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I’ve been testing air fryers since I joined the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen & Cooking Lab as a contributing analyst, and I’ve been using one at home for far longer. Though we know it’s the best kitchen appliance for quick apps like frozen mozzarella sticks, wings, and fries, your trusty air fryer can do a lot more than you might think. I put some unexpected items to the test in my Ninja Air Fryer XL, the Lab’s top-tested model, to help you start thinking beyond the usual. Some even shocked me (looking at you, #6 and #1).
These 10 items, ranked from least to most surprising, are great for your air fryer.
10. Eggs
You can make perfectly hard-cooked eggs right in the air fryer without boiling water or babysitting the stove. Simply place the eggs directly in the basket and cook them at 300°F for 13 minutes for creamy yolks (reduce the cooking time for a jammier texture). Immediately after cooking, transfer the eggs to an ice bath for a few minutes to cool them and make peeling easier.
9. Croutons
In my house, bread on its last legs of freshness becomes croutons. You can tear the bread into bite-sized pieces for extra nooks and crannies or slice it into neat 1/2-inch cubes. Toss them with plenty of olive oil, salt, and pepper (I also like to add garlic salt) and cook them in the air fryer basket at 400°F for 8 minutes.
8. Baked oats
This is my new favorite way to make a portable breakfast. Mix 1 cup each of old-fashioned oats and milk with a heaping scoop of almond butter, 1/4 teaspoon of baking powder, a dash of pure vanilla extract, as much maple syrup as you like, and a pinch of salt in a bowl. Divide the mixture into small oven-safe baking dishes (I used the 1.6-cup containers from this Bentgo set), adding about 1/2 cup per container. Air fry the oats at 350°F for 10 minutes, until firm, like an oat bar. If you prefer it to be creamier and more scoopable, air fry for six to seven minutes.
7. Cherry tomatoes
In the air fryer, sweet cherry tomatoes burst, becoming juicy little pouches of umami that you can toss with pasta, serve on toast, or add to a cheese board. For a one-pan appetizer, place the tomatoes in an oven-safe baking dish with a block of feta and a coating of olive oil, and air fry at 400°F for 10 minutes.
6. Ravioli
Pasta chips are fun, but why not take them a step further and make crispy air-fried ravioli? Add your favorite refrigerated ravioli to the air fryer basket, toss with olive oil, and cook at 400°F for 3 minutes. The cheesy filling gets hot and melty, and the pasta becomes crunchy and dunkable. Serve them with marinara sauce for dipping.
5. Pancakes
An air fryer pancake doesn’t look like your typical pancake, but it tastes just as delicious. I added a batch of Kodiak Flapjack and Waffle Mix (one cup of dry mix combined with 3/4 cup of water) to a 6-inch springform pan sprayed with cooking spray. After air frying at 350°F for 10 minutes, I had an adorable pancake cake that I could slice and top with butter and maple syrup.
4. Prosciutto chips
Next time you want to get fancy with your appetizer spread, lay a few strips of prosciutto in the air fryer basket and cook them at 400°F for 4 minutes. They become crisp, salty chips that you can snack on as is or crumble over pizza or pasta for extra crunch.
3. Garlic
Roasted garlic is a smart secret weapon to keep on hand. It adds deep umami flavor to everything from salad dressings and dips to sandwiches and sauces. Though it takes a little while to achieve peak caramelization, even in an air fryer, the wait is worth it. Wrap a whole head of garlic in aluminum foil with a good glug of olive oil and a pinch of salt, then air fry at 325°F until the cloves are soft and golden, about 40 minutes.
2. Grapes
Red grapes become caramelized, concentrated, and wonderfully sweet when air fried at 375°F for 5 minutes. Before cooking, toss the grapes with a drizzle of olive oil plus salt and pepper. They make an elegant companion to roast pork or a topping to crostini smeared with goat cheese.
1. Romaine hearts
Mimic the experience of a grilled Caesar salad indoors without firing up the grill. Halve the head lengthwise, spritz or brush with olive oil, and air fry at 400°F for 2 to 3 minutes. You’ll have warm, lightly charred romaine that’s extra nutty and ready to drizzle with a creamy, garlicky dressing.
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Lizzy Briskin is a contributing writer and analyst in the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen & Cooking Lab. She’s a culinary school graduate and recipe developer who uses an air fryer several times a week to reheat leftovers, make toast, and now to roast multiple heads of garlic.
Nicole (she/her) is the senior director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen & Cooking Lab. She oversees all content and testing related to kitchen products, food, and recipes. She has worked at GH since 2019, and is a trained cook, published recipe developer, and seasoned product tester with nearly 15 years of experience. She has worked in test kitchens for national magazines and kitchen appliances brands, where she also helped develop products for the home cook. She earned a degree in journalism from SUNY New Paltz, graduated with a Grand Diplome in Classic Culinary Arts from the French Culinary Institute, and studied culinary nutrition at the Natural Gourmet Institute (both now part of the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City.)
