I solely just lately grew to become the proprietor of an air fryer, despite the fact that the equipment reached its peak of recognition in 2015. In case you have been questioning, my mother gave it to me as a Christmas reward. I had simply moved into a brand new condominium with extra counter house, which made proudly owning this bigger kitchen tool a little bit extra sensible. 

With the passion of a child who had simply obtained a brand new toy from Santa Claus, I made a decision one of the simplest ways to familiarize myself with my new air fryer was to decide to utilizing it on daily basis for a full work week. Whereas there have been some particular misses, there have been additionally some wins alongside the way in which. This is every little thing I realized from a week of cooking with an air fryer:

Day 1: Char siu bao 

I formally pulled the air fryer out of the field. It got here with a number of pamphlets about really helpful cook dinner occasions and easy recipes, which I filed away (learn as: tossed in my junk drawer) for later reference. I already knew what I used to be going to make — char siu bao, which I purchased frozen from Viet Hoa Plaza, my native Asian nook market. I sometimes use my bamboo steamer to cook dinner these pillowy buns full of chopped barbecue pork. Nonetheless, a bakery on my block sells a golden-brown oven-baked model, so I had been dreaming about making some by myself. 

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I pulled the pamphlets again out and scanned their suggestions for varied frozen objects: hen fingers, french fries, mozzarella sticks. Most instructions referred to as for eight to fifteen minutes on the 400-degree “air fry” setting. I settled on 10 minutes as a protected place to begin. I rapidly brushed the frozen buns with some impartial oil and popped them within the pre-heated fryer. 

On the seven-minute mark, I remarked to my boyfriend, Stephen, “Wow, these scent superb.” And so they did — it was just like the scent you catch whereas ready in line for a spot at a busy dim sum restaurant blended with strolling previous an Auntie Anne’s pretzel kiosk within the mall. On reflection, that ought to have been my clue to take them out. 

Once I popped open the fryer lid, I used to be anticipating honey-brown buns with a crisp exterior. As an alternative, I used to be greeted by what appeared like two little lumps of coal — exhausting and flaking little black chips that appeared like peeling paint. It had been a very long time since I burned one thing so badly; nonetheless, I cut up one of many buns open, and the meat on the within was nonetheless ice-cold. I scooped out what was salvageable, nuked it for 30 seconds and began to examine how other people had performed their prep work.


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One dude on Reddit microwaved his bun first, then popped it within the air fryer for 5 minutes. One other suggested totally steaming them first, then placing them within the air fryer for 3 minutes to realize that golden exterior. Another person really helpful not even bothering with it: “I exploit this factor to reheat pizza and that is about it.” 

I used to be assured I may discover extra makes use of for the equipment, however I nonetheless clearly had lots to study. 

Day 2: Crunchy seasoned chickpeas

“Alright,” I believed, as I pulled a can of chickpeas from the pantry and proceeded to unfold them out on a paper towel-covered sheet pan. “Let’s get again to the fundamentals.” At the moment’s “recipe” was mainly 4 elements: chickpeas, the tiniest little bit of olive oil, smoked paprika and flaky salt. 

After I began working from residence a few years in the past, I noticed that I wanted to maintain wholesome, crunchy objects available for these senseless snacking urges between conferences. I cycled by carrot sticks, pickled vegetables, wasabi peas, and lastly, crispy chickpeas. These have been my favourite as a result of they elevated every little thing — from clean-out-the-fridge salads to leftover curry — with a salty crunch. 

A few air fryer blogs really helpful 10 minutes at 350 levels, however I used to be nonetheless gun shy from the bao expertise. I checked on them each two minutes like an anxious mother. Fortunately, they grew to become delightfully crunchy proper on the 10-minute mark. Might they’ve gone for one more minute or two? Positive, however I used to be afraid of flying too near the solar. 

I used them in a savory yogurt bowl, made by whipping whole-milk greek yogurt with lemon zest, topping it with sliced avocado, purple pepper flakes, yuzu furikake, and in fact, the crisp chickpeas. 

Day 3: Broccoli and cheddar “arancini” 

Since going residence for the vacations, the place my mother and grandmother each served a dizzying array of casseroles, I had been game-planning methods to flip broccoli-rice casserole into crisp little pseudo-arancini, principally so I may use them as cute toppers for broccoli-cheddar soup. 

The air fryer was excellent for the duty. You will get the full recipe here

Day 4: Smoked tofu

Stephen introduced residence a package deal of five-spice smoked tofu from Phoenix Bean, a neighborhood small-batch tofu store, and we determined to see how it could crisp up within the air fryer. After quarter-hour at 400 levels, it was fairly good! To see how the tofu would end up in its easiest kind, I solely brushed it with a little bit little bit of oil and salt. Served with white rice and a few avocado, it was fully satisfying. 

Subsequent time, although, I will undoubtedly go for a marinade and cornstarch coating to actually amp up the crispiness issue. 

Day 5: Mozzarella sticks and tator tots 

On the finish of the work week, all I wished was a few rye old-fashioneds and a few snacks to imitate the expertise of bodily being in a bar once more. In that second, I used to be not testing an equipment for work; I used to be only a woman standing in entrance of an air fryer, asking it to make me some mozzarella sticks and tater tots. 

Fortunately, this appears to be one of many issues it does finest. In contrast to the bao, the insides of each the mozzarella sticks and the tots have been fully warmed by after 12 minutes, whereas the exteriors have been completely crisp. It made for a very nice night. 

The consensus

Whereas I do not see myself utilizing the air fryer as a do-all substitute for all of my home equipment and cookware (I am in all probability by no means going to, say, try and make exhausting boil eggs in it), it is a terrific useful resource for rapidly getting a golden-brown exterior on many groceries, particularly greens. Subsequent on my checklist to strive are candy potato “chips” and breaded and air fried pickle-spears to serve during the Super Bowl

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