Posted on

Air Fryer Frozen Foods: The Snack Hack

air fryer frozen foods

Air fryer frozen foods are popular when you think about snack time or as side dishes. They offer restaurant-quality brunch and finger foods like fish fingers and chicken wings. They are great for kids who want a new dish every time they are hungry. Foods like these are ideal for those who want a change of taste and looking forward to cooking new dishes.

Why have Air Fryer Frozen Foods Become Popular?

There are several reasons behind why frozen foods have captured the market and why people crave these satisfying foods. Air fryers have the capability to produce healthy but delicious dishes. Air fryers offer a way to fry the foods but without oil. This healthy feature has struck a chord with the people leading to its popularity.

Most Popular Air Fryer Frozen Foods Recipes

Air Fryer Hot Pockets

The first on the list is air fryer hot pockets. You can cook hot pockets frozen snacks as turnovers and stuffed with veggies, cheese, or meat. This results in an elongated pocket. Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees and place it inside the basket of the air fryer. You need to cook for eleven to thirteen minutes.

Before you pop them inside, brush them with some healthy cooking oil. Remove and allow them to cool before serving. Now, you can remotely control and adjust the meals with an air fryer. New House Kitchen Digital 3.6 Quart Air Fryer adjusts temperature from 175-400°F to cook a variety of foods.

Air Fryer Frozen French Fries

Preheat the air fryer like the Ninja AF101 air fryer to 400 degrees and place the frozen French fries inside. Make them crisp and tender by brushing them with some oil. Fry it for 15 minutes. Turn it over halfway for even cooking. You can make frozen crinkle fries in an air fryer too. 

These delectable cheese sticks are easy to make and taste delicious. To make them in an air fryer, set it to 390 F. Brush some oil while placing the sticks in the basket. Cook for 6-8 minutes until you see them becoming golden brown.

Air Fryer Pizza Rolls

Reheat the pizza rolls to 375 F. Place the pizza roll inside the fryer and cook for 5 minutes. Pizza rolls come filled with cheese, meat, and veggies. You can also make veggie pizza that will take between 8-10 minutes for an air fryer to cook. Browse through our blog on lip-smacking vegetarian air fryer recipes, for more such recipes

Air Fryer Fish Sticks

Thaw the frozen fish sticks for 5 minutes. Preheat the air fryer to 400 F and place the fish sticks in the basket. Cook it for 8 minutes. You can overlap it if you want. Once the sticks turn golden brown, take it out and serve with some cool mint and mayo dip. We have a dedicated blog on seafood recipes in an air fryer. Browse to get your hands on exciting recipes.

The Delectable Air Fryer Frozen Foods: Chicken Wings

Chicken recipes are the best to cook in an air fryer as you get tender, juicy, and golden-brown crisp chicken. Place the frozen chicken in the basket and brush it with some oil. Please place it in the air fryer preheated to 360 F and cook it for 12 minutes. Flip it over and cook it for 12 more minutes until the skin turns crisp and golden brown.

The customer reviews of Ultrean Air Fryer 4.2 Quart claim that it comes with rapid-air technology that allows cooking the food evenly.

Air Fryer Pizza Bagels

Cut the bagels in half and brush them with some oil. Allow it to cook inside an air fryer for 5 to 7 minutes at 360 F. What you will get is a crispy pizza bagel. Make a side of cream cheese and mayo dip and enjoy this delicacy to its fullest. People prefer vegetarian recipes in an air fryer more than a microwave. Air fryers take almost half the time to prepare dishes as compared to microwaves.

We have reviewed some of the best air fryers on the basis of their performance that you can consider buying.

Conclusion

It is important to keep your air fryers clean and well maintained. Read our blog to know how to clean an air fryer by following a few simple steps. Air fryers are versatile appliances. You can use them for cooking any meal without compromising the taste.

BestViewsReviews rates and reviews hundreds of over-the-range microwave ovens and countertop microwave ovens on the basis of their size, build quality, and controls.

Posted on

Beginner’s Guide to How Does An Air Fryer Work?

how does an Air Fryer work

An air fryer is a compact-sized machine that is used to cook a variety of dishes without using any oil content. This is a modern appliance that helps you cut down your oil intake and maintain a healthy diet. It takes minimal countertop area and you can place this machine anywhere in your kitchen space. Several air fryer models are easy to use and come with pre-programmed cooking options. We have a comprehensive air fryer buying guide to help you choose the best air fryer. It is important to know how does an air fryer work, however. Find out more by reading on.

How Does an Air Fryer Work?

An Air fryer works on the mechanism of circulation of hot air around the food. The airflow in the cooking chamber resembles the deep-frying method. The food which goes into the basket gets cooked because of the convection effect. It turns the outer layer of your food a crispy brown. The air fryer is popular for cooking crispy meals in just a matter of a few minutes.

What to Expect the First Time You Use an Air Fryer?

Air fryers often have additional components. Remove the appliance from the box and wash all the detachable parts like the bucket. Allow them to air dry for a while. You should place your air fryer on a heat-resistant surface. It is recommended that the surface be a few inches from the wall.

We recommend you run your air fryer for a few minutes for any odor to leave before cooking anything for the first time. Once the initial setup is done, you can whip up some easy and quick recipes with your air fryers such as chicken, seafood, and even desserts.

Things to Keep in Mind While Using an Air Fryer

Air Fryers Can Produce Some Noise

Some air fryers can produce noise while they’re operational. You should look for models that barely produce any sound. The reviews of the Proscenic T21 Smart Air Fryer mark this model as one of the most silent models.

Get Ready for Faster Cooking

You can cook your food quickly with air fryers. The cooking chamber is usually small, allowing the hot air to cook the food quickly . Most models come with a user’s manual listing popular recipes and how long they take to prepare.

The GoWISE USA GW22956 lets you make your favorite food items quickly. It comes with an extended cooking timer of up to 60 minutes and a wide temperature range from 180°f to 400°f. 

You Can Check While You’re Cooking

Drag out the basket and have a look at how brown your food has turned. You do not have to switch off your appliance for this action.

The Geek Chef Air Fryer has a transparent lid with 3 rack levels that allow you to prepare family-sized quantities for up to 10 people at once.

Do You Need to Preheat the Air Fryer?

Your cooking time gets reduced significantly if you preheat your air fryer for a few minutes. You can skip this step if you want to cook without preheating. To explore this innovative gadget on a personal level, we recommend you to try both ways and settle with the one which suits you more.

Mistakes to Avoid While Cooking With an Air Fryer

There are certain mistakes that we should avoid to ensure the proper functioning of the air fryer. The ones mentioned below are some of them. Take a look.

Add Little Oil

The advantage of an air fryer is that you do not need a lot of oil. A slight dash would help you whip your food. Fatty meats like bacon and beef can do without that slight dash too. Another benefit of using an air fryer is the hassle-free cleaning. Cleaning and maintaining an air fryer regularly is crucial if you tend to use oil in your food frequently.

Use Oils With a High Smoking Point

Use avocado or peanut oil as they have a higher smoking point than other oils. This helps you cook your food at high temperatures without losing out on any health benefits.

Use the Proper Equipment to Take your Food Out

The food might be really hot. We recommend you to not empty the basket directly. Use tongs or the right cutlery to avoid burning your hands.

Grab the Drawer Carefully

The drawer can get hot after cooking. The base can also get warm. You can either pull the drawer by the handle or use gloves for the safety of your hands.

Shake the Basket  

You can shake your basket occasionally to ensure that your food gets cooked evenly. Some flipping can help you achieve the perfect texture.  

Conclusion

Air fryers are innovative tools that every kitchen should have. They help you cook some unexpected dishes quickly. Experimenting with food is a need of every cook. Having a modern appliance can inculcate some healthy eating habits. Using this gadget is easy, read our blog to know how to reheat pizza in the air fryer.

Whatever model you select, make sure you look for high build quality and versatile cooking programs. Check our blog to know about the best microwave ovens with air fryers.

BestViewsReviews rates and ranks hundreds of air fryers and top-quality countertop microwave ovens on the basis of design, ease of use, and temperature control.

Posted on

10 Air Fryer Tips All Owners Should Know

air fryer tips

Cooking tips for air fryers are always helpful. You can use them to improve your air fryer cooking experience. There’s no doubt that using a modern appliance gives you an edge over cooking on a stove or similar traditional method. Air fryers and other modern appliances are designed to be both efficient and convenient. You will learn how to save time, cook quickly, and understand how an air fryer oven works.

Helpful Air Fryer Tips for Cooking

Preheat the Air Fryer

If you want to cook the perfect recipe, we recommend pre-heating the air fryer like Big Boss Air Fryer before adding the food. Preheating is important for optimum cooking. This enables the temperature and airflow to be at ideal levels. This allows the food to cook to perfection.

Grease Air Fryer Basket

If you use an air fryer basket, grease it with oil to prevent anything from sticking. You need to brush a little oil on the sides of your air fryer basket as most have nonstick coatings. You’ll be able to enjoy all the flavors better than before.

Add Water to the Drawer

Some food items like bacon are high in fat content. The fat they render, collects in the pan of your air fryer. This can subsequently lead to smoke. To avoid this, you can do splash some water into the drawer before cooking. The grease won’t stick for long and the water will prevent it from getting too hot.

Utilize the Drippings

The drawer of your air fryer gets filled with fat and it is essential to empty it regularly. You can use it to cook flavorful sauces or use it in salads. You can make delicious vegetarian recipes and seasonings with the leftover fat.

Shake in Between

Many food recipes require you to shake the air fryer basket while cooking. Shaking is important as there will be some areas of the basket that are not crispy although the food will be cooked. It makes the food cook well and becomes crispy. Shaking also ensures that the hot circulated air reaches every layer of the dish.

The customer reviews of Ninja AF101 Air Fryer claim that it comes with a 4-quart basket that easily holds 2 pounds of french fries.

Use Parchment Paper or Foil

Parchment or foil paper will stop the grease from flowing out of the cooking area and making a mess. This layer will prevent the sauce from sticking to the basket keeping it clean. This helps with convenient cleaning and maintenance.

Philips Premium Air fryer is a nice option consider if you’re looking for an air fryer. This model comes with a fat removal technology that extracts and captures excess fat.

Maintain 5-inch of Space Around

It’s important to maintain a 5-inch gap amidst the food items and the boundary of your air fryer. This will ensure proper heat flow and cooking. Read our detailed blog on the mistakes that make while cooking in an air fryer and how you can avoid them.

Seasoning and Toasting

An air fryer allows you to roast your favorite nuts by sprinkling your preferred seasoning on top. Once the nuts start to turn golden brown, remove them from the basket. Enjoy the buzzing flavors with a glass of wine stored at optimum temperatures.

Mix Seasonings With Oil

To enjoy the flavors of your added seasonings, it is recommended to coat your meat with the seasonings. Mixing seasoning with oil makes them heavy and allows them to stick to the meat surface. It is advisable to use vegetable oil as it has a high smoke point and is lighter in taste.

Heat Leftovers in Your Air Fryer

Soggy and stale leftovers can be avoided. Air fryers add restaurant-like crispness to your leftovers like veggies and reheating pizza. This avoids food waste. You can also read our blog on how to reheat a pizza in air fryer to learn more.

The Bottom Line

Due to our hectic schedule, we tend to ignore the small tricks that can make our cooking process fun and healthy. Tricks and hacks can make our cooking experience better. We hope our interesting tips and tricks will help you use your air fryer to its max potential. We also have a dedicated blog that lists the best microwave oven with air fryers, read to know of your buying options.

Visit BestViewsReviews to learn more about the options. We recommend and review some of the best air fryers and best counter top microwave ovens on their speed, energy-efficient, and performance.

Posted on

Air Fryer Chicken Recipes You Should Try

air fryer chicken recipes

People enjoy air fryer chicken recipes because they offer the taste of authentic fried chicken without the grease and fat. You can cook crispy air fryer chicken recipes by using either less oil or zero oil. An air fryer circulates the hot air within its chamber to cook dishes. That is why air fryer chicken recipes are crispy outside and juicy inside.

Why Use an Air Fryer for Chicken Recipes?

Cooking chicken in an air fryer like Bonsenkitchen Air Fryer requires almost zero oil and still gives you restaurant-style fried chicken. It is healthier to air fry chicken than deep-frying it. The air fryer is an efficient way to fry food in minimal oil. It reduces the mess created otherwise by cooking chicken recipes. One popular advantage of air fryers is their excellent reheating mechanism that can infuse flavor in leftover foods like pizzas, french fries, etc. Read our blog on how to reheat pizza in an air fryer to learn more.

Most Popular Air Fryer Chicken Recipes

The Crispiest Air Fryer Chicken Wings

This is a must-make recipe in the air fryer that you shouldn’t miss. You can now say goodbye to the unhealthy deep-fried chicken wings. Air-fried crispy chicken wings are light to eat and great to savor. Serve them with buffalo sauce and you are good to go. This delicious dish is one of the popular keto recipes and is suitable for sportspersons and athletes.

Serves: 4 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 45 Minutes

Ingredients Required

  • Salt ( preferably Kosher)
  • Half tablespoon garlic powder
  • Non-stick Cooking Spray for the meat to stay tender
  • One-fourth cup of hot sauce
  • 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce
  • Unsalted butter
  • Blue Cheese

Recipe

  • Wash the meat well and dry it with absorbent towels
  • Sprinkle the salt and pepper and season it well. You can also put red paprika for taste
  • Spray non-stick cooking spray or healthy cooking oil to prevent the meat from drying out
  • Set the temperature of the air fryer to 380 F and place the seasoned wings inside the fryer
  • Let it sit inside for 12 minutes. Flip it over after 7 minutes and repeat the process
  • Once the duration is over, increase the temperature to 400 degrees and cook for 5 more minutes. The increase in temperature will offer a crisp exterior and brown the skin evenly
  • Make a mixture by adding hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, butter, and thyme. You can also add some vinegar for that tangy taste. Coat the air-fried wings with it
  • Serve it with some blue cheese or a cheese cream dip as a dressing

The Juiciest Air Fried Chicken

This is a very delicious recipe that uses buttermilk with a starchy coating of corn and flour. The air fryer like Amazon Basics circulates the air and cooks the chicken till it is tender and juicy.

Serves: 3 serving
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: Cooking time 30 minutes
Total time: 45 minutes

Ingredients Required

  • 2 lb chicken mixed cuts
  • Half a cup Corn powder
  • 1 cup of Flour
  • Salt as per the taste
  • 1 tbs of Pepper
  • 1/2 tbs Paprika
  • 1 to 1.5 tbs Garlic powder
  • Cup Buttermilk
  • One-Fourth cup Hot sauce
  • Healthy Oil like canola or olive oil

Recipe

  • Make a mixture of buttermilk, hot sauce, and the spices
  • Coat the chicken in the sauce
  • Make a mix of corn, flour, and some amount of buttermilk to make a smooth batter
  • Heat the appliance up to 375 F
  • Dip the chicken into the batter and place it in the air fryer basket. It is recommended to spread them wide
  • Drizzle a good amount of oil and cook the chicken for 30 minutes with 15 minutes on each side
  • Take a meat thermometer and check the internal temperature which should sit at 165 degrees
  • What you will get at the end of 30 minutes is sizzling golden brown chicken

The customer reviews of Ninja AF101 Air Fryer claim that it offers a wide temperature range that allows to quickly cook and crisp foods with convection heat.

The Perfect Air Fryer Chicken Breast

Making the perfect chicken breast is all about cooking time and how well you season it before cooking.

Serves: 2-8 servings
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 Minutes

Ingredients

  • 1-4 Chicken Breast (skinless/boneless)
  • 2 tsp Olive Oil
  • 1/2 tsp Salt (per breast)
  • 1/4 tsp Pepper (per breast)
  • 1/4 tsp Garlic Powder (per breast)

Recipe

  • Cook 8 oz chicken breast at 360°F for 9 minutes. Flip and repeat. Larger chicken breasts require a longer cooking time, whereas smaller ones require less
    Open the air fryer right away so that it doesn’t continue to cook in the heat
  • With an instant-read thermometer, take the temperature in the thickest portion. The temperature should be between 158 and 160 degrees Fahrenheit. If it’s below that, close the cover of the air fryer. Let the chicken cook for a few minutes in the residual heat. Then double-check it
  • Place it on a platter and cover it loosely with foil, allowing it to rest for 5 minutes. It will continue to cook in the remaining heat, while the juices will go back into the meat
  • After 5 minutes, take the temperature once more. The temperature must be at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Serve right away, or set aside for dinner prep or another recipe

Microwave ovens with air fryers are also a nice product to consider. This appliance offers air fryer technology, preheating buttons, and preset cooking functions. Read our blog on microwave ovens with air fryers to learn more about this product.

Take Away

Air fryers indeed are a healthier cooking option. They not only help you gorge on your favorite food without worrying about health. But it also eliminates certain dangerous elements like trans fats that are produced during deep-oil cooking. These are just a few of the recipes that we have mentioned.

We also have a dedicated blog to guide you on brilliant ways to use your air fryer for meal prep. Read it to prepare sumptuous and exciting recipes. They offer a twist to the everyday routine dishes.

BestViewsReviews rates and ranks some of the top-rated air fryers and leading deep fryers based on their quality, performance, and temperature control.

Posted on

What is an Air Fryer and Why Should You Invest in One?

air fryer

An air fryer is a new-age cooking appliance that uses the principle of convection to cook food. It uses a hot air circulation method for creating a crispy and tender effect on the food placed inside. It cooks food to perfection with a lower amount of oil, resulting in healthier meals. This machine follows the ‘Maillard Effect’ that initiates a reaction to hot air with amino acids.

The presence of a heating element near the food basket radiates this hot air and speeds up the cooking process. This results in a crunchy exterior and fully cooked soft interior, allowing you to relish each bite. Read our blog to know more about air fryers.

Is it Healthy to Cook in Air Fryer?

The answer is yes. It is a great alternative to cut down on your oil intake levels. It offers you a healthy alternative against deep-fried foods like French fries, finger chips, empanadas, meat crisps, chicken wings, etc. You can cook a variety of dishes in air fryers, by using less oil.

How Different is Air fryer from Microwave Convection Oven?

Microwaves and air fryers have a big difference. Air fryers use rapid hot air technology that radiates heat faster than a convection oven. Microwaves use electromagnetic radiation to cook food. Air fryers are compact appliances and that is why there is less room for the air to circulate. This results in producing a perfectly cooked dish in less time.

Can You Cook Frozen Items in Air Fryer?

The answer is yes. You can cook frozen foods and any other deep-fried food in a few minutes. Set your fryer at 360-degree F and cook frozen hamburgers and frozen chicken Kiev in about 10 to 15 minutes. Recipes like frozen meals, chicken wings, empanadas, French fries, meat, steak, and even popcorns are some common recipes that can be made with a tinge of oil in air fryers.

Air fryers allow you to cook mouth-watering dishes in a few simple steps. Read our blog to know 10 easy air fryer recipes for beginners.

Can You Slow Cook in an Air Fryer?

They use rapid heat to cook your foods faster. It is not good for slow-cooking recipes. It doesn’t mean, you lose authentic flavors while cooking in air fryers. This device will heat up your food contents faster while preserving their natural flavor and taste.

Does Air Fryer use a lot of electricity?

An air fryer uses more electricity than energy-efficient ovens or microwaves. You can find different variants of air fryers of 1000 to 1700 watts of power. They use more electricity but include faster cooking programs that reduce the runtime. These devices will result in average energy costs if you are not using them extensively.

Best Air Fryers

Beelicious Air Fryer Combo

The Beelicious Air Fryer Combo has got excellent reviews for its easy-to-use design. It is versatile cooking equipment that cooks healthy, restaurant-quality foods without the cholesterol and saturated fat of traditional deep-fryers. This model can replace air fryers, toasters, convection ovens, and microwave heaters. It offers a capacity of 20 quarts.

Dreo Air Fryer

The Dreo Air Fryer features a digital display, 6 preset modes, a one-touch integrated timer, and a shake-reminder system. The convenient preheat function lets you cook at the exact time specified. It gives you healthy food with 85% less oil than traditional deep-fried foods. You can even cook healthier meals with 100 included air-frying recipes.

Ninja DZ401

The reviews of Ninja DZ401 show that it is a XL version of the original Air Fryer with 2 independent baskets. This model produces crisp, crunchy, and golden brown foods. It features 6 versatile cooking programs that helps meet varied cooking requirements. This model comes with 2 independent baskets that helps in cooking two food items at the same time.

Proscenic T21 Smart Air Fryer

The Proscenic T21 is a great choice for cooking healthier foods quickly. It has a super-fast preheat time, and a 5.8 large capacity to cook a variety of dishes. This model has got positive reviews for its multi-functional digital touch screen. You can use this model with Alexa or Google Assistant voice commands. It features a square design that offers 15% more cooking space than the round one.

Innsky Air Fryer

The reviews of Innsky show that this is a perfect air fryer model for your daily use. It has a nonstick cooking pot to help you make healthier fried foods. It saves calories and fat while preserving the entire taste of the food. You can use this versatile model to cook up big meals with up to 75% less fat than traditional frying methods.

Conclusion

The best-quality air fryer is an excellent choice for those who enjoy frying finger foods but are worried about the dangers of consuming oil regularly. Any semi-liquid or batter-filled foods are not suitable for air fryers. We advise you to use healthy oil for brushing while cooking French fries or chicken breast.

Air fryers let you cook faster than other cooking appliances, but it’s important to choose the right air fryers. Read our blog air fryer oven buying guide and buy the right air fryer for yourself.

BestViewsReviews helps you find the top fryer recipe books and best deep fryers on the market by rating and reviewing them based on quality, convenience, and durability. Get unbiased, honest reviews of products before you buy.