28 Vegan Air Fryer Recipes You Need To Try (2024)

FAQs

What do vegans use an air fryer for? ›

Air fryers can also make it easier to follow a vegan diet, offering a failsafe way to cook staples like tofu, cauliflower, and potatoes to perfection. Below, we've rounded up 10 mouth-watering recipes that prove plant-based cooking needn't be complicated or boring.

Some of the popular things to make in the air fryer are potatoes (chips, roasted, baked), muffins, scones, and cakes. It's also great for getting dinner on the table fast – we love to use our air fryer to make fritters, rissoles, nuggets, and pork belly (yes, you can cook raw meat in an air fryer).

Using the air fryer with grains that are already cooked is no problem, but steer clear of firing up the appliance for uncooked grains, including rice, quinoa, and pasta. Air fryers are designed to cook dry foods, and rice and other grains need to be cooked in water.

Air fryers give you the ability to prep a larger volume of food at once, and use minimal pieces of equipment while doing so. Alongside that, they're a dream for prepping vegan protein sources like tofu, tempeh, or your favourite plant-based meat alternative.

As you may know, any food can be made vegan, and using an air fryer means that you'll consume much less fat. How does everyone's new favorite appliance work, you may ask? Using only a tablespoon or less of oil, the air fryer shocks foods with hot air, crisping them as if they were fried.

Air-frying equipment is not known to cause cancer, but the process of air frying does result in the formation of certain compounds, like acrylamide, that are linked to cancer development. Acrylamide is classified as a probable human carcinogen.

Air fryers, once hailed as a kitchen revolution, are now being sidelined by some users. But why are people getting rid of air fryers? This concise exploration uncovers the primary concerns: they're bulky, they have limited cooking uses, and they often don't deliver on the promise of crispy, tasty food.

Some things about air frying may not be better for you, though. In one study, air frying of fish raised the amount of a substance called "cholesterol oxidation products" (COPs). COPs form when the cholesterol in meat or fish breaks down during cooking.

Whenever we test out a new air fryer, French fries are the very first recipe we make. Homemade French fries won't feel like so much of a chore with this machine and might actually become a regular occurance once you get the hang of it.

Can you put aluminum foil in an air fryer? ›

Foil is safe to use in an air fryer so long as you follow three basic rules: never let foil touch the heating element; make sure the foil is weighted so it doesn't blow around the basket; and avoid contact with acidic ingredients, which can cause the foil to leach onto your food.

Place it in the fryer basket and preheat it for 5 minutes at 400°F (204 °C). Crack an egg to a small cup and slide the egg to the hot pan. Air fry at 350°F (177°C) for 3 minutes for a sunny side over easy fried egg. If you prefer a fried egg with medium egg yolk, add 1 more minute to the cooking time.

Some say it's too good to be true, that you can't effectively “fry” something with a few tablespoons of oil and hot circulating air. Some say yeah, it works but it takes up too much countertop space for what it's worth. Some swear by it for a few things like frozen french fries and nuggets.

I find the texture of most air-fried food a bit off-putting

Air fryers are advertised as a healthier cooking option, mostly because they don't require a lot of oil. But fat has a big impact on the texture of foods. I've found that the appliance typically produces dishes that are more dry than crisp.

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.

This setup yields fast, crispy results, all while requiring less oil than conventional deep fryers. Thanks to their concentrated heat source and strategically positioned fan, air fryers swiftly heat up and ensure even cooking, making them a favorite for efficiency and flavor.

Fortunately it's now easy to whip up a plant-based burger like the Beyond Burger in the air-fryer. Whether fresh or frozen, all you need is 10 minutes a and a few toppings for a quick and delicious burgers for dinner!

The fact that they use less energy than other frying techniques is just one reason for their greener reputation. Air fryers also produce less waste as they don't require the use of disposable cooking oils or other harmful chemicals.

Are Air-Fried Foods Better for You? By most measures, air frying is healthier than frying in oil. It cuts calories by 70% to 80% and has a lot less fat. This cooking method might also cut down on some of the other harmful effects of oil frying.