient. So, what you should pay attention to when buying devices:

Industrial Fryer Instructions

Professional fryer models have a removable bowl for easy cleaning and cleaning.

Fryer manufacturers have excluded direct contact with oil. The cook will only burn himself if he sticks his hand directly into the container. In addition, the equipment cannot be turned on with the cover open. The walls of the apparatus heat up during operation, but it is impossible to get burned when touched

Fryer applications

The advantage of this equipment is the preparation of delicious healthy meals. The sensors installed on the side panel automatically maintain the set temperature, the products do not burn, which eliminates the ingress of carcinogens into them. The smell of burnt oil and fat is absent. The ruddy crispy crust gives the dishes an appetizing look.

Deep fryers are used to fry a variety of foods. Not just french fries or donuts. But also breaded chicken Kiev, meat strips, vegetables and fish in batter.

The KLEN company sells industrial fryers with one and two baths. Minimum specifications are required to connect the devices. Voltage 220 or 380 V and gas pipeline for LOTUS F2/18-78G. Contact our managers and get complete information on the types and features of deep fryers.

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A fryer is a household appliance that a modern housewife uses to fry various foods in oil until crispy. This device is a container with a lid in a non-heating case and, for the most part, is used for baking french fries. However, the functionality of deep fryers is so wide that with their help you can cook an incredible number of delicious and interesting dishes. According to skilled chefs, this device simply must be in the asset of every housewife. Well, our review will just tell you which deep fryer will be able to take its place directly in your kitchen space.

Photo: https://tehnikaportal.ru/

Contents:

  1. Fryer Kitfort KT-2023
  2. Fryer Kitfort KT-2022
  3. Fryer GFGRIL GFF-012 Easy Cook
  4. Deep fryer (6L) DF-81 Foodatlas Eco
  5. Fryer CENTEK CT-1431
  6. Fryer Sakura SA-7654
  7. Fryer Xiaomi Deerma Visualization Air Baked Fried Cup White (DEM-KZ200)
  8. Fryer Gemlux GL-DF-4MT
  9. Fryer Moulinex AF 215 D10
  10. Fryer Steba DF 180

Deep fryer Kitfort KT-2023

Photo: market. yandex.ru

Opens our review fryer Kitfort KT-2023, with which you can cook dishes much faster than in a frying pan. The Cold Zone technology prevents small pieces of food from burning, which improves the taste of cooked food. At the same time, the oil will remain clean longer, and it can be reused up to 10-15 times. The tight lid is equipped with a special viewing window through which you can observe the cooking process. In addition, the lid is equipped with a filter that prevents the spread of unpleasant odors.

Fryer Kitfort KT-2023

Features:

Deep fryer Kitfort KT-2022

Photo: market. yandex.ru

Deep fryer KITFORT KT-2022 in a silver stainless steel case is suitable for use at home and in catering establishments. The power of the model is 2180 W, which, in combination with an open heating element, allows you to cook food quickly. The oil bowl has a volume of 3.3 liters. The bowl and lid of the model are removable, so they are easy to clean. The body of the model is non-heating, due to which the device is safe to use. The deep fryer is supplemented with anti-slip feet that prevent the appliance from moving on the table.

Fryer Kitfort KT-2022

Features:

Fryer GFGRIL GFF-012 Easy Cook

Photo: market.yandex.ru

Deep fryer GFGRIL GFF-012 Easy Cook is supplemented with rubber feet at the base, which contribute to its increased stability on any surface. After using this home assistant, you will not have to ventilate the room from unpleasant odors, since it has an appropriate filter installed. A large viewing window will allow you to control the progress of the culinary process. The rotary switch on the case will come in handy for smooth temperature control. Made of stainless steel and plastic, the case is not subject to heat during the operation of the fryer, which will avoid burns on your hands.

Fryer GFGRIL GFF-012 Easy Cook

Features:

Deep fryer (6 l) DF-81 Foodatlas Eco

Photo: market.yandex.ru

Deep fryer DF-81 FoodAtlas Eco is designed for cooking food by frying it to a crisp in a large amount of fat or oil. In the DF-81 electric deep fryer, you can cook chips, french fries, belyashi, various types of donuts, pies, as well as meat and fish dishes.

Deep fryer (6L) DF-81 Foodatlas Eco

Features:

Deep fryer CENTEK CT-1431

Photo: market.yandex.ru

Our rating continues with the Centek CT-1431 deep fryer, which has a 3.5-liter main bowl, which makes it possible to cook several servings of your favorite dishes. The housing includes a rotary switch that provides lightning-fast access to temperature settings. The power of the model has been increased to 1800 W - thus, fast cooking of your culinary creations is achieved, and the maximum amount of useful properties of the products is preserved. Thanks to the viewing window, the user will have the opportunity to control the progress of the culinary process. And the special filter will become the guarantor of neutralization of unpleasant smells.

Fryer CENTEK CT-1431

Features:

Deep fryer Sakura SA-7654

Photo: market.yandex.ru

Deep fryer Sakura SA-7654 operates with a power of 950 W and holds 1 liter of oil. The device is supplemented with temperature control (from 80°С to 190°С). There is a window on the lid of the case through which you can observe the cooking process. The lid can be completely removed, as can the handle of the basket.

Fryer Sakura SA-7654

Features:

Fryer Xiaomi Deerma Visualization Air Baked Fried Cup White (DEM-KZ200)


Photo: market. yandex.ru

Air fryer Xiaomi Deerma Visualization Air Baked Fried Cup White (DEM-KZ200) destroys stereotypes about proper nutrition. Unlike the deep fryers we are used to, in which the products are too fatty, this kitchen appliance will allow you to cook food with little or no oil added. Thus, you can enjoy juicy fried chicken and lead a healthy lifestyle without the fear of gaining a couple of extra pounds.

Fryer Xiaomi Deerma Visualization Air Baked Fried Cup White (DEM-KZ200)

Features:

Deep fryer Gemlux GL-DF-4MT

Photo: market.yandex.ru

Deep fryer GEMLUX GL-DF-4MT boasts a capacious bowl that can be removed from the appliance in the blink of an eye for subsequent cleaning or filling with the necessary products. Even during long-term operation, the device will not provoke the appearance of unpleasant odors - and all thanks to the filter provided in it. By activating the built-in timer, you do not have to track the progress of the culinary process. The exposed 2000 W heating element helps to significantly speed up the cooking of your favorite dishes. Made using stainless steel and plastic, the body will not cause difficulties when cleaning from contamination.

Fryer Gemlux GL-DF-4MT

Features:

Fryer Moulinex AF 215 D10

Photo: market.yandex.ru

An exclusive model of the Moulinex AF 215 D10 deep fryer is a capacious volume, non-stick coating, a special carbon filter against odors in a compact, non-heating metal case. A special glass window in the lid allows you to adjust the cooking without interfering with the process itself.

Fryer Moulinex AF 215 D10

Features:

Deep fryer Steba DF 180

Photo: market.yandex.ru

Our top 10 deep fryer Steba DF 180 completes our top 10 deep fryer, which has a contrasting silver-black color of the metal body, complemented by plastic heat-resistant elements. The device has a power of 2000 W, holds 3 liters of oil and 600 grams of potato slices. The basis uses a closed heating element. The model is complemented by an effective filter against the formation of an unpleasant odor, as well as a convenient viewing window for monitoring the cooking process without having to remove the lid. The heating level is smoothly adjustable. A convenient process of cleaning from fats is facilitated by the presence of a removable container and lid.

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