6 Foods That Are Shockingly Good When Cooked in an Air Fryer

I’ve come to love air fryers for making French fries, wings and loads of frozen snacks quickly without the grease. These are common air fryer eats, but there’s a whole slew of recipes to try cooking in the countertop cookers that you might not have considered. From tender salmon to juicy roasted chicken, I’ve discovered half a dozen surprising ways to use the air fryer that I never thought possible. 

Now, it’s the only way I’ll cook any of them. 

When it comes to reheating leftover pizza, forget the microwave and flick off the wall oven. These countertop cookers can revive soggy slices in seconds. Now that I’ve discovered their superpower, there are some meals I just won’t go back to cooking the “regular” way. 

The biggest reason I use my air fryer so much is for the reliable results — air fryers give a great crust to foods via fan-powered convection cooking — but it also takes less time to cook than with most other methods. 

As if that weren’t enough, air fryers are easy to clean since most feature a nonstick basket that only requires a quick rinse with soapy water, and there is very seldom any food caked on the bottom that needs scrubbing. The air fryer basket also contains any splatter that might otherwise create a mess on the counter or stove.

Here are six things I’ll only cook in the air fryer from now on.

Salmon

Roasted salmon is a simple, healthy weeknight dinner staple. It’s not difficult to make in the oven, but if you’re only cooking for one or two people, the preheating time is a pain in the butt. Pan-seared salmon is great and quick, but there’s almost no way to cook salmon on the stove without creating an oily, fishy mess. Plus, you’ll have a pan to clean afterward. 

I tried cooking roasted salmon in the air fryer, and it came out perfectly in about 10 minutes, including preheat time. The closed cooking chamber even hides some of the fishy smell from taking over my apartment. 

OK, so you might catch me throwing the occasional filet of salmon on the grill during warmer months, but gone are the days of me wiping fish grease from the backsplash behind my kitchen stove. 

Here’s how to make perfect air fryer salmon.

Roasted chicken

This one surprised me the most since I make a roast chicken most Sundays and had become content with my method using the oven. I learned fast that the air fryer does an even better job since it’s able to crisp the skin quickly without overcooking the meat. Air-fryer roasted chicken takes about 45 minutes — about 15% quicker than the oven — and it’s nearly impossible to screw up.

Here’s how I make a quick roasted chicken in the air fryer.

Bacon cheeseburgers 

Air fryer cheeseburgers have become a staple around my home. The exception is during summer when the grill is in full swing, but during cooler months, I turn to the air fryer for this American classic. It’s not only cleaner than pan frying, but the burger doesn’t cook in its own grease, so you get a lighter, healthier meal (if you’re into that sort of thing). You can also stick the bun and a couple of slices of bacon in with the burger and you have the full meal with almost no cleanup to manage.

Here’s how to make a cheeseburger from top to bottom in the air fryer.

Chicken cutlets 

Before the air fryer, I used to pan-fry breaded chicken cutlets for chicken Parmesan and other recipes, but the air fryer does the same job with less mess and produces less oily fried chicken, too. 

Watch this: Best Air Fryers: Cheap vs. Expensive

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I recommend using boneless chicken thighs, which have enough fat content to withstand all that convection heat without drying out. Simply coat the chicken in beaten egg wash followed by bread crumbs mixed with salt, pepper and other spices. Cook at 375 degrees for about 15 minutes.

You can spray the cutlets lightly with a bit of oil before cooking to get an extra crispy crust, but it’s not necessary. I’ve tried the same method with chicken breasts; it works well, but there is more risk of drying out the meat.

Cauliflower steak

One of my favorite things to cook in the air fryer is cauliflower. A slab of cauliflower makes an excellent hearty side dish or main course if you’re going plant-based. Simply toss a thick slice or two of cauliflower with olive oil and salt and pepper, or some seasoning of your choice, and air fry for 10 or 12 minutes on high. The air fryer gives it a beautiful caramelized crust, and it cooks the dense veggie fast enough so that the inside of the cauliflower doesn’t become mushy.

Leftover pizza

While not every type of food is best reheated in the air fryer, a lot of them are. Air fryers are the perfect way to revive leftover pizza, fried chicken, grilled meats and vegetables. A microwave heats food unevenly and tends to impart a rubbery texture. Air fryers give food a second life via convection heat for a crispy crust and even heating. 

Here’s the best way to reheat every type of leftover.