Wendy Jo Peterson, MS, RDN, is a dietitian, culinary instructor, award-winning coauthor of Born to Eat, and a contributor to Taste of Home magazine.

Elizabeth Shaw, MS, RDN, CLT, CPT, is a dietitian, personal trainer, nutrition professor, and media authority on TV and in print, sharing evidence-based facts.

Introduction 1

About This Book 1

Foolish Assumptions 2

Icons Used in This Book 2

Beyond the Book 3

Where to Go from Here 3

Part 1: Getting Started with Air Frying 5

Chapter 1: Introducing the Air Fryer 7

Getting Acquainted with Air Frying 7

How air frying works 8

Different models on the market 8

Seeing the benefits of air frying 9

Using Your Air Fryer 11

Caring for Your Air Fryer 12

Cleaning your air fryer 12

Storing your air fryer 12

Taking Safety Precautions When Air Frying 13

Chapter 2: Finding Foods for the Fryer 15

Stocking Your Kitchen for Air Frying 15

Pantry essentials 16

Refrigerator staples 20

Freezer must-haves 22

Seasoning Foods for the Fryer 23

Knowing which oil to use 23

Making your own seasoning blend 24

Chapter 3: Cooking for Your Diet Type 27

Keto 27

Low-Carb 28

Heart-Healthy 30

Pescatarian 30

Mediterranean 31

Vegetarian or Vegan 32

Chapter 4: Planning Air-Fried Meals 35

A Family-Friendly Meal Plan 35

A Mediterranean Diet Meal Plan 37

A Modified Keto Meal Plan 38

A Vegetarian Meal Plan 39

Chapter 5: Breakfast Staples 43

Chapter 6: Bread Basics 61

Chapter 7: Starters 73

Chapter 8: Star-Studded Handhelds 95

Chapter 9: Savory Sides 107

Chapter 10: Everything Chips 121

Chapter 11: Meaty Mains 133

Chapter 12: Seafood Mains 161

Chapter 13: Vegetarian Mains 177

Chapter 14: Sweet Treats 195

Part 3: The Part of Tens 211

Chapter 15: Ten (or So) Ways to Improve Your Health with the Air Fryer 213

Soak Starchy Vegetables in Water 213

Use Salt Sparingly 214

Add One Vegetable to Every Meal 214

Season with Herbs and Spices 214

Switch to Whole-Grain Breadcrumbs 215

Amp Up the Fiber 215

Experiment with Plant-Based Proteins 215

Eat Consistently 215

Enjoy a Sweet Treat 216

Chapter 16: Ten Mistakes to Avoid with Your Air Fryer 217

Putting Food in an Unheated Basket 217

Overcrowding the Basket 218

Filling Your Cakes and Cupcakes Too High 218

Undercooking Foods 218

Multitasking without Watching the Time 218

Preparing a Wet Batter for Breaded Foods 218

Forgetting to Shake the Basket 219

Using the Wrong Kind of Cooking Oil 219

Putting Off Cleaning Your Fryer 219

Using Foods That Are Too Small 219

Chapter 17: Ten (or So) No-Recipe Recipes That Make Perfect Sides 221

Brussels Sprouts with Bacon 221

Roasted Green Bean Salad 222

Summer Succotash 222

Tomatoes with Fresh Burrata 222

Savory Mushrooms 223

Crazy for Carrots 223

Cheesy Zucchini 224

Roasted Sweet Potatoes Three Ways 224

Peaches and Pineapple and Pears! Oh, My! 225

Chapter 18: Ten Simple Sauces to Pair with Air-Fried Foods 227

Creamy Brown Sauce 228

Red Pepper Coulis 228

Garlic Compound Butter 228

Cucumber Yogurt Sauce 228

Pesto 229

Chimichurri 229

Cheesy Sauce 229

Simple Ranch Dressing 230

Classic Vinaigrette 230

Creamy Avocado Dressing 230

Part 4: Appendixes 231

Appendix A: Metric Conversion Guide 233

Appendix B: Safe Cooking Temperatures 237

Index 239