Easy Air Fryer Recipes for Everyday Cooking

Guide

What is particularly good in the air fryer?

An air fryer is a small air oven with a strong airflow. Foods with a dry surface and a hot air all around are particularly successful: potato wedges, fries, vegetables, breaded pieces, fish and smaller meat portions. The air fryer does not replace every kitchen appliance. Very liquid doughs, soups or dishes with a lot of sauce still belong in pot, pan or a closed oven-proof baking pan.

The recipes in this collection call a proven starting temperature and a time window. Basket size, performance, food quantity and starting temperature differ from device to device. Therefore, check the cooking level a few minutes before the time. In the case of meat and fish, a kitchen thermometer gives more safety than the colour alone.

Does an air fryer have to be preheated?

Short preheating is useful if a crispy surface is important or the cooking time is only a few minutes. Three to five minutes are enough for many appliances. For eggs or sensitive pastries a cold start can fit better. The instruction of your model remains decisive; some devices heat automatically.

Use oil sparingly and evenly

Many ingredients only need a thin oil film. Mix potatoes or vegetables in a bowl with little oil before they come into the basket. Thus, it distributes more evenly than when watering over the filled basket. A pump sprayer is also suitable if it is intended for cooking oil according to the manufacturer. Aerosol baking sprays can attack coatings and are not suitable for any device.

Four steps for even browning

• Dry surface: Water slows down the browning process. Washed potatoes, vegetables, meat or fish therefore dry well.
• Do not overfill basket: A loose layer becomes more even crispy. For large quantities, cook in two passes.
• Shake or turn: Shake small pieces once or twice, turn larger pieces with a plier.
• Check early: Start at the bottom of the window. Aftercooking is easier than saving a dry portion.

Temperature and cooking time as starting point

Compared to a recipe for top/bottom heat, the temperature in the air fryer is often reduced by about 15 to 20 degrees. A rigid conversion does not work for every dish. Use the following overview as the starting point and align yourself with the achieved cooking level in raw meat, fish and eggs.

Use baking paper, moulds and accessories correctly

Baking paper must not block the airflow on a large scale and must always be weighed down by food. Empty paper can be pulled to the heating element when preheated. For meals with marinade or cheese, perforated insoles or a small heat-resistant baking pan are suitable, provided that air can circulate around it. Use only accessories that are suitable for temperature and device.

Select air fryer recipes by ingredients

For the entry are: Potato recipes and Vegetable recipes easy, because the Gargrad can be easily tested. If you are looking for a fast main course, find suitable ideas with Meat or Fish. In autumn, pumpkin, root vegetables and apples bring variety into the basket; other seasonal combinations are available in the Autumn recipes.

Plan the order for several components: First cooks what takes longer. Already finished side dishes can be kept warm for a short time and then refresh for another one or two minutes. Thus, the basket remains movable and each ingredient gets enough space for a browned surface.