Air Fryer Seasoning: What You Need To Know

Air fryers are a convenient and healthy alternative to traditional frying, using less oil and cooking food faster. However, when it comes to seasoning, there are some things to keep in mind. Dry spices and loose, leafy herbs can be blown off your food by the powerful fan in the air fryer, resulting in a waste of seasoning and a flavourless meal. To avoid this, it's recommended to mix dry spices with oil before coating your food. This helps the spices stick to your food and prevents them from blowing around or clogging the air filter. For high-temperature cooking, use oils with a high smoke point, such as avocado, sesame, or vegetable oil. Regular olive oil can be used for temperatures under 375°F. Additionally, it's best to season with salt and pepper after removing your food from the air fryer.

Use oil to help spices stick

If you want to use dry spices in an air fryer, you should consider using oil to help them stick to your food. Air fryers use a central fan to circulate hot air at high speed, which can blow dry spices off your food and around the appliance. Therefore, it is recommended to mix dry rubs with a little oil before coating your food. This will help the spices stick to your food and prevent them from being blown around by the fan.

When choosing an oil to use with dry spices in an air fryer, it is important to consider the smoke point of the oil. Due to the high temperatures of air fryers, it is best to use an oil with a high smoke point, such as avocado oil, sesame oil, or vegetable oil. Regular olive oil can also be used if you are cooking at a temperature below 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

The amount of oil you use will depend on the amount of food you are seasoning. As a guide, it is recommended to use around one tablespoon of oil mixed with dry spices for every pound of food. This will ensure that your spices stick to your food and provide a flavorful coating.

In addition to helping the spices stick, using oil can also enhance the flavor of the spices. Mixing the spices with oil before applying them to your food can help to activate the dry seasoning, resulting in a more intense flavor. This technique works well with both air fryers and conventional ovens, providing fantastic results in either case.

By following these instructions and using oil to help spices stick, you can successfully use dry spices in an air fryer without worrying about them being blown off or losing their flavor.

Avoid dry spices

Air fryers are a convenient way to cook food quickly and efficiently. However, when it comes to seasoning, it is important to avoid using dry spices. Here are some reasons why you should avoid using dry spices in an air fryer:

Spices May Not Stick to Your Food: Air fryers use a powerful fan to circulate hot air, which can cause dry spices to be blown off your food and stick to the inside of the air fryer instead. This can result in a waste of spices and a flavourless meal. To prevent this, it is recommended to mix dry spices with a small amount of oil before coating your food.

Inefficient Use of Time: The purpose of an air fryer is to cook food quickly. However, if you spend a lot of time measuring, grinding, and preparing dry spices, you may not be saving much time overall.

Filter Clogging: Dry herbs and spices can clog the air filter in your air fryer, which is essential for getting rid of smoke and smells during cooking. A clogged filter will reduce the efficiency of your air fryer.

Cost: Constantly losing your dry spices due to them being blown off your food can add up in terms of cost, especially if you are using expensive, fancy seasonings.

Loss of Flavour: The high-speed fan in an air fryer can blow away your carefully blended Italian spices, blackened Cajun rub, or herby lemon zest mixture, resulting in a loss of flavour for your meat, chicken, or fish.

To avoid these issues, it is recommended to mix your dry spices with a little oil before coating your food. This will help the spices stick to your food and reduce the chances of them being blown away by the powerful fan in the air fryer.

Season after cooking

Seasoning your food is a great way to add flavour, but when it comes to air fryers, you need to be careful. Dry spices and loose, leafy herbs can be blown off your food by the powerful fan during the cooking process, meaning they stick to the inside of your air fryer rather than your food. This can be frustrating, especially if you've carefully blended your spices, and it can also clog up the air fryer's filter.

So, what's the best way to season your food when using an air fryer? Well, one option is to season after cooking. This way, you can avoid the issue of spices and herbs being blown around by the fan. You can also ensure that your spices don't burn, which can happen in an air fryer due to the high temperatures.

If you do choose to season after cooking, it's important to note that you may need to use more seasoning than you normally would. This is because the spices and herbs haven't had a chance to cook into the food, so they may not be as intense in flavour. It's also a good idea to let your food cool slightly before seasoning, as this will help the spices stick better.

When seasoning after cooking, you can simply sprinkle the spices or herbs over your food. However, if you want them to stick better, you can mix them with a little oil first. This will help the spices adhere to the food and will also add a bit of moisture back into your dish, which can be helpful if your food is on the drier side.

Some good oils to use for this purpose include avocado oil, sesame oil, vegetable oil, or regular olive oil (if you're cooking at a temperature under 375 degrees Fahrenheit). Use a basting brush to apply the mixture to your food, or simply drizzle it on and use your hands to ensure an even coating.

So, if you're looking to get the most out of your air fryer, remember that seasoning after cooking can be a great option. Just be sure to use enough spices and herbs, and consider mixing them with oil to help them stick.

Mix dry rubs with oil

Yes, you can put seasoning in an air fryer, but it's best to mix dry rubs with oil first. Air fryers use a central fan to circulate hot air at high speed, so dry seasonings or loose, leafy herbs can be blown off your food and end up sticking to the inside of your air fryer. This can be disappointing, especially if you've carefully blended Italian spices, blackened Cajun rub, or herby lemon zest. It also means the cost of all those fancy seasonings will add up.

Mixing dry rubs with oil before coating your food will help the spices stick, whether you're cooking chicken, pork, steak, or vegetables. It's best to use an oil with a high smoke point, such as avocado, sesame, or vegetable oil. Regular olive oil can also be used if you're cooking at a temperature under 375°F (190°C). As a guide, use around one tablespoon of oil, mixed with your dry spices, for every pound of food you want to season.

Here's a recipe for an all-purpose air fryer dry rub that you can use on chicken, beef, lamb, turkey, fish, shrimp, and veggies:

Ingredients:

• 1.5 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, depending on how spicy you want it)
• 1/4 teaspoon swerve or 1/8 teaspoon stevia (optional; omit if following Whole30 or Paleo)

Instructions:

• Measure each ingredient and add them to a small dish.
• Use a spoon to mix together well, until fully combined.
• Transfer the mixture to an airtight container and store at room temperature until you're ready to use it.

Here's another recipe, this time for dry-rub air-fried chicken wings:

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon sweet paprika
• 1/2 tablespoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon mustard powder
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 8 chicken wings, or more as needed

Instructions:

• Preheat the air fryer to 350°F (175°C).
• Whisk together all the ingredients except the chicken wings in a large bowl.
• Toss in the chicken wings and rub the seasonings into the chicken with your hands until fully coated.
• Arrange the wings in the air fryer basket, standing them up on their ends and leaning them against each other and the wall of the basket.
• Cook in the preheated air fryer until the wings are tender inside and golden brown and crisp on the outside, about 35 minutes.
• Transfer the wings to a plate and serve hot.

Use wetter seasonings

If you're using an air fryer, it's best to avoid dry seasonings or loose, leafy herbs. The powerful fan used to cook your food can blow them off your food and they can end up sticking to the inside of your air fryer. This means your carefully prepared meal might end up flavorless.

To avoid this, try using wetter seasonings. Mix your dry seasonings with a little oil before coating your food. The oil will help the spices stick to your food, meaning they are less likely to be blown about by the fan.

You can use oils with a high smoke point, such as avocado, sesame, or vegetable oil. Regular olive oil can also be used if you're cooking at a temperature under 375 degrees Fahrenheit. As a guide, use around one tablespoon of oil, mixed with your dry spices, for every pound of food you want to season.

Frequently asked questions