Can you cook frozen food in an air fryer?

Author: Birdie Schamberger  |  Last update: Tuesday, November 25, 2025

Air fryers have become the go-to option for cooking frozen food, making them perfect for when you're tight on time. Whenever you're air frying frozen food, it's important to take advantage of preheating.

Is it okay to directly put frozen food in an air fryer?

Can you put frozen food in an air fryer? Yes, there is no need to thaw. You keep foods frozen until ready to air fry.

What cannot be cooked in an air fryer?

Any food with a wet batter should not be placed in the air fryer. You also want to avoid putting food that has a wet batter, like corndogs or tempura shrimp, in air fryers.

How to cook frozen meals in an air fryer?

Serving Day Instructions:
  • Thaw your meal enough to pop out of the freezer container.
  • Add the frozen meal to your air fryer basket in an even layer.
  • Air Fry at 400 degrees and cook for 24 minutes, tossing meal halfway through cook cycle.
  • While meal cooks, peel and chop potatoes.

What temperature do you cook frozen food in the air fryer?

Mind the Temperature: Follow package instructions for temperature settings, but generally, a temperature of 350-400°F (175-200°C) works well for most frozen items.

How to Cook Frozen Food in the Air Fryer

Can I put a plastic container in an air fryer?

This is a big no-no. Any kind of plastic, even if it's labeled “microwave-safe” or “oven-safe”, should never be used in an air fryer. The high heat of the air fryer can cause plastics to melt and release harmful chemicals. It's best to keep plastic far away from this appliance.

What is the best frozen food to cook in the air fryer?

Among frozen foods, there are many options that cook perfectly in the air fryer. For example, anything pre-cooked, breaded, wrapped, or bite-sized is a great choice. These include snacks and foods like dumplings, fish sticks, fries, and mini meatballs.

Can you put aluminum foil in an air fryer?

Foil is safe to use in an air fryer so long as you follow three basic rules: never let foil touch the heating element; make sure the foil is weighted so it doesn't blow around the basket; and avoid contact with acidic ingredients, which can cause the foil to leach onto your food.

Can you put plastic ready meals in an air fryer?

Absolutely! Air fryers are versatile appliances that can cook a variety of foods, including ready meals. They use hot air circulation to create a crispy texture similar to frying, making them a great option for heating up convenience foods.

What is unhealthy about an air fryer?

The two biggest concerns are potential carcinogens called acrylamides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that are created in the process of cooking.

What is the first thing I should cook in my air fryer?

Brussels sprouts are the best place to start your air-fried vegetable journey. They crisp up beautifully and take no time at all. If you're making these for a crowd, we suggest frying them up in batches as overcrowding the basket can lead to soggy results.

Why are people getting rid of air fryers?

While air fryers are popular, the most expensive models can start to get a little pricey, which could undermine their status as a budget item. Taking to social media to share their opinions, many people have revealed that they reckon halogen ovens are the best option for frugal cooking.

Can you cook frozen pizza in an air fryer?

Here's how to make pizza in your air fryer: Set the air fryer to 380-400 F and heat the frozen pizza for six to 10 minutes (depending on the thickness of the crust), or until golden and crispy. Due to size constraints, an air fryer is ideal for a small, personal pie or heating individual slices.

What meat can you air fry?

As with all dry-heat cooker methods (grilling, broiling, pan frying and oven roasting), tender beef cuts perform best in the air fryer. Those cuts include Top Sirloin, KC Strip, Ribeye, Tenderloin and Tri Tip. Ground beef also can be easily prepared in an air fryer.

Can you cook pasta in an air fryer?

Pasta. It is possible to cook pasta in an air fryer, and “pasta bakes that just need the baking part should be fine”, says Ailsa Burt. “But I wouldn't use an air fryer to cook pasta dishes with lots of sauce.”

What is the best thing to put on the bottom of an air fryer?

A slice of bread in the bottom of your air fryer can help collect grease without making a mess.

Can you do bacon in the airfryer?

Set the air fryer to 200C and cook streaky bacon rashers for 6-10 mins – just-cooked bacon will take 6 mins, but crispier bacon will take 9-10 mins. Cook back bacon rashers for 4-8 mins, depending on your preference.

Is it better to use foil or parchment paper in an air fryer?

It's also a more sustainable option than lining your air fryer with aluminum foil. Lining your air fryer basket with a round of parchment paper is the perfect way to keep your air fryer squeaky clean and slash the time it takes to clean up. It just got a whole lot easier to make air fryer chicken drumsticks!

What is the number one best air fryer to buy?

Which are the best air fryers in 2025? At a glance
  • Best overall - Ninja Foodi FlexDrawer Dual Air Fryer 10.4L AF500UK.
  • Best value - Ninja Air Fryer AF100UK.
  • Best multi-zone dual air fryer - Ninja Foodi MAX Dual Zone Air Fryer with Smart Cook System.
  • Biggest capacity air fryer - Salter XL Air Fryer Oven.

What are the most popular foods cooked in an air fryer?

Some of the most popular foods to cook in an air fryer are different iterations of potato; fries and potato wedges turn out nice and crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Meanwhile, thinly sliced potatoes, sweet potatoes, or beets turned into crunchy chips make for great air fryer snack ideas to serve a crowd.

Can you cook straight from frozen in air fryer?

Air fryer is a safe option for cooking frozen food directly from the freezer or after thawing.

Can I put a paper plate in the air fryer?

The short answer is no, regular paper plates are not safe to use in an air fryer. Most paper plates on the market are made for disposable use and come in various materials, including: Kraft paper: These have a brown-yellow color and can withstand temperatures up to 180°C (356°F).

Can you put a glass dish in an air fryer?

You might not know this tip, but you can absolutely use glass dishes in your air fryer instead of cooking your food right in the machine's drawer, making it much easier to serve and clean up.

Can microwave meals go in an air fryer?

Read the label carefully to see if there are any instructions for baking the microwave dinner in the oven. If so, you can most likely place the container in the air fryer without worry. If you're not sure or the packaging lacks oven instructions, simply relocate the food to a dish before placing it into an air fryer.

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