It’s rare to find a kitchen without an air fryer these days. In fact, they’re so popular that they’re now having an impact on how often we order takeaways.
According to a recent survey from Ninja, known as the “Frynancial Report”, one in four people who own an air fryer don’t order takeaways any more, saving them an average of £200 a year on fast food. However, with 65% using their air fryers to cook comfort foods, such as fries, chicken wings and pizza, are air fryers really a healthy alternative? Here, we take a look into the realities of making the switch.
How healthy are air fryers?
An air fryer is essentially a mini-convection oven. Just like your full-size oven, it uses a fan to distribute the hot air within to create an even browning. That means you’re essentially achieving the same health benefits as you’d get from your oven, but of course, there are other factors to consider, such as oil.
Air fryers don’t require much oil to cook. One tablespoon or 15ml of oil is usually enough and it needs to be applied directly to the food. Adding more than this can create excess smoke, which is why it’s one of the things you shouldn’t put in your air fryer. Your oven recipes will generally require about the same amount of oil, but the air fryer will yield crispier results, which is a bonus.
If you’re swapping takeaways for air fryer recipes, it’s likely to use less oil (versus deep frying), which naturally makes it the healthier choice, but it ultimately comes down to the nutritional value of what you’re cooking.
Ninja’s survey found that 60% of people purchased an air fryer because they believed it to be healthier than other frying methods, and 56% made the purchase to save energy versus other cooking appliances. This shows people are investing in air fryer technology to be healthier as well as to save money, but are we achieving that when 65% enjoy cooking comfort foods in the air fryer?
The good news is, the second most popular type of dish that respondents cooked in their air fryers were healthy versions of their favourite fried foods, at 57%. That means that more than half still want their usual fried foods, but prefer them to be healthier while still achieving the same delicious flavour. So there’s a conscious effort to watch what we eat, even when it’s prepared in an air fryer.
How can you cook more healthily in an air fryer?
The first step is to consider what you’re cooking, as much as the cooking method. While comfort foods won’t need as much oil in the air fryer compared with fast foods, they can still contain high levels of salt and fat. Consider eating such things in moderation and using the air fryer to make nutritious alternatives, such as duck, strawberry and goat’s cheese salad and pickled pepper meatballs. Consider whether you’re using your air fryer to its full potential – air fryers are often advertised for preparing snacks and fried foods, but some of our favourite air fryer recipes may change how you use yours.
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with using your air fryer as an alternative to a takeaway. In fact, 26% of Ninja’s respondents replicate their takeaway menu in the air fryer, and it may well be a healthier and cheaper option, while still tasting delicious. But, if you’re using your air fryer as a means of eating more healthily, you might want to reconsider some of your go-to recipes if they revolve around comfort food. There are plenty of air fryer recipes out there if you want something nutritious, but still delicious.
35+ of our favourite air fryer recipes
Air fryer meatballs
Italian beef and pork meatballs are air fried to perfection for a quick supper option.
Recipe: Air fryer meatballs
Air fryer gammon joint
Juicy, smokey and sweet – ham doesn’t get much better than this.
Recipe: Air fryer gammon joint
Air Fryer Crispy Chilli Beef
Sticky, tangy and crispy. All the mouth feels you want in a midweek staple!
Recipe: Air Fryer Crispy Chilli Beef
Air fryer lamb chops
Succulent and juicy – our air fryer lamb chops are ready in a flash
Recipe: Air fryer lamb chops
Air fryer chicken nuggets recipe
You can't beat a homemade chicken nugget, especially when they taste this good!
Recipe: Air fryer chicken nuggets recipe
Air Fryer Corn on the Cob Recipe
Juicy, succulent and flavoursome - corn on the cob just got a whole lot better! The perfect vehicle for your favourite toppings.
Recipe: Air Fryer Corn on the Cob Recipe
Air Fryer Sausages Recipe
For guaranteed juiciness every time, bung your bangers in the air fryer!
Recipe: Air Fryer Sausages Recipe
Air Fryer Raspberry and Custard Blondies
Decadence in every mouthful. The sharpness of the raspberry jam helps to cut through the sweetness of the custard. If you’re not a fan of raspberry jam, substitute it with your favourite.
Air Fryer Chips
Our air fryer chips are really crispy on the outside, yet deliciously light and fluffy in the middle.
Recipe: Air Fryer Chips
Air Fryer Duck, Strawberry and Goat’s Cheese Salad
The sweetness of the berries cuts perfectly through the richness of the duck, making for a fantastic summer salad. The quantity of strawberries in the dressing seems like a lot, but the grains will soak it all up.
Air Fryer Cauliflower and Chickpea Wraps
Lightly battered cauliflower and chickpeas make for an excellent wrap filling, especially when paired with a cooling avocado sauce and crunchy slaw.
Air Fryer Korean Salmon Burgers
These burgers pack a fl avour punch. You can also serve them without the buns, more like a fishcake, with the toppings as sides.
Recipe: Air Fryer Korean Salmon Burgers
Air Fryer Pickled Pepper Meatballs
You can use any combination of soft herbs you like in this recipe, and choose hot or mild pickled peppers depending on your heat tolerance. Alternatively, replace the pickled peppers with cornichons.
Air Fryer Chocolate Doughnuts
Coating the doughnuts in melted butter and sugar helps to give them that delicious, deep-fried flavour. You can swap the hazelnut butter for any nut butter, or leave it out, if you prefer.
Recipe: Air Fryer Chocolate Doughnuts
Air Fryer Herby Chicken Kyiv
When you cut into these, a vibrant green garlic butter oozes out. Use any combination of your favourite soft herbs in the butter.
Recipe: Air Fryer Herby Chicken Kyiv
Air-Fryer Spring Galette
This speedy tart is a celebration of everything Spring has to offer! If you can’t find wild garlic, substitute with 2 spring onions instead.
Recipe: Air-Fryer Spring Galette
Air fryer sausage rolls
Put down the baking tray, you don’t need an oven to make sausage rolls.
Recipe: air fryer sausage rolls
Air Fryer Cauliflower Cheese and Ham Hock Pie
This pie is made in a flash thanks to the air fryer! It’s the perfect comfort food on a cold day. Simply omit the ham hock if you want to make a vegetarian pie.
Air Fryer Bacon
Whether you're team streaky or team back bacon, the air fryer will cook it brilliantly.
Recipe: Air Fryer Bacon
Air Fryer Butternut Squash Parmigiana Gratin
We used a 5.5 litre air fryer to cook our gratin. Serve with a green salad for a tasty lunch.
Air Fryer Baked Alaska
A baked Alaska in the air fryer?! Whatever next?
Recipe: Air Fryer Baked Alaska
Air Fryer Baked Potato
Yes, you can cook baked potatoes in the air fryer!
Recipe: Air Fryer Baked Potato
Air Fryer Chips
You’ll never go back to cooking them in the oven.
Recipe: Air Fryer Chips
Air Fryer Cheese Toastie
A speedy recipe that guarantees crispy, cheesy heaven.
Recipe: Air Fryer Cheese Toastie
Airfryer Carrot Cake
This classic carrot cake is super-speedy because it’s made in an aifryer - perfect when you want a small, quick bake. If your airfryer can’t take two cake tins, you can bake the cake in one deep 15cm tin for 35min or until cooked through, then split the sponge to fill it.
Recipe: Airfryer Carrot Cake
Airfryer Lemon Drizzle Cake
A classic bake made super-speedy by using an airfryer - ideal if you only want to make a small cake.
Recipe: Airfryer Lemon Drizzle Cake
Airfryer Creamy Chicken and Broccoli Pasta Bake
This easy pasta bake has a simple stir in sauce and can be on the table in just over 30min.
Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Honey and sriracha make for the perfect combination of sweet and spicy with this delicious chicken wing starter. If you want to serve this easy airfryer chicken recipe as a main course, simply double the amounts.
Recipe: Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Air Fryer Sticky Chicken and Potato Wedges
Let the gadget do the work! This simple and tasty all-in-one dish is cooked in an air fryer.
Air Fryer Fish and Chips
This air fryer fish and chips recipe is a healthier alternative to deep fat frying and much easier to make. Serve with peas for an easy midweek meal.
Recipe: Air Fryer Fish and Chips
