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Don't Even Think About It: Cook These 8 Foods In Your Air Fryer

Ah, the humble air fryer. Not only does it replace several of my kitchen appliances to save some counter space, but also it can help me get a meal out on the table in half the time. Plus, it's incredibly easy to clean. Not every food is better made in the air fryer -- but so many are that I consider this gadget all but indispensable.

From salmon filets to whole-roasted chicken and even a few grilling standards, it feels like every few days I add another to the list of foods I'll make only in an air fryer. Below I've listed eight air fryer all stars that might come as a surprise. 

If you're wondering what an air fryer is and how it works, check out this complete guide to air fryers. If you've already got one and are ready to explore recipes, here are a few foods I'll cook only in the air fryer from now on.

1. Salmon filets Just 8 minutes in the air fryer and you have perfectly medium rare salmon. David Watsky/CNET

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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 preheating 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.

2. Whole chicken Air-fryer roasted chicken is a revelation. David Watsky/CNET

This one surprised me the most since I make a roast chicken most Sundays and had become content with my method of using the oven. I learned fast that the air fryer does an even better job since it's able to crisp the skin quickly without overcooking the meat. Air-fryer roasted chicken takes about 45 minutes -- about 15% quicker than the oven -- and it's nearly impossible to screw up.

Here's how to make a quick roasted chicken in the air fryer.

3. Bacon cheeseburgers  You can cook a burger to perfect medium or medium rare with an air fryer. Pamela Vachon/CNET

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.

4. Chicken cutlets  Air fryers turn out picture-perfect chicken cutlets. David Watsky/CNET

Before the air fryer, I used to pan-fry breaded chicken cutlets for chicken Parmesan and other recipes, but the air fryer does the same job with less mess and produces less oily fried chicken too. 

Watch this: Best Air Fryers: Cheap vs. Expensive

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I recommend using boneless chicken thighs, which have enough fat content to withstand all that convection heat without drying out. Simply coat the chicken in beaten egg wash followed by bread crumbs mixed with salt, pepper and other spices. Cook at 375 degrees for about 15 minutes.

You can spray the cutlets lightly with a bit of oil before cooking to get an extra crispy crust, but it's not necessary. I've tried the same method with chicken breasts; it works well, but there is more risk of drying out the meat.

5. Cauliflower steak Cauliflower steak made in the air fryer has become a staple side dish in my kitchen.  David Watsky/CNET

One of my favorite things to cook in the air fryer is cauliflower. A slab of cauliflower makes an excellent hearty side dish or main course if you're going plant-based. Simply toss a thick slice or two of cauliflower with olive oil and salt and pepper, or some seasoning of your choice, and air fry for 10 or 12 minutes on high. The air fryer gives it a beautiful caramelized crust, and it cooks the dense veggie fast enough so that the inside of the cauliflower doesn't become mushy.

6. Leftover pizza This leftover pizza got a whole new life thanks to a short trip to the air fryer. David Watsky/CNET

While not every type of food is best reheated in the air fryer, a lot of them are. Air fryers are the perfect way to revive leftover pizza, fried chicken, grilled meats and vegetables. A microwave heats food unevenly and tends to impart a rubbery texture. Air fryers give food a second life via convection heat for a crispy crust and even heating. 

Here's the best way to reheat every type of leftover.

7. Hot dogs You can cook an entire package of hot dogs in just a few minutes. David Watsky/CNET

It's hard to screw up a hot dog, but if you want a perfectly charred wiener in under five minutes with essentially no cleanup to manage, look to the air fryer. Air fryer hot dogs are as simple as simple gets, and the super convection oven gives them a perfect browning in two or three minutes. 

Here's how to make hot dogs in the air fryer all summer.

8. Baked potatoes Toaster oven baked potatoes had crispy skin and were light and fluffy inside. Brian Bennett/CNET

OK, so technically this one starts out in the microwave and then gets finished in the air fryer. The microwave softens the inside in under 8 minutes while the air fryer blasts the edges and skin to a crispy perfection. It's a restaurant-quality baked potato in under 12 minutes. Here's how to make the best air fryer baked potato ever. 

Air Fryer Cauliflower 'wings'

This recipe was made in an air fryer without a paddle attachment. The batter needs to set on the cauliflower until it is crisp before it will come away from the air fryer basket.

No air fryer? Preheat the oven to 200C/180C Fan/Gas 6. Line a baking sheet with baking paper, spray with cooking oil and bake the battered cauliflower florets for 20 minutes, until crispy.

I'm A Chef Who's Obsessed With My Air Fryer. Here Are My 13 Favorite Things To Make In It.

Breaded or panko-crusted shrimp turns out incredibly well in an air fryer. Panko-crusted shrimp is easy to make in an air fryer. Aefa Mulholland

There are tons of recipes out there for air-fried breaded shrimp. 

I prefer mine served with a hint of heat, like the "bang bang" shrimp recipe from the blog Stay Snatched. I also like the shrimp paired with lemon aioli. 

Setting up a three-bowl dipping station is the best way to bread the shrimp quickly and efficiently — one bowl for flour, one for egg (or egg and mustard or mayo), and one for panko. However, I've also made them by simply dipping lightly oiled shrimp in panko before tossing them in the air fryer. 

Stuffed portobello mushrooms make for a quick, tasty dinner. Stuffed portobello mushrooms make for a nice meal. Aefa Mulholland

There's no end to the list of things you can pile on a portobello cap and pop in the air fryer.

A recipe from the blog Spend With Pennies pairs them with cheddar and bacon, but I know some people swear by spinach and cream cheese or garlic and Parmesan. Brit + Co also has some great variation inspiration, including crab-stuffed mushrooms with Gouda or a play on French onion soup. 

I make mine with whatever I have on hand, but I particularly liked the batch I made with feta, cheddar, spinach, artichokes, bread crumbs, and lemon.

I pop the caps in the air fryer for a few minutes, gill-side down, to let any water drain out before flipping them and adding toppings.

I put nut-crusted chicken on the menu again and again. I make nut-crusted chicken with crushed nuts and bread crumbs. Aefa Mulholland

Air-fried, nut-crusted chicken comes out moist, delicious, and with a perfect crust in just 20 minutes. 

Depending on what kind of air fryer you have, it might take a little more or less — I've found my basket air fryer cooks faster and my convection-oven air fryer takes slightly longer.

The blog Where Is My Spoon has a delicious, easy recipe for panko-breaded chicken. I adapted it by using half crushed nuts and half panko and adding smoked paprika and Parmesan for extra flavor.

Crab cakes with fire-roasted green chiles are my new favorite appetizer. Crab cakes with fire-roasted green chiles are a great appetizer. Aefa Mulholland

Crab cakes are one of the tastiest things I've cooked since getting an air fryer. 

I followed a Food Network recipe, substituting a can of fire-roasted green chiles and chipotle powder for the listed chipotle chiles and adobo sauce, just for convenience.

A creamy, lemony chipotle sauce is the perfect accompaniment. It's so tangy and delicious that I could drink it.

Corn ribs are an excellent air-fried option for vegetarians. Corn ribs or "riblets" can be served with barbecue sauce. Aefa Mulholland

You can make corn ribs in the air fry like in the recipe I found from the blog Plant Based Folk, or you can add more of a Mexican-inspired flair with a Food Network Canada recipe.

I could also see them working with masala spice for an Indian-inspired take on the trend. 

Pro tip: Microwave the cobs for seven to nine minutes before cutting them to make quartering easier. Then, lower the air-fryer temperature during cooking. 

Crispy fried tofu can be made with or without cornstarch. I add crunch to marinated, crispy fried tofu with sesame seeds. Aefa Mulholland

There's a simple recipe for cornstarch-free, garlic-and-soy sauce tofu on the blog Live Eat Learn. It reminded me how much better the texture is after pressing the moisture out of the tofu before cooking (I used a heavy Dutch oven to squash the block).

I've also made crispy fried tofu with a ginger, tamari, and garlic marinade, finished with sesame seeds for extra crunch. The resulting tangy saltiness makes it a good bacon substitute for vegetarians and a delicious addition to Buddha bowls. 

I've also had luck just adding sauce at the end, which I found in a recipe from the blog Nora Cooks.

Grilled cheese is a quick, simple air-fryer favorite. I make my grilled-goat-cheese sandwich with apple and cranberry sauce. Aefa Mulholland

Air-fried grilled cheese makes a quick lunch. Larger air fryers easily fit a few sandwiches, or you can chop them into half-sized sandwiches to cram more in a smaller basket.

My favorite grilled cheese is a take on a recipe from Kitchn, but with added apple slices.

I also love rustling up any cheese and jam, jelly, or fruit combination, a current favorite is ham, cheddar, and banana. 

Pro tip: Cook at a lower temperature until the cheese melts (three to five minutes) and then turn the heat up to toast the bread for an extra few minutes.

I throw garlic in alongside whatever vegetables I'm roasting. Roasted garlic is easy to make in my air fryer. Aefa Mulholland

Cooking garlic in the air fryer takes half the time as doing it in a regular oven.

Kristina from the blog Tasty Oven suggests slicing off the bottom of each head of garlic, cooking a big batch, and freezing the extras. 

I like cooking the heads alongside roasted vegetables such as honeyed parsnips or carrots and then crushing the cloves to make garlic bread.

Even cake turns out perfectly in an air fryer. I found a recipe for a simple coffee cake with cinnamon and pecans. Aefa Mulholland

I didn't believe you could bake cakes in an air fryer, but I was proven wrong.

I've made some excellent cheesecakes in my basket air fryer, but the one I keep going back to is a simple coffee cake. I like a recipe from the blog Fork to Spoon.

I'll be working my way through the other recipes on the site, too, especially the air-fryer banana-walnut pound cake and banana-nut bread.

Apple hand pies are fiddly to make from scratch, but worth the effort. You can make or buy the dough and filling for air-fried apple hand pies. Aefa Mulholland

Empanada-sized pies are a breeze to make if you have store-bought apple filling and pie dough. But making your own allows you to choose how much sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon you want to add.

The blog BellyFull has a great recipe, whether you're making a premade or homemade version. Both turn out crisp and delicious in a basket air fryer or an oven air fryer. I tried both and couldn't tell the difference.

According to the recipe, the pies last in the fridge for three days and in the freezer for up to two months.

Molten lava cakes are gooey and gorgeous. Chocolate molten lava cake pairs well with berries and whipped cream. Aefa Mulholland

Oozing with liquid chocolate, molten lava cakes are irresistible.

I liked a small-batch recipe I found on the blog Essential Omnivore, but I use orange-flavored chocolate for even more flavor.

Pro tip: Only fill your ramekins around ⅔ of the way or the gooey middles might bubble up all over the bottom of your air fryer.

This story was originally published in February 2023 and most recently updated on January 23, 2025. 

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All Disney Dreamlight Valley recipes and how to cook them