{"id":6133,"date":"2023-01-10T16:55:07","date_gmt":"2023-01-10T16:55:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/slimmingworld.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/?p=6133"},"modified":"2025-12-09T15:31:14","modified_gmt":"2025-12-09T15:31:14","slug":"air-fryer-basics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/air-fryer-basics\/","title":{"rendered":"How to cook almost anything in an air fryer"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>We&#8217;re still head over heels for our air fryers, which is no surprise considering how many advantages there are to cooking with these clever worktop wonders. Because you\u2019re not using oil, they\u2019re a healthier way to make all sorts of meals. They\u2019re typically faster and more energy efficient than traditional ovens, too \u2013 a double whammy when it comes to trimming those sky-high fuel bills. Better still, they give great results for a host of Food Optimising recipes.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Top tip: If you love your fakeaways, air frying is a healthy shortcut to getting that convincing \u2018deep-fried\u2019 crispy golden finish without the Swips!<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Just like ovens, air fryer models vary widely, and getting to know yours better will help you adjust temperatures and timing. Check out our easy tips and recipes below to put your machine through its paces and discover your new air fryer faves!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/eat-slimming-world-air-fryer-recipes\/\">More on the blog: Try our air fryer recipes, including a delicious roast dinner and confetti baked oats<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/group-or-online-membership\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"100\" src=\"https:\/\/slimmingworld.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/generic-CTA-join-group-Red-23.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6905\"\/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Potatoes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Roast potatoes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Sunday dinner just isn\u2019t the same without roasties, and with this super-quick Food Optimising recipe up your sleeve, you might find you\u2019re eating them on weeknights, too! If you\u2019ve no time to peel the spuds. skin-on roast potatoes contain even more fibre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Chop your potatoes into even-size chunks and cook in a pan of boiling water for 5 minutes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pat them dry with kitchen paper (essential for the crispiest roasties!), then spritz with 1 cal cooking spray and season lightly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tumble them straight into the air fryer and cook on 200\u00b0C for 20 minutes or until golden and crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside. If you\u2019re using an air fryer that has a basket, shaking them halfway will help them cook evenly.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Slimming World Food Range roast potatoes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Pre-heat your air fryer to 200\u00b0C.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>pread the potatoes out in your air fryer basket in a single layer.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Spritz with 1 cal cooking spray and shake.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cook for 20 minutes, turning half-way for maximum crispiness.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/recipes\/air-fryer-roast-chicken-dinner\">Find a &#8216;Full Monty&#8217; air fryer Sunday dinner recipe here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Slimming World chips<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/recipes\/slimming-world-air-fryer-chips\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/slimmingworld.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/air-fryer-chips_sw_blog.jpg\" alt=\"air fryer chips\" class=\"wp-image-6144\"\/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Chunky or skinny, plain or seasoned\u2026 however you like your fries, they\u2019re a fabulous way to add pizzazz to Free Food potatoes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/recipes\/slimming-world-air-fryer-chips\">Find the recipe here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Slimming World Food Range chips<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Pre-heat your air fryer to 200\u00b0C.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Spread the potatoes out in your air fryer basket in a single layer.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Spritz with 1 cal cooking spray and shake.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cook for 14 minutes, turning half-way for maximum crispiness.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/member.slimmingworld.co.uk\/features\/slimming-world-air-fryer-recipes\">More for members: Hassleback potatoes, jackets and wedges<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Meat and fish<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Chicken breasts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Skinless and boneless chicken breasts are a Free Food at Slimming World, and an easy, healthy way to add filling protein to meals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Spritz the chicken with a little 1 cal cooking spray.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Put directly in your air fryer and cook on 200\u00b0C for around 20 minutes, turning halfway.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The juices should run clear when you cut into the chicken \u2013 if it\u2019s still pink, it needs longer.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/recipes\/pizza-topped-chicken\">This pizza-topped chicken recipe<\/a> is a favourite with our members! Add the topping for the last few minutes in the air fryer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Slimming World Food Range chicken escalopes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Choose from delicious coronation chicken and garlic &amp; herb chicken varieties \u2013 the perfect quick and easy dish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Pre-heat your air fryer to 160\u00b0C.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Remove all packaging and place the escalopes in your airfryer basket.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cook for 14 minutes, flipping over half-way.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Chicken nuggets<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/slimmingworld.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/air-fryer-chicken-nuggets_sw_blog.jpg\" alt=\"Air fryer chicken nuggets\" class=\"wp-image-6141\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>These golden nuggets are slightly spicy, slightly smoky and 100% delicious!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/recipes\/smoky-air-fryer-chicken-nuggets\">Find the recipe here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bacon<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Back bacon and bacon medallions, with any visible fat removed, are both Free Foods at Slimming World \u2013 so that\u2019s breakfast sorted!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Put the bacon directly in the air fryer and cook for 5-8 minutes at 200\u00b0C, depending on how crispy you like it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>When it\u2019s cooked, rest on kitchen paper to catch any grease.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pre-heat your air fryer to 170\u00b0C.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Put the sausages directly in the air fryer and cook for 15 minutes, turning half-way.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/recipes\/air-fryer-breakfast\">Find a full air fry-up cooked breakfast recipe here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Salmon<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/slimmingworld.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/SalmonHerbyMash-AirFryerRecipes-SlimmingWorldBlog.jpg\" alt=\"Slimming World air fryer salmon and herby mash\n\" class=\"wp-image-5776\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/recipes\/baked-spiced-salmon-with-green-beans-and-herby-mash\">Our aromatic Middle Eastern-inspired recipe<\/a> will take your salmon suppers to a whole new level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Follow the instructions to make the spice paste, then spread it over salmon fillets.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Transfer the fish carefully to the air fryer (using liners if you like \u2013 see below).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cook for 10-12 minutes at 200\u00b0C.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Top tip: For this recipe, don\u2019t flip it over halfway through cooking to keep the topping intact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/member.slimmingworld.co.uk\/features\/slimming-world-air-fryer-recipes\">More for members: Steak, white fish and burgers<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/nearest-group-search\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"122\" src=\"https:\/\/slimmingworld.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Group-CTA-Thin.jpg\" alt=\"Click here to find your nearest Slimming World group\" class=\"wp-image-7265\"\/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Eggs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>How do you like your eggs \u2013 fried, boiled or poached? You might be surprised to learn that you can get the good results for all three methods in an air fryer. Let\u2019s get cracking!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fried<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>You\u2019ll need a small ovenproof dish or tin that fits in your air fryer. You can cook multiple eggs in individual dishes if you have space.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Spray the dish or dishes with 1 cal cooking spray, then crack in the eggs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cook at 200\u00b0C for 6-8 minutes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Boiled<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Carefully put whole eggs in the air fryer, making sure you don\u2019t crack any.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cook on 150\u00b0C for 10-15 minutes, depending on whether you want the eggs soft- or hard-boiled.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you\u2019re not eating immediately, carefully transfer the eggs to a pan of cold water (this will stop dark rings forming around the yolks).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Poached<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Put 2 tbsp water in a glass ramekin, then crack in an egg. Use a separate ramekin for each egg if you\u2019re cooking more than one.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Transfer carefully to the air fryer, so you don\u2019t spill any water into the machine, and cook at 200\u00b0C for 4-5 minutes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Meat-free favourites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Halloumi<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Squeaky cheese cooks beautifully in an air fryer \u2013 coming out soft in the middle and crisp and golden on the outside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Cut into slices then spritz with 1 cal cooking spray.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cook for 10 minutes at 200\u00b0C<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/member.slimmingworld.co.uk\/recipes\/moroccan-couscous-salad-with-grilled-halloumi\">More for members: Serve your halloumi with this Moroccan couscous salad.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Vegetable pakoras<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/slimmingworld.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/veggie-pakoras-chickpea-recipes-slimming-world-blog.jpg\" alt=\"Veggie pakoras - chickpea recipes - Slimming World Blog\" class=\"wp-image-1451\" style=\"width:500px;height:500px\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Dipped into our easy raita, these <a href=\"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/recipes\/veggie-pakoras\">veggie pakoras<\/a> make a great Free snack, curry accompaniment or healthy lunch-box filler. \u202f<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Follow the recipe to make your pakora mix.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Drop dollops of pakora into your air fryer (you may want to line the tray with baking paper) and spritz\u202fwith 1 cal cooking spray.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cook at 200\u00b0C for 10-12 minutes, gently turning halfway.\u202f<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Veg with edge \u202f\u202f<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Roasted vegetables<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether it\u2019s sunshine-packed Mediterranean veg or an earthy mix of seasonal roots, roasting vegetables brings out their sweetness and can transform cheap, everyday ingredients into a taste sensation. \u202f<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Peel or scrub the veg as needed and cut into evenly-sized pieces.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Spritz with 1 cal cooking spray and season lightly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cook on 200\u00b0C for 10-15 minutes, shaking halfway. Check to see if the veg are tender, and if not, cook for a few minutes at a time until done. Root veg such as carrots and parsnips take longer than softer veggies like aubergines and peppers. \u202f<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/member.slimmingworld.co.uk\/features\/slimming-world-air-fryer-recipes\">More for members: Crispy onion rings and sweet potato fries<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Top tips to get the best out of your air fryer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>To get that golden-all-over finish, the air needs to be able to get to the food on all sides. Aim to cook things in a single layer, without stacking, overlapping or squashing items together. This may sometimes mean you\u2019ll need to cook in batches.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It\u2019s worth checking the instructions, because you can use foil or baking paper in some air fryers, while special liners are needed for others. Generally, the advice is if you\u2019re using foil or baking paper, make sure it\u2019s either under the food or tightly over it and attached to the basket, so it can\u2019t make contact with the heating element.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ovenproof dishes and trays can be used in most air fryers. Check the instructions, though, to avoid any possible damage to the appliance\u2019s non-stick coating.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Unless whatever you\u2019re cooking needs to be a certain way up (eg it has a topping), flipping the food halfway will give a more even cooking result. For smaller items such as chips, shaking the basket is another way to make sure things get cooked all over.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you can cook it from frozen in the oven, it\u2019ll cook from frozen in the air fryer! Stay safe by making sure any raw fish, meat or poultry is done before you eat it. If it\u2019s not quite ready, give it a few more minutes, then check again.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">More air fryer recipes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Cooked breakfast, confetti baked oats or a berry pop tart&#8230; and that&#8217;s just for breakfast! <a href=\"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/eat-slimming-world-air-fryer-recipes\/\">Check out our air fryer recipes here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Save and slim with Slimming World<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019re here to help you shop, cook and eat in a way that suits your lifestyle, and that includes working within your weekly budget. For more money-saving tips and our best low-cost recipes, head to your local Slimming World group or join our Community at Slimming World Online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/offers\">Discover our latest special offers here<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n    <section class=\"block-embedded-widget-area alignwide\">\n        \t\t\t<section id=\"mm-newsletter-widget-3\" class=\"widget mm-newsletter-widget\">\t\n\t\t<div id=\"mm-newsletter-widget\" class=\"mm-newsletter-widget-form\" data-thanks_page=\"0\" data-thanks_page_url=\"\" data-thanks_page_new_window=\"0\">\n            <div class=\"wrapper\">\n                <aside>\n                    <header>\n                        <h2>Free 7-day eating plan<\/h4>\n                    <\/header>\n                    <p>You&#8217;ll also get our email newsletter with recipes, inspiration and exciting special offers<\/p>\n                <\/aside>\n\n                <div class=\"form-wrapper\">\n                    <form action=\"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6133\" method=\"post\" id=\"newsletter-form\">\n\n                        <fieldset>\n                            <label class=\"input-label\">First name<\/label>\n                            <input type=\"text\" name=\"firstName\" placeholder=\"Enter your first name\" title=\"Enter your first name\" required>\n                        <\/fieldset>\n\n                        <fieldset>\n                            <label class=\"input-label\">Email address<\/label>\n                            <input type=\"email\" name=\"email\" placeholder=\"Enter your email address\" title=\"Enter your email address\" required>\n                        <\/fieldset>\n\n                        <fieldset>\n                                                            <div class=\"input-radio\">\n                                    <input id=\"classic-menu\" class=\"classic-menu\" type=\"radio\" name=\"menuType\" value=\"Classic\" checked>\n                                    <label for=\"classic-menu\">\n                                        I&#8217;d like the classic menu                                    <\/label>\n                                <\/div>\n                                                                                        <div class=\"input-radio\">\n                                    <input id=\"vegetarian-menu\" class=\"vegetarian-menu\" type=\"radio\" name=\"menuType\" value=\"Vegetarian\">\n                                    <label for=\"vegetarian-menu\">\n                                        I&#8217;d like the vegetarian menu                                    <\/label>\n                                <\/div>\n                                                                                        <div class=\"input-radio\">\n                                    <input id=\"vegan-menu\" class=\"vegan-menu\" type=\"radio\" name=\"menuType\" value=\"Vegan\">\n                                    <label for=\"vegan-menu\">\n                                        I&#8217;d like the vegan menu                                    <\/label>\n                                <\/div>\n                                                    <\/fieldset>\n\n                        <div class=\"button-wrapper\">\n                            <div class=\"g-recaptcha\" data-sitekey=\"6LdLR7cZAAAAAFDxo_6diZKq91dLeqE45o9GkrNL\" data-theme=\"light\" data-size=\"normal\"><\/div>\n                            <button class=\"submit is-secondary animation-light-background\" type=\"submit\" name=\"submit\">Sign me up<\/button>\n                        <\/div>\n                    <\/form>\n\n                    <p class=\"message-success\">Thank you for signing up. We just need you to verify your email address. Please check your inbox for a message from us and click on the verification link so we can keep you up to date with our latest menus, recipes and offers.<\/p><p class=\"message-error message-error-0\">Failed captcha.<\/p><p class=\"message-error message-error-1\">Please check your inbox for a message from us and click on the verification link so we can keep you up to date with our latest menus, recipes and offers.<\/p><p class=\"message-error message-error-3\">Good news, you&#8217;re already on our email list. Look out for emails from us packed full of recipe inspiration.<\/p><p class=\"message-error message-error-default\">Something went wrong.<\/p>                <\/div>\n\t\t    <\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/section>\t\n    <\/section>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-1 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/group-or-online-membership\">Join Slimming World<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>From chicken nuggets to boiled eggs, you can cook many of your Food Optimising favourites in an air fryer \u2013 saving time, energy and money!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":6147,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[29,12,34,28],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6133"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6133"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6133\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14835,"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6133\/revisions\/14835"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6147"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6133"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6133"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6133"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}