Stacking Fries In An Air Fryer: Do Or Don't?

Air fryers are a popular kitchen appliance that can cook a variety of foods with crispy, fried results without the need for excessive amounts of oil. One common question that air fryer owners often ask is whether it is possible to stack food, such as French fries, in the air fryer to cook more at once. While it is possible to stack some foods in an air fryer, such as French fries, it is important to follow certain guidelines to ensure optimal cooking results.

Air fryer racks can double the capacity of your appliance

Air Fryer Racks Double the Capacity of Your Appliance

Air fryer racks are a simple yet effective accessory that can double the amount of food you can cook in one go. They are particularly useful for those with compact countertop appliances who want to maximise their potential. With an air fryer rack, you can cook two layers at the same time, saving you time and money.

Air fryer racks elevate the food, allowing heat to circulate easily around it. This helps you achieve a crisp coating on dishes such as chicken drumsticks, steak, and fish. They are also useful for larger pieces of meat, kebabs, or anything that needs to be carefully rotated.

You can stack most foods in an air fryer, as long as there is enough space around the food for proper airflow. Small, firm, or unevenly shaped pieces of food can be stacked directly in the basket without a rack, as the uneven sizes and shapes allow for airflow and even cooking. However, you should shake the basket midway through cooking to ensure all pieces cook evenly.

When using a rack, you can stack any kind of food, regardless of its hardness or size. It is important to keep meat separate to easily check the internal temperature and ensure everything is cooked perfectly. Large or soft foods like meat can block airflow and cause uneven cooking, which may lead to food poisoning.

Tips for Using Air Fryer Racks

When purchasing air fryer racks, look for food-grade high-quality stainless steel that is non-stick for easy cleaning and compatible with your fryer. Before cooking, preheat the air fryer and coat the racks with a non-stick spray. Place marinated meat on the lower rack to prevent cross-contamination and ensure food pieces are small enough so as not to cause the rack to become uneven.

During cooking, switch the racks halfway through for thorough cooking. When cooking multiple types of food, start with a low and slow approach to temperature and time, as food can cook surprisingly quickly in an air fryer.

Recommended Products

Brands such as Ninja, Tower, Breville, and Philips produce their own accessories that are compatible with existing models. You can also find air fryer racks sold separately or as part of larger air fryer accessory bundles on Amazon.

Shaking the basket halfway through cooking is recommended

The shaking motion helps the fries in the centre of the stack, which would otherwise remain raw, come in contact with the hot, circulating air in the air fryer. This is crucial to achieving the desired crispiness of French fries. Without shaking, the fries in the middle will be undercooked and soggy, while those on the outside burn.

Additionally, shaking the basket halfway through cooking can also help to reduce cooking time. Air fryers cook faster than conventional ovens, and by shaking the contents, you can promote browning on all sides of the food. This extra step can improve your air fryer results dramatically.

It is also important to note that while stacking fries is possible, overcrowding the air fryer basket should be avoided. Overcrowding can obstruct airflow and lead to uneven cooking, defeating the purpose of the air fryer's speed and efficiency.

Don't block airflow by lining the basket with foil or paper

When using an air fryer, it is important to remember not to block the airflow by lining the basket with foil or paper. Air fryers use a whirlwind of hot air to cook food, similar to a convection oven. This rapid air circulation needs space to cook food evenly. Lining the basket with foil or paper will block the airflow, resulting in undercooked or unevenly cooked food.

The only exception to this rule is when cooking delicate foods such as flaky fish or cookies. In this case, you can place a piece of parchment paper under the food, cut to the size of the food, to allow as much air circulation as possible while making it easier to remove the food from the basket.

If you are looking to increase the capacity of your air fryer, consider investing in an air fryer rack or basket. These accessories allow you to cook multiple layers of food without sacrificing airflow. Most racks are stackable and easy to clean. Just be sure to choose accessories that are compatible with your specific air fryer model.

Additionally, when cooking foods that are stacked in the basket, such as French fries, it is necessary to shake the basket periodically to ensure even cooking and prevent the pieces from sticking together.

Air fryers cook faster than conventional ovens

While it is possible to stack fries in an air fryer, it is generally not recommended to stack food in an air fryer as it can lead to uneven cooking and sogginess. This is because air fryers function by circulating hot air around the food, and stacking food can prevent proper airflow. However, some foods like French fries can be stacked and shaken halfway through cooking to ensure even cooking. Additionally, there are accessories such as air fryer racks that can be purchased separately to increase the capacity of the air fryer and allow for stacking.

Air fryers are popular kitchen appliances that use hot air to cook food, and one of their main advantages is that they can cook food faster than conventional ovens. Here are some reasons why air fryers cook faster than conventional ovens:

• Rapid Air Circulation: Air fryers circulate hot air around the food more quickly than conventional ovens, reducing cooking times.
• Preheating: Air fryers have a shorter preheating time, typically taking only 1-3 minutes compared to 10-15 minutes for ovens.
• Smaller Capacity: Air fryers have a smaller capacity, which means they can heat up faster and cook food more efficiently.
• High Temperatures: Air fryers often operate at higher temperatures, contributing to reduced cooking times.
• Efficient Cooking: The compact design of air fryers, along with the perforated baskets, promote better air circulation, resulting in faster and more even cooking.

• Chicken nuggets: 15 minutes in an air fryer vs. 20-25 minutes in an oven
• French fries: 15-20 minutes in an air fryer vs. 25-30 minutes in an oven
• Frozen chips: 10 minutes in an air fryer vs. 20 minutes in an oven

Invest in air fryer accessories to maximise space

While it is possible to stack fries in an air fryer, it is generally not recommended to stack food in your air fryer. Stacking food can lead to uneven cooking, with the outer layer burning and the inner layer remaining raw. It can also result in soggy textures as improper layering traps moisture.

However, if you are looking to maximise the space in your air fryer, there are accessories available that can help. Air fryer racks, for example, can double your air fryer's capacity by allowing you to cook two layers of food at the same time. Most racks are stackable and easy to clean. They work by elevating and separating food, allowing heat to circulate easily.

Other accessories include stackable racks, skewers, and baking pans, which can be used to cook multiple layers of food without sacrificing air circulation. These accessories are available in various sizes and configurations and are compatible with specific air fryer models.

When using air fryer accessories, it is important to follow a few guidelines:

• Choose the right food combinations: Select foods with similar cooking times and requirements. For example, chicken wings and potato wedges or fries and onion rings.
• Do not overcrowd: Even when using racks, leave some space between food items to allow for even heat distribution and browning.
• Shake and rotate: Embrace the shake and rotate method to ensure even cooking, especially with multi-layered dishes. If using racks, swap their positions midway through cooking.
• Monitor closely: Air fryers cook faster than conventional ovens, so pay close attention to the cooking progress when experimenting with double-layering.

Frequently asked questions