An air fryer earns its place when it makes a decent dinner easier. These are meal combinations to work from, rather than promises that a particular appliance will make you lose weight.
Build a whole meal, not just the crispy bit
Start with something you want to eat, then add the parts that make it dinner. Chicken with potato wedges and peas; salmon with rice and broccoli; or chickpeas with peppers, a wrap and yoghurt dressing are three possible combinations. Use the oven, hob or microwave alongside the basket. There is no prize for fitting the entire meal into one machine.
Three dinners to try
- Chicken and wedges: cut potatoes into similar pieces, add a little oil and seasoning, and cook according to the appliance instructions. Cook chicken separately if the basket cannot accommodate it safely. Add frozen peas or a bag of salad.
- Fish and vegetables: cook a fish portion using its packet or a tested recipe, then serve with microwave rice and vegetables. Choose seasoning you like rather than buying a cupboard of ingredients for one meal.
- Chickpea wraps: use drained canned chickpeas and sliced peppers with a spice mix you already have. Serve in a wrap with salad. This is a meal idea; timing depends on your appliance and the size of the ingredients.
The safety bit matters
Follow the appliance and food instructions. Leave room for hot air to circulate, keep raw meat away from ready-to-eat food and check that food is thoroughly cooked. A brown outside does not prove that the centre is safe. The Food Standards Agency explains how to check cooking and use a food thermometer. Do not use this page as a universal temperature or cooking-time chart.
Make the next evening easier
Keep one reliable combination on your shopping list. If a recipe needs ingredients you will never use again, simplify it. Frozen vegetables and plain microwave grains are useful options when time is short. Serve your portion onto a plate, sit down and decide whether it is enough before returning for more. You are making dinner easier to repeat, not turning it into a test of willpower.