Derval O'Rourke: How air fryers can really vamp up a dinner — like my piquant chicken
Pic: iStock
I recently stumbled into a world that I had no idea existed: Air-fryer lovers!
My Mum bought me an air fryer a couple of years ago and it gathered dust for a long time. I finally dragged it out of the cupboard and started to use it.
I’ve really enjoyed playing around with the air fryer and it’s definitely given me more motivation to cook from scratch and try out new things. For recipes, I’m sharing a really simple air fryer recipe for chicken breasts.
An air fryer is a mini oven. They're typically more compact than traditional ovens, they also heat up and circulate hot air more efficiently around food, which makes cooking meals much quicker.
Air fryers have become a game-changing gadget for many households. The key is to do your research before you buy: Think about your personal requirements, like functions, size, speed, and price, and what you like to cook.
The cost of an air fryer varies but you can get one anywhere between €50-€250 depending on the features and size. It’s worth reading reviews online of different models before purchasing.
Remove all packaging and wash out the basket. Do one ‘run’ of the machine without any food in it.
Generally, you'll need up to one tablespoon of oil per one kilogram of fresh food. For example, if you're cooking a kilogram of chicken, toss the chicken in a tablespoon of oil before adding it to the fryer.
If you're cooking frozen pre-made foods, you don't need to add any oil at all.
Reading the manual to decide which setting to use as the options will vary from one model to the next, I watched a couple of good YouTube videos on getting started with the air fryer which were helpful and also gave me lots of recipe ideas.
Start with something that you are familiar with cooking. For example, I cook paprika chicken filets regularly so that was the first recipe I cooked in the air fryer.
Air fryers can have a surprisingly small internal capacity. Look at the guidelines on cooking capacity, because if you overfill it you won't get good results.
Consider a family-sized model if you are cooking for 2 or more people. I have a Ninja with one drawer and the size is definitely limited for a family of 4.
Air fryers are designed to fry by air and not fat. Make sure not to overoil your food as this will create smoke. If you're looking to simplify your air frying experience and reduce cleanup time, silicon air fryer inserts can be a valuable addition.
The general rule is to reduce the temperature by 25-30°F and reduce the time by at least 25%. All air fryers work a bit differently so it may take some time to get to know yours.
Start with less time than you think you need as it is easy to add a couple of minutes if the food isn’t quite cooked. For meat dishes make sure you are using an oven thermometer to test the food to be sure it is fully cooked.
Use your air fryer to quickly reheat small portions while retaining texture and flavor. An air fryer is ideal for roasting nuts or chickpeas, consider adding olive oil, salt or herbs to flavour.
Piquant air fryer chicken
A simple, hassle-free chicken recipe for the air-fryer
Servings
2Preparation Time
5 minsCooking Time
20 minsTotal Time
25 minsCourse
MainIngredients
2 free range chicken breasts
½ tbsp olive oil
1 tsp salt
1 tsp smoked sweet paprika
2 tsp mixed herbs
Method
In a bowl, combine the salt, oil, paprika and mixed herbs. Add the chicken and roll each chicken breast in the seasoning and put in the air fryer basket. Cook at 180°C for 20 mins, turning after 10 mins.
Check the chicken is cooked, use a food thermometer or pierce the chicken with a knife at the thickest part to see if the juices run clear.
Serve with a mixed salad.
