Cooking. Find out why you need an air fryer, and try some new recipes

If you know anything about current parent culture, you’re probably at least vaguely aware of a counter-top convection oven-esque device affectionately re-branded and marketed as “The Air Fryer.” Parents the world over are passionately devoted to this small appliance. What makes the air fryer so addicting and so indispensable to modern American parents, who are constantly pressed for time yet desperately attempting to prepare nourishing, tasty food for their families? The air fryer uses a mechanism that circulates hot air – very similar to a convection oven – and yet fits nicely in that small space between your coffee maker and the stand mixer perched reclusively in the corner of your kitchen counter, collecting dust. The circulating heat creates a delicious caramelization such that food gets crispy on the outside and cooked evenly on the inside – in short, baked food that tastes fried. And, guess what else? This otherworldly, magical process is almost instantaneous in comparison to the odious, prosaic tasks of preheating, baking, or (audible sigh of disgust) stovetop frying.

With various sizes available at an array of price points, what’s not to love? I began my passionate affair with the air fryer in October 2019 when Costco offered a rather large-sized one for $30 off, a feel-good deal so attractive, it would have been irresponsible not to buy it. And to me, the air fryer embodies

*That Thing* I never knew I always needed.

I hope you love your air fryer as much as I do! Please send me all your best recipes. In case you’re wondering, I’m never not using the air fryer.

So, without further ado, enjoy these recipes and tips!

Visit www.covenantnaples.com/Moms-Morning-Out Delicious Chicken Nuggets (recipe adapted from skinnytaste.com) 2-3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, trimmed and cut into bite-sized pieces 2 teaspoons olive oil Salt and pepper, to taste 6 tablespoons breadcrumbs 2 tablespoons panko 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese Stir prepared chicken pieces with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Combine remaining ingredients in a zippered 1-gallon plastic bag. Add the prepared chicken pieces to the plastic bag and shake to coat. Place chicken pieces on the basket – do not overcrowd. Air fry the chicken for 8 minutes at 400 degrees, flipping the pieces halfway through cooking. Crispy Zucchini Curly Fries (recipe courtesy of allrecipes.com) 1-2 medium zucchinis 1 egg, beaten 1 cup panko ½ cup Parmesan cheese 1 teaspoon Italian seasonin g Cut zucchini into spirals using a spiralizer tool. Beat egg in a shallow dish. Combine panko, Parmesan cheese, and Italian seasoning in a 1-gallon zippered plastic bag. In batches, dip the zucchini in the egg mixture, and then place it into the breadcrumb mixture. Shake up all of the zucchini in the mixture. Air fry in batches at 400 degrees for about 10 minutes, flipping halfway through. Transfer the fries to a paper towel-lined plate and serve with ranch dressing.

Perfect Salmon Fillets (recipe adapted from noblepig.com) 2 salmon fillets of comparable thickness 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil 1 teaspoon ginger 1 teaspoon honey 1 tablespoon soy sauce or coconut aminos 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce ½ teaspoon garlic powder Salt and pepper, to taste Combine all ingredients except for the salmon in a 1-gallon zippered storage bag. Place fillets inside the bag and allow to marinate in the refrigerator for several hours. Take out of the fridge and let fillets sit for approximately one hour on the countertop. Place fillets in the basket of the air fryer and cook at 390 degrees for 7 minutes.

Air Fryer Chicken Wings (recipe courtesy of foodnetwork.com) Ah, chicken wings – comfort food, party food, midnight snack food, out-to-eat at a bar food. What if they could not have so many calories, never get soggy, and taste delicious? Enter: the air fryer. 2 pounds chicken wings, split at the joint and tips removed Salt 4 tablespoons unsalted butter ½ cup hot sauce or buffalo sauce Ranch or blue cheese dressing, for serving Obligatory celery sticks, for token nutrients and leftover ranch dressing Spray the air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray. Pat the chicken wings dry and sprinkle with salt. Place the wings in the fryer basket so they are not touching. Cook for 24 minutes at 360 degrees, flipping halfway through. Flip the wings yet again, and increase the temperature to 390 degrees. Cook for 6 minutes more. While the wings are cooking, melt the butter, and then whisk in the hot sauce. In a large bowl, toss the wings with the butter mixture. Serve with the dressing and celery sticks on the side.

Best. Brussels Sprouts. Ever.

I eat air fried Brussels sprouts just about every day for lunch. I change up the seasonings depending upon my mood. I often eat them with sriracha ranch dressing, some diced avocados, and a bit of spicy salsa and/or, if I’m especially hungry, eggs over medium, as shown in the photo above. 1-2 cups Brussels sprouts, quartered 1 teaspoon olive oil 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast ½ teaspoon smoked paprika Salt and pepper to taste

Place quartered Brussel sprouts in a bowl. Stir in remaining ingredients. Place in air fryer – do not overcrowd. Cook at 400 degrees for 8 minutes, opening and shaking basket halfway through. Optional: stir in a piece of chopped bacon to your mixture in place of nutritional yeast.

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Air Fryer Tips and Benefits Do not overcrowd your air fryer with food. This impedes the circulation of the hot air and makes it unable to crisp evenly.

Though many recipes suggest preheating the air fryer, I have never done this.

Consider using spray oil to coat the basket, and spray food halfway through. This creates the delicious browning/caramelization effect.

Trial and error is the best way to perfect cooking times, as air fryers differ from brand to brand. It’s the perfect opportunity to cook without a recipe! You can open the basket and check food often, throw small amounts of food together, and enjoy culinary creations right away.

The Internet posits that in order to convert conventional oven cooking times to the air fryer, cut cooking time by 20% and cooking temperature by 30 degrees. Again, trial and error works well in this case, along with a quick-read food thermometer.

Look for air fryer instructions on the frozen food packages you know and love; many of them now come with this information. And parents everywhere rejoice! Go from frozen tundra chicken nuggets to a steaming dip in the refreshing ketchup pool in seven minutes flat.

When Naples turns from jealousy-inducing wintery pleasant-ville to summery unbearable kiln, the air fryer provides a cooking option that doesn’t heat the entire kitchen and negate the effects of our hard-working air conditioners. Additionally, as a small, countertop appliance, the air fryer uses less electricity overall than an oven in order to cook food.

The air fryer makes food taste like it has been fried in oil – thus, it shines brightest when attempting to make fried foods a bit healthier … just a bit. So, try items such as chicken wings, chicken nuggets and strips, and onion rings. They are so delicious!

Diced Seasoned Potatoes My 5-year-old daughter loves these potatoes, and they are such a great way to round out just about any meal. We eat them for dinner with roasted broccoli and burgers or for a weekend breakfast with scrambled eggs and fruit kabobs. 2-3 diced Yukon gold potatoes 1 small sweet onion, chopped 1 teaspoon olive oil 1 teaspoon paprika Salt and pepper, to taste Add all ingredients to a bowl and stir together to combine. Place in air fryer at 400 degrees for 11 minutes or so, shaking halfway. (Depending upon the size you dice your potatoes, it may take a bit less time to achieve desired doneness, so be sure to check intermittently.)

Prosciutto Wrapped Stuffed Figs (recipe adapted from skinnytaste.com) 8 figs 4 thin slices prosciutto, cut in half lengthwise ¼ cup goat cheese (or blue cheese) Starting at the stem end, cut figs in half nearly through, but leave the blossom end in tact. Press a small spoonful of the cheese into the center of each fig and close them up. Wrap each fig with a slice of prosciutto and secure with a toothpick. Air fry at 400 degrees for about 6 minutes – or until the prosciutto is crisp. These are delicious served as an appetizer or over a mixed-greens salad and drizzled with a vinaigrette.

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