What's not to love about air fryers? From whipping up cupcakes to whole turkeys and even pizza, it's no wonder why they have become hugely popular. You won't believe all the things you can do with this versatile countertop appliance!
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00:00What's not to love about air fryers?
00:03From whipping up cupcakes to whole turkeys and even pizza, it's no wonder why they have
00:07become hugely popular.
00:09You won't believe all the things you can do with this versatile countertop appliance.
00:14Air fryers may be able to perform the same tasks that an oven can, but if you want to
00:18replicate one of your favorite oven-based recipes, it isn't as easy as throwing in food
00:23and cooking it at the same temperature.
00:26This is primarily due to the difference in cooking methods for the two appliances.
00:30By the same measure, you don't need to make what you want in a way that's specially designed
00:34for an air fryer.
00:35Some recipes simply won't taste the same if they're tweaked excessively.
00:39That's where author and YouTuber Candice Hutchings, aka the Edgy Veg, comes in.
00:44She's detailed her own air fryer hack that's as simple as lowering the cooking temperature
00:48by approximately 25 degrees Fahrenheit and reducing cook time by 20 percent.
00:54She says,
00:55For example, if the oven recipe states 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes, cook in
01:01the air fryer at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 16 minutes, opening halfway to shake the basket
01:07and flip the food.
01:09Air fryers are popular for their ability to make a wide range of savory food, but they're
01:13just as capable of cooking up a lot of stuff on the sweeter side.
01:17We're talking all kinds of recipes for cupcakes, cookies, fritters, pies, and churros.
01:23Even baking a cake is possible if you're using a larger air fryer that can fit a baking
01:28tin inside.
01:29The smaller baskets may not be able to pull off something so grandiose, but making a few
01:33cookies at a time is doable.
01:36The only thing to keep in mind while using an air fryer instead of an oven for baking
01:40or frying sugary treats is that you'll likely need to flip your food halfway through the
01:44cooking process.
01:45So be sure to follow the recipe carefully, and maybe, you know, don't eat your delicious
01:49treat all at once.
01:51I don't even have to floss.
01:59There's a great deal of food that requires a quick shake of your air fryer basket as
02:03you cook.
02:04But what if you want whatever you're cooking to remain stable as you pull the basket out
02:07to check on your food's progress?
02:09Whether you're cooking with loose ramekins filled with something liquid like eggs, or
02:13baked shellfish dishes such as baked lobster, using crumpled aluminum foil as a support
02:18structure can help to keep food from moving around, preventing unnecessary spillage.
02:24Using foil like this is quick and easy, and it tends to be the more cost-effective option
02:28as well.
02:29This way, you don't have to go out and buy any of those air fryer-specific gadgets and
02:33accessories like cooking molds or racks.
02:35Depending on what you make, provided there isn't too much spillage in the process, you
02:40should be able to reuse the aluminum foil structure you create as well.
02:44Air fryers can be effective when it comes to cooking fatty foods, like slices of bacon
02:48or hamburger patties.
02:50That said, unless you're regularly emptying out the drip pan as you go — and that's
02:54hard to do while an air fryer is in motion — you might find a lot of smoke coming out
02:59of your countertop cooker.
03:00Adding a tablespoon or two of water to your drip pan can prevent the grease from getting
03:05too hot and smoking.
03:06It's a simple tip that makes all the difference.
03:09It's probably best for your health that you're cutting down on smoking grease as well, according
03:13to Serious Eats.
03:14Fat starts to break down once it passes its smoke point.
03:17This means the release of both free radicals, which are unstable atoms that can damage your
03:22cells, and acrolein, the chemical that gives burnt foods an unpleasant flavor and aroma.
03:29Frozen veggies sometimes get a bad rap, but the reality is that they have almost the same
03:33nutritional value as fresh ones, according to 2017 research published in the Journal
03:38of Food Composition and Analysis.
03:41When you're low on fresh produce, frozen alternatives can be a quick and easy way to
03:45whip up a healthy side dish.
03:47Unfortunately, simply popping your frozen broccoli, carrots, and peas in the microwave
03:52often leaves them soggy, mushy, and less than appetizing.
03:56In this case, your trusty air fryer is the perfect solution.
04:00Cooking your frozen veggies in the air fryer is a guaranteed way to get tasty, crispy results
04:05every time.
04:06Start by spraying your air fryer basket with your choice of oil spray.
04:10Add salt and pepper, or any other spices you'd like.
04:13Air fry for 15 to 20 minutes at 400 degrees, then serve.
04:17Americans spend more than $11 billion on pizza deliveries each year.
04:22If you love stuffed crust, breadsticks, and other pizza shop classics, but tend to rely
04:26on ordering pizza on nights when you need a quick and easy dinner, the cost can add
04:30up fast.
04:32It's a no-brainer that cooking a frozen pizza at home can help you save a bit of cash.
04:36Cooking your favorite frozen pizza in your air fryer rather than your oven is a great
04:40choice.
04:41For smaller models, this might mean opting for individual-sized pizzas, French bread
04:46pizzas, or even pizza bites.
04:48Once you've got your pizza, preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees.
04:53Place it in the basket and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and
04:57the crust is crisp.
04:59The average household in the United States spends around $3,000 each year dining out.
05:05When you're craving your favorite meal or appetizer, but want to keep your budget in
05:08check, your air fryer might be useful.
05:11With a quick search online, you can find tons of copycat recipes that allow you to recreate
05:16popular restaurant dishes at home at a fraction of the price.
05:21And for a sweet treat, use your air fryer to recreate Subway's Always Soft Oatmeal Cookies.
05:27Or do a quick Google search, and odds are that someone has created a recipe designed
05:31to recreate another classic dessert quickly and cheaply, with the help of an air fryer.
05:36You like this cookie?
05:37Oh!
05:38Well, this cookie's junk!
05:39I do, I like a cookie.
05:42The reason air fryers are so quick, and why they are often touted as a healthier way of
05:47cooking, is because of how they operate.
05:49Your air fryer blows a continuous stream of hot air from a fan located in the top part
05:54of the appliance.
05:55That air is circulated down into the basket where you placed your food.
05:59This means that very little oil is needed to keep contents from sticking, and everything
06:03cooks evenly.
06:05However, when your air fryer basket is loaded with french fries, vegetables, or other bite-sized
06:10ingredients, the circulating air may not make its way to the food in the middle.
06:15To make sure that everything is cooked fully and perfectly crisp, Phillips recommends shaking
06:19your air fryer basket partway through cooking.
06:22For best results, only use this trick when cooking dishes that aren't fragile.
06:26Softer foods may fall apart if you shake the basket, so they should instead be placed
06:31in a single layer to ensure they are evenly cooked and that they remain intact.
06:36While in most cases air fryers require very little oil, certain dishes will benefit from
06:40a little extra.
06:42If the food looks dry, Everyday Family Cooking recommends another quick spray of oil for
06:47best results.
06:48Keep in mind that not all oils are suited for your air fryer.
06:51Your frying foodie suggests using either butter, olive oil, coconut oil, avocado oil,
06:57vegetable oil, or peanut oil.
06:59Meanwhile, My Forking Life warns against using oil that comes in an aerosol spray can, since
07:04it may contain ingredients that can damage your air fryer.
07:08You might be surprised to learn that you can whip up a delicious breakfast in your air
07:11fryer.
07:12As for toast, however, you might want to stick to making it in a toaster.
07:16But one breakfast staple that's made simple with the help of an air fryer is bacon.
07:20In under 10 minutes, you can make crispy bacon with no splashing grease or big mess
07:25to clean up.
07:26Get you anything else?
07:28Maybe a little bacon.
07:31It says I shouldn't.
07:33Go ahead.
07:34A Southern Soul recommends preheating your air fryer to 360 degrees.
07:38Lay the slices of bacon along the bottom of your air fryer basket and avoid overlapping
07:43them.
07:44The thicker your bacon, the longer you'll need to cook it.
07:46Thin slices will cook in 8 to 10 minutes, while thicker ones will take 10 to 13 minutes.
07:52You can also make tots with bacon wrapped around them.
07:56If you have a large enough air fryer, you can make family meals even easier by roasting
08:00meat, even a whole turkey.
08:02And if you normally like to make your own gravy after roasting a bird in the oven, this
08:06is another task that your air fryer will simplify.
08:09After roasting your turkey, remove it with a tray from your air fryer.
08:13The fat drippings and juice will have collected in the bottom of the bucket, which you can
08:17use to make your own homemade gravy.
08:20From broccoli to tuna casseroles, every family seems to have their favorite pan-baked meal.
08:25But casseroles aren't always fast.
08:28Luckily, your favorite casserole recipe likely has an air fryer alternative.
08:33In most cases, you'll prepare your casserole much the same as you would if you were going
08:37to bake it in the oven.
08:39Scoop the contents into your air fryer basket and bake.
08:42For some recipes, you'll need to cook them in several steps.
08:45For instance, AirFried.com recommends first cooking the base of a broccoli casserole.
08:50Then, pull out the air fryer basket to add the cracker crumb topping and bake the whole
08:55concoction again.
08:56This will ensure that the top gets nice and crispy and that the layer underneath is also
09:01well cooked.
09:03Toasted nuts are the perfect snack when you're craving a crunch without the extra calories.
09:07Most kinds of nuts can be toasted using an air fryer, including almonds, cashews, hazelnuts,
09:13peanuts, pecans, and walnuts.
09:15When toasting smaller nuts, you'll likely need to place them on a little baking dish
09:19to prevent them from falling through the holes in the bottom of the basket.
09:22Depending on the type of nut, your tasty snack will be ready in as little as three to five
09:27minutes, according to the Food Network.
09:30If you're using nuts with skins, you'll need to remove them after you've roasted them.
09:34Once your nuts are finished toasting, spread them on a cutting board or plate so they can
09:38cool down before you dig in.
09:40While toasted nuts are a tasty snack on their own, they're also perfect for adding to salads
09:45and other dishes.
09:46Hey, what you doing?
09:47Relax, man.
09:48I'm just trying to grab some nuts.