5 Reasons this RD Loves her Air Fryer (Recipes Included!)

Read on for 5 reasons I’ve fallen in love with my air fryer – plus you’ll get a few of my tried and tested favorite air fryer recipes. 

I’m going to let you in on a little secret – I’m a dietitian, which means I spend all day talking about food, but when I get home, I’m actually not a big fan of cooking! After a busy day the last thing I want to do is spend more time in the kitchen than I need to, which is why I prioritize meals that are efficient, balanced, and tasty. In the past, I’ve been queen of the overnight oats and slow cooker meals. But this year, I’ve branched out into the world of air fryers…and I have not been disappointed! 

I never thought I would see the day when I would leave my trusty slow cooker on the shelf, but I must say it has been collecting a little bit of dust lately while I play around with my new kitchen toy. And for good reason! So in case you’re on the fence wondering “is an air fryer worth it?”, or are wanting to join me in raving about how much you love your quick-cooking sidekick, here are a few practical reasons why an air fryer might be worth the investment for you: 

1) Minimal (if any) pre-heating time

As most air fryers fit on your counter top, they are much faster to pre-heat to high temperatures, or require no pre-heating at all. When you’re coming home from a full day, the last thing you want to do is wait 20 minutes for your oven to come up to temperature. Busy professionals – I’m looking at you! 

2) It makes veggies fun

This might be my favorite reason for joining #teamairfryer. Over the last month I have had so much fun experimenting with new recipes, and in particular VEGGIE recipes. They come out perfectly crispy, and so tasty with minimal ingredients! No more soggy asparagus folks! If you have a vegetable skeptic in your household, this might just be the secret sauce to creating tasty veggie dishes that make it easy to load up half of your plate with produce! Here are a few of my favorites to try for asparagus, cauliflower, broccoli (I used sesame oil instead of peanut oil for this one), and brussels sprouts.  

3) It creates crispy, juicy, perfectly tender proteins (and great plant-based options too!)

I have been very happy with the way my air fryer cooks proteins like chicken and fish to perfection. They always end up crispy and beautifully browned on the outside, but so tender on the inside. Plus, this recipe for crispy air-fryer tofu might just become a new favorite for meat eaters and plant enthusiasts alike! A few other great options to try:  

• Air Fryer Falafel  
• Air Fryer Chicken Parm 
• Caprese Stuffed Chicken Breasts (a note: these were awesome! We used shredded mozzarella instead of mozza sticks) 

4) It’s a great option for single serve soulful food or a quick breakfast cookie!

One of my air fryer hacks – make a batch of dough (whether it’s for these no-fuss healthy breakfast cookies or a delicious chocolate chip cookie), scoop into single serve balls and store in the fridge or freezer. There’s nothing better than getting that warm, gooey, fresh out of the oven feeling with every cookie in the batch. Plus, it’s ready in less than 10 minutes! 

5) It’s an easy way to get crispy, tasty food with moderate amounts of fat

Using an air fryer is a great alternative to deep frying while still getting the same results as far as texture. While we don’t need to fear fat, this may be a good option for those looking to integrate some lighter meals into their weekly meal rotations. Something else to keep in mind: since air fryers typically cook foods at high temperatures, make sure you are using an oil with the appropriate smoke point. 

If you’re looking to add some flair to your kitchen appliances, or are even needing the thrill of something new to get you excited about cooking again – an air fryer might be worth it for you! Feel free to chat me up (comment below) about my experience with it, or better yet, borrow one from a friend and test it out for yourself! 

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