Recipes/How to...

Here's everything you need to know about your air fryer or what you need to know before you buy one.

                 

WHAT IS AN AIR FRYER?

While the air fryer has only recently seemed to gain popularity, the Philips ElectronicsTM-patented kitchen appliance has actually been around since 2010.  So what is an air fryer. eactly and what does it do?  An Air fryer is a countertop appliance that uses convection-like air to "fry" foods.  It produces similar results to a deep fryer but unlike a deep fryer, an air fryer does not need to be filled with oil to fry the food-- thus making the case that it's healthier way to enjoy fried food.  Rather than use heated oil to fry foods, it uses hot air and a fan to distribute heat for quick cooking and the circulation makes the food crisp.  It takes the same amount of time as a deep fryer, but does the cooking without the mess, excess oil and cooking hazards.

WHAT IS AN AIR FRYER USED FOR?

Think of your favorite fried foods.  These fried foods are excellent candidates for the air fryer.  French fries, chicken wings, fried fish, and fried chicken are no-brainer foods to cook in an air fryer, but you might actually be sureprised to learn all of the capabilities your air fryer has.  Beyond your favorite typically-deep-fried foods, basically any food you like cripsy can be cooed in the air fryer, including some of your favorite products.

We tested Pillssbury biscuits, cresccents and cinnamon rolls in an air fryer and had exceptional results.  The dough had a slightly crispy exterior while keeping the inside soft and warm.  We also tested Old El Paso soft shell tortillas and hard shelll tacoes and found the air fryer is a brilliant way to heat them up without having to turn on the oven.  Our favorite finding was that Totino's pizza rolls were the perfect product to make in the air fryer.  While the oven and microwave work fine, it itakes a bit of personal testing to find the right time to make the perfect pizza roll.  The perfect pizza roll keeps all of the goodness on the inside while having a crispy, fried outside, and we achieved that in minutes with an air fryer.  And we cooked 40 of them at a time!

The air fryer is also able to bake, grill and roast food so beyond parties and game day, you can use it for weeknight dinners!

DIFFERENT TYPES OF AIR FRYERS

Philips Elcetronics Company first developed the air fryer concept back in 2010 and is credited for intorducing the original air fryer to the market.  Since then, several companies have launched their own air fryer products, including GoWISE, Black + Decker, Avalon, and Farberware.

Beyond choosing what brand to buy, there are different versions and size variations to choose from three to five quarts.  Les that three is considered small, three -to four quart fryers are average size and five quarts or larger is an extra-large size.   The average or regular size works well for cooking fries or side dishes, and small-batch recipes  The larger size is better for family cooking, but it will take up considerable more counter space.

You also must decide between a manual air fryer or a digital.  A manual air fryer will have a dial to adjust the temperature and time, while a digital fryer will have push-button controls.  It's important to note that there's a vast amount of variance between brands when it comes to temperature options.  Some brands allow you to select temperatures in 5 degree increments while others offer 10 degree increments.  Don't worry, although this seems like a huge discrepancy, follow the recipe and the guidelines in your manual and your food will turn out like it's supposed to!

AIR FRYER PARTS

Despite the variance between air fryer models, they all have three basic parts: the air fryer base, the basket and the basket base.

The air fryer base is the main component of the air fryer.  The basket base is the bottom of the fryer that holds the basket.  The fryer basket attaches to the base and actually holds the food.  It has round holes or a mesh base, depending on the brand and model.  Both the basket base and actual basket can be washed in the dishwasher for easy clean up.  Although accessories do not come  with the air fryer, there are racks available to purchase.   

https://www.tablespoon.com/meals/how-to-use-a,-air-fryer?

Easy soft carmels with just 4 ingredients.  You can whip these up in about 15 minutes with no candy therometer and they are literally melt in your mouth!

Prep time    5 mins

Cook time 10 mins

Total time  15 mins

Serves   25 carmels

Ingredients

1 1/2 sticks butter (12 tablespoons)

1/2 cup sugar

3 tablespoons light corn syrup

14 ounces sweetened condensed milk

optional: coarse sea salt, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla (see note)

Instructions

1.  In a medium sauce pan combine butter and sugar and stir over mediun heat until melted.  Stir in corn syrup and condensed milk.

2. Bring to a boil and then decrease to simmer 7-10 minutes or until mixture achieves deep golden color, stirring constantly, (For lower altitudes, simmer time may need to be reduced 2-3 minutes, watch carefully for coloring!)  See update below recipe.

3. Pour carmels into a foil-lined 8 x 8 inch pan and allow to cool completely.  Sprinkle with coarse sea salt if desired.

4. When completely cooled, cut into squares and wrap in wax paper.

Recipe Notes

Makes about 20-30 carmels (depending on how large you cut them)

Recipe prep time does not include cooling time which maybe 1-2 hours

For additional richness and flavor, you can stir in 1/2 teaspoon vanilla after removing the carmel from the heat and before pouring into prepared pan, sprinkle coarse sea salt on top of caramels for a boost of rich salted carmel flavor!

Prep time  20 minutes

Cook time   4 minutes

Serves    10

Calories  131

INGREDIENTS

1 block cream cheese room temperature

1 tub marshmallow fluff

1 package egg roll wrappers

water to seal ends closed

1 can cherry pie filling  (21 oz. can)

Olive oil spray only when using air fryer

INSTRUCTIONS

1.  Mix together cream cheese and marshmellow fluff until creamy.

2.  Lay out 1 egg roll wrapper and add 2 tsp. cream cheese mixture as well as 2 tbsp. pie filling mixture.

3.  Roll egg wrapper like a burrito.  Folding sides in and rolling from one end to the other with filling wrapped well inside.

4.  At end dab water across end of wrapper and fold over to create a "seal".

5.  Heat your oil.  Test by putting a fingernail sized piece of egg roll wrapper into oil and if it begins to fry then oil is ready.  (if air fryer preheat to 390 for 3 minutes, then cook for 5 minutes at same temp or until crispy)

6.  Put cherry cheesecake egg rolls into oil, flip, and put on a paper towel when they are browned.  

ENJOY!

https://temeculablogs.com/cherry-cheesecake-egg-rolls/

Step 1:  Pour 1 cup COLD water over the bottom of the pot, and then place in your trivet that came with your instant pot.

       Be sure to use COLD water, as using warm water will change how the time the Instant Pot takes to get to pressure, which will change cook times and your results.

Step 2: Place anywhere from 4-8 scrubbed potatoes into your pressure cooker.

IMPORTANT TIPS TO REMEMBER WHEN COOKING POTATOES IN INSTANT POT

    Be sure to pick your potatoes with a knife or fork to allow steam and pressure to exit or your potatoes could explode while cooking.

  

   Make sure your potatoes are resting on rack and not touching the water-if they cook in water, they will get mushy instead of perfectly fluffy.

   For reasons I can not explain, cooking less than 4 potatoes in a 6 or 8 quart instant pot takes LONGER to cook.  Always use at least 4 potatoes.

Step 3:  Set to high pressure and cook.

  10 minutes on high pressure for small potatoes.

  12 minutes on high pressure for medium potatoes.

 20 minutes for extra large potatoes.

Step 4:  Allow pressure to releasse naturally for 8-10 minutes and then turn vale to release to release any remaining pressure.

Step 5:  (optional)  Brush potatoes with live oil and sprinkle with salt and crisp in 400 degree oven for 10 minutes-this is not necessary!

Step 6:  Serve plain with butter and sour cream or stuff with pulled pork and shredded cheese for a great meal!

NOW A FEW THINGS YOU MAYBE WONDERING ABOUT COOKING POTATOES IN THE INSTANT POT

  What is the texture like of potatoes cooked in Instant Pot?  Fluffy and creamy-just like an oven baked potato.  This method is SO much better than the texture of a microwave 

  baked potato.

  Do you have to use the trivet?  YES!!  The trivet prevents the potatoes from getting watery.

  Do you have to add water to bottom of Instant Pot?  YES, that moisture allows the pressure to build up in your instant pot.

  Do you have to use cold water in your Instant Pot?  YES!  If you start with warm water, the cooking time will vary and that may result in under or over-cooked potatoes.

TIPS AND TROUBLESHOOTING COOKING POTATOES IN THE INSTANT POT

  I have tested this recipe out with 4, 6, 8, and 10 potatoes.  At 10 potatoes, my 6 quart instant pot needed longer than 12 minutes to perfectly cook the potatoes, but at 4, 6 and 

 8 the 12 minutes was a perfect time.

 I would not recommend cooking more than 8 potatoes at a time.  Doing so, would overcrowd your Instant Pot and therefore would cause it to take forever to reach pressure.

 

 If you are using giant potatoes, I would not use more than 6 at a time.

 In all my tests, it has never taken longer than 8 minutes to reach pressure for this recipe.  So from heating up to releasing pressure these potatoes are ready in less than 30 

 minutes.

http://amindfullmom.com/instant-pot-baked-potatoes/

  

INGREDIENTS

1 red apple

1 green apple

1 Tablespoon cinnamon

3 Tablespoons white sugar

3 Tablespoons brown sugar

1 Tablespoon appler cider vinegar

For the crust

1 cup flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 Tablespoon sugar

3 Tablespoons butter

3Tablespoons lard or shortening

3-4 Tablespoon  ice water

INSTRUCTIONS

1.  Chop  apples into tiny pieces and combine all filling ingredients together in a large bowl.  Set aside to let the flavor develop.

2.  To make crust, mix flour, sugar, salt, butter, and shortening together with a fork or your hands.

3.  Add 3 Tablepoons of water and knead adding more to get a cohesive dough.

4.  Roll out your crust to a 1/2" thickness and then cut into desired pie shapes.

5.  Spoon one Tablespoon of filling into center of half the pie shapes, and then place a second pie crust overtop.  Press around the edge to seal.

6.  Place in the air fryer and add oil to the dispenser. 

7.  Bake on 360 for 7-10 minutes, watching carefully.

http://awefilledhomemaker.com/air-fryer-apple-hand-pies/