What Can You Cook in an Air Fryer? The Ultimate Nigerian Beginner's Guide (2025)

Welcome to the world of air frying! If you've just unboxed your new air fryer, you're probably excited to see what all the hype is about. You've heard it can make food crispy and delicious with less oil, but you might be wondering, "What can I actually cook in this thing?" We're here to help. After testing dozens of recipes, from crispy plantain to suya-spiced chicken, we've put together this complete guide for our fellow Nigerians. We'll show you the best foods to make, what to avoid, and answer all your common questions so you can start cooking with confidence.

Is an Air Fryer Worth It? The Pros and Cons

A true beginner's guide should help you before you even open the box. Here's a quick look at why these appliances are so popular and what to consider before you buy.

Pros (Why People Love Them)

Healthier Cooking: The biggest advantage is that you can get a beautifully crispy result with a fraction of the oil compared to deep frying. This means less oil and a lighter, healthier meal.
Speed and Efficiency: Air fryers cook faster than a conventional oven because of their compact size and powerful fan. They also don't heat up your entire kitchen, which is a huge plus in our climate.
Versatility: Don't think of it as just a "fryer." These machines can roast, bake, grill, and reheat food perfectly.
Easy Cleanup: Most air fryers come with a non-stick basket and drawer that are incredibly easy to wash with just a little soap and water.

Cons (Things to Consider)

Limited Capacity: A standard air fryer is not great for large families. You often have to cook in batches, which can be time-consuming.
Counter Space: They can be bulky and take up valuable space in a smaller kitchen.
It's Not a Deep Fryer: While the results are crispy, they have a different texture from deep-fried food. It's more like a super-powered convection oven.

The Absolute Best Foods to Cook in an Air Fryer (For Amazing Results)

The magic of an air fryer comes from its high-speed fan and dry heat, which circulate hot air around your food. This process mimics deep frying, but without all the oil, giving you that perfect crispy texture.

The Crispy Classics (Beginner Wins)

Finger Foods & Snacks: This is where the air fryer truly shines. Snacks like meat pies, samosas, and spring rolls come out incredibly crispy and hot, far superior to anything you could make in a microwave or even a standard oven.
Chicken Wings: Forget deep frying or messy ovens. The air fryer is the undisputed king of crispy chicken wings. The skin gets perfectly golden and crunchy, while the meat inside stays tender and juicy.

Nigerian Favourites, Reimagined

Dodo (Fried Plantain): This is where your air fryer becomes your best friend! Get perfectly sweet and caramelized plantain with just a tiny bit of oil and absolutely no splashing. It's a game-changer for a stress-free side dish.
Crispy Yam Fries: Forget deep frying. Cubed or sliced yam comes out incredibly fluffy on the inside and perfectly crispy on the outside. Great with a pepper sauce dip.
Fish (Tilapia, Croaker): Air frying whole fish or fillets with your favourite spices gives you that amazing crispy skin without needing to stand over a hot pan of oil.
Suya-Spiced Chicken Wings: The air fryer is the king of chicken wings. The dry, circulating heat makes the skin unbelievably crispy while locking in all the juices, perfectly complementing your favourite suya spice mix.

Healthy Staples You'll Actually Want to Eat

Looking for a healthier twist on classics? The air fryer is great for making Akara and Puff Puff with a fraction of the oil, giving you a delicious, less greasy result.
Green Beans & Asparagus: These slender vegetables cook quickly and evenly, retaining their bright color and a slight snap.

Surprising Foods That Are Incredible in an Air Fryer

Roasted Groundnuts: This is a fantastic healthy snack. Just toss shelled groundnuts with a little salt and air fry them until they're crunchy and snackable.

What NOT to Cook in an Air Fryer (And Why)

We've all been there—trying to cook something and ending up with a big mess. This section will help you avoid disappointment and keep your air fryer in great shape.

Foods That Make a Mess

Wet Batters: If you're trying to make something with a wet, liquid batter, the high-speed fan will blow the batter right off the food and into the heating element before it has a chance to set.
Loose Seasonings: Just like wet batters, a fan can blow loose, dry seasonings all over your basket. A simple fix is to spritz your food with a little oil first; the oil helps the seasonings stick.

Foods That Won't Cook Properly

Large Whole Chickens or Roasts: Unless you have a specific, large-capacity air fryer, trying to cook a whole roast or chicken will lead to the outside burning before the inside is fully cooked. It's much better to cook smaller cuts like breasts, thighs, or drumsticks.
Jollof Rice or Stew (Raw): The air fryer is essentially a small convection oven. It doesn't use boiling liquid, so it can't cook these dishes. You can, however, reheat these dishes. Need tips for dealing with leftovers? Check out our guide on what to do with leftover Nigerian stew.
Leafy Greens: Raw spinach and other leafy greens are too light. The fan will just blow them around, causing them to wilt unevenly and get stuck in the basket.

Potential Safety Issues

Overly Greasy Foods: Very fatty foods can drip excessive amounts of grease. The hot air can cause the grease to smoke, which is a fire hazard and can fill your kitchen with smoke. It's best to stick to foods with less fat or cook smaller portions.

Air Fryer 101: Essential Tips and Techniques

This section will help you master your air fryer and get perfect results every time.

Do You Need Oil for Air Frying?

Not always, but a little goes a long way. You don't need oil for frozen foods, as they often have a light coating already. But for fresh vegetables, a light spritz of oil helps them get a beautiful crisp and allows seasonings to stick.

What is the best oil to use? Use common, high-smoke-point oils like groundnut oil, vegetable oil, or palm oil. For more information on choosing the right oil, read our comparison of palm oil vs. groundnut oil. For plantain, palm oil adds a wonderful flavour, but be aware it can sometimes produce more smoke. Ensure your kitchen is well-ventilated. Avoid aerosol cooking sprays, as they can contain ingredients that damage the non-stick coating on your air fryer basket over time.

Can You Put Tin Foil or Parchment Paper in an Air Fryer?

Yes, but with crucial safety rules. Tin foil and parchment paper are great for easy cleanup, but you must follow these rules:

Don't block the basket. Make sure you leave plenty of space around the edges for air to circulate. This is the entire point of an air fryer!
Don't preheat with it inside. Never put foil or parchment paper in an empty air fryer. The fan will blow it around and it could get stuck in the heating element, which is a fire hazard.
Always weigh it down. Make sure the foil or parchment paper is always weighed down with food so it can't fly around.

The Golden Rules for Success

Don't Overcrowd the Basket: For food to get crispy, air needs to circulate around it. If you pile everything on top of each other, your food will steam instead of air fry. Cook in batches if you need to.
Preheat Your Air Fryer (Usually): Just like an oven, a preheated air fryer will cook your food more evenly and lead to better results. A 3-5 minute preheat is usually enough.
Shake the Basket or Flip Food Midway: This ensures all sides of your food get exposure to the hot air, leading to a perfectly even cook.

How to Clean Your Air Fryer (The Easy Way)

Keeping your air fryer clean is the secret to great-tasting food and a long-lasting appliance. Here’s a simple routine to follow.

The Quick Clean (After Every Use)

Always wait until the air fryer is cool to the touch. Remove the basket and drawer and wash them with warm, soapy water and a soft sponge. Never use steel wool or abrasive sponges, as they will ruin the non-stick coating. Need more general kitchen hacks? Learn how to make food last longer.

The Deep Clean (Monthly)

For a more thorough clean, check the heating element at the top of the machine for any grease splatters and carefully wipe it with a damp cloth. Make sure the machine is fully unplugged and cool before you do this! To handle stubborn grime on the basket, you can soak it in hot, soapy water to loosen any baked-on food. A paste made of baking soda and water can also help with tough spots.

Tackling Lingering Smells

If your air fryer smells a little off even after cleaning, you can get rid of the odor by air frying a small, oven-safe bowl with a bit of vinegar or a few lemon slices in it for a few minutes.

Troubleshooting Common Air Fryer Problems

Even the best appliance has a learning curve. Here’s how to solve a few common issues you might run into as a new air fryer user.

Problem: "My food isn't crispy."
- Solution: You probably overcrowded the basket. The air needs room to circulate to get that crisp. Cook in smaller batches. Also, make sure the food is dry before you add a light coat of oil.
Problem: "White smoke is coming out of my air fryer."
- Solution: This is usually caused by cooking overly fatty foods. The grease drips to the bottom and burns. To prevent this, trim excess fat from your meat before cooking, or add a little water to the bottom drawer (under the basket) to catch the drips.
Problem: "My breaded chicken/fish coating is blowing off."
- Solution: The fan is powerful. Use a thicker breading (like a flour-egg-breadcrumb process) and press it very firmly onto the food. A light spritz of oil can also help "set" the coating and prevent it from flying away.

Useful Air Fryer Accessories (Optional but Helpful)

While you don't need any special accessories to start, a few items can help you get even more value and versatility from your air fryer.

Silicone Liners or Parchment Paper: These are great for making cleanup even easier, especially with sticky foods like marinated chicken.
Small Ramekins or Baking Pans: These are essential for cooking things that have a wet component, like baking eggs, making a small cake, or reheating leftover stew.
A Small Spray Bottle for Oil: This is the best way to apply a light, even coat of oil without using damaging aerosol sprays.

You can often find these accessories on popular online stores like Jumia or Konga, or in larger supermarkets. Before you go, check out our essential Nigerian kitchen shopping list for more ideas.

FAQs

Can I fry an egg in an air fryer?

Yes, you can! But not directly in the basket. Crack an egg into a small, heat-safe ramekin or baking dish that fits in your air fryer basket. Cook at 175°C (350°F) for about 6-8 minutes, depending on how you like your yolk.

Can you cook pizza in an air fryer?

Yes, it's great for it. The air fryer is perfect for reheating a leftover slice of pizza or cooking a personal frozen pizza. It gets the crust wonderfully crispy and heats the toppings perfectly. If you're a student looking for more meal ideas, check out our guide on hostel cooking hacks.

Can you toast bread in an air fryer?

Yes, it's very fast. You can absolutely toast bread. Just be careful, as it's very quick. Check on it every 1-2 minutes to get the perfect golden-brown toast.

Can you air fry hot dogs?

Absolutely. They get a great snap to the casing and cook in just a few minutes. This is a great alternative to boiling or grilling them.

Why should you not cook chicken in an air fryer?

This is a myth! You absolutely should cook chicken in an air fryer. It's one of the best foods for it. The myth comes from people worrying about food safety. The key is to always use a meat thermometer and cook chicken to an internal temperature of 74°C (165°F) before serving. For food safety information in Nigeria, you can always refer to guidelines from NAFDAC.

Can you roast groundnuts (peanuts) in an air fryer?

Yes, absolutely! It's fantastic for it. Place shelled raw groundnuts in the basket in a single layer. Roast at about 160°C (320°F) for 10-15 minutes, shaking the basket a few times, until they are golden and smell nutty. Let them cool completely before eating.

Can you cook chilli in an air fryer?

No. Like jollof rice and stew, chilli is a wet dish that needs to simmer. However, you can absolutely use your air fryer to reheat leftover chilli in a heat-safe dish.

3 Easy Air Fryer Recipes for Beginners

These three recipes are perfect for getting started and will give you a taste of what your air fryer can do.

Perfect Crispy Air Fryer Yam Cubes

Ingredients:

1 medium yam tuber, peeled and cubed
1 tbsp groundnut oil
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp paprika

Instructions:

Toss cubed yam with oil, salt, pepper, and paprika.
Place yam cubes in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
Air fry at 200°C (400°F) for 15-20 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through.
Cook until golden and crispy.

10-Minute Air Fryer Plantain

Ingredients:

1 semi-ripe plantain, sliced
1 tsp palm oil
Salt to taste

Instructions:

Toss plantain slices with palm oil and salt.
Place the plantain in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
Air fry at 200°C (400°F) for 8-12 minutes, depending on thickness, until cooked through and tender.

The Easiest Suya-Spiced Air Fryer Chicken

Ingredients:

1 boneless, skinless chicken breast
1/2 tbsp Groundnut oil (or any vegetable oil)
1-2 tsp Suya spice mix (to your taste)
1/2 tsp salt (or to taste)
A pinch of black pepper

Instructions:

Pat the chicken breast dry and rub with groundnut oil and seasonings. Make sure it's well-coated.
Place in the air fryer basket.
Air fry at 195°C (385°F) for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Use a meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature is 74°C (165°F) before serving. This is very important for food safety.

Conclusion

So, what have we learned? An air fryer is a versatile appliance perfect for getting that desirable crispy texture without a lot of oil. While it can't do everything (sorry, no jollof rice), it's a great tool for making everything from healthy roasted yam to quick weeknight dinners.

Remember the golden rule of air frying: don't overcrowd the basket! Give your food room to breathe, and you'll get great results every time. For more tips on making cooking easier, check out our Kitchen Hacks section.

What's the first thing you're going to cook? Let us know! Contact us here if you have more questions.