35 Air Fryer Hacks (With No Experience Required!)

Once you’ve got yourself an air fryer, it’s time to take your cooking game up a notch.

I like to get a little creative with mine, and I know you will too.

Rice? Easy. Fries? Yep! Eggs, soup, veggies… all there. But what about the foods that aren’t quite as obvious or the hacks to make your air fryer life tastier and easier? 

35 Air Fryer Hacks To Take Your Air Frying Game To The Next Level

1. Preheat For Juicier Chicken

Add a dash of salt to your chicken and preheat your fryer for 5 minutes before adding to ensure you get the juiciest meat possible.

2. Avoid Sticking In The Basket

Spray your food with oil before adding it to the Fryer. This will ensure there are no sticking issues and you can cook all kinds of foods without any problems!

3. No More Splatters

Place a wooden spoon over the air vent when cooking things like garlic or onion to stop grease and liquid from splattering everywhere and onto your clothes/hands.

4. Thaw Your Vegetables

Place vegetables in a sealed bag with water and place them in the Fryer. Thaw should take around 15 minutes

5. Reheat Your Leftovers

Throw your leftovers into the air fryer to reheat quickly without taking up valuable oven space! Leftover pizza? Yes, please!

6. Perfect Poached Eggs

Crack an egg into a bowl, add 1 tbsp of water and place them in the fryer basket. Cook for 8 minutes or until the desired consistency is reached.

7. Copy Your Favorite Fast-Food Recipes

Looking to recreate your favorite fast food meals at home? Air fryers are a great way to do so. Try making a copycat Chipotle Burrito bowl, the Fryer makes it easier than ever before.

8. Bacon Explosion

Make your own bacon explosion with the Air Fryer. Layer up some bacon on a baking tray, season, then place another layer of bacon on top. Cook for 15-20 minutes or until crisp.

9. Perfect Pizza Dough

Create thin-crust pizzas in just minutes with an air fryer! Add pizza dough to the fryer basket and cook for 4-5 minutes.

10. Perfect Homemade French Fries

Cut your potatoes into even-sized strips and place them in the basket. Cook for 20 minutes at 200 degrees or until golden brown.

11. Breadcrumbs That Won’t Burn

To make breadcrumbs without burning them, cook for 3-5 minutes at 180 degrees. This will ensure they aren’t burnt but will also be crisp and crunchy!

12. Brown Bread Faster

Toasting bread? Use your Fryer to toast them quickly, without burning. Perfect for sandwiches! Simply place your bread in the basket and cook for 2-3 minutes.

13. Perfect Brownies Every Time

Melt your chocolate or butter in a bowl and place it at the bottom of the Fryer. Place your brownie mix on top, then set for 8 minutes. The heat will melt your chocolate and allow you to spread it evenly among the brownie mix, leading to perfect results every time!

14. Get Crispy Nuts

Place nuts on a plate and cook for 3 minutes at 200 degrees to get yummy crispy nuts without oil!

15. Avoid Overcrowding

To make the most of your Air Fryer, don’t overcrowd it. Doing so will cause the Fryer to work twice as hard and negate any potential benefits of using one. Try cooking things in small batches with the fryer to ensure even cooking.

16. Marinate Your Meat

If you want your meat to cook perfectly, try marinating it in your favorite sauce before placing it inside the Fryer. This will ensure maximum flavor and tenderness. Sauces such as Worcestershire or soy are great for Air Fryers and go well with meats such as steak, pork, and chicken.

17. Avoid Crumbs in the Oil

Want to make sure your oil doesn’t get clogged by breadcrumbs? Place a paper towel at the bottom of your fryer, ensuring it’s fully covered, and place your food on top. This will absorb any excess crumbs and allow for a clean fry every time!

18. Perfect S’mores

Who says s’mores have to be made over a campfire? Try using your Fryer for this delicious treat. Simply place the marshmallows on a stick or skewer, then dip into melted chocolate and coat with graham crackers crumbs! Cook in the Fryer for just one minute to get perfect results. Yum!

19. Create Savory Pies

Love pies but don’t always have time to make them? Then try making mini pies instead! Simply line your Air Fryer Basket with pastry dough, fill with your favorite pie filling, and top with pastry dough. Cook in the Fryer for around 10 minutes or until golden brown. This technique is great for fruit pies, quiches, or just about any savory pie you can think of.

20. Perfect Air Fried Wings

To make delicious, crispy wings without deep-frying, coat them with a bit of oil and some salt & pepper. Cook on high for 8 minutes or until golden brown.

21. Make Your Own Croutons

Don’t want to buy expensive croutons at the store? Then make your own! Place bread cubes in the Fryer basket and cook according to your desired level of crispiness. Want them extra crispy? Cook on high for 3-4 minutes, while medium crisp is around 6 minutes.

22. Perfect Omelettes

Whisk your eggs and pour into a heat-proof glass (a vase also works) and place inside the air fryer, cover with a lid, and set the time for 13 minutes on “soft”. You’ll have an omelette that is perfectly cooked!

23. Take Snacking Up A Level

Use your Air Fryer to make crispy snacks without the need for oil. Place your favorite ingredients inside a heat-proof glass bowl, cover with cling film and cook on high for 10 minutes or until finished. You can also use this technique with sliced potatoes to make “chips” in the fryer. Another delicious snack that’s easy to make is caramelized nuts with this technique.

24. Delicious Stuffed Mushrooms

Stuffed mushrooms are a delicious treat, but can be time-consuming to make. Use your Air Fryer instead. Simply place the mushroom on its side and stuff with cheese or other ingredients of your choice. Cook for 8 minutes or until golden brown for perfect results every time.

25. Make Your Own Pesto

Love pesto, but don’t want to spend hours blending and stirring? Try using your fryer instead. Put the packed down basil and pine nuts in a heat-proof glass and cover with cling film. Cook for 10 minutes on high or until perfectly blended. It couldn’t be easier!

26. Keep The Counter Clear

Air Fryers tend to heat up very quickly, so you don’t want to dilly dally when cooking. Instead, clear the countertops and other appliances nearby to avoid any unnecessary accidents. Having a clear counter will also make it much easier to access all your ingredients and utensils when cooking.

27. Perfect Pancakes

Pancakes can be a hassle, especially when trying to flip them without breaking the delicate mix inside. Make air-fried pancakes instead. Coat a heat-proof glass in oil or butter and pour in your pancake mixture. Cook for 5 minutes on high or until the pancake puffs up and is golden brown. Simple right!!?

28. How To Make Deviled Eggs In The Air Fryer

Using your Fryer for deviled eggs cuts out all of the hassle usually involved in making these delicious snacks. Simply place peeled hard-boiled eggs in a heat-proof glass bowl, coat with oil or melted butter then cook on high for 8 minutes. These are perfect for parties.

29. How To Make Crispy Potatoes In The Air Fryer

Using your air fryer is an easy way to make crispy, oven-style potatoes without turning on the oven. Just coat potatoes with oil or butter and cook for around 15 minutes depending on desired crispiness, flipping halfway through.

30. Make Perfect Tacos

Tex-Mex food lovers, listen up! Create authentic tacos in your Air Fryer without spending hours over the stove or deep-frying. Simply place seasoned ground beef and seasoning in a heat-proof glass, cover with cling film and cook on high for 8 minutes or until cooked through.

31. Recreate Restaurant Food At Home

Sick of eating out and spending so much money? Use your Air Fryer to recreate some restaurant favorites! Try using the fryer to make “fried” chicken, fish & chips, or mozzarella sticks. Your wallet will thank you!

32. Waffle Iron Recipes

Love waffles but don’t have a waffler? Just use your Air Fryer instead. Simply spray with some cooking spray before placing the batter in the fryer basket. Cook for 8 minutes at 350 degrees.

33. Mix Seasonings Before Air Frying

When prepping your fryer for cooking, mix any spices or seasonings in a heat-proof bowl with oil or melted butter before placing them in the fryer. Doing this will help release the full flavor of your spices and seasonings when you cook them which means super tasty food!

34. Add Water In The Basket To Prevent Fatty Food From Smoking

Fried foods most of the time are full of fats and oils which can result in smoke. You can prevent this by adding 2 tablespoons or so of water to the fryer basket before cooking. This will help avoid smoking, leaving you with delicious food!

35. Turn Up the Heat

When using your Air Fryer, you can use high heat to create more browning on certain foods. Try cooking chicken pieces at 400 degrees for 10 minutes, flipping halfway through for delicious results. Don’t forget to coat them in oil or butter before turning up the heat!

Conclusion

Thank you so much for reading. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading the article and learned something new. If you did, great! Let me know what your favorite Air Fryer hack is in the comments below 🙂

If you haven’t read it yet, don’t forget to check out our last article: ‘Air Fryer for Beginners’.