Air Fryer Uses: 20 Things You Can Cook Beyond Frying
- Can an Air Fryer Do More Than Frying?
- Air Fryer Uses: Frying (Uses 1-5)
- Air Fryer Uses: Roasting and Grilling (Uses 6-10)
- Air Fryer Uses: Baking and Toasting (Uses 11-15)
- Air Fryer Uses: Reheating, Dehydrating, and More (Uses 16-20)
- What Should You NOT Cook in an Air Fryer?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Can an Air Fryer Do More Than Frying?
An air fryer can do far more than frying. It roasts, grills, bakes, toasts, reheats, dehydrates, and even warms food. Most people buy an air fryer thinking it only makes fries and samosas. In reality, it replaces three to four kitchen appliances when used to its full potential.
I bought my first air fryer thinking I would use it only for pakoras. Within a week, I was baking cakes, grilling paneer tikka, and reheating leftover pizza in it. The air fryer uses hot air circulating at high speed, which means any cooking method that relies on dry heat works well in it.
Here are 20 actual air fryer uses, grouped by cooking method. Every example here is something I have personally tried in an Indian kitchen.
Air Fryer Uses: Frying (Uses 1-5)
Air frying gives crispy results with 70-80% less oil than deep frying. The hot air creates a Maillard reaction on the food surface, which is the same browning that happens in a kadhai or deep fryer. The difference is that air does the job instead of oil.
- Samosa - frozen or fresh, cook at 180 degrees Celsius for 12 minutes. Brush with oil for golden colour. No splashing oil, no mess
- Pakora (onion, paneer, palak) - use thick besan batter so it sticks. Spray oil on top. Cook at 190 degrees Celsius for 10-12 minutes
- French fries - cut potatoes, soak in water for 30 minutes, dry, toss with 1 teaspoon oil. Cook at 190 degrees Celsius for 15-18 minutes
- Aloo tikki - shape the tikkis, brush both sides with oil. Cook at 180 degrees Celsius for 14 minutes, flip at 7 minutes
- Spring rolls - frozen ones work best. No oil needed. Cook at 180 degrees Celsius for 10 minutes
Oil comparison: Deep frying 500g of samosas uses 500-700 ml of oil. Air frying the same amount uses 1-2 teaspoons. That is a 98% reduction in oil consumption per batch.
Air Fryer Uses: Roasting and Grilling (Uses 6-10)
Roasting and grilling in an air fryer works well because the compact space concentrates heat better than a full-size oven. Paneer tikka, chicken kebabs, and roasted vegetables come out charred on the outside and juicy inside. The results are closer to tandoor cooking than oven cooking.
- Paneer tikka - marinate in yoghurt and spices for 30 minutes. Thread on skewers. Cook at 200 degrees Celsius for 10-12 minutes
- Chicken tikka - marinate overnight for best flavour. Cook at 200 degrees Celsius for 15-18 minutes. Flip halfway
- Tandoori chicken legs - score the meat, marinate in tandoori paste and yoghurt. Cook at 200 degrees Celsius for 22-25 minutes
- Roasted vegetables (bell pepper, mushroom, zucchini) - toss with olive oil and salt. Cook at 180 degrees Celsius for 10-12 minutes
- Seekh kebab - shape the mince mixture around skewers. Cook at 190 degrees Celsius for 14-16 minutes. Turn every 5 minutes
Kitchen tip: Place a small piece of bread at the bottom of the basket when grilling fatty meats. The bread absorbs dripping fat and prevents smoke from filling your kitchen.
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Air Fryer Uses: Baking and Toasting (Uses 11-15)
An air fryer bakes cakes, muffins, and bread surprisingly well. The circulating hot air creates an even bake similar to a convection oven. For toasting, it is faster than a pop-up toaster because the air fryer hits higher temperatures. Many Indian families have replaced their OTG with an air fryer for small-batch baking.
- Cake (small batch) - pour batter into a silicone mould that fits inside the basket. Bake at 160 degrees Celsius for 20-25 minutes
- Muffins - use silicone muffin cups. Bake at 160 degrees Celsius for 12-15 minutes. Check with a toothpick
- Bread toast - place slices directly on the grate. Toast at 160 degrees Celsius for 4-5 minutes. No butter needed for a dry toast
- Garlic bread - spread garlic butter on bread slices. Toast at 170 degrees Celsius for 4-5 minutes until golden
- Pizza (reheat or frozen) - place pizza slices in the basket. Heat at 180 degrees Celsius for 5-6 minutes. The base stays crispy, unlike microwave reheating
Baking fact: An air fryer bakes a 500g cake in 20-25 minutes. A conventional OTG oven takes 35-40 minutes for the same size. The air fryer is 40% faster because of the smaller cavity and concentrated airflow.
Air Fryer Uses: Reheating, Dehydrating, and More (Uses 16-20)
Reheating leftovers in an air fryer is far better than using a microwave. A microwave makes food soggy. An air fryer restores crispiness. For dehydrating, air fryers with a dehydrate function can make banana chips, dried herbs, and fruit leather at home with zero additives.
- Reheat leftover pizza - 3-4 minutes at 160 degrees Celsius. The cheese melts again and the base gets crispy. Tastes almost like fresh
- Reheat samosa and pakora - 3-5 minutes at 170 degrees Celsius. They become crispy again instead of staying limp and cold
- Dehydrate banana chips - slice thinly, arrange in a single layer. Dehydrate at 70 degrees Celsius for 6-8 hours (models with dehydrate function only)
- Roast papad - place 2-3 papads in the basket. Cook at 200 degrees Celsius for 2 minutes. They puff up perfectly without oil or open flame
- Warm food - keep cooked food at 60-70 degrees Celsius to serve hot. Useful when family members eat at different times
What Should You NOT Cook in an Air Fryer?
Certain foods do not work well in an air fryer. Wet batters, thin liquids, large roasts, and leafy greens either drip through the basket, overflow, or burn. Knowing what not to cook saves you from messy failures and wasted ingredients.
- Wet batter (like dosa or cheela batter) - drips right through the grate
- Dal, soup, or any liquid dish - air fryers cannot handle liquids. Use a pot
- Whole chicken or large roasts - most air fryer baskets are too small. The outside burns before the inside cooks
- Raw rice or pasta - these need to boil in water. An air fryer does not boil
- Loose leafy greens - spinach, lettuce, and herbs fly around in the fan and burn instantly
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can an air fryer replace an OTG oven?
For small batches, yes. An air fryer handles cakes, muffins, toast, and grilled items well. But for large cakes, multiple trays of cookies, or a full roast chicken, an OTG is still better because of its larger capacity.
Can I make roti or chapati in an air fryer?
You can reheat rotis well, but making fresh rotis from dough is not practical. The air fryer does not provide the direct contact heat that a tawa gives. The roti will cook but will not puff up the way it does on a tawa.
Is air-fried food as tasty as deep-fried food?
Air-fried food is close but not identical. The crunch is similar, but deep-fried food has a richer flavour because oil carries taste compounds. Most people find the 90% taste similarity worth the 80% oil reduction.
Can I use an air fryer to make idli or dhokla?
Yes, if you place the batter in a suitable container inside the basket. Silicone moulds work well. However, steaming in a traditional idli maker gives a softer texture. Air-fried idlis tend to be slightly drier on the surface.
What size air fryer is best for an Indian family of 4?
A 4.5 to 5.5 litre air fryer works well for a family of 4. It handles 3-4 servings per batch. For larger families of 5-6 members, go for 6-7 litres. Anything smaller than 3 litres is best for 1-2 people only.
Can I cook frozen food directly in an air fryer?
Yes. Frozen samosas, nuggets, fries, and spring rolls go directly into the basket without thawing. Add 2-3 minutes extra to the cooking time. No oil is usually needed for pre-fried frozen foods.
Sources and References
- Air frying vs deep frying: oil content and quality comparison - National Library of Medicine, 2021
- Food Safety Standards - FSSAI, Government of India
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