My Favorite Air Fryer

Air fryers still seem to be all the rage and I think are here to stay for good! I've personally been using one for over 5 years. Prior to that, I was a toaster oven fan. Then I realized the air fryer is a huge step up! That is also why I buy toaster oven style air fryers.

I did buy a new air fryer this year but it's the same brand, look and function as my older one. It just has more manual settings. I personally find I'm not a huge fan of too many electronic controls.

These are just a few things I've made over the last few weeks in my air fryer!

These are some of my other favorite air fryer foods (and none of them are frozen nuggets or fries!).

• Air Fryer Steak Bites - The taste of steak in a fraction of the time!
• Air Fryer Chicken Bites - Flavorful and quick chicken bites.
• Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts - So delicious and quick!
• Roasted Broccoli in an Fryer - I didn't think I liked broccoli until I had it roasted!
• Easy Sweet Potato cubes - So delicious and easy when air fried.
• Quick Baked Potatoes - These spuds take less than ½ the time using this appliance vs. making in the oven.
• Air Frier Baked Sweet Potato - So fluffy and delicious inside!

My Air Fryer is a Cuisinart brand, not super high-end (aka expensive), but good quality, and it's a workhorse! I was doing some in-person shopping and comparing, so I knew this was the one I wanted. In the end I ordered the air fryer from Amazon because it was on sale! Here is the same toaster oven style air fryer from Walmart. This is not the cheapest air fryer, but it does go on sale - regularly. That's why I wanted to give you easy two options.

Why I love this Toaster Oven Style Air Fryer

Many people like the 'basket style' air fryers. Let me be honest and say they were the reason I delayed my entry into being a user of air fryers. Yes I know they are cheap (as in inexpensive).

I'll just say they looked and felt so ... plastic-y! They felt cheap to me.

I exclusively use a toaster oven style air fryer. Features include a front door, made of metal and glass, a much larger cooking area and it generally feels more like an oven.

The Cuisinart air fryer (TOA-70)

1. Rapid Cooking Times: One of the standout features of air fryers is the ability to cook food incredibly quickly. This is especially beneficial for busy weeknights when you need a fast and healthy meal. No more waiting around for the oven to preheat!

2. Crispy Texture: Air Fryers excel at producing crispy, golden-brown food without the need for excess oil.Whether you're frying chicken, baking potatoes, or roasting vegetables, you'll be amazed at how crunchy and delicious the results are.

3. Versatility: You get to cook a wide variety of dishes. From appetizers like french fries and onion rings to main courses like roasted chicken and baked fish, this air fryer can handle it all. It's not just for heating up frozen fast food!

4. Easy to Clean: Cleaning up after cooking is a breeze. The removable basket and pan are dishwasher-safe, and the interior is non-stick for easy wiping.

5. Energy Efficient: Compared to traditional ovens, air fryers are much more energy-efficient.This means lower energy bills and a smaller environmental footprint.

6. Healthy Cooking: Air frying is a healthier alternative to deep frying, as it requires significantly less oil. This means you can enjoy your favorite fried foods without the guilt.

8. Easy to Use: The Cuisinart TOA-70 is incredibly user-friendly, with intuitive controls and a clear digital display. Even if you're new to air frying, you'll be able to get started quickly.

9. Easy to Clean: I love how the basket and the oven pan/tray can be washed in my dishwasher. Recently, I found cut to size parchment for an air fryer. I have started to use these for messier foods! It's not necessary but sometimes I'm lazy (shhhhhh).
If you already have a different type of air fryer, here are lots of cut to size air fryer parchment sheets!

9. Frozen Pizza: You can cook and be eating a frozen pizza (that easily fits into this air fryer) before a traditional oven will even be preheated! Or, with just a tiny bit of grocery store planning you can make this Margarita Naan Bread Pizza or this Sauteed Mushroom and Onion Flatbread Pizza. So Yum!!

Tips for Air Frying Foods

• Cut foods into the same sized chunks. That way everything is cooked within the same amount of time.
• Use a light coating of oil if you want your foods to be browned and crispy.
• Do not overcrowd your food. Air needs to circulate around it or you may end up steaming your food.
• Don't cook mushy foods. Nothing good happens when you do!
• Be aware foods cook faster than you might expect. Check the recipe for the cooking time guidelines.
• On the note above, check frequently to see if your food is finished cooking. There is a wonderful window and interior light to start with. The final texture can be checked by piercing with a fork.
• Adjust as necessary. Timing may vary a little because of the size of the food being cooked, the temperature it's at and whether or not you were patient enough to let this counter top oven preheat (3 - 4 minutes).
• Read the directions in the manual that comes with your air fryer. There are some very important safety and cooking tips in there. Plus some yummy recipes!
• Buy an air fryer you will actually use! Then it is worth giving it some counter space.

Favorite Meat Recipes

Favorite Sides

Here are the Links:

Cuisinart air fryer From Amazon (TOA-70)

Cuisinart air fryer from Walmart

Cut to size air fryer parchment sheets

Please comment down below if you have found any other helpful air fryer items like the air fryer parchment sheets!