Think your air fryer is just for fries? Think again.

My air fryer has officially earned a permanent spot on my kitchen counter. When the weather's hot and I'd rather be outside than sweating over a stove, it's a total game changer. I can throw together snacks, sides or full meals without heating up the whole house, and cleanup's a breeze.

Not everything turns out great in an air fryer, but the foods that do? They're next-level. Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and way less oily than traditional frying. If you haven't played around with your air fryer much, now's the perfect time to see what it can really do.

1. Salmon filets

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.

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.

3. Bacon cheeseburgers

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.

4. Chicken cutlets 

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. 

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. Leftover pizza

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. 

6. Baked potatoes

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.

Here's how I make air fryer grilled cheese

• Assemble a grilled cheese as you would otherwise
• Sliced bread
• Sliced or shredded cheese (I like American cheese for a basic grilled cheese and a combo of gruyere and cheddar for an upgrade.)
• Butter or mayonnaise for the outside of the bread slices (dealer's choice)

For a basic grilled cheese, you can assemble the sandwich in the basket of your air fryer: bread with buttered side down, followed by sliced or shredded cheese, then topped with the final slice with buttered side up.

Be it a simple sandwich or a fancier combination of cheese, bread and fixings, the air fryer makes a crispy, gooey grilled cheese in minutes.

Set the heat to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for 3 to 6 minutes on each side, flipping halfway through. The already melted cheese will keep your sandwich nicely together during the flip. You can get a lightly golden grilled cheese in less time but I recommend hanging on for 5 to 6 minutes for a deeply crunchy sandwich. 

Another perk of the air fryer is that you can more easily peek to see where you're at without adversely affecting the outcome.