Every single day, I look in my fridge and ask myself: “Can I air-fry this?" Ever since one fateful batch of the world’s crispiest (and quickest!) chicken wings about nine months ago, I air-fry the majority of my meals. This is coming from someone who used to love cooking something elaborate (with an oven!) before her regular 9-to-5 job. Post being gifted an air fryer, though? I literally wrote the book on air frying for beginners. My oven? I don't know her!
Before we dive too deep into my air fryer love affair, let's back up to right before COVID hit: I was a full-time freelance photographer doing four or five shoots a day and traveling to a new country every month. I’d been cooking less and less—while I was getting my business off the ground, it was easier to go out with friends or grab something quick. Two months into quarantine, my photography gigs had come to a halt, I wasn’t cooking, and I definitely was not traveling. Life was extremely bleak. On the bright side, my birthday was coming up. I didn’t really have any wants or asks, but I was slightly interested in a new kitchen appliance I’d seen people discussing: the air fryer. My boyfriend knew of my interest, and lo and behold, he got me a Philip’s XXL air fryer. Who knew the path he’d set me on?!
My air fryer journey started off in a pretty standard way: The first thing I HAD to make was chicken wings. They're a staple in my household and the fact that the air fryer cooks them in half the time of a regular oven—and gets them even crispier!—blew my mind. From that point on, me and my air fryer? Inseparable.
Having this new appliance to conquer has made living in a pandemic that much easier and more bearable. Not only is the convenience of how speedily meals come together in the air fryer undeniable, but my relationship with food has improved. Ever since I started air-frying daily, I don't find myself overeating, making too much of something, or wasting leftovers. The machine allows me to experiment and find joy in the simple things. That, in turn, reignited my energy for cooking.
For the first time in years, I love getting in the kitchen, looking through my supplies, and challenging myself. Once I realized just how much an air fryer could do, I made it a personal mission to push my limits. It turns out the limit did not exist! I began putting everything in there: cookies, cakes, chicken, beef, fish, vegetables. Anything that could go in the oven, I put in the air fryer instead.
The idea for a cookbook fell into place organically from there. As I put out more and more air fryer-related content, the asks for tips kept pouring in. There's a bit of a learning curve with air fryers; I knew I could help. I decided to start writing down everything I did step by step, measurement by measurement. I already had all the food pictures; I just needed to get it all on paper. I released my air fryer cookbook this fall and haven't looked back since. (I even have a second book coming out next month!)
We're all having these shared unexpected experiences now, and how better to spend the time when we can't do anything than to try out this new way of cooking that brings such fun to the kitchen together? Being able to help others fall in love with this little appliance is so cool for me.
