Air fryers are one of the most popular kitchen appliances on the market today, thanks to their ability to cook up crispy, crunchy and delicious meals with little to no oil. While most people think of air fryers as a tool for cooking French fries, chicken wings and other classic fried foods, these handy devices can be used for a variety of other dishes as well.
Here are five foods you wouldn’t expect to cook in an air fryer, and why they’re so good.
Boiled eggs
Boiled eggs are a delicious and healthy snack, but waiting for a pot of water to boil can be time-consuming. Fortunately, air fryers can cook perfectly boiled eggs in no time at all. Simply set your air fryer to 150ºC and cook the eggs for eight minutes for soft-boiled, 10 minutes for medium-boiled, and 12 minutes for hard-boiled. No need to wait for water to boil or to carefully watch over the pot – the air fryer does all the work for you.
Pancakes
Believe it or not, air fryers can also be used to make delicious, fluffy pancakes. All you need is your favorite pancake mix, an air fryer, and some baking paper.
Line the fryer with the baking paper, add a dollop of pancake mix, and cook at 165ºC for about seven minutes. The result is perfectly cooked pancakes with a golden brown crust and a fluffy interior.
Broccoli fries
Air fryers are great for making healthy snacks, and broccoli fries are a perfect example. Simply slice leftover broccoli stems into fry-shaped pieces, season with your favorite spices, and cook in the air fryer for 15 minutes at 200ºC. The result is crispy broccoli fries that are tasty and healthy.
Poached eggs
If you love poached eggs but hate the hassle of making them on the stovetop, air fryer poached eggs are a game changer. Simply spray ramekins or custard cups with non-stick cooking spray, add water, crack an egg into each cup, and cook in the air fryer for 5-6 minutes at 180ºC.
The result is perfectly poached eggs with a runny yolk and set whites – all without the need to carefully monitor a pot on the stovetop.
Air fryer crumbed Babybel cheese
Finally, if you’re looking for a unique and delicious snack, try making crumbed Babybel cheese in your air fryer. Dip the cheese in flour, egg and your favourite coating (such as breadcrumbs, crushed Twisties or spicy Doritos), and cook in the air fryer for five minutes at 180ºC. The result is a crispy, cheesy snack that’s perfect for any time of day.
Do you have an air fryer? Have you experimented with any unusual dishes? Care to share the results in the comments section below?
Also read: Air fryers to avoid
