Why your air fryer is your secret weapon at Christmas
From turkey to roast chestnuts, your air fryer could save bags of time and oven space – not to mention washing up – this festive season. It’s said that one in three UK households now have an air fryer – and they continue to sell in high volumes. Christmas is a great time to really make the most of these mini countertop ovens too, thinks chef, food writer and air fryer aficionado Philippa Davis. “If you are in charge of cooking this year’s Christmas feast, you should consider the air fryer your personal little helper,” she says. “It’s perfect if you need to cater for small numbers as food will take less time to cook and it will probably be more energy efficient than using a conventional oven. “This means less time spent in the kitchen and – best of all – it might even leave you with less washing up, which is a lovely Christmas present to give yourself!” Here’s Davis’ advice for getting the most out of your air fryer at Christmas. The golden rules of Christmas air frying The 20-20 rule “If you are using recipes that are for conventional ovens, you will generally want to reduce the cooking time by 20% and lower the heat by 20C (that’s from the fan temperature) to account for the air fryer’s efficiency.” While that’s a good place to start, Davis still recommends you keep a keen eye on your food as it cooks. “If you are adapting a conventional recipe, it’s often a good idea to check your food halfway through and, if necessary, adjust the cooking time and temperature. There are so many different sizes and models of air fryer, so these things can really vary.” Don’t overfill “If you cram too much in so everything is overlapping, you’re not going to get the benefits. For instance, if you wanted to go for an all-in-one dish such as a Christmas dinner traybake – which would work really well in an air fryer – you’d need to scale down the portion sizes. “It helps to make the most of any accessories that came with your air fryer too, like the racks. Using them helps make sure there’s plenty of space around the food for the hot air to circulate, so dig them out of your drawer. “If, after you’ve done this, you’re still overfilling, then it’s time to think about turning the oven on for the elements of your dinner that take up the most room, and using your air fryer for something specific instead, such as stuffing balls or parsnips.” Don’t use the air fryer for everything The air fryer is great for so many Christmas dishes but there are some that you’re better off cooking elsewhere. When it comes to dishes you ordinarily make on the hob – things such as gravy, bread sauce and red cabbage – stick to that. Festive party nibbles and starters “You know the Christmas lyrics ‘Chestnuts roasting on an open fire’? Well now you can start singing ‘chestnuts roasting in an air fryer’ instead,” jokes Davis. “Roast chestnuts are so easy to cook in an air fryer. You rinse and soak them to make the skins easier to peel, then lightly score them and cook in the air fryer at 200C. Small ones will only take five minutes, large ones will take about 15 minutes with a shake half-way through. “For parties, mini turkey meatballs are great in the air fryer. And you can serve them on a stick with a little cranberry sauce to dip them in. “I’d also go for finger food like sausage rolls and halloumi sticks because these are great for cooking in advance and work perfectly in the air fryer. Just give them a quick blast to reheat when you’re ready to eat. “You could even make crispy air fryer parsnips and serve them with a blue cheese or sour cream dip.” “The other starter I really love making in an air fryer is a whole baked brie. It comes out perfectly and will take less than 10 minutes. Simply bake it in the dish you’re serving it in – just be careful when you take it out as it will be really hot.” Turkey main Let’s face it: a whole turkey is never going to fit inside an air fryer. So, if you have a full-size bird planned for C-Day, the oven is still your best bet. “A larger model might well fit a crown inside though,” points out Davis. Otherwise, a boneless breast joint is the way to go, and can still feed a decent crowd. “That’s what I’d do. It cooks quickly – it will be ready in less than an hour – and you can easily add lots of flavour by sitting it on a bed of sage, thyme and rosemary. “Plus, when the turkey is cooked and it’s resting, you can pop your next dish into the air fryer – whether that’s your potatoes or Brussels.” If turkey is off the table, roast chicken is a great, low-maintenance option that can easily be roasted in these nifty appliances in little over an hour. You’ll likely find it fits in whole, but if not you can use halves or pieces instead. Vegetarian alternatives “I think Christmas is all about sharing, so I’d always recommend serving a vegetarian main that can be enjoyed by everyone at the table. I’ve come up with a recipe for a whole cauliflower cheese which can be cooked in the air fryer. It really is spectacular. “Another option is my hasselback butternut squash with chestnuts, pomegranate and tahini, which is such a fun and colourful Christmas showstopper, packed with flavour and texture. You will need to adapt the cooking method for the air fryer, though – remember the 20-20 rule and to check half way through cooking, tweaking the temperature if necessary. “Puff pastry tarts also make great veggie dishes that work perfectly in these mini ovens. (I can speak from experience about how well they will be received – they were the first Christmas dish I ever made in an air fryer and went down a storm.) The air fryer is perfect for cooking puff pastry: the intensity of heat gives the rise and flaky outer layer that you want.” Side dishes “Root vegetables – including carrots, parsnips and roast potatoes – are incredible in an air fryer, and if you chop them into smaller pieces you don’t need to parboil them. “My absolute favourite side dish to cook in the air fryer, though, is sprouts. I have a recipe which combines them with garlic butter, nutmeg and Parmesan. When you cook them in the air fryer, they are crispy and almost golden on the outside but so creamy in the middle.” “Stuffing balls and pigs and blankets also work so well in an air fryer because you can get a crispy exterior on them while keeping that soft centre.” Pudding “While you’ll be cooking your Christmas pudding in a pressure cooker or steaming it, the air fryer is great for reheating portions – you’ll just want to wrap them in foil otherwise it will dry out.” Christmas pudding not your bag? Get creative with your air fryer this Christmas to whip up some alternative desserts. “Think of treats that you traditionally bake, like mince pies or spiced cookies. I’d also highly recommend using an air fryer to cook a panettone bread and butter pudding. “If you want to make something decadent like a chocolate lava cake, then absolutely use your air fryer. I would advise making individual portions – you’ll probably be able to fit two to four ramekins inside.” Originally published December 2023