Air fryers are the perfect choice to cook snacks like juicy chicken wings, crisp French fries and other tailgating foods. They can even do it with virtually no cleanup. But while there are specific go-to air fryer favorites you know will turn out great every time, there are a few meals you can toss in that’ll come out perfectly succulent and tasty. You might even be surprised to learn what they are: from whole roasted chicken to fillets of salmon, and even burgers and hot dogs. When it comes to serving up these foods, I’m sticking to the air fryer only from now on.
When it comes to speedy cooking with quality results, nothing beats the air fryer. The microwave has its perks, but food often comes out rubbery or unevenly heated, and toaster ovens don’t impart quite the same level of heat for crispy skin and edges the way an air fryer can.
Here are seven things I’ll only cook in the air fryer from now on.
Salmon
Just 8 minutes in the air fryer and you have perfectly medium rare salmon.
Broiled 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 and you’ll waste a lot of energy for a small amount of food. Pan-seared salmon is great and quick, but there’s almost no way to cook salmon on the stove without creating an oily and odorous mess.
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 captures all of the grease and even hides some of the fishy smell from taking over the space.
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
You can cook a burger to perfect medium or medium rare with an air fryer.
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
Watch this: Best Air Fryers: Cheap vs. Expensive
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