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Maybe you own an air fryer and use it all the time. Perhaps you're considering buying one or maybe you were even gifted an air fryer for the holidays. Whatever the case, here are some tips and tricks for making the most of this genius appliance.
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2. Your air fryer is the absolute best way to cook frozen foods like French fries, frozen veggies, dumplings, and more.
If you can think of a frozen food, you can make it in your air fryer. Try it with pigs in a blanket, fish sticks, chicken nuggets, egg rolls, mozzarella sticks, and more. You don't even need to defrost first. Just pop it into the air fryer and prepare for a delicious meal.
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4. Turn the most basic veggies into exciting dishes that even kids and picky eaters will get excited about.
We're not talking about boiled Brussels sprouts and soggy baked french fries here. Your air fryer can turn veggies into an indulgent-tasting dish that even picky eaters will enjoy. For starters, try making sweet potato chips, Parmesan zucchini fries, or buffalo cauliflower bites.
Read more: 17 Airfryer Recipes People Can't Stop Making
5. Need to get dinner on the table quickly? Use your air fryer to whip up an impossibly easy dinner like crispy quesadillas or twice baked potatoes in about 20 minutes.
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6. If you're craving McDonald's fries or Chick-Fil-A nuggets, try using your air fryer to replicate your favorite fast foods at home.
No drive-thru or deep-frying required.
Read more: 21 Air Fryer Fast Food Copycat Recipes That Are (Almost) As Good As The Real Thing
7. And use your air fryer to make your favorite restaurant-quality, take-out foods without any deep frying necessary.
This past year, I've cooked at home far more than usual, but to break out of my ordinary cooking routine, I've made lots of my favorite restaurant dishes in my air fryer. Some stand-outs have been Chinese sesame chicken, "fried" chicken wings, and bang bang shrimp, but the possibilities are endless.
Read more: I Finally Got An Air Fryer, And It's Totally Changed My Home Cooking
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9. Save the pan drippings and juices that accumulate in the basket of your air fryer.
If you make chicken, bacon, pork chops, etc. in your air fryer, save those drippings and store them in a Tupperware container. You can use them later to make delicious sauces and gravies.
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11. You can cook food in the air fryer in an oven-safe baking dish, bowl, or ramekins.
Your air fryer basket or shelf probably isn't ideal for cooking something like mac 'n' cheese, or fried rice. The solution: just place any glass, oven-proof baking dish or bowl into your air fryer.
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12. You can basically cook your entire holiday menu in an air fryer, from the glazed ham to the sides.
Save space in your oven and time in the kitchen by cooking a holiday meal in the air fryer. You can make your holiday main — think: glazed ham, turkey breast, or pork loin — along with any of your favorite sides like crispy Brussels sprouts, potatoes, and more.
Read more: 31 Air Fryer Snacks, Sides, Main Dishes, And Desserts To Make For The Holidays
13. Use your air fryer to spruce up snack time.
From ranch-seasoned chickpeas and crispy cheese sticks to avocado fries, the air fryer makes it easier (and tastier) than ever to whip up satisfying, crunchy snacks with just a few ingredients.
Read more: 17 Airfryer Snacks You'll Want To Make Again And Again
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14. And think beyond savory foods! You can use your air fryer to whip up some seriously satisfying desserts.
You can make anything from doughnuts and baked apples to fruit-filled hand pies and "fried" Oreos in this handy appliance.
Read more: 24 Easy Holiday Airfryer Recipes That Pretty Much Make Themselves
