100 Easy and Healthy Air Fryer Recipes for Dinner (2024)

FAQs

What is the healthiest thing to cook in an air fryer? ›

Try a healthy twist on crispy pork chops, air fryer chicken recipes, or healthy fish recipes made entirely in the air fryer. Serve it up with air fryer veggies, like Brussels sprouts or green beans, for a meal that's both easy and good for you, too.

Air-frying equipment is not known to cause cancer, but the process of air frying does result in the formation of certain compounds, like acrylamide, that are linked to cancer development. Acrylamide is classified as a probable human carcinogen.

Avocado oil is one of the best oils to use in the air fryer. Not only does it have a very high smoke point, it also has a neutral flavor and is rich in heart-healthy unsaturated fats.

Air-fryer chicken breasts

Simply roll oiled chicken breasts in the seasoning and put in the air-fryer to cook for 18-20 mins, then serve with rice, greens or a salad. Mix up the spices for interest or keep it plain, it's up to you.

Those cuts include Top Sirloin, KC Strip, Ribeye, Tenderloin and Tri Tip. Ground beef also can be easily prepared in an air fryer.

Summary. In conclusion, while air fryers offer certain benefits such as reduced calorie intake and faster cooking times, they are not without their limitations. Size constraints, limited cooking options, and concerns about crispiness are driving some people to look for alternatives.

What are Disadvantages of Using an Air Fryer? Air fryers vary in the amount of foods they can hold, but usually do not have a large capacity. Air fryers may not be convenient when cooking for large groups.

What ruins an air fryer? ›

Putting a damp basket back into the air fryer can cause damage, such as affecting the time it takes for your air fryer to heat up or damaging the internal components. It is no secret that water and electricity do not go hand-in-hand.

Though it takes a fairly short amount of time for an air fryer to cook the inside of meat to medium-rare, the outside of the burger won't brown as quickly. If you like your meat red and juicy, an air fryer won't give it the char that balances it out.

Instead, the real driver of "what is healthy" is the kind of foods you eat and put in the air fryer. Nutrient-dense foods like fruits, veggies, whole grains, fatty fish and lean meats are generally just as nutritious in the air fryer as in the oven.

Our top-tested picks:

Best Overall: Ninja Air Fryer Max XL. Best Value: Instant Vortex Plus ClearCook. Sleekest: Cosori Turboblaze Air Fryer. Best Small: Ninja AF101.

By consuming fewer calories and less fat, air fryer cooking can help to maintain healthy blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and blood sugar levels.

Microwave Oven: This doesn't inherently promote healthier cooking, as it doesn't necessarily reduce oil usage or a method to reduce fat content. Air Fryer: Uses significantly less oil or even no oil, promoting a healthier cooking option by reducing the overall fat content of dishes.

So if you often eat deep-fried foods, switching to an air fryer could be helpful. If you're cooking a food that you wouldn't normally add fat to when you cook it, whether that's ready-made oven chips, bacon, sausages or breaded chicken, being cooked in an air fryer is unlikely to make it healthier.

The Irish Mirror reports that halogen ovens are said to be an "amazing" alternative to air fryers, and at a fraction of the price. They're made up of a glass bowl with a lid containing halogen bulbs and a fan, and when switched on, beams of infra-red radiation are sent out to create heat.