I’m an air fryer expert and even I was surprised by the unexpected foods you can use it for – it’ll save you a fortune
BRITS have well and truly jumped on the air fryer trend, with sales of the appliances rocketing.
Cooking videos on TikTok have sparked a surge in demand, with 'air fryer' the most searched for item on Argos earlier this month.
The appliance, which costs as little as £40, uses less electricity as it cooks faster, providing a lifeline to home cooks struggling with the cost of living crisis.
It also uses far less oil than a deep-fat fryer, making it a healthier alternative, too.
Jenny Tschiesche, author of the Air Fryer Cookbook which contains 101 recipes, says an air-fryer is surprisingly versatile.
She explains: "The air fryer isn’t just for great tasting chips, nor is it just a smaller, faster, more efficient oven.
ON AIR FRYERS
"It also can be used to bake, dehydrate, reheat and even make toast, because it has a range of temperatures from very low to high.
"One of the most popular reasons for buying an air fryer is that you can get the best and most efficient cooking and reheating of previously frozen foods.
"An air fryer outperforms a conventional oven too, by almost 50 per cent, and in terms of efficiency, cooks food up to 25 per cent quicker than convection ovens."
Here Jenny reveals eight unexpected meals you can prep in an air fryer - including an all day breakfast and soft boiled egg.
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Chicken Fajitas
Ingredients:
2 chicken breasts, sliced into strips
5 mini peppers, sliced into strips
1 courgette, sliced into 1/2cm thick discs
2 tbsp olive oil
1 x 28g packet of fajita seasoning mix
To Serve: Avocado, Grated Red Leicester Cheese, Yogurt, Wraps
Method:
Combine chicken, peppers, courgettes, and olive oil in a bowl. Add the fajita seasoning and stir to coat.
Preheat the air fryer to 180ºC.
Add the coated vegetables and chicken to the air fryer and cook for 12 minutes, shaking the drawer a couple of times during cooking. Check the internal temperature of the chicken has reached at least 74ºC using a meat thermometer – if not, cook for another few minutes.
Remove and serve immediately alongside the serving suggestions or your own choices of accompaniments. Serves three.
Soft Boiled Eggs
Ingredients:
4 eggs
Method:
Preheat air fryer to 180ºC
Once preheated add eggs. Cook 6 mins.
Remove and leave to stand for one minute before knocking the tops off and serving. Serves two.
Yorkshire Puddings
Ingredients:
1 tbsp olive oil
70g plain flour (can use gluten free)
100ml milk
2 eggs
Salt and pepper
Method:
Preheat the air fryer at 200ºC.
Once preheated add four ramekins, each with ¾ tsp oil in - use a pastry brush to coat the sides of the ramekin with the oil too.
Meanwhile, in a food processor or using a whisk combine the pudding batter until frothy on top.
Heat the oil in the ramekins for five minutes then add the pudding mixture in equal amounts to each ramekin.
Cook for 20 minutes without opening the air fryer drawer.
Remove from the ramekins. Serve immediately. Serves two.
All Day Breakfast
Ingredients:
1 medium tomato, sliced in half
1 large flat mushroom, thickly sliced
2 rashers back bacon
2 eggs (whole and in their shells)
Method:
Preheat the air fryer at 180ºC.
Add the tomatoes and cook for 3 minutes. Add all other ingredients and cook for a further 6 minutes.
Serve everything together, with the eggs in egg cups.
Add a generous dollop of ketchup and hot buttered toast if you wish. Serves one.
Steaks
Ingredients:
2 x 220g sirloin steaks
2 tsp olive oil
Salt and pepper to your preference
Method:
Bring the steaks out of the fridge an hour before cooking.
Drizzle with the oil, then rub with salt and pepper on both sides.
Leave to marinate at room temperature for one hour.
Preheat the air fryer to 180ºC.
Add the steaks to the preheated air fryer and air fry for 5 minutes on one side, then turn and cook for a further 4 minutes on the other side (for medium rare).
Check the internal temperature of the steak has reached 58ºC using a meat thermometer – if not, cook for another few minutes. Leave to rest for a few minutes before serving. Serves two.
Garlic and Pepper Pork Chops
Ingredients:
2 x 250g pork chops
1 tbsp olive oil
Garlic salt and pepper to taste
Serving suggestion: buttered new potatoes and mayonnaise
Method:
Preheat the air fryer to 180ºC.
Rub the 1 tsp of olive oil into both sides of the chops.
Season both sides of the chops with garlic salt and pepper.
Add the chops to the preheated air fryer and cook for 10 minutes, turning them over after 4 minutes.
Check the internal temperature of the chops has reached at least 63ºC using a meat thermometer – if not, cook for another few minutes then serve.
With 6 minutes to go turn the chops over. Serve once cooked. Serves two.
Nachos
Ingredients:
1/2 x 400g tin of refried beans
¼ tsp garlic powder
¼ tsp onion powder
½ tsp ground cumin
½ x 198g tin sweetcorn (drained)
1 x 200g pot fresh salsa
100g tortilla chips
80g grated mature cheddar
Guacamole, to serve
Sour cream, to serve
Method:
In a small bowl combine the refried beans with the garlic powder, onion powder and ground cumin – mix well.
In a dish suitable for your air fryer lay out the tortilla chips then spoon over the bean mixture.
Scatter the sweetcorn on top.
Dollop on the salsa and cover in grated cheese.
Preheat the air fryer to 180ºC.
Add the dish to the air fryer and air fry for 4-6 minutes. The cheese should be just browning.
Serve with guacamole and sour cream.
Frozen Pizza
Ingredients:
1 frozen pizza that fits your air fryer
Method:
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Preheat your air fryer to 180ºC.
Once preheated add your frozen pizza and cook for 6-9 minutes, until the pizza is hot and the cheese is melted. Serve.
JENNY'S TOP TIPS FOR AIR-FRYING WELL
KEEP A SPRAY BOTTLE OF OIL: Although low in fat, air-frying is not completely without fat so I recommend keeping olive oil or avocado oil in a spray bottle.
Spritz the foods before they go into the air-fryer, especially breaded foods as this is how you get that delicious, golden crumb.
ADJUST THE TEMP: Throughout the book I have specified standard temperatures for recipes, but some air-fryers have some quirky temperature settings.
Just use the closest setting to that specified in the recipe that your air-fryer has.
ALLOW FOR SPACE: Space food out in your air-fryer to allow even baking. Air has to flow around the food in order for it to become crunchy and/or caramelised.
WASH AFTER EVERY USE: Remember to clean your air-fryer after every use, but allow it to cool before doing so.
This way you are less likely to cause damage to the lining of the air-fryer drawer.
REHEAT TO EAT: Don’t forget that the air-fryer is not only to be used for cooking new dishes.
It can be used to reheat things you’ve already made or items of food from your freezer. It’s invaluable as a reheating tool in a family kitchen.
