What's the first thing I should cook in my air fryer?

[ICantPretend]

Finally joined the air fryer crew! Got an instant pot vortex plus which has just been delivered. I don't have anything special in, so was wondering if anyone has any good suggestions for something store cupboardy that I could do for lunch please?

Also this is maybe a stupid question but am I supposed to put stuff directly in, or put it on some kind of baking tray/dish like in a normal oven?

For lunch, using store cupboard ingredients:

Baked potato https://realfood.tesco.com/recipes/air-fryer-baked-potato.html

Frittata https://realfood.tesco.com/recipes/air-fryer-classic-frittata.html

Toastie: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/air-fryer-cheese-ham-toastie

Pasta salad https://thehappyfoodie.co.uk/recipes/bored-of-lunchs-air-fryer-red-pepper-tomato-and-orzo-salad/

No, you generally don't need a baking sheet for air frying. Air fryers are designed to cook food by circulating hot air, so a baking sheet inside could block that airflow. You can usually put food directly in the basket but you’ll want to lightly coat the basket with oil or a cooking spray before adding food.

Air fryers are essentially a small scale fan oven.

You can cook sausages from frozen, as do fish fingers and many other things.

I'd definitely recommend the microwave for a bit then oil and salt the potato and air fry for a lovely genuine tasting jacket spud

Thank you, these all sound fantastic but I'm going to go for a baked potato.

And thanks for explaining about the basket to me!

Baked potato was delicious! And is going to become a regular lunch now as it's so much quicker.

Home made chips!

I never bought frozen chips unless there were children to feed - but home made, they’re irresistible.

Air fried kale is really something.

I would just plan your meals as normal and think will it fit in air fryer. If it will just go for it. Anything that's not liquid will really go in an airfryer. Most meats, small joints, sausages, chops, anything like chicken fillets, frozen battered fish or kievs. Oven roasted veg, potatoes, baked, roasted, wedges. Just think of it as a small oven. Only things I would do is steaks and burgers.

I thought this type with a drawer you could put liquid in? Like cooking up a curry quickly?

Maybe you can, just not something I would think of doing.