Air Fryer Essentials

It can’t do everything in your kitchen, but it certainly can do some things better.

Better-for-You Cooking

There’s no huge mystery to air fryers. They’re basically mini convection ovens. A powerful fan blasts hot air around food, helping make it extra crispy. This method is much faster than a conventional oven and allows for food to cook quickly and evenly. Air fryers have become famous for finger-licking french fries (vegan) and greaseless chicken wings (not vegan), but they’re truly ideal for all kinds of plant-based foods—from Lentil Empanadas to Chocolate & Zucchini Muffins.

If you’re a fan of fried foods and you’re trying to cut back on calories and fat, the air fryer can help, allowing you to make healthier versions of potato skins, arepas, and even donuts. This book also features exciting salads! Yup, the air fryer helps make the best croutons, spiced nuts, roasted veggies, and other fun salad adornments. The Kale Salad with Spicy Miso Dressing, featuring raw and air-fried kale, is a must-try.

Tips for Success

Temperature

All air fryers are different, so don’t panic if your machine shows variable settings for time and temperature. Often, the temperature adjustments are in 5-degree or 10-degree increments. If there’s a temperature discrepancy with these recipes and your machine, use the lower-temp option and turn up the temp during cooking if needed. However, if you want to make one of these recipes in a conventional oven, increase the oven temp by 5 or 10 degrees Fahrenheit.

Basket Size

Air fryer basket sizes also vary significantly. For this reason, you might have to make your recipes in several batches or one large batch depending on the capacity of your machine. Just be sure not to overcrowd the basket because this will interrupt the air flow and have a negative impact on the quality of the finished dish.

Cleaning

Plant-based foods are often less greasy—no meat drippings to worry about—so that alone helps keep the machine clean and working well. Always wipe crumbs and other food particles from the machine after each use to prevent buildup, which can burn and make the machine produce smoke at high cooking temperatures.