We know that life can get busy, which is why we’re always looking for ways to make cooking easier and more convenient. Kitchenways specialises in kitchen appliances, and we believe that air fryers are a must-have in every home.
If you’re like most people, you probably have a freezer full of frozen food that you’re not quite sure what to do with. That’s where an air fryer comes in! With its ability to cook food quickly and evenly, an air fryer is the perfect tool to help you turn those frozen meals into tasty, crispy dishes that your whole family will love.
Whether you’re a busy parent looking for a quick dinner option or a college student trying to navigate dorm room cooking, we’ve got you covered. In this blog, we’ll be sharing tips and tricks for cooking a variety of frozen foods in an air fryer, from frozen chicken nuggets to frozen vegetables.
What Frozen Foods Can You Cook in an Air Fryer?
There is a wide range of delicious recipes that can be quickly and easily created in an air fryer, but none as quickly as frozen foods. Without needing to thaw for a few hours, some of the best frozen foods for air frying are:
- Frozen french fries: You’ll soon think that frozen fries were made for an air fryer, as these work so well! You can also air fry potato skins or tater tots if you love fries in all their forms.
- Frozen chicken wings: Chicken wings are one of the most popular air fryer foods, and frozen works just as well.
- Frozen corn dogs: Corn dogs are one of the best frozen foods to cook up quickly.
- Frozen meatballs: Want to try your cooking skills on frozen meat? Pop these into your air fryer basket in a single layer, and they’ll be evenly browned in no time.
- Frozen mozzarella sticks: Extra crispy on the outside, soft and gooey on the inside? Air fry your mozzarella sticks!
- Frozen hot pockets, pizza or pizza bites: Air frying frozen foods never looked so good. Whether it’s a bag of bites or some leftover pizza in your freezer, your air fryer will soon have this hot, melty and delicious.
- Frozen chicken tenders or nuggets: These classic fried foods taste every bit as good frozen as not, and being able to add them directly from the freezer makes this an even easier meal to whip up.
- Frozen vegetables: Frozen veggies like broccoli, cauliflower, or brussels sprouts can simply be chucked in the fryer, crisping in minutes.
- Frozen shrimp, fish fingers or seafood: As we’ve seen, it’s not only red meat that suits this appliance, white meat is just as ideal.
These are just a few examples of the most common frozen foods that can be cooked in an air fryer. The list doesn’t end there, and we’d like to give an honourable mention to frozen burritos, egg rolls and dumplings too.
Process for Cooking Frozen Foods in an Air Fryer
Cooking frozen foods in an air fryer is as easy as anything. In fact, we’ll share the secret with you – there are no added steps. The cook time will just increase by a few minutes. However, in case you are new to the air frying process, simply follow these five steps:
- Preheat the air fryer: Preheat the air fryer to the temperature recommended on the packaging of the frozen food. This usually takes 2-3 minutes.
- Prepare the frozen food: Remove the frozen food from its packaging and place it in the air fryer basket. Do not overcrowd the basket.
- Cook the frozen food: Set the air fryer timer for the recommended cooking time on the packaging. Cook the food at the recommended temperature. Shake the basket halfway through the cooking time to ensure even cooking.
- Check the internal temperature: Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the food to ensure it has reached a safe temperature. For example, chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Serve: Once the frozen food is cooked, carefully remove it from the air fryer basket and serve hot.
It’s important to note that different types of frozen foods may require different cooking times and temperatures, so always check the packaging for specific instructions.
How Much Longer Does it Take to Cook Frozen Food?
The cook times for frozen food in an air fryer can vary depending on the type of food and the size of the air fryer. As a general rule, frozen foods should be cooked in an air fryer for 5-15 minutes longer than the recommended specific cook times for fresh or thawed food.
Conclusion on Air Fryer Frozen Foods
These handy kitchen appliances have changed the way that people cook. But with so many air fryer recipes enabling you to cook interesting, healthy meals, many wonder if air fryer frozen food makes it just too easy. Well, what if it does? Being able to whip up frozen appetisers or even a main course in little time and with even less effort is a huge advantage in our busy world.
If you’re not quite sold on these kitchen appliances, read our blog on the pros and cons of air fryers, so you can make an informed decision.