Are you also riding the trend wave of hot air fryers? With the help of this smart appliance, you can enjoy fried food in a healthier way and at the same time save time while cooking. We bring you several recipes that you can prepare in the deep fryer.

The hot air fryer is currently a big hit. It's exactly the appliance you didn't even know you needed until now. However, once you try how fast and easy it is to prepare your favourite dishes in this fryer, you won't want to cook in anything else. Let's see together what is so great about her.

What is a hot air fryer?

A hot air fryer, or "air fryer" in English, is a kitchen appliance that works on the principle of hot air. You can use it in a similar way to a traditional deep fryer, with the only difference being that you need almost no fat to prepare food. The circulation of hot air ensures a crispy food surface, which is typical for fried foods.

Who doesn't love crispy steaks, chicken wings or fries? You can prepare them in a healthier way in a hot air fryer. This way, the food will not be greasy and full of saturated fat, but it will still be crunchy enough. This appliance is therefore popular among people who want to eat healthier, but like to enjoy their favourite foods. Preparing food in a deep fryer can be both easier and faster than in the oven.

Advantages of a hot air fryer

Air fryer ponúka niekoľko výhod, ktoré z neho robia čoraz obľúbenejší kuchynský spotrebič:

• Healthier cooking – thanks to the use of less or no oil, the prepared food contains less fat and calories. It is thus more suitable for a healthy lifestyle.
• Crispy food – hot air ensures that the food is crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. It can therefore taste better than from a classic fryer or oven.
• Speed of preparation – compared to traditional frying or baking methods, food preparation is faster and easier. It will save you a lot of time.
• Cleaner cooking – forget about sizzling oil or a dirty oven, cooking in a hot air fryer will save you a lot of mess. You can wash the removable parts in the dishwasher.
• Safety – cooking food in hot oil poses a risk of burns. You don't have to worry about that with an air fryer, and cooking becomes safer.
• Energy saving – baking in a hot air oven is less expensive in terms of energy than in a conventional oven. It can help you save some electricity.

Recipes in a hot air fryer

Now that we have talked about the advantages of this appliance, let's move on to another important question: What to prepare in the air fryer? We bring you some inspiration for quick and tasty recipes that you can try at home.

Since it is a very versatile appliance, the possibilities are really wide. For example, you can prepare:

• meat dishes, such as chicken nuggets, wings or steaks,
• fish dishes, such as salmon, cod, shrimp or seafood,
• potato dishes, such as French fries, croquettes or American potatoes,
• vegetable dishes, such as vegetable pancakes, falafel or roasted vegetables (e.g. zucchini),
• egg dishes, such as omelette, frittata or hard-boiled eggs,
• sweet foods, such as cakes, donuts or cookies,
• baked goods, such as baguettes, buns or breads.

What can't be prepared in a deep fryer? Watch out for this:to:

• large pieces of meat that might not be cooked properly,
• liquid batters, for example for pancakes, which are more suitable for the pan,
• dishes in batter, which is more suitable for a classic fryer.

If you are looking for a recipe for a tasty meal that you can prepare, for example, in ahot air fryer from Orava, try the following:

Crispy wings in a hot air fryer

Ingredients:

• 1 kg of chicken wings
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• 1 teaspoon of paprika (sweet or smoked)
• 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon of onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon of ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 1/2 teaspoon of dried oregano
• A pinch of cayenne pepper or chili (optional)
• Sauce or dressing to taste

Preparation:

1. Preparing the wings: Wash the chicken wings well and dry them with paper towels.
2. Prepare the marinade: In a large bowl, mix the olive oil with the paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, salt, oregano, and cayenne or chili, if using.
3. Marinating the wings: Place the wings in a bowl with the prepared marinade. Mix well to coat the meat evenly. If you have time, marinate the wings for at least 30 minutes to absorb the flavours (it's ideal to marinate them overnight in the refrigerator).
4. Preparing the fryer: Preheat the fryer to 180°C (or according to the manufacturer's instructions if a different temperature is recommended).
5. Baking: Place the wings (without excess marinade) in the air fryer basket in a single layer to brown evenly. If you have more wings, bake them in batches. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy on the outside. After 15 minutes, you can turn them over to brown evenly on both sides.
6. Serving: After baking, remove the wings from the fryer and let them cool down for a while. Serve with your favourite sauce, or with a side dish of your choice (bread, fries, salad).

Banana muffins in a hot air fryer

Ingredients:

• 2 ripe bananas
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup (60 ml) of milk
• 1/4 cup (60 ml) melted butter or oil
• 1/2 cup (100 g) of sugar
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 1 and 1/2 cups (190 g) plain flour
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
• a pinch of salt
• 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon (optional)
• 1/2 cup (90 g) chocolate chips or nuts (optional)

Preparation:

1. Wet ingredients: In a bowl, mash the ripe bananas with a fork. Add egg, milk, melted butter or oil, sugar and vanilla extract. Mix everything well to combine the ingredients.
2. Dry ingredients: In a second bowl, mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon (if using). Gradually add the dry ingredients to the banana mixture and mix gently until a smooth dough is formed. To taste, you can add pieces of chocolate or nuts to the dough.
3. Prepare the fryer: Preheat the fryer to 160 °C.
4. Filling the cupcakes: Place paper cupcakes in a muffin tin that fits in your air fryer, or just use silicone cupcakes. Fill them with dough up to 3/4 of the height.
5. Baking: Place the mold with the cupcakes in the air fryer and bake at a temperature of 160°C for approximately 12-15 minutes, or until the muffins are golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean when inserted.
6. Cooling and serving: After baking, remove the muffins from the fryer and let them cool on a wire rack. Serve slightly chilled. Depending on your taste, you can add sugar or decorate them with frosting or fruit.

We wish you the best of luck with your air fryer and bon appetit!