Quick answer: You can cook almost anything in an air fryer that you’d normally deep-fry, roast or bake in small batches: fries, samosas, pakodas, cutlets, paneer and chicken tikka, whole chicken, fish, vegetables, nuts, frozen snacks, eggs, cakes, muffins and cookies — plus reheating leftovers. Avoid wet batters, soups and gravies, rice and dal, loose leafy greens and large amounts of loose cheese.
An air fryer is a small, powerful convection oven, so it’s good at anything that should end up crisp or browned. Below are 55+ foods grouped by type, with temperature and time for each and a link to the full recipe where we have one — plus the 10 foods that don’t work and what to do instead. New to the machine? Start with how to use an air fryer.
Indian snacks
| Food | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Samosa | 180°C | 12–15 min |
| Paneer pakoda | 190°C | 10–12 min |
| Veg cutlet / aloo tikki | 180°C | 12–14 min |
| Green chilli kalonji | 180°C | 10–12 min |
| Sabudana vada | 180°C | 12–15 min |
| Onion bhaji (thick batter) | 190°C | 12–15 min |
| Masala papad | 180°C | 1–2 min |
All of them, with oil amounts: air fryer snacks.
Paneer, tofu and protein
| Food | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Paneer tikka | 200°C | 10–12 min |
| Paneer cubes for curry | 200°C | 8–10 min |
| Tofu tikka | 200°C | 12–15 min |
| Masala chana | 200°C | 15–18 min |
| Hard-boiled eggs (in shell) | 140°C | 15–17 min |
| Soya chunks (soaked, marinated) | 190°C | 10–12 min |
More: vegetarian air fryer recipes · high-protein paneer snacks.
Vegetables
| Food | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Aloo gobi | 200°C | 18–22 min |
| Broccoli | 200°C | 8–10 min |
| Green beans | 200°C | 8–10 min |
| Okra (bhindi) | 180°C | 10–12 min |
| Brinjal (baingan) | 190°C | 12–14 min |
| Corn on the cob (bhutta) | 200°C | 12–15 min |
| Mushrooms | 190°C | 8–10 min |
| Sweet potato | 200°C | 15–18 min |
Times for 25 vegetables: air fryer vegetables chart.
Potatoes and fries
| Food | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Homemade French fries | 200°C | 15–20 min |
| Frozen fries | 200°C | 12–16 min |
| Potato wedges | 200°C | 18–22 min |
| Crinkle cut fries | 200°C | 14–16 min |
| Waffle fries | 200°C | 10–14 min |
| Baby potatoes | 200°C | 16–18 min |
Chicken, fish and meat
| Food | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Whole chicken (1.2–1.5 kg) | 180°C | 50–60 min |
| Tandoori drumsticks | 200°C | 20–25 min |
| Boneless chicken tikka | 200°C | 12–15 min |
| Chicken wings | 200°C | 20–24 min |
| Fish tikka / fillet | 200°C | 8–12 min |
| Prawns | 200°C | 6–8 min |
| Lamb chops | 200°C | 10–14 min |
| Quail | 190°C | 15–20 min |
Cook chicken to 74°C (165°F) and fish to 63°C (145°F) inside. See what temperature to air fry chicken.
Frozen foods (no thawing)
| Food | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Cheese nuggets | 180°C | 8–10 min |
| Chicken tenders | 200°C | 10–12 min |
| Onion rings | 200°C | 8–10 min |
| Shrimp (breaded) | 200°C | 8–10 min |
| Egg rolls / spring rolls | 190°C | 10–12 min |
| Fish sticks | 200°C | 8–10 min |
| Burgers | 190°C | 10–14 min |
| Frozen pizza | 180°C | 6–10 min |
Nuts and crunchy snacks
| Food | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Peanuts | 180°C | 10–12 min |
| Makhana | 150–160°C | 8–10 min |
| Cashews | 150°C | 6–8 min |
| Banana chips | 180°C | 12–15 min |
| Popcorn | See guide | — |
Baking and desserts
| Food | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Eggless cake | 150–160°C | 25–30 min |
| Brownies | 160°C | 18–22 min |
| Cookies | 160°C | 8–10 min |
| Muffins | 160°C | 12–15 min |
| Cinnamon rolls | 160°C | 10–12 min |
| Bread pizza | 180°C | 5–6 min |
Reheating leftovers
| Food | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Pizza slice | 160–175°C | 3–5 min |
| Quiche slice | 160°C | 8–10 min |
| Burger patty | 180°C | 3–5 min |
| Samosa, pakoda, cutlet | 170°C | 4–5 min |
| Fries | 180°C | 3–4 min |
Every time and temperature in one place: air fryer cooking time chart.
10 foods you shouldn’t cook in an air fryer (and what to do instead)
| Avoid | Why | Instead |
|---|---|---|
| Wet, runny batter (bhajiya, tempura) | Drips through the basket and burns | Use a thick paste or a dry crumb coating |
| Dal, rice, soups | Need boiling water — we tested dal chawal | Cook on the stove or in a pressure cooker |
| Thin gravies and curries | No way to simmer | Air-fry the paneer or veg, finish the gravy in a pan |
| Loose leafy greens, curry leaves | The fan blows them into the element | Add in a tadka, or weigh down with other food |
| Lots of loose cheese | Melts through the holes and burns | Wrap it in dough, or use a liner |
| Raw popcorn kernels (without a guard) | Kernels can fly into the element | Read popcorn in an air fryer first |
| Large roasts that touch the element | Burns outside, raw inside | Cut smaller or use an oven |
| Boiled pasta, noodles | Need water | Boil first; air-fry only for a crispy topping |
| Food in plastic containers | Plastic melts | Use oven-safe glass, steel or silicone — see why |
| Huge family-size batches | Overcrowding = soggy food | Cook in batches, or use a larger air fryer |
Frequently asked questions
Can you cook Indian food in an air fryer?
Yes — dry and crisp dishes work best: tikkas, kebabs, pakodas, samosas, cutlets and dry sabzis like aloo gobi and bhindi. See Indian air fryer recipes.
Can an air fryer replace an oven?
For small batches, roasting, reheating and small bakes, yes. For big cakes, trays of biscuits or meals for a crowd, an oven or OTG still wins. See air fryer vs oven.
Can you cook frozen food in an air fryer?
Yes, straight from frozen with no thawing and usually no oil. Start with frozen fries.
Can you put foil, parchment or glass in an air fryer?
Yes, with care. See foil, parchment paper and glass.
Can you cook two things at once?
Yes, if they need similar temperatures — or use a rack or dual-basket model. See cooking 2 things at once.