48 air fryer recipes everyone will love

From the Thermomix to the Pie Maker Australians really love their appliances. There’s another kitchen tool we’re in love with that makes eating healthy so much easier. Air fryer recipes let you make fried foods with less oil and it can be used for so much more. Below you’ll find some of the most incredible things you can make in one, from mains to sides to desserts and snacks.

An air fryer is a kitchen appliance that cooks by circulating hot air around the food using the convection mechanism. The air fryer is extremely easy to use, and requires little to no maintenance.

Air fryers are renowned for replicating the crisp texture of deep-frying with a fraction of the oil. This amped-up benchtop convection oven works by pushing hot air around food. The rapid circulation of air is what helps to make food crisp, but with much less oil. For example, air-fried hot chips provide 4–6g fat compared to 17g for the deep-fried equivalent.

There are many sizes of air fryers; however, in our Air Fryer Cookbook we’ve used a popular well-priced and mid-sized 5.3-litre model. If you have a larger appliance, you will be able to cook larger amounts of food, while for a smaller one, you will need to decrease the quantities accordingly. Dual drawer air fryers are becoming popular, giving you the flexibility to cook two different foods with different cooking temperatures and times, at the same time. Read our review of the Ninja Dual Zone Air Fryer.

You’ll need one of these…

How to safely use an air fryer

Before starting any recipe, read the manufacturer’s instructions for your appliance first. The machine can get hot, so allow sufficient space on the benchtop around it. Once the basket is pulled out of the appliance, treat it like opening an oven door – it will be hot! Take care when adding and removing items from the air-fryer basket.

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Food director Fran Abdallaoui using the Ninja air fryer

Ninja Dual Zone Air Fryer review: we tried the double drawer air fryer to see if it’s a meal prep game changer

An air fryer with air fryer accessories: a basket and some tongs.

Affordable air fryer accessories to maximise meal times

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Steph de Sousa’s air fryer tips

How to reheat food in the air fryer

Use the air fryer to return pizza, crumbed items and pastry to their former crisp glory. Five minutes at 180°C is all that’s needed to reheat a slice of pizza!

The best hacks and tips for cooking with an air fryer

Avoid baking paper as a cover for food as it will catch fire. Instead, use aluminium foil, which may need to be weighed down with metal spoons. Seeds and loose seasonings should also be avoided, as these will fly around the appliance and burn. To assist with cleaning, line under the basket with baking paper or foil to catch any oil drippings. To ensure even browning, turn food halfway through cooking time. To prevent overbrowning, ensure there is sufficient distance between the top of the food and the element, or cover the food with foil.

Do you use oil in airfryer recipes?

Use oil sparingly in the air fryer or it will burn. Aim for 1-2 tablespoons (olive or canola oil). No additional oil is required for naturally fattier foods like sausages or meatballs. For battered, floured and crumbed recipes, spray the basket and the food lightly with oil. Some oil is required to assist with browning.

How to convert oven time to air fryer

To convert a deep-fried, baking or roasting recipe for the air fryer, reduce the cooking temperature by 20°C.