What Can You Cook in an Air Fryer?
Updated 9 September 2026
Almost anything you would roast, grill, bake or deep fry - and a few things you would not expect. The useful way to think about it is not a list of foods but a rule: air fryers are excellent at dry heat on a surface, and useless at anything involving liquid.
Quick answer
- 1Excellent: chips, wings, chicken pieces, sausages, bacon, steak, fish fillets, roast vegetables, halloumi, tofu, frozen breaded food.
- 2Good: small cakes, cookies, bread rolls, jacket potatoes, toasted sandwiches, reheated leftovers, whole small chickens.
- 3Poor: anything in a wet batter, large cakes, leafy greens, popcorn, rice, pasta from dry.
- 4Impossible: soup, stews, curries, anything that needs to boil or simmer.
The rule that predicts everything
An air fryer cooks by moving hot air fast across a surface, which drives moisture off. If a good result means a dry, browned exterior, it will do well. If it means moisture retained or added, it will do badly.
That single test tells you why chips are brilliant and rice is impossible, without needing to memorise a list.
Things worth trying that people do not expect
Hard-boiled eggs with no water at all, 9-12 minutes at 130°C / 270°F. Halloumi that browns without a pan. Tofu that actually goes crisp. Reheated pizza that comes back with a crisp base.
Toasted sandwiches also work well, provided you weigh the top slice down so the fan cannot lift it.
What not to attempt
Wet batter drips through the basket and bakes onto the element. Loose leafy greens and paper towel get blown into the element. Popcorn kernels mostly fail to pop and become projectiles.
Anything liquid is simply the wrong appliance - there is no vessel and no lid holding steam in.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best thing to cook in an air fryer?+
Chips and chicken wings. Both need a dry, crisp exterior and a short cook time, which is precisely what fast-moving hot air delivers.
What should you not cook in an air fryer?+
Anything in a wet batter, loose leafy greens, popcorn, rice, dry pasta, and anything liquid like soup or stew. Also never paper towel or plastic.
Can you cook a full meal in an air fryer?+
Yes, usually in two stages - cook the protein, rest it under foil, then cook the vegetables in the already-hot basket. Total time still beats a single oven bake.
Can you cook raw meat in an air fryer?+
Yes, and it is one of the things it does best. Cook to internal temperature: 74°C / 165°F for chicken, 63°C / 145°F for whole cuts of pork and fish.