10 easy vegan air fryer recipes (2024)

FAQs

What do vegans use an air fryer for? ›

Air fryers can also make it easier to follow a vegan diet, offering a failsafe way to cook staples like tofu, cauliflower, and potatoes to perfection. Below, we've rounded up 10 mouth-watering recipes that prove plant-based cooking needn't be complicated or boring.

What vegan foods can you cook in an air fryer? As well as convenience foods like French fries, nuggets, and vegan sausages, you can cook plenty of vegetables in the air-fryer. Cauliflower wings are a particularly good example, and air fryers will also help to crisp up ingredients like sweet potatoes, tofu, and falafel.

Yes, an air fryer can be an excellent tool for vegan cooking. It offers a convenient and efficient way to prepare a wide range of vegan dishes. Air fryers can achieve a crispy texture on plant-based proteins, such as tofu, tempeh, or seitan, without the need for excessive oil.

Acrylamide is a chemical that can be created by cooking processes including baking, air frying, and toasting. Acrylamide is considered a probable human carcinogen based on the results of studies in laboratory animals.

Households are shelving their air fryers in favour of another kitchen appliance that is cheaper to run, and just as healthy.

In one study, air frying of fish raised the amount of a substance called "cholesterol oxidation products" (COPs). COPs form when the cholesterol in meat or fish breaks down during cooking. Studies connect these substances to coronary heart disease, hardening of the arteries, cancer, and other diseases.

Foil is safe to use in an air fryer so long as you follow three basic rules: never let foil touch the heating element; make sure the foil is weighted so it doesn't blow around the basket; and avoid contact with acidic ingredients, which can cause the foil to leach onto your food.

What should I try first in my air fryer? ›

The great news about air fryers is that you can use foil along with parchment paper to cook your food in an air fryer. Just remember that if it's safe and effective to use in a conventional oven, it will work just fine in an air fryer.

It is safe to cook raw meat in the air fryer if it is fully defrosted, seasoned, and monitored. Some fully cooked foods, including chicken tenders or fries, can be placed frozen in the air fryer. However, with raw meat, it's recommended to thoroughly defrost to allow more even cooking and a tasty final product.

Air fryers can cook food much more quickly than your oven. Heating up the air necessary to fry your food takes less energy than heating a traditional oven – fast food just got faster. There are lots of inspiring cost-saving air frying success stories, for anyone who still needs convincing.

The best foods to air fry include proteins like chicken, salmon, shrimp, tofu and even steak, along with firm vegetables like zucchini, cauliflower and sweet potatoes.

I finally tried my hand at cooking a vegan roast (frozen) in the air-fryer and it came out GREAT! As you see in the picture, wrap in foil and cook for 90 mins @400° followed by 10 more minutes uncovered. Came out crisp and cooked all the way through!

Seitan – Protein packed with amazing texture, seitan is a wonderful plant-based alternative to beef. Finger Steak Breading – This peppery mix crisps up beautifully in the air fryer. Oil – Although much less than deep frying, a little oil is necessary for perfectly crispy air-fried finger steaks.