Grilling With An Air Fryer: Is It Possible?

Yes, you can grill in an air fryer. You can achieve BBQ-style dishes with less oil, effort and mess. You can get the iconic grill marks and smoky flavours while enjoying the benefits of air frying. To grill in an air fryer, preheat the air fryer, use a grill plate, use smoky spice blends, and lightly mist or brush your food with oil before cooking.

Preheat the air fryer

Preheating your air fryer is an important step in the cooking process. It ensures that your food will be cooked evenly and that you get that desirable crispy texture.

Firstly, check your air fryer's manual to see if preheating is recommended for your model. Some air fryers have a preheat setting, while others have to be preheated manually. If your air fryer has a preheat button, simply press it, set the temperature, and wait for the air fryer to reach the desired temperature. If your air fryer doesn't have a preheat setting, you can manually preheat it by heating it up to 400 °F (204 °C) for 3 to 5 minutes.

• Always ensure that your air fryer is clean, plugged in, and ready to go before preheating.
• If you're using a recipe that calls for preheating, follow the instructions to ensure the best results.
• Preheating is especially important if you're cooking foods that you want to be crispy, such as french fries or chicken wings.
• If you're cooking thinly cut meats, preheating can help to create a perfect sear by crisping up the edges while the inside cooks.
• Preheating is also useful when reheating precooked or frozen foods, as it helps them cook more evenly and quickly.
• On the other hand, if you're cooking thick cuts of meat, it's better not to preheat the air fryer, as the outside will burn before the inside is cooked.
• Preheating can also dry out your food and change its texture, so if you want moist food, it's better to skip the preheating step.

Use a grill plate

Using a grill plate attachment in your air fryer will give you those classic chargrilled marks and a slightly charred texture on your food. You can also use a griddle plate accessory, which will help to mimic the look and feel of traditional grilling.

If your air fryer doesn't come with a grill plate attachment, you can buy one on Amazon. These plates are designed to fit inside your air fryer and will give you those beautiful chargrilled lines without having to fire up a traditional outdoor grill.

It's important to preheat your air fryer before adding your food, to achieve a crispy finish and deep colour. Preheat to a higher temperature, such as 400°F, to replicate the high heat of a grill and get that tasty charring effect. Then, when you put your food in, remember to lower the temperature to around 380°F so that your food doesn't get overcooked.

You can grill chicken wings, burgers, and even s'mores in your air fryer. For extra crispiness, set your air fryer to 200°C (400°F) for the final 2-3 minutes of cooking. This high heat will give your food a delicious, golden crust.

Use smoky spice blends

Yes, you can grill in an air fryer! To get that iconic char flavour, grill marks, and summertime vibes, there are a few things to keep in mind. One of the most important factors in achieving that grilled taste is the use of smoky spice blends.

When grilling in an air fryer, it's best to use spices that add a smoky flavour, such as smoked paprika, liquid smoke, smoked salt, barbecue sauce, black cardamom, mesquite seasonings, chipotle peppers, and cumin. These seasonings not only enhance the taste but also offer anti-inflammatory properties, making your grilled dishes healthier.

To ensure that your spice blends adhere well to the food, it's recommended to mix them with a little oil before coating. Oils with high smoking points, such as avocado, sesame, or vegetable oil, are ideal for this purpose. Regular olive oil can also be used if the cooking temperature is below 375 degrees Fahrenheit. As a rule of thumb, use around one tablespoon of oil for every pound of food you're seasoning.

For instance, let's consider the Air Fryer Smoky Chicken recipe. The spice blend for this dish includes smoked paprika, garlic salt, and a secret ingredient - cinnamon, which adds depth to the flavours. After mixing the spices, gently pat the mixture onto the chicken breasts, and then place them into the air fryer basket. Spritzing the chicken with oil will help crisp the spices and the exterior of the meat.

So, the next time you fire up your air fryer, don't be afraid to experiment with smoky spice blends. Just remember to mix them with a suitable oil and adjust the temperature accordingly. Happy grilling!

Use oils with high smoking points

Yes, you can grill in an air fryer. To get that iconic char flavour, grill marks, and summertime vibes, here are some tips to turn your air fryer into an indoor grill.

When grilling in an air fryer, it is important to use oils with high smoking points to prevent the oil from smoking and burning. The smoke point of an oil is the temperature at which it starts to smoke and break down. Oils with high smoking points include avocado oil, ghee (clarified butter), extra light olive oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil, coconut oil, peanut oil, grapeseed oil, canola oil, and vegetable oil. These oils have smoke points ranging from 400°F to 570°F. When choosing an oil, select one with a higher smoke point than the temperature you are cooking at to prevent smoking and burning. For example, avocado oil has a smoke point of 570°F, making it suitable for high-heat grilling.

You only need to use a small amount of oil when cooking with an air fryer. A few teaspoons of oil can be used to toss or coat the food to prevent sticking. It is also important to note that cooking sprays like PAM should be avoided as they can damage the non-stick surface of the air fryer basket. Instead, use a non-aerosol pump-style oil spray or a refillable oil sprayer filled with a high smoke point oil.

Pre-soak skewers

Pre-soaking skewers is an important step in preparing to grill with an air fryer. This is because air fryers can get very hot, very quickly, and wooden skewers can burn or catch fire if they are not properly soaked beforehand. By soaking the skewers in water for at least 30 minutes, you can prevent them from drying out, charring, or burning during the cooking process. This is a crucial step to ensure your food doesn't stick to the skewers and that they don't break or snap during cooking or when you're turning the food.

When preparing to grill with an air fryer, it's also important to check the size of your skewers. Not all skewers will fit in all air fryers, so it's worth checking they fit in a single layer before you start cooking. If you're using wooden skewers, make sure they are completely covered in water and leave them to soak while you prepare the rest of your ingredients. If you're using metal skewers, be aware that they get extremely hot, so use heatproof gloves or tongs when handling them.

To thread your food onto the skewers, cut your ingredients into evenly-sized pieces to ensure uniform cooking. Leave a little space between each piece to allow for proper air circulation. You can also brush the skewers with oil or cooking spray to promote browning and prevent sticking.

Frequently asked questions