The main reason why air fryers are hotter is that they are healthier, which is why no family can cook without them. However, there are more categories of air fryers on the market, and many people are at a loss as to what kind of air fryer to choose, so in this review, we find you the air fryer that best meets your cooking needs.
Top 6 Foods to Cook in Your Air Fryer in 2025
Air fryers have become a kitchen staple for many, offering a healthier way to enjoy crispy, delicious foods with minimal oil. These compact countertop appliances use hot air circulation to mimic the results of deep frying, making them perfect for a wide range of dishes. From classic comfort foods to unexpected culinary creations, here are the six best foods to cook in your air fryer in 2025, based on their ability to deliver outstanding texture, flavor, and ease of preparation.
Wings
Chicken wings are the quintessential air fryer food, delivering that coveted crispy skin and juicy interior without the mess of deep frying. The air fryer’s high-powered fan ensures even cooking, giving wings a golden crunch that rivals your favorite sports bar. Whether you toss them in buffalo sauce, honey garlic, or a dry rub, wings cook in about 20-25 minutes at 400°F, with a quick shake halfway through to ensure even crispiness. For best results, pat the wings dry before seasoning to enhance browning and avoid overcrowding the basket to allow proper air circulation.
Pro Tip: Use a meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature reaches 165°F for perfectly cooked wings. For extra crispiness, try the “hi-fry” setting on models like the Chefman Accufry, which adds an extra burst of heat at the end.
Serious Eats offers a great recipe for air fryer wings that emphasizes the importance of seasoning and timing for optimal results.
Fries
Whether you’re using store-bought frozen fries or cutting your own potatoes, French fries are a standout in the air fryer. Hand-cut fries achieve a fluffy interior and crispy exterior in about 15-20 minutes at 400°F, while frozen fries can be ready in as little as 10 minutes with a preheat cycle on models like the Instant Vortex Plus. The key is to use a light coating of oil (about a teaspoon) and shake the basket every 5 minutes to ensure even cooking. Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes work best for homemade fries due to their starch content.
User Review (Amazon): “This was recommended by America’s Test Kitchen so we bought it and we love it. It air fries, bakes, broils, and grills and we’ve used all the functions. However our favorite is air fry. Food comes out crunchy and delicious with little or no oil.” – Maria Michelle Nuriel, reviewing the Instant Vortex Plus 6-Quart Air Fryer.
Vegetables
Air fryers excel at roasting vegetables, delivering caramelized edges and tender centers in a fraction of the time of a traditional oven. Favorites like Brussels sprouts, zucchini, and cauliflower florets become irresistibly crispy when tossed with a touch of olive oil and seasonings. Cook at 375°F for 10-15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through. The air fryer’s intense heat concentrates flavors, making it ideal for seasonal veggies like asparagus or carrots, which can be ready in under 10 minutes.
Pro Tip: Cut vegetables into uniform sizes to ensure even cooking, and avoid lightweight greens like spinach, which can get blown around and burn. For inspiration, check out CNET’s guide to air fryer vegetable recipes.
Fillets
Salmon is a game-changer in the air fryer, cooking to flaky perfection in just 8-10 minutes at 400°F. The air fryer’s rapid heat seals in moisture while creating a slightly crispy exterior, making it an ideal choice for a quick, healthy weeknight dinner. Brush the fillets with a bit of oil and season with herbs or a glaze, and you’re set. Unlike stovetop cooking, there’s no oily mess to clean up, and the results are consistently tender.
User Insight: David Watsky from CNET notes, “I tried cooking roasted salmon in the air fryer, and it came out perfectly in about 10 minutes, including preheating time.” This speed and ease make salmon a top pick for busy cooks.
Leftovers (Pizza and Fried Foods)
Air fryers are a lifesaver for reheating leftovers, especially pizza and fried foods like chicken or mozzarella sticks. Unlike a microwave, which can leave food soggy, the air fryer revives crispy textures in just 3-5 minutes at 350°F. A slice of pizza comes out with a crunchy crust and melty cheese, while leftover fried chicken regains its crackly coating. The key is to avoid stacking food to ensure even heating.
Pro Tip: For pizza, place a piece of parchment paper under the slice to catch any melting cheese. Bon App¨¦tit highlights how air fryers can transform leftovers into meals that taste freshly made.
Dogs
Hot dogs are a surprisingly perfect air fryer food, achieving a charred, snappy exterior in just 2-3 minutes at 400°F. The air fryer’s intense heat mimics grilling without the need for an outdoor setup, and cleanup is minimal. You can cook an entire package at once, making it a quick option for feeding a crowd. For extra flavor, try scoring the hot dogs lightly before cooking to enhance browning.
User Review (Amazon): “It’s hard to screw up a hot dog, but if you want a perfectly charred wiener in under five minutes with essentially no cleanup, look to the air fryer.” – David Watsky, reviewing air fryer performance on CNET.
Best Air Fryer Recommendations for These Foods
To get the most out of these recipes, a high-quality air fryer is essential. Based on extensive testing and user feedback, here are two top picks for 2025 that excel at cooking these foods:
- Instant Vortex Plus 6-Quart Air Fryer (Shop on Amazon): This model consistently delivers crispy results across all six foods, thanks to its powerful 1700-watt heating element and wide, square basket. It features six cooking functions (air fry, bake, roast, broil, reheat, dehydrate) and a clear cooking window for easy monitoring. Testers praise its intuitive controls and dishwasher-safe parts, making cleanup a breeze. User Review (Amazon): “The air circulation and power provided the best cooking results, and it performed all of our cooking tasks excellently churning out crispy fries, juicy chicken and a well-baked cake, including tricky coconut shrimp and Brussels sprouts.” – Food Network Shopping Experts.
- Ninja Foodi DZ550 Dual-Basket Air Fryer (Shop on Amazon): With a 10-quart capacity split into two 5-quart baskets, this air fryer is perfect for cooking multiple foods at once, like wings and fries for a party. It offers six functions and a temperature probe for precise meat cooking, ideal for salmon or hot dogs. Its ceramic nonstick coating simplifies cleanup. User Review (Amazon): “This air fryer did a superb job maintaining consistent temperatures and handled all dishes well, including crispy chips.” – Rachael Penn, reviewing for The Independent.
How did we test air fryers?
In order to find the best air fryer, our team of 8 people conducted real tests on different price points, sizes, brands, performance, intelligence and practicality. We bought air fryers from all major platforms, including the official ones, and tested them in our lab for 3 weeks, while our team also tested and evaluated them in our own homes.
We cooked different ingredients to evaluate the crispiness, cooking uniformity and overall texture. We also evaluated how much food each air fryer can handle to see if it is suitable for a large family. In addition to our own evaluation of these air fryers, we also referred to third-party authoritative platforms, the data of their tests, and made comparisons against the data of our tests, and finally selected the above high-quality air fryers.
You can also use the selection tool we built to help you recommend the air fryer that’s right for you:
Buying Guide: Choosing the Right Air Fryer for These Foods
Selecting the perfect air fryer depends on your cooking needs, kitchen space, and budget. Here’s a detailed guide to help you choose the best model for preparing these top foods in 2025:
- Capacity: For small households or solo cooks, a 2-4 quart air fryer, like the Dash Tasti-Crisp, is sufficient for single servings of fries or salmon. For families or entertaining, opt for a 6-10 quart model, such as the Ninja Foodi DZ550, which can handle larger batches of wings or hot dogs. Dual-basket models are great for cooking multiple foods simultaneously without mixing flavors.
- Functions: Look for versatile models with settings like air fry, roast, bake, and reheat to cover all the foods listed. Features like a preheat cycle (found on the Instant Vortex Plus) can reduce cooking time for fries, while a temperature probe (available on the Ninja Foodi) ensures perfectly cooked salmon or chicken.
- Ease of Use and Cleaning: Digital controls, like those on the Instant Vortex, are more precise than manual dials. Dishwasher-safe baskets and trays, as seen in both recommended models, make cleanup easier, especially for greasy foods like wings. A viewing window is a bonus for monitoring foods like pizza without interrupting cooking.
- Size and Storage: Consider your counter space. Compact models like the Instant Vortex Slim ( x x inches) are ideal for small kitchens, while larger dual-basket models require more room but offer greater capacity.
- Budget: Prices range from $50 for basic models to $200 for feature-rich options. The Instant Vortex Plus offers excellent value at around $160, while the Ninja Foodi DZ550, priced closer to $200, is worth the investment for frequent entertainers.
Foods to Avoid: While air fryers are versatile, some foods don’t fare well. Avoid wet batters (like tempura), as they’ll drip and make a mess, and lightweight foods like individual bread slices or leafy greens, which can burn or cook unevenly due to the strong airflow.
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Summarize:
Choosing the right air fryer for your family is important, you need to know your kitchen space, budget, family size, and whether the smart features work well. The air fryers we have reviewed above have been evaluated by our team after 3 weeks of real-life use for different family sizes, features, and types, and you can be assured of their performance and quality. If you have any questions, you can contact us in the comment section.
