The Ultimate Guide to Cooking Frozen Foods in Your Air Fryer

The Ultimate Frozen Food Air Fryer Chart

While many frozen food brands are beginning to include air fryer instructions directly on their packaging, many classic snacks still only list oven or microwave directions according to our air fryer times cheat sheet. To help you navigate, we have compiled a quick-reference chart for popular frozen items based on recipe estimates from Well Plated.

What the Packages Actually Say

If a frozen food package does not feature specific air fryer instructions, start by consulting your appliance's manual or official cooking charts. Always give the basket a firm shake or shimmy halfway through the cooking cycle to redistribute the food and ensure even browning.

Keep in mind that air fryers are essentially compact, powerful countertop convection ovens. Because they have a compact cooking chamber and an effective fan, they heat up quickly and cook efficiently compared to a standard residential oven.

Three Rules for All Frozen Food

To get the best possible results from your appliance, follow these three fundamental rules:

• Do not overcrowd the basket: Air fryers rely on rapid air circulation to crisp food. Overfilling the basket blocks this airflow, leading to uneven cooking and soggy spots. If you are preparing a large portion, cook in batches instead.
• Shake, toss, or flip: Shaking the basket halfway through cooking is essential for smaller items like frozen fries. For larger items, turn them over.
• Eat them while they are hot: Serve them immediately with your favorite dipping sauces.

What Goes Wrong (and How to Fix It)

Even with the best appliances, a few common issues can arise during air frying:

Exposed Heating Elements: In testing various models, reviewers at Serious Eats noted that some multi-cooker air fryers (such as the Instant Pot Duo Crisp Ultimate Lid) have exposed heating elements that you must be careful to avoid when stirring food, and lack a convenient basket handle for shaking.

Uneven Browning: If your fries are dark on one side and pale on the other, your basket is likely too full, or you forgot to shake it. If you are using a basket-style model like the Ninja AF101 4-Quart Air Fryer, a midway shake is still recommended for optimal results.

Quick Answers

Do I need to preheat my air fryer for frozen foods?

It depends on your model. Some air fryers automatically add preheating time to their cycles, while others do not. Some models will alert you when preheating is done and it is time to add your food.