This year for Valentine’s Day, I made an odd request.
You may be noticing a trend that I make odd requests on what would typically be considered romantic holidays. Instead of flowers and candy, I shared my heart’s desire: an air fryer. I’d been watching friends post about their air frying experiences and my curiosity was piqued.
I’ve always loved a good kitchen appliance fad. There was the breadmaker my grandmother gave to me after she’d gone back to making her breads and doughs the old fashioned way. For a few months, we had fresh baked bread on a weekly (and sometimes even a daily) basis. And then, the rather large appliance was banished to the back of the cabinet because it hogged up too much space. Eventually, I gave grandma’s breadmaker away.
After finding a barely used espresso machine at a yard sale for $2, I was confident I would become a home barista. For a season, I dominated the latte game. But then, I realized I fared much better with my basic drip coffee pot when it came to time and money spent. I packed up my coffeehouse dreams and gave the espresso machine to someone else to begin their own journey.
The George Foreman Grill, the panini press, the waffle iron … so many appliances, so many disappointments. I wondered if an air fryer would find its way to the appliance graveyard of the back of my kitchen cabinets.
However, four months later, I’m still loving the air fryer and the ways it has simplified dinner at our house. If you already have an air fryer or you’re considering purchasing one, these simple food prep ideas can help you make the most of yours.
Reheat leftovers
We love the way leftovers reheat in our air fryer. Instead of pitching soggy french fries or enduring rubbery pizza, you can bring your restaurant extras back to full flavor. The reheat time rivals a microwave and everything crisps and heats evenly.
Bake potatoes
When I realized I could make baked potatoes in my air fryer, it was a complete game-changer. The process is simple and keeps my kitchen much cooler on hot summer days.
Simply wash your favorite baking potato. Spray lightly with a non-stick cooking spray. Sprinkle with salt. That’s it. Place in the air fryer at 400 degrees for 40 to50 minutes. You may want to turn them about 20 minutes into cooking. When the potato is fork-tender, it’s ready. Each time, the potatoes turn out fluffy on the inside with a crispy skin.
Whip up roasted corn
For awhile, I put anything and everything into the air fryer. I had a couple of serious fails. For instance, one time I forgot to account for the air pockets in a soft tortilla and it puffed up into a quesadilla that resembled a UFO.
But my roasted corn experiment proved much more successful. Simply cover the bottom of your air fryer with frozen corn. You can drizzle with a bit of oil or spray with cooking spray, but it’s really not necessary. I like to use a bit of taco seasoning, lightly coating the corn. And I’ve also added fresh garlic and a hint of lime juice, too. Air fry at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Stir and cook for an additional 5 minutes until the corn is roasted to your liking. Serve as a side dish on Taco Tuesday or add to your favorite Southwest salad.
Prepare any frozen food
French fries, popcorn shrimp, soft pretzels, egg rolls — we haven’t met a convenience food that hasn’t been a hit in the air fryer. Yours probably came with a guide or recipe book that suggests temperatures and times for these items. But it might also require some experimentation to find the best combination.
Avoid overloading
One mistake many make with an air fryer is filling it too full. Since the device requires the circulation of air to “fry” foods, it’s important that anything placed into the air fryer basket is in a single layer. Stacking too many frozen french fries on top of each other yields sad and soggy potatoes. If you need to, serve the first round of your dish at the beginning dinner and then start another serving in case anyone wants seconds.
Remove the tray
Our air fryer came with a small rack in the bottom. I assumed that this metal tray was necessary to the cooking process. However, after a few bouts of stuck-on foods, I decided to remove it from the basket. This greatly improved the sticking problem and I think also improved the overall flavor of foods. Every machine is different and some may have built in racks or require them to function. But if your model gives you the option, consider taking it out.
It’s difficult to say how long my air frying obsession will last. It’s already outlived both the bread maker and the espresso machine eras. I’m still working on the best countertop arrangement because the air fryer does require a significant amount of premium real estate. However, it seems each week, I discover a new family-favorite that speeds up dinner prep. If your budget allows, this popular appliance might be well worth the investment for you, too. Just don’t gift one on a romantic holiday unless your significant other asks for it.
