Is an Air Fryer Really Worth the Hype? I Put It to the Test with Every Meal of the Day

For the past few years, I’ve been bombarded with rave reviews about the 'magic' air fryer. People say it creates ultra-crispy food like it’s fresh from the fryer, and that it’s the ultimate solution for anyone looking to eat healthier with less fat.

Naturally, my inner skeptic wasn’t buying it. Heat is heat, right? I thought I could live without yet another bulky gadget eating up my kitchen space. But eventually, I caved after feeling like I was missing out. So, I gave in and made the purchase.

To see if the air fryer really lives up to its reputation, I decided to put it to the ultimate test: making every meal of the day using it. (P.S. I got myself the 6-quart Dash Air Fryer). Here’s how it went down.

Breakfast

For breakfast, I kicked things off with an air-fried egg sandwich. I took two slices of white bread, cracked an egg onto each, and wrapped a piece of raw bacon around each egg. Then, I carefully transferred the open-faced sandwich halves into the air fryer basket and tossed in a few cherry tomatoes for extra flavor. Into the 350°F air fryer for 8-10 minutes they went!

When I opened the air fryer basket, I was genuinely shocked. The bacon was perfectly crispy, but the bread was what really amazed me—it toasted to perfection, even better than in a regular toaster. I added some shredded cheese and popped it back in for a final minute. The result was a warm, crispy, and gooey sandwich, with juicy, seared cherry tomatoes. Breakfast bliss!

Check out more: Must-Try Recipes for Your New Air Fryer

Lunch

Okay, a sandwich was easy, but could the air fryer handle something more substantial? I decided to find out by making Air-Fried Mini Buffalo Chicken Calzones. First, I boiled two chicken breasts until they hit 165°F, then shredded the meat. I added the chicken to a pan with two tablespoons of melted butter, mixing in ¾ cup of Buffalo sauce until everything was coated and well combined.

Next, I grabbed some store-bought pizza dough and rolled it into small 6-inch rounds. I stuffed each dough circle with ¼ cup of shredded mozzarella and ¾ cup of shredded chicken. After sealing the calzones with a little water to help the dough stick, I gave them a quick spray of cooking oil. I popped two calzones into the air fryer at 325°F for 8 minutes, then flipped them for another 4 minutes to finish cooking.

After taking a bite of these homemade chicken pockets, I was stunned. The crispy crust formed in minutes, and the inside stayed perfectly steamy and gooey. The best part? The even browning all around the dough — something a regular oven could never achieve this quickly.

Dinner

For dinner, I was on the hunt for a quick yet elegant dish. I decided to try the popular Trader Joe's Cauliflower Gnocchi that air fryer enthusiasts rave about. I tossed one bag of gnocchi into the air fryer at 350°F for the first 10 minutes.

While the gnocchi cooked, I prepped a cup of Brussels sprouts, coating them in a glaze made with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar, and a generous pinch of salt. I also seasoned a salmon fillet with a dry rub combining 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1 teaspoon of chili powder, 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning, and ½ teaspoon of smoked paprika.

Once the gnocchi was done, I tossed it in a tablespoon of olive oil, ½ teaspoon of black pepper, a pinch of salt, and a tablespoon of finely grated Parmesan. Next, I cooked the Brussels sprouts in the air fryer for 5 minutes at 350°F, and in that short time, they crisped up beautifully. I set them aside and cooked the salmon and gnocchi together at 380°F for another 8 minutes. Finally, I gave the Brussels sprouts one more minute in the air fryer.

The end result was absolutely mouthwatering. The salmon had a perfectly caramelized, crispy exterior, and when I poked it with a fork, it revealed the most tender, buttery interior. The Brussels sprouts tasted as if they'd been roasting for 30 minutes in the oven, and the cauliflower gnocchi emerged as golden, chewy little pillows of deliciousness. It was hard to believe this all-star dinner came together in just 20 minutes.

Dessert

For anyone with a sweet tooth, I had to try the air fryer’s dessert capabilities. It was probably the easiest dish of the day to make, but the most delicious. I took a pack of store-bought chocolate chip cookie dough and pressed it gently into the bottom of a deep-dish, oven-safe bowl. Into the air fryer basket it went for 10 minutes at 350°F.

You may have had a crispy, gooey cookie before, but you’ve never experienced anything this crispy and this gooey at the same time. This deep-dish cookie was perfection, and when paired with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, it might just have been the best thing I ate all day. I’m already looking forward to trying this trick with brownie mix next time.

Final Thoughts

After spending a full day with the air fryer, I enjoyed one tasty meal after another. While I wasn’t a fan of its bulky size or the fact that you can't peek inside to check on your food, there’s no denying its appeal. The air fryer was incredibly easy to use and clean, and it's especially great for small batches, making it perfect for one or two people. If you’re tight on kitchen space and looking to streamline your appliances, an air fryer is a solid investment for quick, delicious meals. And if you’re unsure which one to pick, we’ve put together a list of the top test kitchen-approved air fryers to guide your decision.