We’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’re not using oil, they’re a healthier way to make all sorts of meals. They’re typically faster and more energy efficient than traditional ovens, too – 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.
Top tip: If you love your fakeaways, air frying is a healthy shortcut to getting that convincing ‘deep-fried’ crispy golden finish without the Syns!
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!
Potatoes
Roast potatoes
Sunday dinner just isn’t the same without roasties, and with this super-quick Food Optimising recipe up your sleeve, you might find you’re eating them on weeknights, too! If you’ve no time to peel the spuds. skin-on roast potatoes contain even more fibre.
- Chop your potatoes into even-size chunks and cook in a pan of boiling water for 5 minutes.
- Pat them dry with kitchen paper (essential for the crispiest roasties!), then spritz with low-calorie cooking spray and season lightly.
- Tumble them straight into the air fryer and cook on 200°C for 20 minutes or until golden and crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside. If you’re using an air fryer that has a basket, shaking them halfway will help them cook evenly.
Slimming World Food Range roast potatoes
- Pre-heat your air fryer to 200°C.
- pread the potatoes out in your air fryer basket in a single layer.
- Spritz with low-calorie cooking spray and shake.
- Cook for 20 minutes, turning half-way for maximum crispiness.
Find a ‘Full Monty’ air fryer Sunday dinner recipe here
Slimming World chips
Chunky or skinny, plain or seasoned… however you like your fries, they’re a fabulous way to add pizzazz to Free Food potatoes.
Slimming World Food Range chips
- Pre-heat your air fryer to 200°C.
- Spread the potatoes out in your air fryer basket in a single layer.
- Spritz with low-calorie cooking spray and shake.
- Cook for 14 minutes, turning half-way for maximum crispiness.
More for members: Hassleback potatoes, jackets and wedges
Meat and fish
Chicken breasts
Skinless and boneless chicken breasts are a Free Food at Slimming World, and an easy, healthy way to add filling protein to meals.
- Spritz the chicken with a little low-calorie cooking spray.
- Put directly in your air fryer and cook on 200°C for around 20 minutes, turning halfway.
- The juices should run clear when you cut into the chicken – if it’s still pink, it needs longer.
This pizza-topped chicken recipe is a favourite with our members! Add the topping for the last few minutes in the air fryer.
Slimming World Food Range chicken escalopes
Choose from delicious coronation chicken and garlic & herb chicken varieties – the perfect quick and easy dish.
- Pre-heat your air fryer to 160°C.
- Remove all packaging and place the escalopes in your airfryer basket.
- Cook for 14 minutes, flipping over half-way.
Chicken nuggets
These golden nuggets are slightly spicy, slightly smoky and 100% delicious!
Bacon
Back bacon and bacon medallions, with any visible fat removed, are both Free Foods at Slimming World – so that’s breakfast sorted!
- Put the bacon directly in the air fryer and cook for 5-8 minutes at 200°C, depending on how crispy you like it.
- When it’s cooked, rest on kitchen paper to catch any grease.
- Pre-heat your air fryer to 170°C.
- Put the sausages directly in the air fryer and cook for 15 minutes, turning half-way.
Find a full air fry-up cooked breakfast recipe here
Salmon
Our aromatic Middle Eastern-inspired recipe will take your salmon suppers to a whole new level.
- Follow the instructions to make the spice paste, then spread it over salmon fillets.
- Transfer the fish carefully to the air fryer (using liners if you like – see below).
- Cook for 10-12 minutes at 200°C.
Top tip: For this recipe, don’t flip it over halfway through cooking to keep the topping intact.
More for members: Steak, white fish and burgers
Eggs
How do you like your eggs – fried, boiled or poached? You might be surprised to learn that you can get the same results for all three methods in an air fryer. Let’s get cracking!
Fried
- You’ll 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.
- Spray the dish or dishes with low-calorie cooking spray, then crack in the eggs.
- Cook at 200°C for 6-8 minutes.
Boiled
- Carefully put whole eggs in the air fryer, making sure you don’t crack any.
- Cook on 150°C for 10-15 minutes, depending on whether you want the eggs soft- or hard-boiled.
- If you’re not eating immediately, carefully transfer the eggs to a pan of cold water (this will stop dark rings forming around the yolks).
Poached
- Put 2 tbsp water in a glass ramekin, then crack in an egg. Use a separate ramekin for each egg if you’re cooking more than one.
- Transfer carefully to the air fryer, so you don’t spill any water into the machine, and cook at 200°C for 4-5 minutes.
Meat-free favourites
Halloumi
Squeaky cheese cooks beautifully in an air fryer – coming out soft in the middle and crisp and golden on the outside.
- Cut into slices then spritz with low-calorie cooking spray.
- Cook for 10 minutes at 200°C
More for members: Serve your halloumi with this Moroccan couscous salad.
Vegetable pakoras
Dipped into our easy raita, these veggie pakoras make a great Free snack, curry accompaniment or healthy lunch-box filler.
- Follow the recipe to make your pakora mix.
- Drop dollops of pakora into your air fryer (you may want to line the tray with baking paper) and spritz with low-calorie cooking spray.
- Cook at 200°C for 10-12 minutes, gently turning halfway.
Veg with edge
Roasted vegetables
Whether it’s 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.
- Peel or scrub the veg as needed and cut into evenly-sized pieces.
- Spritz with low-calorie cooking spray and season lightly.
- Cook on 200°C 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.
More for members: Crispy onion rings and sweet potato fries
Top tips to get the best out of your air fryer
- 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’ll need to cook in batches.
- It’s 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’re using foil or baking paper, make sure it’s either under the food or tightly over it and attached to the basket, so it can’t make contact with the heating element.
- Ovenproof dishes and trays can be used in most air fryers. Check the instructions, though, to avoid any possible damage to the appliance’s non-stick coating.
- Unless whatever you’re 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.
- If you can cook it from frozen in the oven, it’ll 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’s not quite ready, give it a few more minutes, then check again.
More air fryer recipes
Cooked breakfast, confetti baked oats or a berry pop tart… and that’s just for breakfast! Check out our air fryer recipes here.
Save and slim with Slimming World
We’re 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.