What Can You Actually Cook in an Air Fryer? Far More Than Chips
Most people buy an air fryer for chips - and then discover, weeks later, that they have barely scratched the surface. The truth is a good air fryer can replace your oven, your grill and your deep fat fryer for most everyday meals, from a full Sunday roast to a batch of cookies.
So here it is: the honest guide to what you can actually cook in an air fryer - the classics, the surprises, and the things that work far better than you would expect. All times below are a rough guide; your exact model and portion size will vary a little.
Why it works: an air fryer is a small, powerful fan oven. It circulates very hot air at speed, which crisps the outside of food using little to no oil - and because the space is compact, it heats up in a couple of minutes rather than fifteen.
The Crispy Classics
- Homemade chips - around 20 minutes at 200°C with a teaspoon of oil. The reason most people buy one, and it delivers
- Chicken wings and nuggets - crispy skin without a fryer full of oil
- Frozen food - fish fingers, hash browns, spring rolls, onion rings: faster than the oven and crispier too
- Halloumi fries, tofu, falafel - vegetarian favourites that love hot circulating air
The Sunday Roast (Yes, Really)
This is where a bigger machine earns its keep. In a 20L air fryer oven you can cook a whole roast chicken in roughly an hour - crispy skin, juicy inside - with roast potatoes on the shelf below. Yorkshire puddings rise beautifully in the rapid heat, and roasted carrots and parsnips caramelise better than in most conventional ovens.
With a dual basket model, run the roasties in one drawer and the veg in the other, each at its own temperature, timed to finish together.
Weeknight Dinners
- Salmon fillets - about 10 minutes, perfectly flaky, no fishy pan to scrub
- Chicken breasts and thighs - juicy in 15-20 minutes
- Burgers and meatballs - the fat drains away as they cook
- Pizza - a 12-inch pizza fits the 20L oven's pizza mode; smaller ones crisp up in a basket in minutes
- Jacket potatoes - crispy skin in around 40 minutes instead of an hour and a half
The Surprises
- Cakes and cookies - the bake mode handles brownies, muffins and cookies brilliantly
- Crispy chickpeas and nuts - better-than-shop-bought snacks in 15 minutes
- Dehydrated fruit - the 20L oven's dehydrate mode turns apples and strawberries into healthy crisps
- Reheating leftovers - pizza, chips and pastries come back crispy, not soggy like the microwave
- Garlic bread and toasties - golden in minutes
What About Running Costs?
Because an air fryer heats a small space quickly and cooks faster, it generally uses much less energy than heating a full-size oven for everyday meals - one of the big reasons UK households have switched. With a dual basket model you can also run just one drawer for small portions.
Which Nyxi Air Fryer Cooks What?
Not sure which type suits your kitchen? Read our full air fryer buying guide for the complete size-by-size breakdown.
What Our Customers Say
Easy to use
Easy to use, food really delicious.
Sylwia - Nyxi customer
Perfect for families
Perfect for a family of four - can cook different things for the children but we all sit down together to eat.
Rachel Kendall - June 2026
Very spacious, quiet and easy to wash
Excellent product for an excellent price.
Jeanette E. - Nyxi customer
Shop the Nyxi Air Fryer Range
Everything above, cooked in one machine - from £69.99 with free UK delivery and a 1-year warranty.
Air Fryer Cooking FAQs
Can you cook a whole chicken in an air fryer?
Yes - in a larger model like the 20L air fryer oven, a whole chicken roasts in roughly an hour with crispy skin. Standard drawer models suit chicken portions instead.
Do you need oil in an air fryer?
Very little - most foods need a light spray or a teaspoon at most, and frozen pre-cooked foods usually need none at all.
What should you not put in an air fryer?
Wet batters (they drip before they set), very light leafy greens (they blow around), and anything overfilled - hot air needs room to circulate for that signature crisp.
Can you bake cakes in an air fryer?
Yes - use the bake mode at a slightly lower temperature than a conventional recipe and check a few minutes early. Brownies, muffins and cookies all work brilliantly.
Is there a warranty on Nyxi air fryers?
Yes - every Nyxi air fryer comes with a 1-year warranty, plus free UK delivery and 30-day returns.
