The Unexpected Foods You Can Make in an Air Fryer

Most people reach for the air fryer for fries and frozen chicken tenders and stop there. It’s actually capable of a lot more than reheating and crisping the usual suspects.

Hard-Boiled Eggs

Place whole eggs, shell and all, directly into the air fryer basket. No water or extra prep is needed beforehand.

Cook at 270 degrees for about 15 to 17 minutes, depending on how firm you want the yolk. A shorter time gives a softer center, while the full 17 minutes yields a fully set yolk.

Transfer the eggs straight into an ice bath as soon as they’re done cooking. The shells peel off just as easily as they would with stovetop-boiled eggs.

Bacon

Lay strips of bacon flat in the basket in a single layer, cutting them in half if needed to fit. Avoid overlapping the strips so they cook evenly.

Cook at 400 degrees for about 8 to 10 minutes, flipping the strips halfway through. Keep an eye on them near the end, since thickness affects exactly how fast they crisp up.

The fat drips down through the basket instead of pooling in a pan, which means less mess and a crispier result overall. There’s no need to babysit a stovetop the whole time.

Grilled Cheese

Butter the outside of two slices of bread, then build the sandwich with cheese in the middle as you normally would. Press the sandwich together gently so it holds its shape.

Place it in the basket and cook at 370 degrees for about 8 minutes total, flipping it halfway through. The bread should turn evenly golden on both sides by the time it’s done.

Let it rest for a minute before cutting, so the cheese has a moment to set slightly. It’s a simple way to make one sandwich without heating up a full skillet.

Roasted Whole Garlic

Slice just the top off a whole head of garlic to expose the tops of the cloves. Drizzle the cut side with olive oil and wrap the head loosely in foil.

Air fry at 380 degrees for about 20 minutes, until the cloves turn soft and lightly golden. Check for doneness by pressing gently on the foil packet.

Once cooled slightly, squeeze the roasted cloves directly out of the skin. They’re soft enough to spread onto bread on their own, no mashing required.

Fried Pickles

Dip pickle chips in a light batter, or coat them in breadcrumbs if you prefer a crunchier texture. Shake off any excess coating before cooking.

Arrange the pickles in a single layer in the basket, leaving space between pieces so air can circulate. Cook at 400 degrees for about 8 to 10 minutes, flipping halfway through so both sides crisp evenly.

Serve them right away while they’re still hot and crunchy. They lose some of that crispness the longer they sit.

Steak

Season the steak generously on both sides and let it come to room temperature before cooking. This helps it cook more evenly all the way through.

Place it in the basket and cook at 400 degrees for about 10 to 12 minutes, flipping halfway through, adjusting the time based on thickness and how well done you like it. A meat thermometer takes the guesswork out of hitting the right doneness.

Let the steak rest for five minutes before slicing. That resting step matters just as much here as it would with any other cooking method.

Individual Cakes

Pour a simple cake batter into small ramekins or a mini cake pan, filling each about two-thirds full to leave room for rising. Place them carefully into the air fryer basket.

Bake at 320 degrees for about 15 minutes, checking for doneness with a toothpick inserted into the center. The smaller portions cook through evenly without drying out at the edges the way a full-sized cake sometimes does.

Let the cakes cool for a few minutes before turning them out. A dusting of powdered sugar or a scoop of ice cream turns them into a genuine dessert rather than a novelty.

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