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10 of the best snacks to make in an air fryer, according to chefs

6 December 2024 at 14:02
Small pieces of pizza arranged on a platter
There are lots of snacks you can quickly make in an air fryer.

mik ulyannikov/Shutterstock

  • Professional chefs told Insider the best sweet and savory snacks to make in the air fryer.
  • You can make plantain chips or crunchy chickpeas in the popular kitchen appliance.
  • Fry up beignets or candied cashews to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Although you can definitely use air fryers to make an entire meal, they're also perfect for whipping up snacks.

So Insider spoke to professional chefs about their favorite small bites to make with the popular kitchen appliance.Β 

Buffalo cauliflower bites offer a kick of spice

buffalo cauliflower bites on a plate with ranch and celery, with a red and white napkin on the side
Buffalo cauliflower bites are easy to quickly make.

BonnieBC/Shuttershock

Chris Curren, executive chef at and owner of The Graceful Ordinary, told Insider that Buffalo cauliflower bites are the perfect air-fryer snack.Β 

"These are a healthier alternative to Buffalo chicken bites," Curren said. "I like to bread mine to make sure they're extra crunchy."

To make these bites, coat cauliflower florets in Buffalo sauce and breadcrumbs and cook until crispy.Β 

Transform leftover pasta into a crunchy treat

Executive chef Garrison PriceΒ told Insider that he loves using the air fryer to turn cooked pasta into bite-sized snacks.

"A great air-fryer hack is coating leftover pasta with your favorite seasoning and cooking until you get crunchy, chip-like munchies," Price said.Β 

If the leftover pasta is dry, coat the pieces with a little oil to ensure they crisp up in the air fryer, then pair the finished bites with a dipping sauce for extra flavor.Β 

Make a quick batch of beignets in the air fryer

Beignets on with powered sugar on a plate beside a cup of coffee on a white table
Beignets can also make for a tasty dessert.

Linda Parton/Shuttershock

Beignets are a deep-fried pastry often associated with New Orleans and served with powdered sugar.Β 

"The air fryer is perfect for beignets because you don't have to mess around with bringing frying oil up to temperature," Curren said. "They also puff up really well in the air fryer."

You can adapt a standard recipe for the air fryer by brushing the shaped dough with oil and cooking until golden. Then dust the finished pastries with powdered sugar or a drizzle of chocolate syrup.

Air fryers make enjoying candied cashews easy

Making candied nuts often involves deep-frying or caramelizing the pieces on the stovetop, but using an air fryer is a simpler way to create this sweet snack.

"Toss raw cashews with a little water, spices or seasonings of your choice, and a spoonful or two of sugar," Price said. "Making them this way involves less oil and mess."

For candied nuts that combine sweet, spicy, and salty flavors, Price recommended trying Japanese togarashi seasoning β€” a spicy and umami blend of flavors β€” and a touch of coconut sugar.

Plantain chips are an easy, gluten-free snack

The chef Monti Carlo, a former "MasterChef" contestant, told Insider you could make homemade plantain chips in under 10 minutes by using an air fryer.

"All you need to do is cut a very green plantain into strips, coat with cooking spray and salt, and cook until golden," Carlo said.Β 

The chef advised that if you're watching your sodium intake, skip the salt and use nutritional yeast instead.Β 

Empanadas can sport sweet or savory fillingsΒ 

four empanadas on a white and brown plate
You can fill empanadas with various different fillings.

Lua Carlos Martins/Shuttershock

A type of turnover, empanadas are usually deep-fried or baked, but popping them in an air fryer can cut back on the mess.

"Even if you make your empanadas with store-bought dough, the air fryer guarantees your filling will be surrounded by a flaky and crisp pastry," Price said.Β 

Empanadas can be stuffed with seasoned meat, vegetables, cheese, or fruit, but make sure the edges are completely sealed or the filling may ooze out while cooking.Β 

The air fryer is great for making crunchy chickpeas

Carlo told Insider that crunchy chickpeas are her favorite air-fryer snacks.

"They're budget-friendly and you can season them with whatever you want," Carlo said. "I like using fresh rosemary, lemon zest, and Parmesan cheese."

Toss soaked or canned chickpeas with olive oil and seasoning then cook them in a preheated air fryer until golden and crispy.Β 

Elote is tasty and customizable

Elote is a Central and South American take on corn on the cob that's typically grilled and served with toppings like grated cheese, mayonnaise, chili powder, lemon juice, butter, or salt.Β 

"Making Elote in the air fryer is great because you can give the corn that crispiness without having to fire up the grill," Curren said.Β 

He recommended drizzling the corn with a spoonful or two of melted butter to give it extra flavor and color.

Brussels sprouts come out perfectly crispy in the air fryer

Brussel sprouts in a white bowl on a light wood table
Chefs recommend cooking Brussels sprouts until the centers are soft and the exteriors are browned.

julie deshaies/Shuttershock

Curren said Brussels sprouts made in an air fryer are better than traditionally fried ones.

"A traditional fryer can leave Brussels sprouts greasy and overcooked, but you don't have those worries with an air fryer," Curren told Insider.Β 

To make crunchy, air-fried Brussels sprouts, halve or quarter the pieces and toss them with your choice of seasonings, salt, and a small amount of oil. Then cook until the centers are soft and the outer leaves are browned.Β 

Turn leftover pizza into bite-sized snacks

If you have leftover slices in your fridge, use an air fryer to transform them into a plate of crispy pizza bites.

"Unlike the microwave, the air fryer will make the pizza nice and crispy again," Curren said. "It's a great way to breathe new life into leftovers."

Simply cut the pizza into smaller pieces and pop them in the air fryer for five to 10 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbling.

This story was originally published in October 2021 and most recently updated on December 6, 2024.

Read the original article on Business Insider

I tried 10 of Trader Joe's holiday snacks, and I'd buy at least 7 of them again

6 December 2024 at 13:25
Trader Joe's winter snacks on a table
I tried all of the seasonal Trader Joe's holiday snacks that I could find.

Paige Bennett

  • I tried 10 of Trader Joe's holiday snacks to see which were the tastiest choices.
  • The peppermint pretzel thins had a unique minty, salty flavor, so I'm not sure I'd buy them again.
  • I'll definitely repurchase the Nuts About Rosemary mix and Jingle Jangle.

I love delicious, satisfying snacks, and with the holiday season in full swing, I decided to see which Trader Joe's holiday items I could try.

Here's how 10 Trader Joe's holiday snacks stacked up.

Editor's Note: This story was originally published on December 1, 2023, and most recently updated on December 6, 2024. Product availability varies β€” some items on this list may not currently be available at Trader Joe's.

I was impressed by the number of gingerbread sandwich cookies in each package.
Trader Joe's gingerbread sandwich cookies
The gingerbread sandwich cookies looked large.

Paige Bennett

My first thought upon opening the frosting-filled gingerbread sandwich cookies was, "Wow, that's a lot of cookies!"

Each box held 18 sandwich cookies, which were on the softer side.

I was a little concerned about how the cookies would be texture-wise because the box I picked up had large oil spots seeping through the packaging.

Trader Joe's gingerbread sandwich cookes were sugar, spice, and everything nice.
Gingerbread sandwich cookie
I liked the sweet, spicy flavors of Trader Joe's gingerbread sandwich cookies.

Paige Bennett

The gingerbread sandwich cookies were a hit in my house.

The cookies were soft, the filling was creamy, and the top had a slight crunch from a sugary coating.

I also thought the cookies had a good balance of spice and sweetness.

I was skeptical of the salty, minty Trader Joe's peppermint pretzel slims.
Trader Joe's peppermint pretzel slims
Trader Joe's peppermint pretzel slims combined sweet and savory flavors.

Paige Bennett

I love chocolate-covered pretzels and combinations of sweet and savory flavors.

But I wasn't sure how the pieces of peppermint candy would taste with the salty pretzel slims.

The flavors of mint, sweetness, and saltiness came in waves.
Peppermint pretzel slims on a plate
I thought the peppermint pretzel slims might have had too much going on.

Paige Bennett

I first noticed a strong peppermint flavor when I took a bite.

Then I got the flavor of the pretzel and a hint of the candy coating, which tasted like white chocolate.

I liked the combination of a thin pretzel and a thick candy coating, as it made for a crispy yet chewy texture that's good for snacking.

The pretzel bites were better than I thought they'd be, but I don't know if I'd grab them again.

The Scandinavian Tidings gummies looked really cute in the package.
Trader Joe's Scandinavian Tidings snacks
The Scandinavian Tidings came with three different shapes.

Paige Bennett

As a vegetarian, there are a lot of gummy candies out there that I don't eat because they contain gelatin, so I loved that the Scandinavian Tidings gummies were an option I could enjoy.

In the package, the tree, star, and ornament-shaped candies looked cute.

However, I didn't love the smell of this candy because the scent reminded me of cherry-flavored medicine.

The gummies were OK, but I prefer Trader Joe's Scandinavian Swimmers.
Scandinavian Tidings snacks in writer's hand
Trader Joe's Scandinavian Tidings were all right.

Paige Bennett

I tried Trader Joe's Scandinavian Swimmers earlier this year, and I think I'd prefer them over the holiday gummies.

I didn't notice a flavor difference between the various shapes or colors of the gummies. They were all chewy with a mildly sweet flavor.

Though they weren't my favorite, my partner really liked them. For that reason alone, I'll buy them again for stocking stuffers.

I wondered how flavorful the Nuts About Rosemary mix would be.
Trader Joe's Nuts About Rosemary mix
Trader Joe's Nuts About Rosemary mix packed a lot of crunch.

Paige Bennett

The shelves at my local Trader Joe's were packed with sweet holiday snacks and desserts, so it was nice to see a savory snack option, the Nuts About Rosemary mix.

I liked that the mix had a good variety, with almonds, pecans, hazelnuts, and cashews.

I liked the nut mix, though I wish it had a little more seasoning.
Nuts About Rosemary mix in a bowl
Trader Joe's Nuts About Rosemary mix would've been better with more garlic or pepper.

Paige Bennett

Rosemary can be a strong flavor, but I thought the nuts had a pretty mild taste.

They were good and not too salty, but I wished they had more garlic or black pepper.

Still, I'd buy the mix again to eat as-is or use as a salad topping.

I was excited to try the Trader Joe's sweet and salty snack mix.
Trader Joe's sweet and salty snack mix
Trader Joe's sweet and salty snack mix had potato chips and other salted items in it.

Paige Bennett

Earlier this year, I tried Trader Joe's snacky clusters, which has chocolate-covered potato chips, corn chips, and mini pretzel nuggets.

I loved those, so I hoped this snack mix would be similar.

I was excited to try the half-dipped, chocolate-covered potato chips in the holiday sweet and salty snack mix.

The potato chips were easily the best part.
Sweet and salty snack mix in a bowl
The sweet and salty snack mix was fine.

Paige Bennett

When I opened the bag, it seemed like the mix mainly had pretzel and popcorn pieces, which was a bit disappointing.

I thought the pretzels were fine. They seemed like a smaller version of Trader Joe's peanut butter-filled pretzels, but this version didn't have quite enough filling.

The peanuts tasted pretty standard, but I liked the dark-chocolate-drizzled popcorn.

Out of all of the components, the chip pieces were the best. They had a sweet yet slightly bitter taste from the dark chocolate and saltiness that blended well together.

The cute packaging for the Danish butter cookies caught my eye.
Trader Joe's Danish butter cookies
I bought Trader Joe's Danish butter cookies based on the packaging alone.

Paige Bennett

Trader Joe's Danish butter cookies' packaging was too cute to pass up.

I didn't expect much in terms of the flavor, but I liked that the reusable tin housed a variety of cookie shapes.

The Danish butter cookies were nostalgic, though they weren’t my favorite snack.
Danish cookies in tin
The Danish butter cookies were light and crunchy.

Paige Bennett

The cookies were light and crisp, and they melted in my mouth when I took a bite.

They had a subtle sweetness that reminded me of cookies I'd had as a kid.

I don't know that I'd buy these again for myself, but they could be useful in a gift box.

The cinnamon-bun-inspired kettle popcorn seemed interesting.
Trader Joe's cinnamon-bun-inspired kettle corn
The cinnamon-bun-inspired kettle corn had an odd smell.

Paige Bennett

I don't usually eat a lot of popcorn, but I was intrigued by the cinnamon-bun-inspired kettle corn.

I expected it to be pretty sticky and chewy from the flavor coating.

When I opened the bag, I was a bit confused by the smell. The popcorn didn't smell like kettle corn or a cinnamon bun to me.

I’m not typically a popcorn fan, but I'd repurchase the kettle corn.
Cinnamon-bun-inspired kettle corn in a bowl
I'd use Trader Joe's cinnamon-bun-inspired kettle corn for popcorn balls.

Paige Bennett

The kettle corn was light and airy without any of the stickiness, density, or chewiness I predicted it would have.

The cinnamon glaze was strong but not overly sweet, which was nice.

Because this kettle corn wasn't super sweet, I think it'd be good for holiday popcorn balls.

I was intrigued by the big box of multi-flavor mini pretzels.
Trader Joe's Astounding multi-flavor mini pretzels
Trader Joe's Astounding multi-flavor mini pretzels came in a large box.

Paige Bennett

When I walked into Trader Joe's, the big, brightly colored box of Astounding multi-flavor mini pretzels was front and center by the entrance.

The flavors sounded fun and festive: dark-chocolate peppermint, milk chocolate with rainbow pearl sprinkles, peanut butter and candy-coated pretzels with cookie pieces and chocolate gems, and coffee and dark chocolate.

As expected, the coffee and peanut butter pretzels were my favorite.
Astounding multi-flavor pretzels on plate
Two kinds of Trader Joe's Astounding multi-flavor mini pretzels stood out to me.

Paige Bennett

The box contained four smaller bags of each flavor of pretzel. I liked that the flavors were separated, but I wish the bags were resealable.

I had the same issues with the peppermint and dark chocolate pretzels as I did with Trader Joe's peppermint pretzel slims. To me, the peppermint and salty pretzel were a weird food combination.

I thought the milk-chocolate pretzels with pearls tasted OK, but I didn't like the texture of the sprinkles.

The pretzels with the coffee-flavored coating and dark-chocolate drizzle and the ones coated in peanut butter were my favorites.

However, I wish the cookie and candy pieces stuck to the peanut-butter-coated pretzels better. Most of the cookie and candy pieces were loose in the bag.

I was impressed by the giant tin of the Baton Lover’s Quartet.
Trader Joe's Baton Lover's Quartet wafer cookies
Trader Joe's Baton Lover's Quartet wafer cookies came in a cute tin.

Paige Bennett

The Baton Lover's Quartet came in a canister that looked ready to be gifted and included four flavors: chocolate orange, cookies and cream, cocoa, and hazelnut.

I’d probably skip the Baton Lover's Quartet in the future, as I didn’t love any of the flavors.
Baton Lover's Quartet wafer cookies on a plate
The Baton Lover's Quartet wafer cookies had a good texture.

Paige Bennett

When I opened the tin, I saw that each flavor was individually packaged.

I tried the cookies-and-cream baton first and thought it was very chocolaty and tasty. It didn't really taste like cookies and cream to me, though.

I thought the chocolate-orange baton's wafer overwhelmingly tasted like artificial orange, though the chocolate center mellowed it.

The cocoa baton's wafer exterior didn't really have any strong flavor but the filling was rich and chocolaty.

The hazelnut baton tasted more chocolaty to me than anything else.

The texture of all the wafer batons was nice, as the exteriors were light and crisp and the fillings were rich and creamy.

But overall, I didn't love any of the flavors enough to warrant buying the multipack again.

Jingle Jangle is already a treat I look forward to buying every year.
Trader Joe's Jingle Jangle tin
Trader Joe's Jingle Jangle contains chocolate-coated treats.

Paige Bennett

Each year, I eagerly head to Trader Joe's in search of the brand's Jingle Jangle mix.

The container includes a range of milk- and dark-chocolate-covered treats, like pieces of Joe-Joe's cookies and mini pretzels.

I always love to get this mix, eat all the dark-chocolate-covered pieces, and offer my partner the milk-chocolate ones.

Jingle Jangle is still one of my favorite Trader Joe’s snacks of all time.
Trader Joe's Jingle Jangle pretzels
I love how Trader Joe's Jingle Jangle lasts all season long in my house.

Paige Bennett

The mix was just as delicious as I remembered it.

The Jingle Jangle is pretty rich because each piece has a thick chocolate coating. Due to its intensity, I typically enjoy only a few bites at a time.

One tin tends to last me all season long. I already have my tin for this year, but I already know I'll buy this again next winter.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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