We love cooking just about everything in the air fryer. Not only is it a great way to make a quick meal, completely replacing the need for an oven, it’s also just a great way to keep foods moist and flavorful without drying them out.
» You might like to check out these 25 Air Fryer Tips and Tricks.
Often people ask us what our favorite air fryer recipes are, so we thought we’d share the things that we make the most.
It’s really a great tool for vegetables, any type of meat, crisping up frozen foods, and reheating food.
More Recipe Compilations to Try
- Air Fryer Shrimp Recipes
- 28 Everyday Side Dish Recipes in the Air Fryer
- 26 Air Fryer Frozen Foods to Make
- 20 Delicious Air Fryer Pork Recipes
Our Favorite Air Fryer Recipes
Fun Things to Try in Your Air Fryer
The air fryer really is so versatile. It isn’t just for foods that you would have deep fried. Here are a couple of things to try.
- Reheat last night’s pizza.
- Pop some popcorn for movie night.
- Use it to dehydrate cranberries or tomatoes.
- Make toast.
Why Use an Air Fryer
An air fryer is an incredibly easy way to cook just about anything. You place the food in a fryer-style basket and hot air rapidly circulates all around the food, making the food crisp – much like deep-frying, but without the oil. You can cook anything you’d make in the oven.
- I use a Ninja MaxXL air fryer (pictured left). If you don’t have an air fryer yet, check out these options to find one that fits your needs.
- See reviews and prices for air fryers on Amazon.
- Here’s a printable Air Fryer Cooking Times Cheat Sheet to get you started.
- Click to find more recipes to make in your Air Fryer.
- Learn how to make fun things in the air fryer, like potato wedges, pork belly bites, and chicken wings.
Frequently Asked Air Fryer Questions
Do I need to preheat the air fryer?
It’s not necessary to preheat the air fryer before cooking. If you do, it could change the cook time of your recipe. Only preheat if the recipe you’re following says to do so.
How do I prevent food from sticking in my air fryer?
The air fryer comes with a non-stick coating that will help prevent food from sticking. You can use a light spray of cooking oil while cooking. This helps prevent food from sticking and also helps crisp up the outside of foods while they cook.
Make sure to use a non-aerosol sprayer for your oil. You want to avoid the sticky residue that can harm the non-stick coating.
Can I use parchment paper in my air fryer?
Yes, you can and you can use tin foil as well.
It’s not always necessary, but for times when the food you’re cooking is especially sticky or delicate, you can use parchment paper to keep it from sticking to the basket. I use them when cooking fish so it doesn’t crumble when I take it out of the basket.
You can get round or square parchment paper that’s pre-cut with air holes so it doesn’t affect the air circulation around your food.
If you’ve been wondering, you can use tin foil in the air fryer. It can be used to keep foods from sticking, or to make clean up easier. You can also wrap liquidy foods in it or steam food, as you would “en papillote” (wrapped in foil) in the oven.
You might also use an aluminum pan to cook in, which is also okay to use in the air fryer. Disposable foil pans can be a great way to reheat food in the air fryer, like lasagna or a casserole.
What Oil & Oil Sprayer is Best for the Air Fryer?
The biggest issue most air fryer lovers face is finding the right oil and oil sprayer to use on food cooked in the air fryer. A fine mist of oil will help the entire piece of food crisp evenly, so it’s very important.
My personal preference is to use canola oil, extra virgin olive oil, or avocado oil. I use both a refillable spray bottle like the Evo one pictured below and non-propellant extra virgin olive oil, which has not harmful aerosols or chemicals.
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Angela is a talented home cook and passionate advocate for healthy, flavorful cooking in the air fryer. She shares her favorite air fryer recipes and helpful tips for using this versatile kitchen appliance to create delicious, nutritious meals.