by Eve Neider

Picture it: your mouth is watering thinking about snacking on leftover french fries from last night’s dinner. But when you take that highly anticipated first bite, it’s soggy and mushy. There is nothing worse than getting mushy fries that you have been craving all week. There is one thing that will fix that… the air fryer! 

Reheating 

We have all been to restaurants where we don’t take home leftovers because the food doesn’t reheat well. If you are like me, who lives and breathes leftovers, an air fryer is a lifesaver. An air fryer is perfect for reheating that delicious Reuben you couldn’t finish at your favorite restaurant. The air fryer can also heat pizza like an Italian grandma just made it and pulled it fresh out of the brick oven.

Tofu with roasted broccoli 

I know tofu gets a bad reputation as something bland and crumbly, but the air fryer can do a makeover on tofu. The trick is to get extra firm tofu and use paper towels to soak all the moisture out. Then cut the tofu evenly into cubes. In a large Ziploc bag, mix 1 tbsp cornstarch,  ½ tsp paprika, ½ tsp onion powder, and 1 tsp garlic powder. Add tofu to the bag, seal tightly, and shake until all the tofu is covered with spices. Spray olive oil cooking spray on the air fryer basket and place the tofu cubes in a single layer. Set the air fryer to 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 16 minutes. After 8 minutes, give the basket a shake and then let it continue to cook for another 8 minutes. For the broccoli, cut it up into smaller pieces and then drizzle some olive oil on top. Season with salt and pepper. Set the air fryer for 400F for 15 minutes, occasionally flipping the broccoli to make it evenly crispy on all sides. Toss them on your plate with the tofu cubes and you’re ready to eat.

BBQ Chicken Wings 

What’s a better game-day snack than wings? Whether you are cheering on a Syracuse sports team or chilling with friends, this recipe will make you popular at events! Get frozen or fresh chicken wings and season with garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Add baking powder to make it more crispy. Set the air fryer to 400F and spray the basket with olive oil cooking spray. Place the wings in a single layer in the basket and cook it for 12 minutes, flip the wings, and then let it cook for another 12 minutes. While that is cooking, combine ⅔ cup ketchup, ½ cup cider vinegar, ¼ cup brown sugar, 2 tsp of smoked paprika, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp kosher salt, and ½ tsp of black pepper in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer and then let it cook for five minutes. When the wings are done, brush the BBQ sauce over the wings and enjoy!