I bought an air fryer to make french fries. That was it. One job. For the first six months, it did that job well and I ignored it for everything else. Then my sister came over, opened my fridge, grabbed a block of tofu, and tossed it in the air fryer. No oil, no marinade, nothing. Fifteen minutes later she handed me the crispiest tofu I had ever eaten. I realized I had been using maybe ten percent of what the machine could actually do.

Here are the things I wish someone had told me on day one.

Reheat Pizza So It Tastes Fresh

The microwave makes pizza soggy. The oven takes twenty minutes. The air fryer makes leftover pizza taste like it just came out of a brick oven in three minutes at 350°F. The crust gets crispy again. The cheese re-melts instead of turning into a rubber sheet. This alone justified the purchase.

Roast Garlic Without Turning On the Oven

Slice the top off a whole head of garlic, drizzle with olive oil, wrap in foil, and air fry at 380°F for 20 minutes. You get soft, spreadable roasted garlic without heating up the entire kitchen. I do this while cooking pasta — by the time the water boils and the noodles are done, the garlic is ready to squeeze into the sauce.

Make Hard-Boiled Eggs Without Water

Place eggs directly in the air fryer basket. 270°F for 11 minutes for hard-boiled, then immediately into an ice bath. They peel easier than stovetop eggs because the hot circulating air slightly separates the membrane from the shell. I was skeptical. Now I will not make them any other way.

Dehydrate Fruit and Herbs

Most air fryers have a dehydrate setting. Slice apples thin, arrange in a single layer, and run at 135°F for 6 to 8 hours. You get apple chips with no added sugar. For herbs, spread them on a piece of parchment at the lowest temperature for 2 to 3 hours. Store in airtight jars. Better than anything from the store and costs pennies.

Quick Toast Nuts and Seeds

Spread nuts or seeds in a single layer. 300°F for 3 to 5 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through. Toasted almonds for salads, toasted sesame seeds for stir-fries, toasted walnuts for baking — done in the time it takes to chop vegetables.