Reasons to love your new air fryer

Have you recently added an air fryer to your kitchen? While air fryers are having a moment, and everyone is raving about them, a new appliance can be a bit intimidating. With these tips you'll get acquainted with your air fryer, and soon you, too, will be singing its praises.

New name, old tech

While the name "air fryer" is relatively new, the concept isn't. Air fryers contain a fan that circulates hot air at high speed, which produces a crisp, golden crust similar to deep-fat frying. Essentially, they're little countertop convection ovens marketed with a new name. Traditional convection ovens have been in wide use since the 1940s.

Health benefits

Because air fryers use hot air and a fan, usually just a spritz of cooking oil is needed. That makes air frying a lower-in-fat-and-calories alternative to deep-fat frying. Air fryers significantly reduce cooking time and tend to give off less heat, which makes them ideal for hot-weather cooking.

Beyond crispy foods

Air fryers are for more than just crisping up foods. Use them for roasting vegetables, cooking meats and baking cookies. Some air fryers are equipped with accessories such as pizza pans, grilling trays and cake barrels. Manufacturers also offer "multicookers" that combine air fryer, toaster oven and pressure cooker all in one.

Recipes to get you started

These recipes are perfect for air frying. If you don't have an air fryer, they also work in a convection oven, but the cooking time may vary.

Air-fried coconut shrimp

Serves 4

Shrimp
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper
2 large eggs
2/3 cup unsweetened flaked coconut
1/3 cup panko (Japanese-style breadcrumbs)
12 ounces medium peeled, deveined raw shrimp, tail-on (about 24 shrimp)
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Cooking spray

Sauce:
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup lime juice
1 serrano chile, thinly sliced
2 teaspoons chopped fresh cilantro (optional)

Stir together flour and pepper in a shallow dish. Lightly beat eggs in a second shallow dish. Stir together coconut and panko in a third shallow dish. Holding each shrimp by the tail, dredge shrimp in flour mixture, making sure not to coat tail; shake off excess. Dip in egg, allowing any excess to drip off. Dredge in coconut mixture, pressing to adhere. Coat shrimp well with cooking spray. Place half of the shrimp in the air fryer basket, and cook at 400 F until golden, 6 to 8 minutes, turning shrimp over halfway through cooking. Season with ¼ teaspoon salt. Repeat with remaining shrimp and salt. While shrimp cook, whisk together honey, lime juice and serrano chile in a small bowl. Sprinkle shrimp with cilantro, if desired. Serve with sauce.

(Recipe from Cooking Light)

Air-fryer roasted cauliflower

Serves 4

6 cups cauliflower florets
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
11/2 tablespoons lemon juice
Cooking spray

Combine cauliflower, oil, coriander and salt in a large bowl; toss well to coat. Lightly coat air-fryer basket with cooking spray. Add the cauliflower to the basket. Cook at 360 F for 10 minutes. Open the air fryer; lightly toss the cauliflower to redistribute. Continue cooking until cauliflower is golden brown and crispy around the edges, 8 to 12 minutes. Return the cooked cauliflower to the large bowl; add parsley, lemon zest and lemon juice. Toss to coat evenly.

(Recipe from Eating Well)

Jamie Pronschinske, is a dietitian in Nutrition in La Crosse, Wisconsin.