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CNET
an hour ago
- General
- CNET
Your BBQ Guests Deserve This Hot Dog Glow-Up
Grilling hot dogs used to feel like a summer staple, but lately I've ditched the hassle for something faster: my air fryer. Instead of hauling out the grill, scrubbing grates and sweating over flames, I can cook hot dogs in under 10 minutes with almost no cleanup. The results? Crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside and perfectly browned every time. It's a game changer, especially when the heat is relentless and the last thing you want is to fire up a grill. Whether you're cooking for one or feeding a crowd, the air fryer handles it with ease. If you're looking to simplify your summer meals without sacrificing flavor, this method is worth trying. That's when I gave the air fryer a shot, and it instantly changed the game. It turns out you can get that same satisfying snap and juicy center in a fraction of the time, with none of the mess. No smoke, no flipping, no watching the clock — just drop them in, wait about 8 minutes, and you're done. Whether it's a quick solo lunch or a low-key cookout alternative, this method delivers hot dogs that taste just as good without the hassle. Four minutes on high later, those dogs came out absolutely snapping. The casings were crispy, the pork fat was singing and the flavor? Easily on par with any grill or boiled batch I've had -- minus the grill watching. Cleanup? A quick rinse and a soap squirt, and I was back on the couch before the ketchup hit the plate. My conclusion: An air fryer is the best way to cook hot dogs, especially if you don't want to stand over a hot grill during a summer heat wave. As a bonus, you can make them all year, even when the cold weather sends your grill into a deep sleep. Here's why the air fryer is my new hot dog machine and how to make the perfect wiener in minutes. Why an air fryer the best way to make hot dogs Here's all you'll need for a speedy summer meal. David Watsky/CNET The air fryer's hot convection heat cooks salty, fatty hot dogs to a crisp in minutes. It's nearly impossible to overcook a hot dog so you don't have to worry about that. Using your air fryer to make hot dogs will save you on propane and from having to clean the grill. Air fryers also don't need to heat up the way grills do. Boiling hot dogs takes time. I also personally don't care for the soggy boiled dogs with very little snap. Plus, you can toast your hot dog bun in the air fryer with the dog. The same can't be said for the microwave or boiling method. So, toss aside your grilling apron and pick up the air-fryer basket. Making air-fryer hot dogs takes about 4 minutes and almost no effort or cleanup, and you could cook an entire package at once. You can cook an entire package of hot dogs as long as you don't crowd the basket too much. David Watsky/CNET How to make a perfect hot dog in an air fryer Spoiler alert: Air-fryer hot dogs couldn't be easier. This is true for one-step cooking. I used this $45 Dash air fryer but almost any model will do. Step 1 : Score your hot dogs with a knife (optional). : Score your hot dogs with a knife (optional). Step 2 : Cook hot dogs for 4 to 6 minutes on high (400 degrees F). : Cook hot dogs for 4 to 6 minutes on high (400 degrees F). Step 3: Add hot dog buns to the air fryer about 1 minute before the hot dogs are done. Air fryer hot dogs are as easy as it gets. David Watsky/CNET Should you score hot dogs before cooking in the air fryer? You can score your hot dog for extra crispy bits. David Watsky/CNET I tried both scored and unscored dogs. There wasn't a huge difference, and the unscored hot dogs didn't show any signs of bubbling or bursting. Scoring your hot dogs will prevent the occasional explosion and give you some crispier edges if you like that sort of thing. What else can you make in the air fryer? Roast chicken cooked in the air fryer is another one of my summer favorites. David Watsky/CNET The better question might be what can't you make in an air fryer? I've discovered the air fryer is excellent for making filets of salmon and whole-roasted chicken. You can make bacon in under 10 minutes and even cook a perfect medium-rare cheeseburger in the air fryer with no cleanup. Watch this: Best Air Fryers: Cheap vs. Expensive 19:24 Here are six things I'll only cook in the air fryer from now on, and seven things I won't ever make in the countertop cooker again.
CNET
10 hours ago
- General
- CNET
Ditch the Hot Oven: The Ultimate Summer Cooking Hack Is Sitting on Your Counter
I love grilling as much as the next backyard warrior, but standing over open flames in 90-degree heat feels less like cooking and more like slow-roasting myself. And firing up the oven indoors? That just turns your kitchen into a sauna and your living room into a convection zone. Not to mention, using a gas range with the windows shut is basically inviting bad air to dinner. That's where the air fryer swoops in. These compact countertop dynamos crank out crispy food fast, without turning your house into a hotbox. Sure, they blow a little warm air, but it's more like a light summer breeze compared to the furnace blast of your wall oven. Best of all, most air fryer recipes take less time than it takes to preheat your oven -- or sweat through another tongs-in-hand grill session. But don't take my word for it, I ran tests to see how much an air fryer would warm my kitchen compared to cooking them same food in an oven. The results cemented the air fryer as one of the best summer kitchen tools, right up there with ice makers and blenders. The numbers don't lie A heat wave requires creative thinking to keep the home cool and an air fryer is my ticket to getting through those sweltering summer spells without starving. To see if air fryers belong in the summer cooking hall of fame, I ran tests to see how much the oven heats up the kitchen versus an air fryer. Trendy air fryers are all they're cracked up to be, especially when it's hot out. David Watsky/CNET I ran tests to see how much hotter an oven would make the kitchen The air fryer turns out juicy chicken thighs in under 20 minutes. David Watsky/CNET To find real-world differences, I roasted chicken thighs in my KitchenAid wall oven (less than 10 years old) and a 4-quart Dreo air fryer, according to two popular recipes from a well-known cooking site. I tested the temperature before, during and after to see how much of a difference each machine makes. My Brooklyn apartment kitchen is on the small side, but it's not enclosed and opens up to the rest of the apartment. I kept the windows closed for the test, although it's worth noting that recent studies show cooking with natural gas in an enclosed kitchen can be a health risk. I'm finding fewer and fewer reasons to turn on the big oven these days. David Watsky/CNET The standard oven recipe called for the chicken to be roasted at 375 degrees for 30 minutes in the oven. Because of its smaller chamber, the air fryer recipe only required 20 minutes of cooking at the same temperature. The air fryer requires only about a minute to come to temperature, while the oven takes more than five. An ambient thermometer is all I needed to test how much hotter a gas oven can make the kitchen. David Watsky/CNET I placed a standard ambient thermometer in the middle of the kitchen -- about 5 feet from the stove -- at counter height. I took a reading before the oven or air fryer was turned on. I took another reading halfway through the cooking time and the last one at the end of the cooking time. Between the two sessions, I waited for the kitchen to return to a resting temperature before starting the next one. Ovens may have more capacity but they warm the kitchen far more than an air fryer. Getty The oven made my kitchen 10 degrees hotter than the air fryer Midway through the recipes (15 minutes), the oven raised the temperature of my kitchen by 15 degrees from 71 F to too-hot 88 F. After 10 minutes of cooking with the air fryer on 375 F, the temperature in my kitchen had gone up only 5 degrees F, from 72 F to a pleasant 77 F. You can feel heat emanating from the air fryer if you stand close enough, but it's not enough to significantly change the temperature of the kitchen. Read more: Here's How to Keep Your Kitchen Cool (and Lower Your Energy Bill) During a Heat Wave Not only did the air fryer cause less of a temperature spike, but I only needed to have it running for roughly 20 minutes with one minute of preheat time. The oven took 30 minutes to cook the chicken and 6 minutes to preheat. Using the air fryer will cut down on energy bills Even modern ovens use significantly more energy than an air fryer. Mary King/CNET During a heat wave, your air conditioner is already working hard. Heating the kitchen up with your oven will only require them to work harder, using more energy to bring the room back down to your desired temperature. For the AC to make up the difference for one 20- or 30-minute cooking session with an oven, it may not be a total budget-buster. Spread that out over time or for longer cooking sessions and using the oven during hot months can have real fiscal ramifications. For more on this, read my breakdown of exactly how much more an oven costs to run than an air fryer. What can you make in an air fryer? Roasted chicken in the air fryer is dynamite and takes less time than in the large oven. David Watsky/CNET An air fryer can do almost any cooking job that an oven can, although air fryers are typically smaller than wall ovens so you can't cook as much in one go. I've been tinkering with the air fryer a lot this year. I discovered the joy of cooking whole chickens in the air fryer, filets of salmon and even bacon cheeseburgers. The air fryer goes well beyond its reputation for cooking crispy wings and french fries. You can make dinner party-level recipes in the air fryer without breaking a sweat, literally. Here are seven foods that I only make in the air fryer now not just because they keep my kitchen cooler but because the results are as good or better than other methods. Here's our complete guide to air fryers, everyone's favorite new kitchen appliance. FAQs How much energy does an air fryer save when compared to a wall oven? An air fryer uses 50% less total energy than a wall oven does, according to calculations performed by CNET's resident kitchen home tech expert, David Watsky.
CNET
a day ago
- Lifestyle
- CNET
Why Your Bathroom Desperately Needs Cleaning Now
Summer is in full swing. Between vacations, pool and beach trips, keeping your bathroom clean can feel like an impossible task. It's a room that's used every day, but knowing where to start can be a chore in itself. Cleaning may not be the most exciting thing for everyone to do, but your bathroom is one of the rooms you should regularly spruce up. This will help eliminate and limit the amount of germs and bacteria from festering in your home. It doesn't matter if your powder room is long overdue for a deep clean or if you're just curious about a cleaning cadence; we will provide you with insight. Whether scrubbing your toilet or degunking your shower head, this guide makes freshening up your restroom easy and simple. Read more: 15 Filthy Spots That Survived Your Spring Cleaning Rampage, According to an Expert 8 bathroom items you should clean regularly Bathroom rug Once a week, toss the bathroom rug in the washer. Wash it on the gentle cycle in warm water and let it air dry (especially if it has a no-slip grip on the back) before putting it back in place. If you're unsure, always follow the washing instructions on the tag. Toilet David Watsky/CNET If you live alone, you can probably get by cleaning the toilet every few days. If you have kids, the rules change. The outside, handle and seat should get a once-a-day wipedown with an antibacterial cleaner or wipe. Most families can get by with cleaning the bowl once a week, particularly if you use this toilet tank tip. If you have tough stains or gunk in your toilet bowl, we advise pouring Coke (yes, the soda) into a spray bottle and then saturating the stain with the drink. Let it sit for a few hours. You can then easily scrub away the stain with a toilet brush. Shower curtain Once a month, you should take down your fabric or plastic shower curtain and throw it in the wash. Here are five tips for cleaning your shower curtain in the washing machine. Shower and tub You only need to clean your shower and tub once a week, but if you have a glass shower door, it needs a little more attention. To prevent the build-up of soap scum and keep the glass looking spotless, use a squeegee to wipe away water after every shower. These few seconds can save you from scrubbing at the end of the week. Bath towels Josh Miller/CNET My family has had this debate for years. How often should you wash bath towels? Well, it depends. Every three to four uses is a good rule of thumb, but there are some conditions where a towel should be washed after one use. Here's how to know when to wash your towels. Sink The germs from your hands collect on the sink knobs and in the sink bowl when you wash your hands. So, even if you live alone, the sink needs a good wipe down every day with an all-purpose cleaner or antibacterial cleaning wipe. Mirror Like the sink, the mirror needs a daily wipe down to remove lint, dust and toothpaste specks. Simply wipe it down with a microfiber cloth after you step out of the bath or shower. Hair dryer Yes, even your hair dryer needs a proper cleaning schedule to prevent it from overheating. Here's a simple way to clean a hair dryer in just a few minutes. More cleaning tips and tricks
CNET
5 days ago
- General
- CNET
Ditch the Oven Forever--These 9 Air Fryer Meals Are That Good
Running the oven in the middle of summer can feel like inviting a heatwave into your kitchen. That's why my air fryer has become the real MVP around here. It's quick, efficient and doesn't turn the whole house into a sauna. I even tested how much cooler it kept the kitchen compared to the oven -- and the difference was noticeable. Beyond just keeping things chill, the air fryer delivers on flavor. No preheating, no hovering over a stove, and no sweating through dinner prep. If you're looking for an easier, cooler way to cook this season, these air fryer staples deserve a permanent spot in your rotation. -- and cranks out reliably tasty food. No preheating, no standing over a hot stove, and most importantly, no back sweat. What began as a glorified frozen-snack machine has turned into a full-on kitchen workhorse. The air fryer now handles everything from crispy chicken tenders to roasted veggies to gooey desserts. Beyond the staples, I've discovered a few surprising air fryer foods that I'm now completely hooked on. From whole-roasted chicken and flaky salmon to vegetables and sides, such as cauliflower, potatoes and carrots, certain foods feel like they were made to cook in an air fryer. You'll find a ton of Reddit threads with home cooks asking for the ultimate air fryer recipes, and we've put together this guide to help you out with our favorites. Looking for something great to make? Check out the nine foods you absolutely have to cook in an air fryer below. And if you're searching for an air fryer or to upgrade your existing oven, we have a new favorite model with a glass cooking chamber that's easy to clean and doubles as a food storage container. 1. Salmon Just 8 minutes in the air fryer and you have perfectly medium rare salmon. David Watsky/CNET Broiled salmon is a simple, healthy weeknight dinner staple. It's not difficult to make in the oven, but if you're only cooking for one or two people, the preheating time is a pain and you'll waste a lot of energy for a small amount of food. Pan-seared salmon is great and quick, but there's almost no way to cook salmon on the stove without creating an oily and odorous mess. I tried cooking roasted salmon in the air fryer, and it came out perfectly in about 10 minutes, including preheating time. The closed cooking chamber captures all of the grease and even hides some of the fishy smell from taking over the space. OK, so you might catch me throwing the occasional filet of salmon on the grill during warmer months, but gone are the days of me wiping fish grease from the backsplash behind my kitchen stove. Here's how to make perfect air fryer salmon. 2. Whole chicken Air-fryer roasted chicken is a revelation. David Watsky/CNET This one surprised me the most since I make a roast chicken most Sundays and had become content with my method of using the oven. I learned fast that the air fryer does an even better job since it's able to crisp the skin quickly without overcooking the meat. Air-fryer roasted chicken takes about 45 minutes -- about 15% quicker than the oven -- and it's nearly impossible to screw up. Here's how to make a quick roasted chicken in the air fryer. 3. Bacon cheeseburgers You can cook a burger to perfect medium or medium rare with an air fryer. Pamela Vachon/CNET Air fryer cheeseburgers have become a staple around my home. The exception is during summer when the grill is in full swing, but during cooler months, I turn to the air fryer for this American classic. It's not only cleaner than pan frying, but the burger doesn't cook in its own grease, so you get a lighter, healthier meal (if you're into that sort of thing). You can also stick the bun and a couple of slices of bacon in with the burger and you have the full meal with almost no cleanup to manage. Here's how to make a cheeseburger from top to bottom in the air fryer. 4. Chicken cutlets Air fryers turn out picture-perfect chicken cutlets. David Watsky/CNET Before the air fryer, I used to pan-fry breaded chicken cutlets for chicken Parmesan and other recipes, but the air fryer does the same job with less mess and produces less oily fried chicken, too. Now Playing: Best Air Fryers: Cheap vs. Expensive 19:24 I recommend using boneless chicken thighs, which have enough fat content to withstand all that convection heat without drying out. Simply coat the chicken in beaten egg wash followed by bread crumbs mixed with salt, pepper and other spices. Cook at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for about 15 minutes. You can spray the cutlets lightly with a bit of oil before cooking to get an extra crispy crust, but it's not necessary. I've tried the same method with chicken breasts; it works well, but there is more risk of drying out the meat. 5. Cauliflower steak Cauliflower steak made in the air fryer has become a staple side dish in my kitchen. David Watsky/CNET One of my favorite things to cook in the air fryer is cauliflower. A slab of cauliflower makes an excellent hearty side dish or main course if you're going plant-based. Simply toss a thick slice or two of cauliflower with olive oil and salt and pepper, or some seasoning of your choice, and air fry for 10 or 12 minutes on high. The air fryer gives it a beautiful caramelized crust, and it cooks the dense veggie fast enough so that the inside of the cauliflower doesn't become mushy. 6. Leftover pizza This leftover pizza got a whole new life thanks to a short trip to the air fryer. David Watsky/CNET While not every type of food is best reheated in the air fryer, a lot of them are. Air fryers are the perfect way to revive leftover pizza, fried chicken, grilled meats and vegetables. A microwave heats food unevenly and tends to impart a rubbery texture. Air fryers give food a second life via convection heat for a crispy crust and even heating. Here's the best way to reheat every type of leftover. 7. Hot dogs You can cook an entire package of hot dogs in just a few minutes. David Watsky/CNET It's hard to screw up a hot dog, but if you want a perfectly charred wiener in under five minutes with essentially no cleanup, look to the air fryer. Air fryer hot dogs are as simple as simple gets, and the super convection oven gives them a perfect browning in two or three minutes. Here's how to make hot dogs in the air fryer all summer. 8. Baked potatoes Air fryer baked potatoes had crispy skin and were light and fluffy inside. Brian Bennett/CNET OK, so technically this one starts out in the microwave and then gets finished in the air fryer. The microwave softens the inside in under 8 minutes while the air fryer blasts the edges and skin to a crispy perfection. It's a restaurant-quality baked potato in less than 12 minutes. Here's how to make the best air fryer baked potato ever. Oh, and if you're still not sure what an air fryer is and how it works, check out our complete guide to air fryers. 9. Grilled cheese This air fryer grilled cheese is as good as it looks. Pamela Vachon/CNET For a grilled cheese, the air fryer is working on both of the bread surfaces and the cheese all at once, resulting in a quicker melt, which adheres the cheese to the bread slices together making for a much easier flip. (Flipping is still recommended but with far less drama.) Here's the secret to perfect air fryer grilled cheese.
CNET
6 days ago
- General
- CNET
This 45-Minute Air Fryer Roasted Chicken Is a Thing of Beauty
Groceries and dining out are only getting more expensive. I'm constantly in search of a great meal prep recipe and it doesn't get better than roasted chicken. During summer heat, roasting a whole chicken in the oven -- plus preheat time -- could raise the temperature in your house as much as 10 degrees F. On the other hand, an air fryer can help you cook a perfect roast chicken in under an hour without turning your already warm kitchen into a virtual sauna. During my decade-long tenure as a food and kitchen tech editor, the air fryer has been my most-used kitchen appliance. My latest obsession is using an air fryer to roast a whole chicken. An air fryer can cut cooking time by 15 to 20% -- and the skin will come out super crispy and with the nonstick basket, cleanup is a breeze. When it comes to lip-smacking meals, it's very hard to beat a well-roasted chicken. Add some root vegetables into the mix, slather on gravy and you get a proper Sunday dinner with leftover chicken you can eat for the rest of the week. Air fryer chicken is one of the easiest and most satisfying recipes I've made lately. David Watsky/CNET To make a perfect roasted chicken in about 45 minutes, all you need is an air fryer (4 quarts or larger,) a chicken of your choice and some simple spices and pantry ingredients. I'm well versed in the joys of air fryer cooking, but air fryer chicken is perhaps the best cool-weather cooking discovery I've made while tinkering with these trendy convection cookers. Let me show you how it all works. Can you really cook a whole chicken in an air fryer? You sure can. The secret to great roasted chicken is high heat while not overcooking the bird for a crispy skin with moist, tender meat. An air fryer is the perfect vessel for this method since it envelops the food inside with hot quickly moving air and manages to crisp outer layers better than a full-size convection oven that features more widely dispersed heat. The smaller air fryer cooking chamber also means more consistent temps throughout a single session. Air fryers are typically smaller than wall ovens, but many models are capable of handling a 3- or 4-pound chicken. I cooked a full 4-pound roaster and it fit comfortably inside my Dreo 6-quart ChefMaker smart air fryer oven. Read more: Grill, Bye. Make Your Next Burger in an Air Fryer and Thank Me Later What size air fryer do you need to cook a whole chicken? I used a fancy smart air fryer but just about any 5-quart model will do. David Watsky/CNET This fancy souped-up air fryer has a steam feature and smart cooking programs, but I didn't need or use them. I cooked the chicken on basic air fryer mode at 360 degrees Fahrenheit for 55 minutes, flipping the bird (ha!) after 25. You won't need a fancy air fryer, either. This $120 Instant air fryer will get the job done. As will this $80 Gourmia model. There was minimal prep in this air fryer chicken recipe, which I adapted from a few found online and my go-to oven-roasted chicken recipe. I whisked together a quick marinade with olive oil, grain mustard, salt, pepper and some of my favorite Mediterranean seasoning blend. I stuffed the chicken with half of an orange, some green onion and a bunch of fresh parsley that was down to its final days in the fridge. About 10 minutes before I pulled it from the air fryer. David Watsky/CNET What should you serve with roasted chicken I served the chicken with rice made in my speedy and effortless rice cooker, but I could have just as easily dropped some potatoes or other root vegetables in with the chicken and had myself with a full dinner to feed four or five -- all cooked in the confines of one nonstick air fryer basket. Air fryers cook fast so careful not to burn the skin My only other note when making an air fryer bird is to keep a close eye on the chicken, especially toward the end. The heat from an air fryer is intense and could burn the skin if you have it cranked up too high or leave it in too long. If your skin seems to be getting brown faster than the chicken is coming to temp inside, pull back on the heat and continue monitoring. You can always fire it up again once the meat is cooked to get a crispy skin before serving. You'll know the meat is cooked when a meat probe reads 160 degrees Fahrenheit when plunged into the thickest part of the breast. You'll need at least a 5-quart air fryer to make a roasted chicken. David Watsky/CNET Ingredients for air fryer roast chicken 4-pound chicken, giblets removed 3 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons grain mustard Seasoning blend (optional) Salt and pepper to taste Lemon or orange Fresh herbs Almost done... David Watsky/CNET How to make air fryer roast chicken Preheat air fryer to 360 degrees Fahrenheit Whisk olive oil, mustard, seasoning blend, salt and pepper together Rub mustard marinade over the entire chicken Place chicken in air fryer basket breast down on top of the wire rack and cook for 25 minutes Flip the bird breast up and cook for the another 20 minutes Remove when juices run clear or an internal thermometer reads 160 degrees Fahrenheit Let stand for 5 minutes before serving. Pour juices from the air fryer basket over sliced chicken or use to make a gravy
