LaBorde Susan - The Air Fryer Bible: More Than 200 Healthier Recipes for Your Favorite Foods

From fried grits for breakfast to fried apple pies for a late-night snack, all our favorite foods were boiled in oil. Our taste buds lived in a grease-happy heaven. Too bad that blissful ignorance couldnt last. As adults, we quickly learned better and grudgingly gave up deep-fried taste for better health. Then along came the air fryer, an odd-looking appliance promising to produce deep-fried taste without all the grease. We were skeptical.

It sounded too good to be true, and you know how that usually works out. Well, we were in for a shock. Our first attempt resulted in absolutely delicious chicken and French fries. Plus, cleanup was a snap: no more messy grease spatter all over the range and countertop. In no time at all, we were converted. Once you cook a few basic foods, youll immediately start wondering what else you can do with your air fryerand frying with little to no oil is only the beginning.

You can use your air fryer to roast, grill, steam, and bake as well. Roasted meats cook faster and taste tender and juicy. Try cooking a pork loin (). The air fryer has become our go-to kitchen gadget. Its fast and convenient, doesnt make a big mess, and is super easy to clean. It works well for a wide range of dishes, from simple to complex, and its handy for little tasks, such as sauting a few onions or even, yes, cooking a piece of toast.

Weve had great fun developing the recipes for this cookbookall of them tested one or more times in a home kitchenwhich includes everything from easy basics to full meals. Whether youre brand-new to air frying or ready to expand your horizons, we want to welcome you into our kitchen. Come on in and sit awhile. Youll be delighted to discover just how versatile air fryers can be. Eliminating deep-fried foods is certainly important, but were concerned about additives, contaminants, and the food supply in general. We want food cooked in a kitchen, not a chemistry lab.

Even so, were pragmatists. In a perfect world, we always would cook from scratch, but spending hours every day on meal prep isnt realistic for most people, including us. So we strive for progress rather than perfection. For the most part, we avoid fast food and prepackaged foods. We believe in clean eating, and we buy locally grown produce and other foods whenever possible. If you can do that 100 percent of the time, you have our sincere admiration.

If not, youll know that, like ours, sometimes your soul cries out for comfort food, and, healthy or not, it sure makes you feel better. We also admit to having a sweet tooth, as evidenced by our dessert recipes ). Some are light on sugar and other evils; others are guilty pleasures. The good news is that air fryers arent large enough to handle a twelve-inch pie or three-layer cake. Air fryer desserts give you portion control by default. Homemade is healthier because you control what goes into your food.

You can avoid overprocessed ingredients, GMOs, chemicals, and additivesor you can limit the amounts you consume. That isnt perfect, but its definitely an improvement!