Need to know
- The huge popularity of air fryers has inspired countless recipes and hacks to try
- Results can vary dramatically, depending on the food cooked – and the taste and texture may be different
- CHOICE has tested and reviewed 25 air fryers to find the best
If you're an air fryer fan, it's probably because you've found some great recipes that turn out amazing time after time.
So, you're likely always on the lookout for new ideas for air fryer hacks and recipes.
The internet is full of these ideas. The only problem is, some of them are terrible.
We asked out kitchen expert Fiona Mair to weigh in on some of the more unusual air fryer ideas popping up on the internet, so you don't have to go through the trial and error yourself.
High fryer: Fiona has tested countless air fryers in our lab.
The expert verdict: Are these air fryer recipes worth trying?
You probably already know you can air-fry frozen foods such as chips, chicken nuggets and spring rolls. But there are plenty of other things you can cook that you may never have considered.
The question is: will you actually get decent results? Here are Fiona's verdicts:
1. Pies
Pies cook perfectly well in a normal oven, but you can also try them in your air fryer.
Fiona says air-fried pies will work well, but because there is no bottom heating element, you may not get a crisp brown base. You'll also only have space to cook one or two at a time, but it will be faster than waiting for your oven to warm up.
Air-frying a pie will be quicker than an oven.
Pie tips
"For a homemade pie, line a foil pie tray with shortcrust pastry and bake the base first," says Fiona.
"Place a sheet of baking paper over the pastry case and add some dried beans or rice to weigh the pastry down so it won't rise or bubble – this will guarantee a cooked base."
Then add the filling and puff pastry top, cook until the filling is hot and the pastry top is golden.
Verdict: Give a fried pie a try.
2. Donuts
Donuts are usually made by deep-frying sweet dough in oil. Yes, it's possible to do this at home, but it's messy, time-consuming and quite unhealthy. You can bake donuts in your air fryer instead, using just a light coating of oil.
According to Fiona, air fryer donuts will taste OK, but they'll have a "cakey" texture and won't be as crispy as the deep-fried real deal. They may also look a little different. "They will probably be a bit flat on the bottom from sitting on the surface of the air fryer," she says.
Donut tips
Teflon-coated air fryers are best suited to donut making. But if you've got a model with a basket, line it with foil to stop the soft dough getting stuck in the cracks. Fiona also suggests turning the donuts once or twice towards the end of the cooking process for even browning.
Verdict: Worth a try, but don't expect crispy, shop-quality donuts.
3. Boiled eggs
Boiling an egg in a saucepan is pretty easy, but you can also do it in an air fryer. Just put the eggs in the air fryer, set the temperature and timer – and wait.
"An air fryer is good for hard-boiled eggs, but if you want a soft or runny yolk, you're better off using the traditional stovetop method," says Fiona. She also notes that eggs will actually take longer to cook in the air fryer than on the stovetop.
Boiled egg tips
Fiona advises using room-temperature eggs and placing them in the air fryer while it's preheating. "A sudden change in temperature may crack the shell, so don't use eggs straight from the fridge," she says.
Verdict: The stovetop method is quicker and it also does a better job at producing soft or runny yolks.
4. Toasted sandwiches
There was a time when a toasted sandwich maker was a kitchen staple, but your air fryer might do the job just as well. It should produce a nice crispy sandwich without squeezing out the fillings, the way toasted sandwich makers sometimes do.
Toastie tip
Spread a layer of butter on the outside of the bread and flip your sandwich halfway through for an evenly browned, crunchy result.
Verdict: Fry away!
5. Pizza
If you want to make full-size pizzas, you'll have to use a normal oven – but you can use your air fryer to make mini pizzas. The result will be a decent pizza with nicely browned toppings, but it won't have a crispy base because there's no heating element in the bottom of an air fryer.
Air-fried mini pizzas will taste good, but lack a crispy base.
Pizza tips
For the best results, Mair suggests using a thin dough and cooking the dough for a few minutes in the airfryer before putting the toppings on. Cook until the cheese has melted and the crust is golden.
Verdict: Stick with the oven for that crispy finish.
6. Popcorn
While there are already plenty of ways to make popcorn – with a stovetop, microwave or dedicated popcorn machine – some online recipes suggest you can air fry it too. To make it, they recommend lining the basket with foil and placing the kernels and oil inside.
But Fiona doesn't recommend you try this one at home. "Kernels can pop out of the basket and end up becoming trapped in the fan or heating element, which can cause burning and smoking," she warns.
Popcorn tips
If you're going to try it, make a foil pouch to keep your kernels contained, and stick to small quantities. "You need to make sure the kernels are evenly spread out on the base of the basket to allow them to pop evenly," says Fiona.
Verdict: Not worth the risk.
7. Bread
Baking your own bread has never been trendier, so why not try using your air fryer as a bread maker? You should be able to make a small loaf of bread or a few small bread rolls in an air fryer if your model can heat up to over 200 degrees. Then you may need to play around with the temperatures a little to get a good level of browning.
Bread tips
If you don't have a bread tin small enough to fit in your air fryer, you can just put your dough straight in the basket of your air fryer – just make sure you line it first. Fiona recommends preheating your air fryer and avoiding opening the lid/drawer during the baking process.
Verdict: Go for it.
Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.
