To avoid turning my apartment into a sauna, I decided to boycott my oven this summer. But I wasn't ready to give up easy sheet-pan meals and roasted salmon, so I purchased an air fryer after hearing it could be a worthy replacement. If you're interested in doing the same, the Drexel Food Lab tested 10 air fryer models by cooking chicken, vegetables and french fries to find the best on the market.
Expert Tips for Summer Air Frying
Samantha Erb, creator of the blog Everyday Family Cooking, said she initially bought her air fryer just for french fries but has since tested countless recipes. She cooks corn on the cob in her air fryer. Niki Webster, author of The Vegan Air Fryer, roasts cherry tomatoes in her Ninja Foodi using an air fryer-proof bowl to keep juices together, then adds olive oil, salt and herbs.
Webster also cooks whole meals in her air fryer, like curries, by roasting onions and garlic in the basket or grill pan before adding liquid ingredients. She noted this only works with an air fryer that has a solid, leakproof cooking base designed to hold liquids. Erb makes chicken fajitas with peppers, onions and seasoning all in one basket for easy cleanup.
Don't Forget Dessert and Oil
Erb makes brownies and fried Oreos in her air fryer, which she says taste like carnival versions. Webster bakes chocolate chip pistachio cookies. Both stress the importance of using oil. Webster said food tastes much better with good oil, recommending brands like Good Phats and Honest Toil, while Filter commissioning editor Karen Yuan suggests Partanna or California Olive Ranch. Erb noted that dry chicken often results from skipping oil or overcooking.
A Deal and Other Recommendations
The Drexel Food Lab named the Our Place Wonder Oven Pro the best combo air fryer and toaster oven, noting it makes cookies with perfect chew. It's 25% off at Nordstrom's anniversary sale. The article also recommends open earbuds for audio on the go, top portable speakers from Sonos, and an Alvantor Pop Up Screen House Tent for bug-free outdoor enjoyment, recommended by consumer journalist Alan Truly as an impenetrable mosquito fortress.
