Revealed: The 7 foods you never knew you could cook in an air fryer – from hard ‘boiled’ eggs to steak

• Air fryers use hot air to cook, offering a healthy alternative to deep-fat fryers
• There are a range of surprising foods that work an absolute treat in the air fryer 

Air-fryers are without a doubt the must-have kitchen gadget at the moment, with  celebrities from Sir Mo Farah to Drew Barrymore confessing their love for them. 

The appliance uses hot air rather than hot oil to cook foods, offering a quick and healthy alternative to deep-fat fryers. 

While many of us use our devices to cook frozen treats such as chips or chicken nuggets, there are a range of surprising foods that work an absolute treat in the air fryer. 

‘Air fryers can be useful for quickly cooking and crisping up frozen foods,’ Which? said, but added that you can ‘get away with cooking almost anything’ in the device. 

From hard ‘boiled’ eggs to steak, here are seven foods you probably didn’t know you could cook in an air fryer.     

From hard ‘boiled’ eggs to steak, here are seven foods you probably didn’t know you could cook in an air fryer

READ MORE: Are air fryers actually more energy efficient than ovens? 

Hard-boiled eggs

Speaking to MailOnline, Liana Green, a blogger who has written countless air fryer guides, explained how to create the perfect hard ‘boiled’ eggs in the air fryer. 

‘Air frying boiled eggs might sound counterintuitive, but the air fryer offers a consistent temperature, making it easier to achieve perfectly cooked eggs every time,’ she said. 

‘Plus, you eliminate the need for boiling water.’

Ms Green recommends air frying at 150°C for eight minutes for a runny yolk, or for 12 minutes for a harder centre.

However, she added: ‘You might need to experiment with your air fryer a bit.’

Donuts

A food blogger has revealed how to make doughnuts in an air fryer with just two ingredients.

Known as The Suga Fix on social media, Emma, from London, posted a recipe on Instagram on how to make the delicious-looking sweet treats.

Speaking to MailOnline, Liana Green, a blogger who has written countless air fryer guides , explained how to create the perfect hard ‘boiled’ eggs in the air fryer

To make the stripped-back recipe you will need 200g of self raising flour and 250ml of Greek yoghurt – plus butter and caster sugar to finish them off, and Lotus Biscoff spread if you want a dip.

Emma said: ‘Mix together the yoghurt and flour until a shaggy dough forms. Knead on the counter for 3 mins, add flour if it’s sticky. Use a spoon to cut small pieces of dough, then roll into balls.

She added: ‘Spray your air fryer basket with vegetable oil, then put in 12 balls. Fry at 200c for 12-15 mins (if the inside is doughy they are not done yet).

‘Brush the dough holes with melted butter, roll in sugar & enjoy!’

A post shared by Ems Foodie Fix (@emsfoodiefix)

Ravioli

Unsurprisingly, you can’t use an air fryer to cook dried pasta, since you need to put it in boiling water. 

However, fresh ravioli crisps up beautifully in the appliance, and can serve as a quick and easy starter for your next dinner party, or simply a delicious snack. 

Just coat your ravioli in beaten egg and breadcrumbs, before placing them in the air fryer at 175°C for 10 minutes, flipping half way through. 

Your ravioli should be crispy on the outside and soft and gooey on the inside! 

Halloumi

While frozen cheese products such as breaded cheese bites or mozzarella sticks are fine to cook in the air fryer, it’s best to avoid using any fresh cheese.

Most fresh cheese has a low melting temperature, which means it can quickly burn. 

Most fresh cheese has a low melting temperature, which means it can quickly burn. The only exception to this rule is halloumi, which is safe to cook in the air fryer thanks to its higher melting point

READ MORE: Slow cookers are up to THREE TIMES more expensive to run than induction hobs

The only exception to this rule is halloumi, which is safe to cook in the air fryer thanks to its higher melting point. 

‘The air fryer’s high heat crisps the halloumi’s outside to perfection while keeping the inside deliciously soft,’ Ms Green said. 

‘Drizzle with a little honey to get that amazing Mediterranean taste. I air fry at 200°C for 8 to 10 minutes.’

Steak

Many food puritans will recoil in horror at the thought of cooking steak in the air fryer. 

And while Ms Green agrees that the applicance probably won’t replace your grill or pan, she says it ‘does an admirable job of cooking steak.’

‘The circulating hot air seals in the juices and flavours, giving you a steak that’s both tender and full of flavour,’ she told MailOnline. 

‘Just make sure to preheat the air fryer and don’t overcrowd it to get the best results.’

How long you air fry your steak for depends on both the cut and how well done you like it. 

For a sirloin steak, Ms Green recommends pre-heating your air fryer at 200°C. 

How long you air fry your steak for depends on both the cut and how well done you like it

Three to four minutes on each side is perfect if you like your steak medium-rare, while she recommends four to five minutes on each side if you prefer it medium. 

And if the idea of any pink meat gives you the ick, a well-done steak can be achieved with five to six minutes of cooking on each side.  

Garlic

Whether it’s a pasta dish or a vegetable side, if you’re following a recipe that calls for roasted garlic, forget using the oven. 

Roasting garlic in the air fryer takes half the time, and involves virtually no preparation. 

Simply slice the botom off the garlic bulb and place it on a piece of alumnium foil. 

Drizzle with olive oil before sealing the foil and placing it in your air fryer at 200°C. 

Check your garlic after 20 minutes – it should turn golden brown when it’s ready! 

Fried rice

Cooking rice from scratch requires water, so the air fryer just isn’t suitable.

‘An air fryer isn’t a go-to appliance for boiling and steaming – you’re better off sticking to a slow cooker or a pot on the hob,’ Which? said. 

However, if you have leftover cooked rice, you can make delicious fried rice with the appliance. 

For the best results, mix your leftover rice with cooked scrambled egg, frozen vegetables, soy sauce and oil before cooking it in your air fryer at 175°C for 10 to 15 minutes. 

READ MORE: The most common air fryer fails and how to fix them – from dry chicken to undercooked chips 

Since Oprah Winfrey named it one of her favorite kitchen appliances back in 2013, the humble air fryer has surged in popularity, and is now a staple feature in many people’s kitchens.

The appliance uses hot air rather than hot oil to cook foods, offering a quick and healthy alternative to deep-fat fryers.

However, after purchasing an air fryer, many budding chefs have learned the hard way that there’s a bit of learning curve to mastering the appliance.

Thankfully, help is at hand, as Which? has revealed the most common air fryer fails – as well as how to fix them.

Speaking to MailOnline, Emily Seymour, Which? Energy Editor, said: ‘Air fryers are generally easy to use, but it is possible for things to go badly wrong. If you overfill your machine or don’t clean it properly you could end up with undercooked chicken and chips or a kitchen full of smoke.’

after purchasing an air fryer, many budding chefs have learned the hard way that there’s a bit of learning curve to mastering the appliance

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