Oftentimes, we’d restrict children from playing in the kitchen due to the hazardous surroundings. Hot oil, high flames, boiling water, sharp knives – everything just screams DANGER!

Well, those times are over now with the existence of air fryers! These compact appliances use hot air to cook food, resulting in crispy, delicious meals that are lower in fat and calories in comparison with deep-frying. It’s also a convenient alternative to cooking food quickly and safely. With air fryers, now you have a less hazardous option to bond with your little ones and at the same time allow them to explore cooking activities.

Here are some simple and fun air fryer recipes that you can try with your children! Plus, a few tips to get perfectly cooked food and ways to maintain the appliance properly.

1. Kung Pao Chicken

Ingredients

• 60 g Chicken breast, diced 1 inch
• ½ tbsp Seri-Aji® Seasoned Flour (Original)
• ½ tsp Cooking oil
• 1 tbsp Diced onion
• 1 tsp Minced garlic
• 1-2 nos Dried chillies, cut 1 inch
• 2 tbsp Roasted cashew nuts
• ¼ tsp Pal Sweet® Sweetener

Ingredients A: sauce

• 1 tbsp Chilli bean sauce
• ½ tsp Cornflour, mixed with ¼ cup water

Cooking Method:

1. Coat chicken with Seri-Aji®.
2. Use an air fryer to fry chicken until done.
3. Heat oil, saute onion and garlic until fragrant.
4. Add sauce ingredients, dried chilies and cashew nuts.
5. Stir until thick, turn off heat then add Pal Sweet®. Serve

2. Roasted Chicken Breast

Ingredients:

• 1 tsp Olive oil
• 1 tsp Chilli powder
• ½ tsp AJI-SHIO® Flavoured Black Pepper
• ¼ tsp TUMIX® Chicken Stock
• 150 g Chicken breast

Cooking Method:

1. Marinate all ingredients with chicken breast for 30 minutes.
2. Place chicken on baking paper.
3. Place in an air fryer and cook at 180˚C for 15 – 20 minutes.
4. Slice and serve hot.

3. Honey Chicken

Ingredients:

• ½ Chicken, cleaned and drained
• ½ tbsp TUMIX® Chicken Stock
• 1 tbsp Fennel Powder
• 1 tbsp Cumin Powder
• 1 tbsp Turmeric Powder
• 1 tbsp Chilli Powder
• 3 tbsp Cooking Oil
• 3 tbsp Honey

Cooking Method:

1. Marinate ingredients and TUMIX® Chicken Stock with chicken (except honey), for 30 minutes.
2. Place the marinated chicken on a baking tray.
3. Preheat the air fryer to 170˚C for 15 minutes.
4. Roast the chicken in an air fryer for 35 – 45 minutes and may need to change in between time (depends on air fryer performance).
5. Remove the chicken from the air fryer basket and brush honey evenly over it. Roast again for 5 minutes.
6. Ready to be served.

Health & Convenience Of Air Frying

Here’s why the air fryer is a healthier and more convenient cooking option;

Reduce intake of unhealthy or excessive oils
An unhealthy amount of oily food intake is infamously linked with various health complications such as obesity and heart disease. It is best to reduce the intake of oily foods; and the air fryer can help you with that. Air fryers generally don’t require you to add a big amount of oil to cook, as compared to deep-frying. This is because the air fryer technology blows hot air to cook your food.

Safer to use
As the air fryer doesn’t require oil usage, it’s a safer option as compared to deep-frying as there is no risk of accidentally touching or spilling hot boiling oil. This provides a safer environment for you to cook with your children.

Versatility
There are a lot of recipes that can be done with the air fryer! Be it air frying frozen food, heating up leftovers or even baking a dessert! Just make sure to set the frying mode accordingly.

Tips On Using Air Fryer

Flip food halfway through the cooking process. This is to make sure that both sides of your food are evenly air fried and crispy. Especially when air frying larger or thicker ingredients, such as chicken breasts or fish fillets.

Keep an eye on your food while it’s cooking. Air fryers cook easily and fast, so it is important to check occasionally and adjust the temperature and frying time as needed. This could help prevent your food from overcooking or burning.

Add a small amount of oil. While oil isn’t necessary when cooking with the air fryer, adding a small amount can help to make your food crispier and less dry. It’s important to note that too much oil can make your food greasy and unhealthy, so it’s best to use oil sparingly (if needed).

Use tongs to remove food from the air fryer. After the food has been air fried, it’s best to use tongs or a spatula to remove your food from the air fryer safely. Prevent from dunking the food straight out from the air fryer basket, as it can cause excess oil to flow out; which risks burning your skin or getting oil on your food.

Air Fryer Care Tips

Turn off the air fryer and let it cool after use.

Before cleaning, it’s best to first turn off and unplug the air fryer and leave it to cool. This could help prevent any accidental burns and will ensure the air fryer is safe to handle during cleaning.

Clean the air fryer properly.

After every use, the air fryer basket should be cleaned with warm soapy water and a non-abrasive sponge or brush. This is to remove any food particles or grease that may have accumulated during cooking, preventing them from contaminating your next meal.

Wipe the exterior of the air fryer.

While the exterior part shouldn’t be immersed in water, you could clean it by wiping it with a slightly damp cloth. This is to remove any grease or food residue that may have splattered during cooking.

Make sure all parts are dry before using.

After cleaning the air fryer, make sure that all parts of the air fryer are completely dry before using it again. Excess moisture can further damage the appliance.

In conclusion, an air fryer is a great appliance that can be used by your kids to experience cooking various recipes in a safer condition. Plus, air frying is a great way to enjoy crispy, delicious meals without the added fat and calories of deep-frying. By following these tips, you can ensure that your air-fried meals come out perfectly every time. It is also important to keep your air fryer working properly and ensure that your meals are always delicious and healthy. Happy air frying!