Instant Pot Air Fryer Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Does the air fryer on an Instant Pot work well? ›

The Instant Pot Duo Crisp with Ultimate Lid Multi-Cooker + Air Fryer does a decent job air frying, but we disliked its exposed heating element and didn't find it to be as convenient as a basket-style air fryer.

Although both can take the fuss out of cooking some meals, these two appliances have many differences. Air fryers help crisp up food that you may otherwise cook in a deep fryer, while Instant Pots cook meals that need a liquid element like stews, soups and rice.

Some foods may not require any oil at all, while others may require a light coating of oil. In general, most air fryer recipes call for a tablespoon or less of oil. It is important to note that air fryers are designed to cook food with hot air circulation, so they require much less oil than traditional frying methods.

Since each appliance offers different benefits, this is an important metric when deciding between a pressure cooker and air fryer. With that in mind, here are the five biggest advantages of using an air fryer: Healthier food: With the reduction in oil, air fryers make healthier, more nutritious meals.

A convection oven has the same advantages over an air fryer as a regular oven—size. If you're making multiple dishes or batches of food, a convection oven can help prepare it all at once.

Cooking in an “instant pot” or pressure cooker is a great method for preparing your food on many levels — including the nutritional level, according to registered dietitian Beth Czerwony, RD. “Instant pot recipes are absolutely healthy as long as what you put in the recipe is healthy,” she says.

Air fryers are versatile kitchen appliances that can be used to cook a variety of foods quickly and easily. If you're using an air fryer for the first time, it's best to start with something simple, like French fries, chicken wings or vegetables.

It is safe to cook raw meat in the air fryer if it is fully defrosted, seasoned, and monitored. Some fully cooked foods, including chicken tenders or fries, can be placed frozen in the air fryer. However, with raw meat, it's recommended to thoroughly defrost to allow more even cooking and a tasty final product.

While the need for oil in air frying is not as great as when using an oven or frying something on a pan, a small amount of oil can go a long way in keeping your food moist and providing that golden brown color.

For example, deodorized avocado oil, organic virgin sesame oil and grapeseed oil are good choices. Other oils are fragrant and have a stronger taste. Chosen wisely, they will enhance the milder flavor of certain foods or foods that need a little extra.

Can you use Pam in an air fryer? ›

“Cooking sprays such as Pam, often include soy lecithin, an emulsifier, in the formulation,” says Martin Bucknavage, an expert in food safety in the Penn State Department of Food Science. “This is less stable than high smoke point oils and will deteriorate at temperatures used for air frying.

Veggies like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, potatoes, zucchini, mushrooms & onions, and cauliflower all turn out incredible in the air fryer. You can also make your main dish IN the air fryer. It works magic with proteins like tofu, chicken drumsticks, meatballs, pork chops, fried chicken… even steak.

Don't fill it up too full

Tempting as it may be to fill the basket with an economy-size bag of sweet potato fries, don't fill it more than halfway full. This, plus periodically shaking the basket, will help air circulate around the food and reach every piece, giving you the absolute best results.

Yes, you can put foil in an air fryer — here's how to do it safely. Aluminum foil can be used in an air fryer, but it should only go in the basket. Acidic foods react with aluminum, so avoid using foil when air frying tomatoes, peppers, or citrus.

Don't Overfill: follow the instructions from your air fryer for how much you can fill the basket, but our recommendation is to not fill your air fryer more than half to ¾ full of fries. There's no need to put your frozen fries in a single layer, but definitely don't overcrowd the basket.