The air fryer is here to stay. Not only is it the hottest kitchen gadget around, but it's also quick, easy and economical to use – and some foods actually taste better when cooked in an air fryer than any other way. To help you get the most from your machine, we've put together the ultimate collection of foods that are much tastier cooked in an air fryer, including French fries, chicken, corn, and so much more.

Click or scroll through our gallery to discover the foods that are at their best cooked in an air fryer.

There's a reason why everyone raves about air-fried fries. Why would you resort to deep-fat frying – with all the associated smells and mess – when you can make crisp, golden fries in an air fryer with very little oil? Even if you don't want to make your own fries from scratch, frozen ones are perfect for heating up in an air fryer, especially if you're cooking for one or two people.

For a couple of portions, cut two large, peeled potatoes into chips and soak them in very cold water for around 10 minutes (this will draw out the excess starch for a crispier result). Drain and dry the chips thoroughly, then heat the air fryer to 160ºC (325ºF). Coat the potatoes in a small amount of oil and season with sea salt. Spray the basket with a little oil to prevent sticking, then pop the fries in in a single layer. Cook for 15 minutes, tossing once, then increase to 200ºC (400ºF) and cook for a further eight minutes. Frozen fries take around 10 minutes at 200ºC (400ºF).

Stuffed mushrooms are the perfect starter or side dish that can (with the help of an air fryer) be put together in minutes. Using this handy appliance, there's no waiting around for the oven or grill to heat up – and no need to worry about making a hot, cheesy mess. Simply place a liner at the bottom of your air fryer basket to catch any melted cheese, so you can focus on the rest of your meal without any hassle. Our recipe will give you four delicious stuffed Portobello mushrooms.

Cooking fish can be daunting at the best of times, especially when you're trying to achieve perfectly crispy skin and tender, flaky flesh. Pan frying salmon to perfection can feel like a challenge, but an air fryer takes all the stress out of the process – while keeping all the flavour and crispness intact. The key is to place a liner in the bottom of the basket and lay the salmon skin-side down for foolproof results every time. 

Heat your air fryer to 200°C (400°F); this step is vital if you want that all-important crispy skin. Pat the salmon fillets dry with kitchen towel, removing as much moisture as you can, then rub them all over with salt, pepper and smoked paprika. Place the fillets skin-side down on the liner-covered base of the air fryer basket and cook for 10 minutes. The internal temperature of the salmon should be 50°C (125°F).

Baking cakes can be a hassle if you're only making a small batch, or if you're pushed for time. That’s where the air fryer comes in – it’s perfect for quick, fuss-free muffins. The only extra equipment you might need is silicone cases or an air fryer–friendly cake tin. While paper cases will work, sturdier alternatives tend to give better results.

Heat the air fryer to 160ºC (325ºF). In a bowl, combine 2fl oz (60ml) vegetable oil, 2.6oz (75g) natural yogurt, an egg, 2 tbsp milk, 3.5oz (100g) golden caster sugar, 4.25oz (150g) self-raising flour, a pinch of bicarbonate of soda and 2.6oz (75g) blueberries, chocolate chips or dried fruit. Spoon into six silicone muffin cases and bake in the air fryer for 12-15 minutes.

If you're craving a fresh cookie but don’t want to bake a whole batch in the oven, your air fryer is the perfect solution. Simply line it with parchment paper and get ready for cookie heaven. Fresh dough works best, but for a time-saving hack, freeze pre-portioned dough and bake straight from frozen. Just pop one (or two) into the air fryer (add an extra minute to the cooking time if cooking from frozen) for a perfectly warm, gooey treat.

Combine 4.4oz (125g) unsalted butter with 3.5oz (100g) light brown sugar and 2.65oz (75g) white granulated sugar. Then mix in an egg, 1 tsp vanilla, 10.5oz plain flour, 1 tbsp cornflour, 0.5 tsp each bicarbonate of soda and sea salt, and 10.5oz (300g) chocolate chips. Portion out the mixture using an ice cream scoop and bake the cookies in batches for 10 minutes at 160ºC (325ºF).

For deliciously crisp marinated tofu, you'd normally have to use a deep fryer, which can be a messy, unpleasant-smelling hassle. With an air fryer to hand, however, your problems are solved – and you can say hello to a much healthier meat-free meal. Before you get cooking, you'll need to marinate your tofu for around 30 minutes in a mixture of toasted sesame oil, soy sauce, garlic and onion powder, plus a little smoked paprika.

Heat the air fryer to 200ºC (400ºF). Take the tofu out of the marinade, then toss it in cornflour seasoned with plenty of sea salt and black pepper. You can either put the tofu straight into the air fryer in a single layer or thread it onto skewers, which will make turning it easier. Spray with cooking oil, then cook for 15 minutes, turning halfway through. When it's ready, scatter over some chopped spring onions and sesame seeds. Serve your tofu with a chilli sauce dip.

Air-fried halloumi fries make a great snack; they cook very quickly and are just as melty, crispy and tasty as their deep-fried cousins. They're much healthier when made in an air fryer, too. If you can't be bothered to make your own, you can always buy a pack of frozen halloumi fries and heat them in your air fryer – but if you want to whip them up from scratch, follow the easy recipe on the next slide.

To prep your halloumi for the air fryer, cut it into sticks. At this point, you can marinate it (a harissa marinade would be a good choice). Otherwise, prepare three bowls: one filled with seasoned flour, one with beaten egg and one with panko breadcrumbs. Heat the air fryer to 180ºC (350ºF). Dip the sticks first into the flour, then the egg and, finally, the crumbs. Spray with oil, then air fry for eight minutes, turning halfway through. Serve your halloumi fries with your favourite dips on the side.

Air-fried chicken wings are the best – tender and juicy on the inside and so crispy on the outside you'd think they'd been fried the traditional way. What's more, they cook surprisingly quickly in an air fryer. Adding a little bicarbonate of soda to your dry rub will help to make your wings even crispier, and for even more flavour, try brushing them with your favourite glaze halfway through cooking. To help to save on washing up, put a liner at the bottom of the basket to catch the fat as the wings cook.

Heat the air fryer to 200ºC (400ºF), spray the basket with oil and put a liner inside. Around 2.25lb (1kg) of wings will fit into most air fryers. Just trim off the wing tips, then toss the wings in oil. Make a dry rub, adding in some bicarbonate of soda – use salt and pepper, then add whichever dry spices you like. Dip the wings in the dry rub, spread them out in a single layer in the air fryer (if you overcrowd the basket, they won't turn out crispy enough), then cook them for 12 minutes each side. If they need further crisping, add another five minutes' cooking time.

One huge advantage of cooking pork belly in an air fryer is that there's no large oven to clean afterwards – but that's not all. Air frying your pork will result in perfect crackling and tender, fall-apart meat. Plus, whether your pork belly joint is rolled or flat, it'll take less time to cook in an air fryer, saving on energy bills. A piece weighing between 2.25-3lb (1-1.4kg) will fit into most air fryers. Whether you're stuffing it with herbs or just roasting it with sea salt, you'll need to leave it uncovered in the fridge overnight. This will make the skin dry out, leading to super-crispy crackling.

Timings here are for a 3lb (1.4kg) rolled and tied pork belly joint, enough to serve up to four people. Rub the pork skin with sea salt, then heat the air fryer to 140ºC (250ºF); we'd recommend putting a liner in the basket to catch the fat. Make a triangle with two pieces of foil, then wrap the pork so the top and shorter sides are covered, but not the long sides. Tuck the foil under so it doesn’t fly off in the machine. Cook for two hours, then remove the foil, turn up the heat to 200ºC (400ºF) and cook for a further 15 minutes, or until the crackling is golden and crispy. Let the pork rest, then remove the crackling, using scissors to cut it into chunks.

Why would you bother heating up a conventional oven to bake a potato when an air fryer can do the job in just 30 minutes? This one's a lifesaver – especially for smaller households, or families with hungry kids in need of some post-school fuel. You should be able to fit four decent-sized potatoes in your air fryer, so there'll be plenty to go around.

Heat the air fryer to 200ºC (400ºF). Prick the potatoes all over with a fork before rubbing them with oil and sprinkling over some sea salt. Microwave on high for five minutes, transfer to the air fryer, then bake for 25 minutes. If you want to split them and add grated cheese, return them to the still hot (but switched off) air fryer for a few minutes to melt the cheese. If you turn your air fryer back on for this part, the powerful fan might blow off some of the cheese and make a mess.

These little triangles of filo pastry – filled with a variety of stuffings, from spicy beef to curried potato – are usually deep fried. However, cooking them in an air fryer will give you the same crispy results, without all the fat (and the same also applies to spring rolls). If you have leftover takeaway samosas, the air fryer will also reheat them to perfection, whereas a microwave will leave them soggy.

You should be able to fit up to eight in an average basket. Heat the air fryer to 180ºC (350ºF). Brush your samosas with melted ghee or butter, then bake for four minutes, turning halfway through. Increase the heat to 200ºC (400ºF) and bake for a further two minutes, until the samosas are golden and crisp. You can also air fry homemade samosas from frozen. Once assembled, open freeze the samosas on a tray before transferring them to a suitable container or bag. Then, when you're ready to cook, just add a couple of minutes to the air frying time.

Using your air fryer to cook sausages? It's a no-brainer! There's no frying pan or grill pan to clean afterwards, you won't need lots of oil, and they'll be ready in just 10 minutes (depending on how well done you like them) – crispy on the outside and soft in the centre. Be sure to put an air fryer liner in the basket to catch any fat, as it'll make cleaning up super easy later on.

Depending on the size of your air fryer, you should be able to fit six to eight sausages inside. The method is the same for all sausages, whether you're cooking chorizo or simple bangers from a packet. Heat the air fryer to 200ºC (400ºF) and cook your sausages for 10 minutes, turning them halfway through (spray the basket with a little oil beforehand to prevent sticking). Add another five minutes if you like crispier skin.

Once you've tried 'roast' potatoes in an air fryer, you'll never go back to the oven. This way, you'll use far less oil, and it'll take a fraction of the time – and you'll end up with gloriously tasty spuds that are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Plus, popping your potatoes in the air fryer will help to free up oven space if you're slow cooking a large piece of meat. Just remember to use floury potatoes (rather than waxy ones) for the best result.

Most air fryers are large enough to fit 2.25lb (1kg) potatoes inside, which should be enough to feed four people. Peel and cut your spuds into chunks, then steam them for five minutes, shaking them to roughen up the edges. Heat the air fryer to 200ºC (400ºF). Drizzle 2 tbsp oil onto your potatoes, ensuring they're well coated, then sprinkle them with sea salt. Cook for 20 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until the potatoes are golden brown at the edges. Want to add more flavour? Pop in some sprigs of rosemary and unpeeled garlic cloves.

A whole chicken will cook much faster in an air fryer than in a conventional oven. Not only that, but air frying your chicken will also give you tastier results – think beautifully crispy skin and meat that's moist and tender. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you should be able to use it to roast a chicken weighing around 2.25-3lb (1-1.5kg). Our top tip? Put an air fryer liner in the basket to catch those delicious juices.

Heat the air fryer to 180ºC (350ºF). Take your chicken and rub some softened butter into the breast meat beneath the skin, then season well (or add your favourite dry rub). Cook the chicken breast-side up for 30 minutes, then turn it over and cook for a further 10 minutes. The thickest part of the thigh should read 75ºC (170ºF) on a meat thermometer when it's done; if you don't have a meat thermometer, check that the juices run clear. Allow the chicken to rest for 10 minutes before carving.

When you're in need of a tasty, satisfying lunch in next to no time, air-fried cheese toasties are the way to go. We're talking perfectly crispy, golden bread and irresistibly oozy, melting cheese in the middle – and we think they're even more delicious prepared this way than in a regular sandwich toaster. Once you've tried our method on the next slide, it'll become your go-to!

For an even melt, use pre-sliced cheese – or you can grate a cheese of your choice. Depending on what you fancy, you can add meat, sliced tomatoes, sliced onions or a slick of mustard or chutney. For a toastie for one, use 2oz (57g) cheese, two slices of bread and a knob of softened butter. Spread the butter on the bread, add the cheese, press the two slices together to seal, then butter the outside of the bread. Heat the air fryer to 200ºC (400ºF) and air fry for 10 minutes, turning halfway through.

Roasted garlic is wonderfully sweet – very different from raw garlic, which is pungent and spicy. It's delicious stirred into mashed potatoes, added to soups or served on crostini or bruschetta. But why heat a large oven to cook a couple of bulbs when you can use an air fryer instead? You'll get the same caramelised flavour with far less hassle.

To 'roast' garlic in your air fryer, slice the top off a whole bulb and discard it. Wrap the garlic bulb loosely in foil, adding a drizzle of olive oil, then seal up the top. Heat the air fryer to 180ºC (350ºF) and cook for 40 minutes until your garlic is soft and tender.

When sweetcorn is put into a hot air fryer, an olive oil rub combines with the corn's natural sugars and caramelises, resulting in a deliciously charred exterior and sweet, tender kernels. This recipe is perfect for days when you're not in the mood for firing up the barbecue or standing over a griddle pan. You should be able to fit four whole corn cobs in your air fryer, ready to add your favourite flavoured butter – or perhaps some soft cheese and herbs.

First, heat the air fryer to 200ºC (400ºF). Take the corn cobs out of their husks, then rub the corn with olive oil and add a good sprinkling of sea salt. Cook for 15 minutes, turning once. When it's ready, the corn should be gorgeously charred, yet tender at the same time.

Perfect for topping salads and soups, croutons bring a lovely touch of texture to dishes – and they're a great way to use up slightly stale bread. But if you're just cooking for one or two people, why would you bother to heat up a conventional oven when you can cook them in the air fryer in four minutes? Plus, there's no chance of them burning once you've set the timer.

Slightly stale sourdough bread makes the best croutons. For each slice of sourdough, use 1 tbsp olive oil. Cut the bread into cubes, then toss them in oil and sea salt (for perfect Caesar salad croutons, add some grated Parmesan, too). Heat your machine to 200ºC (400ºF) and air fry the bread in a single layer for four minutes, shaking the basket halfway through to ensure the croutons cook evenly.

If there's one ingredient that air fryer fans can't stop raving about, it's bacon – and it's easy to see why. Gorgeously crispy on the edges and chewy on the inside, air-fried bacon might just be the best you've ever had. Plus, aside from its taste credentials, there's no added fat, no frying or grilling, and less cleaning up to do afterwards.

Put a liner in the basket to catch the fat, then heat the air fryer to 180ºC (350ºF). Put the bacon into the air fryer in a single layer, then cook it for six minutes, turning halfway through. You can also air fry bacon lardons at the same temperature, cooking for four minutes and turning halfway.

Now discover our best-ever air fryer hacks for tasty meals every time

Last updated by Luke Paton.