Benefits of air frying
Air frying uses a fan to circulate super-heated air to crisp the surface of your food for a delicious fried taste with little to no oil. While ovens essentially have this convection function, countertop air fryers operate with more heat. This is why an oven that is specially integrated with air fryer capabilities is recommended to achieve a better fried taste.
1. Minimal use of oil
Air frying is ideal for people who want to manage their weight and avoid trans fats that can increase their risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. While it still uses oil, it uses significantly less compared to deep frying.
However, not all oils are bad. Plant-based fats such as avocado oil and olive oil, in moderation, are beneficial for brain and hormone health.
2. Safer and easier cooking method
Compared to working with a bubbling pan of oil, cooking everything in a closed container is safer. It also reduces the hassle of cleaning your cookware and your cook top.
3. Bigger capacity and more space with air fryer ovens
For bigger households or frequent party hosting, an air fryer oven can help you cook more efficiently than with a small countertop air fryer. Air fryer ovens also help you save on valuable countertop space.
Healthy air fryer oven recipes
How to make baked potatoes in air fryer oven
Prep time: 2 mins
Cooking time: 40 mins
Serving: 4 people
Level: Easy
Simple yet delicious, this classic dish is perfect for your first foray into air frying. Easily achieve that crispy wrinkly skin and fluffy interior by cooking baked potatoes in an air fryer oven.
Ingredients:
- 4 potatoes, preferably russet potatoes (about 250g each)
- ½ tbsp sunflower or olive oil
- Topping of choice: Butter, shredded cheese, sour cream, bacon bits, jalapeno, chives
Step 1: Preheat your oven
From your AEG oven, select the AirFry programme and set the temperature to 200°C. Place the AirFry mesh tray inside. On the bottom rack, ready a baking sheet to catch drips and crumbs, and to minimise smoke.
Step 2: Prep the potatoes
Meanwhile, scrub the potatoes under running water. Pat dry. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Make sure they’re well coated.
Step 3: Air fry the potatoes
Arrange the potatoes in a single layer on the mesh tray. Let them cook for 20 minutes before flipping. Wait for another 20 minutes until they have cooked through or have become fork tender.
Step 4: Serve
Cut in halves. The inside should be tender and fluffy. While hot, add your topping of choice. Serve immediately.
These baked potatoes can be paired with the oven air fryer steak below and some roasted dishes to give you a perfect sunday.
How to make oven air fryer steak
Prep time: 10 mins
Cooking time: 15 mins
Resting time: 10 mins
Serving: 2 people
Level: Intermediate
Cooking a beautiful piece of meat should not be daunting. By cooking steak in an air fryer oven, you can easily achieve a golden crust and a deliciously juicy centre without the mess or stress. Using an oven to air fry especially comes in handy when you have to cook for a crowd.
Ingredients:
- 2 steaks, ribeye, new york strip, or tri tip (1-inch thick) at room temperature
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Garlic herb butter:
- ¼ cup butter, softened
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 tsp fresh rosemary
- 1 tsp fresh thyme
- 1 tsp fresh parsley
Step 1: Preheat your oven
Set your AEG oven on AirFry mode, then preheat to 200°C. Position the AirFry mesh tray in the middle rack, and place a baking sheet below to catch the drippings.
Step 2: Season steaks
Coat both sides of the steaks with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Step 3: Air fry steaks in oven
Air fry the steaks for 10-15 minutes, turning them halfway for more even browning. To precisely achieve medium rare, use a food thermometer and remove from the oven when it reads 52°C. Let it rest for about 10 minutes.
Step 4: Top with butter
Meanwhile, mix all the garlic herb butter ingredients. The fully rested steaks should now have a 54°C core temperature. Top them with your butter mixture.
It’s perfect to pair steak with some salad or veggie like cauliflowers.
How to make rotisserie chicken in air fryer oven
Prep time: 10 mins
Cooking time: 55 mins
Resting time: 15 mins
Serving: 5-7 people
Level: Intermediate
With the AirFry capabilities of your AEG oven, you can mimic the twirling action and the intense heat of a rotisserie or a grill. The result: A crispy, juicy, and smokey rotisserie chicken cooked effortlessly without special equipment.
This method also works if you have a large bird that can’t fit in a standalone air fryer.
Ingredients:
- 1 whole chicken (2 kg)
Spice rub:
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 5 tsp dried herbs (Italian seasoning or a mix of basil, oregano, and parsley)
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon, optional
- 2 squeezes lemon juice, optional
Step 1: Preheat oven
Select the AirFryer programme on your AEG oven. Preheat to 180°C. Place the AirFry mesh tray inside, following with a sheet tray below it to catch drippings.
Step 2: Season the chicken
Whisk all the rub ingredients together, and coat the chicken with ⅔ of it.
Step 3: Air fry the chicken
Place the chicken inside the oven. After 30 minutes, turn the chicken and brush with the remaining spice rub. Let it cook for another 25 minutes or until the core temperature in the thickest part of the breast or thigh reaches 74°C. Remove from the oven and cover with aluminium foil. Rest for 10-15 minutes, then serve.
How to make air fried salmon
Prep time: 2 mins
Cooking time: 8 mins
Serving: 4 people
Level: Easy
Low carb, low calorie, packed with Omega-3s, and with a quick cook time, this should be your go-to dish for busy days. Effortlessly get a stunningly crisp crust with a tender and flaky centre by cooking salmon in an air fryer oven.
Ingredients:
- 4 salmon fillets (170 g each)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp paprika
Step 1: Preheat the oven
With the AirFry programme selected, preheat your AEG oven to 200°C. Slide the special AirFry mesh tray inside. Ready a baking sheet underneath to catch drips.
Step 2: Season the fish
With a kitchen towel, pat the salmon dry for a crisp crust. Mix olive oil, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper, then brush the salmon pieces with this mixture, making sure they are well coated.
Step 3: Air fry
Air fry for about 8 minutes. Serve with your favourite sides like air fried potatoes and asparagus, or rice.
You may also want to learn how to make easy steamed tiger prawns.
What to consider when choosing an air fryer
Choosing an airfryer oven is somewhat similar to choosing the right oven in general.
1. Capacity
Countertop air fryers are suitable for small households. If you regularly cook or meal prep for more people, we recommend an oven with an integrated air fry function. Throw everything in all at once for a truly easy cooking experience.
AEG ovens with AirFry, like the 6000 Series built-in single oven, come with a special AirFry mesh tray so hot air can envelop all sides of your food for quicker and crispier results. It also has SurroundCook that uses advanced fan technology to ensure every part of your dish is evenly cooked. No more cold spots in your oven.
2. Space saving
Consider the countertop space available. Air fryers with bigger capacity will generally need more space. If you’d rather store it away, plan how to easily access it whenever you need it.
However, if you’re really short on space, a multifunctional air fryer oven can provide more convenience and versatility.
3. Cleaning
Look for an airfryer with dishwasher-safe parts for easy cleaning. If you’re considering an air fryer oven, choose one that has a self-cleaning feature, like the 6000 Series oven with 77L capacity.
It has Pyrolytic cleaning function that safely heats the oven cavity to turn grease and grime into ash, which you can simply wipe with a damp cloth. The AirFry mesh tray is also dishwasher-safe for easier cleaning.
4. Ease of use
Using an air fryer oven is fairly simple. For more precision in adjusting settings and tracking the progress of your dish, choose air fryers with a timer, viewing window, and digital controls. The 6000 Series already comes equipped with a timer, a glass door, and an intuitive LCD display — features that you expect out of an oven, and more.
Besides air fryer oven, AEG also provides user with more choice: Air fryer microwave oven. If you're wondering which one to buy, please refer to the article Ovens vs. Microwave Ovens
- AirFry your food for a fried taste with less oil.
- Simple UI for straightforward adjustment.
- AquaClean makes cleaning easier with steam.
- AirFry your food for a fried taste with less oil.
- LED UI and buttons for fast, effortless access.
- SurroundCook distributes heat for even cooking.
- AirFry your food for a fried taste with less oil.
- Pyro turns food grease into ash for easy cleaning.
- SenseCook delivers professional results.
FAQs about air fryer oven recipes:
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What can't be cooked in an air fryer oven
Although air fryer ovens have many benefits and are really easy-to-use kitchen appliances, not all foods are suitable for air frying. Here are some foods that you probably shouldn't air fry:
- Battered foods: They may create a mess inside your oven and may make your food a lot less crunchy.
- Fresh leafy greens: Due to the high-speed air inside the air fryer oven, leafy greens may burn easily.
- Be careful with cheese: Without any coating, your dish with cheese may melt and not come out in your desired shape.
- Raw grains like rice and pasta: As these ingredients require water during the cooking process, you should cook/boil them on the cooktop before putting them in the air fryer oven.
- Medium-rare hamburgers: If you want a well-done burger, it’s fine to put it in air fryer ovens. But if you want the beef inside to be just medium-rare, you should be careful because the outside of the burger may not brown quickly.
- Popcorn: The temperature of air fryers may not reach the required degree to make popcorn correctly. Moreover, the popcorn may cause noise and mess inside the oven.
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What are the best foods to cook with air fryer ovens?
These kinds of foods are especially healthy, yummy, and the easiest things to cook in air fryer ovens:
- Vegetables that hold some weight, like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, potatoes, zucchini, mushrooms, and onions.
- High-protein foods like chicken, pork chops, steak, tofu, meatballs, etc.
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What are must-try dishes to make in an air fryer oven, even for beginners?
- French fries: The most popular thing to make in an air fryer oven. An air fryer oven can make them crisp outside and fluffy inside without the greasiness.
- Roasted potatoes
- Chicken wings
- Chicken breasts
- Bacon
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Can you put tin foil in an air fryer oven?
Yes, it’s possible to put tin foil in an air fryer oven. Air fry cooking involves circulating hot air, which does not cause a negative impact on the foil or the food.
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Is air fryer oven good for healthy eating?
Generally, air frying is healthier than oil frying because it can reduce calorie intake by 70% to 80% and sharply decrease the amount of fat in the food. Moreover, it may help mitigate some detrimental impacts related to oil frying.
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What is the difference between an air fryer and an air fryer oven?
An air fryer is a mini version of a convection oven. There are two main models when it comes to air frying: the air fryer basket and the air fryer oven. They can both operate in the same way, but their parts are in different positions. Also, the temperatures and the way you place food are somewhat different.
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Is it worth investing in an oven with an air fryer oven?
Using an air fryer oven, you can get faster cooking times compared to regular ovens as it uses hot air to quickly circulate heat around food. So, an oven with air fryer cooking is worth your money if you don't want to spend much time waiting for your oven to preheat and cook.
