The air fryer has changed the way we make our favorite comfort foods at home. It lets you enjoy crispy, “fried” dishes using much less fat and fewer calories. Learn more about the air fryer and find diabetes friendly recipes below.
What Is Air Frying?
Instead of using a pot of hot oil, the air fryer uses swirling hot air to cook food quickly and evenly. The food is placed in a wire mesh basket or on a rack to allow the hot air to circulate evenly around the food creating the same golden brown, crispy crust you get from frying in oil.
Air fryers are easy to use, cook food quicker than baking, and clean up easily. In addition to creating healthier versions of your favorite fried foods like french fries, onion rings, or chips, you can cook a variety of everyday foods like vegetables, meat, fish, eggs, and more.
Tips for Cooking in an Air Fryer
- Cut the food into pieces that are about the same size so everything cooks evenly.
- Spread the food in an even, thin layer in the air fryer basket. Crowding the food may make the finished product less crispy.
- A thin layer of oil will produce the same golden brown, crispy crust you get from frying. Use cooking spray or an oil mister to add a light, even layer of oil to the food. Or toss the food in a bag with a small amount of oil to lightly coat everything.
- An air fryer is also great for reheating foods, especially those with a crispy crust that you wish to keep crispy.
Try These Diabetes-Friendly Air Fryer Recipes
Buttermilk Fried Chicken
This recipe creates juicy, flavorful fried chicken by marinating the chicken in buttermilk, then coating it in a cornflake crust. Then the air fryer works it's magic and delivers this fried chicken that's crispy, tender, and loaded with flavor! Top this chicken with a reduced- fat Creamy Gravy, and pair with a side of Collard Green with Yellow Squash for the ultimate southern comfort meal!
Spicy Fried Green Beans
Serve up a side of these crispy green beans instead of carb-heavy french fries for a satisfying way to eat more vegetables. Crispy panko and spicy chili paste add flavor and crunch.
Sweet Potato Nachos
The air fryer makes it easy to make crispy homemade sweet potato chips that are low in fat. Using frozen chopped vegetables saves time, making this a quick and easy dish that can serve as an appetizer for a crowd or a vegetarian entrée.
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