Technically, air fryers are mini convection ovens, meaning they use convection fans to circulate hot air around foods (think: french fries, chicken wings, crispy Brussels sprouts). This gives them an irresistible fried-like texture with almost no oil. Air fried foods won’t taste exactly like their deep-fried counterparts, but they’ll have a crispy exterior thanks to the maillard reaction. What’s that? The maillard reaction is the scientific name for the reaction taking place between amino acids and/or proteins and sugars when they’re heated and transformed into something more delicious, usually meaning the food has browned or become crispy. We’re big fans. That’s why we’ve rounded up 13 of our best air fryer recipes that are Real Simple favorites. You’ll find modified cooking instructions on each slide, but part of the beauty of this appliance is that you can easily pull out the fryer basket at any time to check on your food’s cooking process, so don’t hesitate to keep a watchful eye on those mozzarella sticks and meatballs. Most foods will brown more evenly if you give them a gentle shake at least once during the cooking process, so keep that in mind. Air fryer models vary in size, shape, and technology, so cooking times and temperatures will vary, too.Remember: You only need a tablespoon or two of oil when cooking in an air fryer, so adjust recipe amounts accordingly. Happy air frying!
