You have your air fryer set up and clean. You’re ready to start cooking. But what should you make first?
This guide walks you through seven types of foods that teach you the basics. By the end of your first week, you’ll understand how your air fryer works and feel confident trying new recipes.
Day 1: Frozen French Fries
Start with frozen french fries. This is the perfect first food because:
- Frozen fries are designed for air fryers
- They’re hard to mess up
- You’ll learn basic basket loading and shaking
- Results are fast and delicious
How to do it:
Preheat your air fryer to 400°F for 3-4 minutes. Add frozen fries to the basket in a single layer. Don’t overcrowd. For most air fryers, this means about 1-2 cups of fries.
Cook for 15-18 minutes. Shake the basket halfway through at the 8-minute mark. This redistributes the fries so they cook evenly.
Check at 15 minutes. If they need more time, cook for another 2-3 minutes. Every air fryer is different, so your first batch helps you learn your model’s timing.
What you’ll learn: How to load the basket properly, when to shake, and how to judge doneness.
Sources:
- 65 Easy Air Fryer Recipes for Beginners, Everyday Family Cooking, April 11, 2024, https://www.everydayfamilycooking.com/air-fryer-recipes-for-beginners/
Day 2: Chicken Wings
Chicken wings teach you about cooking meat and achieving crispy skin without oil.
How to do it:
Pat chicken wings dry with paper towels. Moisture is the enemy of crispiness. This step matters.
Season wings with salt, pepper, and any spices you like. Garlic powder and paprika work great.
Preheat to 380°F. Place wings in the basket in a single layer. Don’t stack them.
Cook for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through. Use tongs to turn each wing at the 12-minute mark.
Wings are done when the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Use a meat thermometer to check. The skin should be golden and crispy.
What you’ll learn: How to cook meat safely, the importance of drying food, and how to flip items during cooking.
Sources:
- 44 Easy Air-Fryer Recipes for Beginners, Taste of Home, September 29, 2024, https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/easy-air-fryer-recipes-for-beginners/
Day 3: Vegetables (Brussels Sprouts or Broccoli)
Vegetables help you understand temperature control and how different foods react to the air fryer.
How to do it:
Cut Brussels sprouts in half or break broccoli into florets. Try to make pieces similar in size.
Toss vegetables in a bowl with 1-2 teaspoons of olive oil, salt, and pepper. The light oil coating helps them crisp up.
Preheat to 375°F. Add vegetables to the basket. You can fill the basket more than you would with fries. Vegetables are more forgiving.
Cook for 15-20 minutes. Shake the basket once or twice during cooking.
Vegetables are done when they’re tender inside and browned on the edges. Some charred bits are fine and add flavor.
What you’ll learn: How vegetables behave differently than other foods, and that some browning is good.
Sources:
- 80+ Beginner Friendly Air Fryer Favorites, Upstate Ramblings, March 20, 2024, https://www.upstateramblings.com/air-fryer-recipes-for-beginners/
Day 4: Bacon
Bacon teaches you about fatty foods and drip tray management.
How to do it:
Add water to the drip tray below the basket. About 1/4 cup of water. This prevents the fat from smoking when it drips.
Lay bacon strips in a single layer in the basket. Don’t overlap. You may need to cook in batches.
Set temperature to 350°F. Cook for 8-12 minutes, depending on how crispy you like it. Check at 8 minutes and add time as needed.
No need to flip. The air circulation cooks both sides.
Remove bacon and let it drain on paper towels. Pour the grease from the drip tray into a container (not down your sink).
What you’ll learn: How to handle fatty foods, the purpose of the drip tray, and that some foods don’t need flipping.
Sources:
- Mistakes You’re Making with Your Air Fryer, Reader’s Digest, July 21, 2025, https://www.rd.com/list/air-fryer-mistakes/
Day 5: Salmon or Fish Fillets
Fish is delicate. This teaches you about gentler cooking and proper doneness.
How to do it:
Pat fish dry with paper towels. Season with salt, pepper, and a squeeze of lemon.
Spray the basket lightly with oil to prevent sticking. Fish is more delicate than chicken.
Preheat to 400°F. Place fish in the basket skin-side down if there’s skin.
Cook for 8-10 minutes for fillets about 1 inch thick. Don’t flip. Fish is fragile and flipping can break it apart.
Fish is done when it flakes easily with a fork and reaches 145°F internal temperature.
What you’ll learn: That delicate foods need gentler handling, and not everything needs flipping.
Sources:
- Air Fryer Recipes, Skinnytaste, https://www.skinnytaste.com/recipes/air-fryer/
- 44 Easy Air-Fryer Recipes for Beginners, Taste of Home, September 29, 2024, https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/easy-air-fryer-recipes-for-beginners/
Day 6: Baked Potato
This teaches you patience and low-stakes cooking.
How to do it:
Scrub a medium russet potato. Poke it several times with a fork. This lets steam escape.
Rub the potato with a little olive oil or butter. Sprinkle with salt.
Preheat to 400°F. Place potato in the basket.
Cook for 35-40 minutes. Check at 35 minutes by squeezing gently (use an oven mitt). The potato should give when squeezed. If it’s still firm, cook another 5 minutes.
Cut open and add your favorite toppings.
What you’ll learn: Patience with longer cook times, and how to test doneness without a thermometer.
Sources:
- 44 Easy Air-Fryer Recipes for Beginners, Taste of Home, September 29, 2024, https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/easy-air-fryer-recipes-for-beginners/
- 100+ easy air fryer recipes for beginners, Katykicker, January 13, 2024, https://katykicker.com/air-fryer-recipes-for-beginners/
Day 7: Reheating Leftovers
Air fryers excel at reheating. This is where your air fryer will become your most-used appliance.
How to do it:
Take last night’s pizza, fried chicken, or french fries. Place in the basket without overcrowding.
Set temperature to 350°F. Reheat for 3-5 minutes.
Check after 3 minutes. If not hot enough, add another minute or two.
The air fryer restores crispiness that the microwave can’t match. Pizza crust gets crispy again. Fried foods regain their crunch.
What you’ll learn: That your air fryer is the best reheating tool you own.
Sources:
- 15 Easy Air Fryer Recipes for Beginners, Project Meal Plan, February 6, 2025, https://projectmealplan.com/easy-air-fryer-recipes-for-beginners/
Tips for Your First Week
Check food early: Always check 2-3 minutes before the recipe says. Your air fryer might cook faster or slower than expected.
Use a meat thermometer: Don’t guess with meat. A thermometer tells you exactly when food is safe to eat. Chicken needs 165°F. Fish needs 145°F. Pork needs 145°F.
Write down your times: Keep notes about what worked. When you make fries again, you’ll know exactly how long they took in your specific air fryer.
Don’t open the basket constantly: Checking is fine, but don’t open it every 30 seconds. Each opening releases heat and extends cooking time.
Start with lower times: You can always add more time. You can’t uncook burnt food.
Follow recipes at first: Don’t try to wing it yet. Use tested recipes while you’re learning. After a week, you’ll be ready to experiment.
Sources:
- How to Use an Air Fryer (Beginner’s Guide), Kristine’s Kitchen, January 20, 2024, https://kristineskitchenblog.com/how-to-use-an-air-fryer/
- 80+ Beginner Friendly Air Fryer Favorites, Upstate Ramblings, March 20, 2024, https://www.upstateramblings.com/air-fryer-recipes-for-beginners/
What Not to Cook Yet
Save these for later when you’re more comfortable:
Wet batters: Batter drips through the basket and makes a mess. Wait until you’re ready to modify recipes.
Large roasts: Whole chickens over 3 pounds won’t cook evenly. The outside burns before the inside cooks.
Cheese-heavy items: Melted cheese drips everywhere and burns in the tray.
Leafy greens: They blow around and don’t cook well.
Raw grains: You can’t cook rice or pasta in an air fryer.
Stick to the basics your first week. These simple foods build your skills and confidence.
Sources:
- Air Fryer Recipes for Beginners, Katie’s Cucina, January 19, 2023, https://www.katiescucina.com/air-fryer-recipes-for-beginners/
After Your First Week
By day seven, you’ll understand:
- How your specific air fryer cooks
- When to shake and when to flip
- How to judge doneness
- The right amount of food for your basket
- Basic temperature guidelines
- How to prevent common mistakes
You’re now ready to try more complex recipes. Look for air fryer cookbooks or websites with beginner-friendly recipes. Read reviews to see which recipes other beginners found easy.
Keep experimenting. Every food you try teaches you something new about your air fryer. The learning curve is short, and the results are delicious.
Next steps: You’ve mastered the basics. In future posts, we’ll cover more advanced techniques, troubleshooting common problems, and expanding your air fryer cooking skills.