An air fryer is a great kitchen appliance that allows you to cook your favourite foods with little to no oil. The air fryer works by circulating hot air around the food, resulting in a crispy and evenly cooked meal.
The Health Benefits of cooking with an air fryer
Cooking with an air fryer offers numerous benefits, including healthier meals, faster cooking times, and easy clean-up. By using less or no oil, you can reduce the fat and calorie content of your meals, making them a healthier option. Additionally, the compact design of the air fryer allows for quick and easy cooking, and the non-stick surface makes for easy cleaning.
In this blog, we will be exploring the various ways you can use an air fryer to cook your favourite foods, including jacket potatoes, broccoli, parsnips, turkey crown, gammon joint, home made chips and mushrooms. We will provide step-by-step instructions and tips for each dish, so you can achieve delicious and healthy meals every time.
Cooking Jacket Potatoes in the Air Fryer
Cooking a jacket potato in an air fryer offers many benefits. It is a healthier alternative to oven baking as it requires less oil, and the hot air circulates evenly, resulting in a crispy skin. It’s also faster, as an air fryer can cook a jacket potato in half the time compared to an oven.
Step-by-step instructions on how to cook a jacket potato in an air fryer
- Wash and dry a large baking potato.
- Prick the potato several times with a fork.
- Rub the potato with oil and season with salt.
- Place the potato in the air fryer basket and set the temperature to 400°F (200°C).
- Cook for 30-40 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Test for doneness by inserting a fork into the center of the potato.
Tips for achieving the perfect jacket potato
- Use large, evenly shaped potatoes for the best results.
- Rubbing the potato with oil helps create a crispy skin.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket, giving each potato enough space to cook evenly.
- Serve with your favorite toppings, such as butter, cheese, or sour cream.
Cooking Broccoli in the Air Fryer
Air frying broccoli provides a healthy and quick cooking option. The hot air circulates around the broccoli, resulting in evenly cooked, crunchy and healthy broccoli. Additionally, cooking with an air fryer instead of oil-based methods reduces the calorie and fat content of your meal.
Step-by-step instructions on how to cook broccoli in the air fryer
- Clean and dry a head of broccoli, then cut into florets.
- Place the florets in a bowl, add a drizzle of oil, and season with salt and pepper.
- Transfer the florets to the Ninja Air Fryer basket.
- Cook at 400°F (200°C) for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway.
- Check the broccoli for desired tenderness and cook for a few more minutes if needed.
Tips for achieving the perfect air fried broccoli
- Cut the florets to similar size for even cooking.
- Tossing the broccoli in oil and seasoning enhances its flavor.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket to get the best results.
- Serve the air fried broccoli as a side dish or add it to salads, stir-fry or soups.
Cooking Parsnips in the Air Fryer
Cooking parsnips in an air fryer provides a healthy and convenient way to enjoy this delicious vegetable. The hot air circulates around the parsnips, resulting in evenly cooked, crispy, and healthy parsnips. Plus, using an air fryer instead of oil-based methods cuts down on calories and fat.
Step-by-step instructions on how to cook parsnips in the air fryer
- Wash and peel the parsnips, then cut them into fries.
- Place the parsnips in a bowl, add a drizzle of oil, and season with salt and pepper.
- Transfer the parsnips to the Ninja Air Fryer basket.
- Cook at 400°F (200°C) for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway.
- Check the parsnips for desired crispiness and cook for a few more minutes if needed.
Tips for achieving the perfect air fried parsnips
- Cut the parsnips to similar sizes for even cooking.
- Tossing the parsnips in oil and seasoning enhances their flavor.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket to get the best results.
- Serve the air fried parsnips as a side dish or add them to stews and soups.
Cooking Turkey Crown in the Air Fryer
Cooking a turkey crown in an air fryer results in a juicy and crispy exterior, all while using less oil than traditional cooking methods. Plus, using an air fryer speeds up the cooking process and frees up oven space for side dishes.
Step-by-step instructions on how to cook a turkey crown in the air fryer
- Preheat the Ninja Air Fryer to 400°F (200°C).
- Remove the giblets and neck from the turkey crown and pat dry.
- Season the turkey crown with salt, pepper, and any other desired seasonings.
- Place the turkey crown in the air fryer basket, breast side up.
- Cook for 25-30 minutes per pound, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
- Let the turkey rest for 10 minutes before carving.
Tips for achieving the perfect air fried turkey crown
- Make sure the turkey crown is at room temperature before cooking.
- Seasoning the turkey crown before cooking enhances its flavor.
- Basting the turkey crown with melted butter or oil results in a crispy skin.
- Letting the turkey rest after cooking allows the juices to redistribute and the meat to become even juicier.
