I was gifted an air fryer for Christmas and wanted to see if anyone had any recommended recipes. So far, I have cooked some boneless pork loin chops (turned out nicely) and Brussels sprouts (not crispy enough - I may need to try again at higher temp). I typically don't like gimmicky kitchen items, and I suspect this will end up collecting dust for a few years before I give it away; however, my mind can be changed.

Besides the suggestions below, we've found that the air fryer is a very good way to reheat lots of things, including pizza and steak. I'll leave it up to you whether it's worth the trouble to fire it up for that but it does a good job. Make sure you get the liners for the bottom; they will save you some cleanup.

There have been a few discussions about air fryer recipes within the last couple of years. Not a lot of contributions but a good place to start.
https://texags.com/forums/67/topics/3096142

Youtube also has a ton of videos of how people use air fryers. This guy is good and has used his air fryer in very unconventional ways.

I know some people use them for all sorts of things. I use mine for chicken wings/thighs, those chicken nuggets from Costco, and potatoes (like tater tots). That's good enough for me to keep it in rotation.

They're great for any of the frozen stuff like TAF mentioned. We also like them for cheese sticks, poppers, etc.

They're perfect for reheating pizza (skillet method is good too).

They also make great wings, but I'd setup outside or right under your vent hood or you'll smell the wings for days.

They are a great time-saver. It's worth having one to avoid turning on the oven in the summer. Plus they do crisp food up nicely.

I've been following Mike G. for a while, and he always has solid stuff. I'll definitely check this out.

Thanks everyone!

Whole chicken, season generously with herbamare or another seasoned salt. Put a parchment paper round in the bottom of basket and place chicken breast side down. Air fry at 350 for 30 minutes. Flip, remove parchment and air fry at 350 for 20-30 minutes till done. Juicy meat and crispy skin all around. Family just destroyed one of these for dinner. You do need a large air fryer for this application.

I've tried various things in my air fryer and most everything has turned out well. However, It seems like I only get a good result if I cook in relatively small batches and stop to shake the basket multiple times during the cooking process, which makes it pretty incovenient.

The most recent recipe we tried, eggplant parmesan bites, turned out great, but took a while to cook enough for my family of 5 due to small batch sizes. They were basically eggplant parmesan nuggets that we dipped into marinara for serving. They would make a good healthy appetizer.

Like others have mentioned, it's really good at reheating foods and heating frozen foods.

Did some lobster tails in mine, split the back and stuffed it with butter, lemon, salt and pepper. Followed the instruction book on my airfryer and it came out way better than anything I ever did before.

Something I cook often in my air fryer is skin on bone-in chicken thighs. I season with only Tony Chacheres and cook around 400 degrees until 165 internal temp. They come out great with a nice crisp.

Salmon is killer in the air fryer!

Perfect every time. Easy cleanup.

Over sauted spinach

Tell me more about this spinach recipe....

Made salmon in the air fryer last night. Turned out awesome.

I am intrigued. What make/model do you recommend?

Unfortunately my salmon came out over cooked. Could you share the time and temp which you use?

Anyone else have a Ninja Speedi? Make a killer burrito bowl with rice, beans and corn in bottom and chicken on top.

ijoan said:

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Unfortunately my salmon came out over cooked. Could you share the time and temp which you use?

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I don't know what kind of air fryer you have, but mine, an inexpensive one, has a seafood setting. I push the button and put the Salmon in. It starts the preheat process. I have the fish already in there. Depending on size I cook around 7 to 8 minutes. But I'm always looking at it a little after six minutes just to be safe.

Edit to add my air fryer says to turn the fish and I never do.

Instant read thermometer to 125-130. Other fish is 145, but that's too long for salmon.

While the fish is cooking it's just enough time to saut some spinach.

If you're cooking the salmon correctly the outside is a little crispy with a tender center.

Report back after your next attempt.

Tailgate88 said:

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I am intrigued. What make/model do you recommend?

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Gourmia

Gourmia GAF716 FRY FORCE 360... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08R6GZ2KP?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

$102 on Amazon.

Tailgate88 said:

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I am intrigued. What make/model do you recommend?

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They may be paying for the endorsement, but Cosori is used a lot with the YouTube cooks.

Beckdiesel03 said:

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Tell me more about this spinach recipe....

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Sauted Spinach for two:

Bag of Spinach - Large stems removed and washed
2 tbs of olive oil
2 tbs of butter - Room temp and divided
Squeeze of fresh lemon juice
Optional:
1/4 of an onion - Julienne cut
2 or 3 cloves of garlic minced
Freshly grated parmesan cheese - never buy the stuff in the green can
Lemon butter sauce


One bag of prewashed spinach. I use regular spinach for this as it's less expensive. Use baby Spinach if you like.

Old habits die hard, but I still break out the lettuce spinner and pick the large stems off and wash the spinach and spin the crap out of it to get it as dry as possible.

In a pan that can hold the entire bag I heat up 2 tbs of olive oil and 1 tbs of butter. I don't measure so use your judgement. I have the pan on high to get it hot and then turn it to medium before I put the onion or spinach in the pan. If not using gas, use a medium heat and wait for the pan and the olive oil / butter to melt and get hot.

* IF you have onion available and like it. I suggest sauting a 1/4 of an onion with a Julienne cut.

* IF you like garlic, have a couple cloves of fresh garlic chopped as well. Don't put it in yet.

Toss in the onions only until partially sauted. Don't want them too soft.

Toss in the spinach. If you've left too much moisture on the spinach you'll know right away as it will pop at you. be careful.

* using tongs start tossing / flipping the spinach. Never stir unless you want a little ball of spinach in the middle of the pan. it will still taste good, but it won't look good.

As the spinach reduces by half add in the garlic. if you add the garlic too early and it overcooks or burns it kinda ruins it.

As the spinach is almost all the way wilted give it a squeeze of fresh lemon juice a little goes a long way.

Open the air fryer and peek at your fish. Don't overcook it.

Add salt and pepper to taste and at the end toss in the 1 tbs of butter.

If you've done all your prep before the Salmon/fish went in, this is about a 5 to 6 min process from start to finish.

Plate your spinach and then top with Salmon. What's an added bonus to this is how hot everything is when the plate is set on the table.

I little freshly grated parm on top with your favorite glass of wine.

* if I have the ingredients available and requested I will make a lemon butter sauce. Use your favorite recipe and make it first.

I have done this with Redfish and Trout many times as well. Redfish and trout I cook to 140 - 145. Salmon 125- 130

Let me know how it turned out. Post a pic

Tried to upload an image, but "Poors" like me can't.

WP69 said:

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Tailgate88 said:

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I am intrigued. What make/model do you recommend?

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They may be paying for the endorsement, but Cosori is used a lot with the YouTube cooks.

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Mine was a gift and is very inexpensive, works great. I used a fancy Ninja thing that does a handful of different things, and has a sensor probe, last week at my Stepmom's, but it wasn't near as easy to cleanup. I like kitchen tools though and will check this out. Thanks.

I've had the big (9 slice toast) Breville toaster oven that has air fry setting and we use it more than any other appliance in our kitchen. So much more versatility. Can cook whole chickens or small turkey, medium size pizza. I don't know if it works as good as a fryer as the bullet looking ones, but fries, tater tots, wings, corn dogs, etc. come out crisp and brown. It's great (and fast) for baking. So if you want more tricks to your pony, consider something besides a straight air-fryer.

I have the Ninja 10 in 1 that folds up when not in use. I use it multiple times a day every day as well. Toaster, convection oven, air fryer. It does everything.

Best machine EVER to reheat fast food fries!

BACON

Now they make parchment paper coffee filter like liners for Air Fryers.

Just used one with chicken breast.

Made cleanup even easier

Gilligan said:

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Now they make parchment paper coffee filter like liners for Air Fryers.

Just used one with chicken breast.

Made cleanup even easier

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I wondered about those trapping grease or changing the way foods cook. Glad to hear those aren't much of an issue.

My mom gave us one a couple of years ago and at first I hated it. It was just so big on the counter, and the capacity was small. But the kids grew to love it for heating up frozen convenience food, and now it's indispensable.

Just replaced that and our toaster oven with a single, large capacity air fryer/toaster oven combo. We'll use it a lot... but we have never ventured into any "real" cooking, it's just a great way to heat up frozen convenience food that is faster than an oven and without the mush of a microwave.

But isn't it just a convection oven?

Beckdiesel03 said:

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I have the Ninja 10 in 1 that folds up when not in use. I use it multiple times a day every day as well. Toaster, convection oven, air fryer. It does everything.

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This. Has changed the way I cook. Way easier now.