How to Use an Air Fryer+Favorite Recipes (From Immigrant Mom's Kitchen)

As a mom who has been air frying for over 7 years, I’ve learned what works, what doesn’t, and how to get the most out of your air fryer. This guide covers everything you need to know—from set up and my go-to recipes to common mistakes and cleanup.

I got my first air fryer in 2018, and the very first thing I made was crispy chicken tenders.  I said: "Wow, this is so good". They cooked fast, turned out super crispy, and I barely used any oil. That’s how I fell in love with air frying.

Basket vs. Oven-Style Air Fryers

There are a few most common types of air fryers: basket-style air fryers (that’s the one I use and love) and oven-style air fryers.  

My first air fryer was an oven-style air fryer, and while I loved it; once I tried the basket-style one, I quickly realized it was my favorite. If you decide to go with the basket air fryer, I recommend getting a larger one, even if you have a smaller family. So you can cook even a whole chicken in it.

To this day, I prefer a basket-style air fryer for a few reasons: it crisps up the food better, takes less space, and it is easier to clean.  Basket air fryers also let you shake the food for even cooking.

The oven-style air fryer has its own advantages too: it can cook more food at once and it has more features like baking or toasting.

Hopefully, this quick overview helps you decide which one works best for you and your family’s cooking needs.

While these tools are optional, I recommend getting them sooner rather than later:

• Silicone tongs and spatulas: for flipping, stirring, scooping, or pulling out hot food without scratching the non-stick basket.
• Heat-resistant gloves or mitts: the basket may get quite hot, and these will protect your hands.
• Meat thermometer: This is a must-have tool for making sure your meat or seafood is fully cooked and not overcooked.
• Oven-safe small baking dishes or ramekins: these are great for making air fryer omelets, reheating casseroles, or making desserts.
• Basting brush: for basting the marinades or oil during the cooking process.
• Non-aerosol cooking spray: Easy way to lightly coat the food or the basket. Avoid aerosol sprays, as they can leave residue or cause damage over time on non-stick surfaces.

How to clean an air fryer?

Cleaning my air fryer is easy if you do it right after each use. First, let your air fryer cool down, and always unplug it before cleaning.

Just like any skillet or pot, I wash the basket and tray after each use. I wash it with dish soap and a soft sponge to keep the non-stick (Teflon) surface safe. For a deeper clean, I soak the basket in warm water with a little baking soda or put it in a dishwasher, since most baskets are dishwasher safe.

I also give the whole thing a deep clean every now and then, including wiping the heating element carefully. The heating element is delicate and can’t be removed, so I just use a damp cloth or soft brush to gently clean any stuck-on bits. Never scrub it hard or spray water directly on it to avoid damage.

Mistakes to avoid

• Skipping the oil: the air fryer cooks food with less oil, but you still need it so whatever you are making does get stuck to the basket and it also helps make things crispy and not dry. (Fix: Use just a little bit of oil to lightly coat the basket or food).
• Not shaking or flipping the food: the food will cook and brown unevenly. (Fix: Shake the basket or flip the food halfway through cooking).
• Overcrowding the basket: this will cause the food to cook unevenly and it will not be as crispy. (Fix: cook the food in batches if needed so).

What You Can Cook in an Air Fryer

You can cook so many foods in your air fryer. My absolute favorite recipes are frozen foods you can cook without thawing, and of course, European dishes!

• Frozen foods (no thawing required): chicken breasts, chicken wings, fish, shrimp, asparagus, butternut squash, okra.
• European recipes: Italian risotto balls, German brats or schnitzels, French potato croquettes, Italian sausage with peppers and onions.
• Proteins: whole chicken, turkey mini meatloaves, pork chops, buffalo chicken wings, ground turkey, and more.
• Eggs: I love making omelets with veggies in my air fryer.
• Fresh vegetables and fruit: whole russet potatoes, roasted zucchini, diced sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, pears, beets, radishes.
• Anything breaded: breaded chicken cutlets, crispy zucchini fries.
• Reheating: The air fryer is great for reheating leftovers, it can easily crisp back up your food in no time.

What I do not to cook

Besides the obvious dishes like soups, dry rice, dry pasta or any wet batters, I had a hard time or did not care about cooking in the air fryer a few more foods that I thought would work at first: 

• Thin bacon slices: it is easier to bake them, as the air fryer basket is too small to fit a whole strip, it also splattered all over my heating unit making a lot of mess. 
• Popcorn: just cook it in a pan or microwave. I tried making some in the air fryer and a lot of kernels did not open, when I increased the temperature some got burned. 
• Small frozen pizza: it can get cooked, but my toppings like pepperoni always blow away.