The air fryer has changed the way many of us prepare our breakfasts, lunches, and dinners.
Not only are they great for the main meals of the day, but they’re also great for filling in the hunger gaps in between.

However, because humans are creatures of familiarity, preferring to stick to what we know rather than try something new (especially when it comes to food), many people rarely venture beyond those familiar foods that are known for cooking well in an air fryer, such as fries and chicken wings.

We’ve seen the best air fryers fly off the shelves in recent years as we look to save money on our energy bills.Furthermore, air fryers allow us to cook foods faster, keeping up with our hectic schedules, and eat healthier, as they do not require the use of much, if any, oil.We hear a lot about air fryer mistakes and foods to avoid cooking in an air fryer, but what about all the delicious foods that cook beautifully in an air fryer?

Here’s a handy list of what to cook in an air fryer, from the common to the more unusual.

Fries and chips
Battered or breaded fish
Fried chicken and other meat
Crispy chickpeas (try these with salt, cumin and paprika for a tasty snack or side)
Falafel
Potatoes (for a healthier roast dinner)
Vegetables (any you’d roast or grill. Breaded vegetables are also great.)
Kale (add salt and paprika for deliciously moreish kale crisps)
Tofu
Reheated food (it won’t make once-crispy food soft like a microwave will)
Empanadas and other pastries
Mozzarella sticks
Pigs in blankets
Cookies and brownies
Cannoli

We’ve compiled a list of twelve foods that produce excellent results. We’re sure there are many more – 12 air fryer foods to give a go

1. Donuts

If you’re a Krispy Kreme fan, then definitely give these air-fried donuts a go. By using deep-frying donut recipes as a guide to the temperature requirements – in this case, 356ºF / 180ºC – and reducing the cooking time to five minutes, we put the dough into a metal baking tin rather than onto the crisper plate – and our resulting air fryer donuts rivaled those of Krispy Kreme.

They were a soft golden color on the outside, and soft and fluffy on the inside. Don’t be surprise if your family and friends are convinced that you’ve bought a dozen donuts from the local shop rather than having actually made them at home.

2. Ice cream balls

Yes, you can cook ice cream in an air fryer. And it’s delicious. Deep-fried ice cream is a popular dessert often served in South American restaurants. An ice cream ball is coated in a batter of sorts and deep-fried for less than a minute to create a warm, crisp shell while the ice cream remains intact on the inside.

We recreated this treat and found that Honey & Nut Corn Flakes (or Crunchy Nut Cornflakes in the UK) worked a treat to coat the ice cream. The ice cream balls not only tasted delicious, they’re healthier – and the process of making them in an air fryer is safer than deep frying, too.

3. Cinnamon rolls

When we made cinnamon rolls in an air fryer, the results were better than following my usual method of baking, so there was no going back. Perfecting the dough – and the buttery, slightly-spicy filling – is the key to success when making air fryer cinnamon rolls. We landed on a filling of 2.1oz / 60g soft butter spread over the dough, sprinkled with a mix of 3oz / 85g of dark muscovado sugar and 1.5tsp of cinnamon.

You’re air fryer may not have the capacity to cook all the rolls in one go, so you can set aside any remaining dough and cook later.

4. Grilled cheese

Also known as a cheese toastie, this air fryer food type may surprise you. The usual way to make a grilled cheese sandwich is on the stove, unless you have a specifically designed appliance for the job.

In the air fryer we found that you can make the sandwich as usual, but spreading a thin layer of butter on the outside of the bread and cooking the sandwich on the crisper plate of the air fryer drawer for six minutes on both sides delivers an delicious, crispy grilled cheese sandwich.

5. Cheese on toast

Don’t fancy a sandwich? You can also make air fryer cheese on toast. Load on the cheese and / or use a variety of cheeses to deliver a super-tasty snack.

We worked an egg into the mix, which delivers results in a more oozy top, with the cheese nicely spread out and melted. Season with salt and / or pepper for a punchier flavor.

6. Hard-boiled eggs

Surely you can’t boil an egg in an air fryer? Yes, actually, you can! Get the timing and temperature right, and the air fryer will deliver perfect results every time. In addition, in the air fryer you’re likely to be able to cook more eggs than you can fit in a typical saucepan, and there’s minimal washing up, too. Note that the various cooking times for different-sized eggs in an air fryer aren’t far off how long they’d take to cook in a pan, either.

7. Baked potatoes

The baked potato is a staple meal for many households and although not all air fryers have a “bake” preset, we can vouch that there is such a thing as a baked potato air fryer recipe that works. Depending on your air fryer, it won’t necessarily save you money on your energy bills due to the time it takes to bake a potato in the counter-top appliance, but we can all but guarantee that you’ll achieve a crispy skin and fluffy inside – so it will certainly be worth it.

8. Tofu

Air fryers use 95% less oil than deep frying so that you can achieve a crispy but healthy finish. And the process behind tasty tofu is easy. ‘Simply season or marinate before popping them in the air fryer,’ Laura says.

And, if you choose an air fryer with a window, you can keep track of its cooking process and remove your tofu when it is the perfect color for you.

9. Air fryer zucchini, corn and haloumi fritters

Time to get out the air fryer! These easy fritters packed with vegies and haloumi will be your new weeknight winner.

10. Salmon

Salmon isn’t difficult to cook, but the air fryer, which circulates hot air around the salmon so it remains moisture, makes it marginally easier.

11. Air Fryer Caramelized Bananas

This caramelized banana dessert is so decadent, you’ll forget you’re eating fruit. Top it with anything from banana and cinnamon to ice cream and chopped walnuts.

12. Air Fryer Churros

Air Fryer Churros fried to golden perfection make a delicious dessert for your next Mexican-themed party! Freshly baked and coated with cinnamon-sugar this easy Air Fryer dessert is a lot easier to make at home than you think.