Barbecue In An Air Fryer: Is It Possible?

Yes, you can barbecue in an air fryer. It's a great option for when you don't want to deal with the hassle of firing up a grill or dealing with uncooperative weather. Air fryers are also quicker than grilling, and you can cook a variety of barbecue foods in them, including chicken, sausages, pork steaks, hamburgers, steak, vegetables, and potatoes.

Preheat the air fryer to 400°F

Preheating your air fryer is a great way to speed up cooking time and make your food extra crispy. It's not always necessary, but it's a good idea if you want to achieve a crunchy texture with fried or breaded foods.

To preheat your air fryer to 400°F, start by turning on the appliance and ensuring it's clean, plugged in, and ready to use. If your air fryer has a preheat button, simply press it, set the temperature to 400°F, and enter the cooking time. If there's no preheat button, manually heat the air fryer to 400°F for 3 to 5 minutes.

Preheating at 400°F is perfect for cooking foods that need a good sear, like steaks or burgers. It's also ideal for achieving a crispy texture with fried foods, such as chicken tenders or french fries. So, if you're looking for a quick and easy way to get that perfect crunch, preheating your air fryer to 400°F is a great option!

Use an onion to season the grates

Onions are a versatile ingredient that can be used to season the grates of your air fryer. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

Step 1: Prepare the Onion

Slice one large onion into thin wedges or strips. You can also cut it into 1/4 inch thick whole onion ring slices, leaving the rings whole. The key is to ensure that the onion slices are not too thin, as they may burn, and not too thick, as they may not cook evenly.

Step 2: Toss Onion with Oil and Seasoning

Place the sliced onion in a bowl and drizzle with oil. You can use olive oil, avocado oil, or any oil of your choice. Add a pinch of salt and pepper, and any additional seasonings you like. Toss the onion until it is well-coated with oil and seasoning. You can use your hands or a food-basting brush to ensure an even coating.

Step 3: Preheat the Air Fryer

Preheat your air fryer to 350-375 degrees Fahrenheit. This step ensures that your air fryer is at the optimal temperature for cooking the onions.

Step 4: Arrange Onion in the Air Fryer

Place the seasoned onion in the air fryer basket, spreading them out as much as possible. Try not to overlap the onion slices to ensure even cooking.

Step 5: Cook the Onion

Cook the onion for 10-12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through for even cooking. The total cooking time will depend on your desired level of doneness. For softer, golden onions, cook for around 8 minutes. For crispier, more caramelized onions, cook for up to 14 minutes.

Step 6: Check for Doneness

Keep an eye on the onions during the cooking process, especially towards the end. Once they are golden brown and caramelized, they are ready! If they need a little more time, give them a couple more minutes, checking frequently to avoid burning.

Step 7: Serve and Enjoy

Transfer the cooked onions to a bowl and enjoy their sweet, caramelized flavor. Air fryer onions are a delicious addition to burgers, sandwiches, pizzas, or stirred into pasta dishes.

Using an onion to season the grates of your air fryer is a simple and effective way to add flavor to your dishes. They are versatile and can be used in a variety of recipes, from BBQ chicken to French onion soup.

Use a grill plate attachment for grill marks

If you want to achieve those classic, aesthetically pleasing grill marks on your food, you'll need to use a grill plate attachment. This is an easy way to get that outdoor barbecue look and feel, without the hassle of coal and greasy cleaning.

Many modern air fryers come with dedicated grill settings and griddle plates to create chargrilled effects. For example, the Ninja Foodi Indoor Grill and Cuisinart TOA-70 have grill plates included. You can also purchase grill plates separately on Amazon, which are compatible with most air fryers. These plates will help you achieve beautiful chargrilled lines without firing up the coals of a traditional outdoor grill.

Grill plates are designed with grooves that create the iconic grill marks and allow the juices from the food to fall and evaporate, creating more flavour. This is similar to what happens on a traditional barbecue grill, where the juices can fall from the food and evaporate, adding a distinctive grilled flavour to your food.

When using a grill plate attachment, it's important to preheat your air fryer first, just as you would with a traditional grill. This helps to achieve a crispy finish and deep colour. Most foods will only need a couple of minutes of preheating before you add them to the basket.

In addition to using a grill plate, you can further enhance the barbecue experience by using oils with high smoking points, such as avocado or vegetable oil, and adding smoky spice blends to your food.

Use oils with high smoking points

When cooking with an air fryer, it's important to consider the smoke point of the oil you're using. The smoke point refers to the temperature at which the oil begins to smoke, break down, and release harmful chemicals into the air and your food. This can cause your food to taste bitter or burnt.

To avoid this, it's best to use oils with a high smoke point. Here are some options:

• Avocado oil: Avocado oil has a smoke point of 520-570 degrees Fahrenheit, making it an excellent choice for air frying. It has a neutral flavour that works well with most dishes.
• Ghee (clarified butter): Ghee has a smoke point of 482-485 degrees Fahrenheit. It is a good alternative if you're looking for something different from your usual cooking oils.
• Extra light olive oil: With a smoke point of 465-470 degrees Fahrenheit, extra light olive oil is a great option for air frying. It's worth noting that regular olive oil has a lower smoke point of around 375-400 degrees Fahrenheit, so be sure to use the extra light variety.
• Peanut oil: Peanut oil has a smoke point of 450 degrees Fahrenheit. It will impart a subtle flavour to your dishes, so keep that in mind when choosing this oil.
• Sunflower oil: Sunflower oil also has a smoke point of 450 degrees Fahrenheit. It is a good option if you're looking for a more neutral-flavoured oil.
• Grapeseed oil: With a smoke point of 420 degrees Fahrenheit, grapeseed oil is another option to consider for air frying.

When using oil in your air fryer, it's best to add it directly to the food before placing it in the basket. This ensures that the oil doesn't come into contact with any electrical components.

Pre-soak skewers to avoid burning them

So, you want to barbecue in your air fryer? You can! You can cook your favourite barbecue foods in your air fryer instead of getting out the barbecue. This is perfect for when it's too hot or too cold outside, or when it's raining. You can cook barbecue favourites such as sausages, pork steaks, hamburgers, steak, and vegetables in your air fryer.

If you're cooking kebabs, you'll need to use skewers. To avoid burning the skewers, you should pre-soak them. This is because wood is flammable, and wet wood has a lower chance of catching fire. Pre-soaking the skewers creates a barrier that slows down the charring process, allowing your kebabs to cook evenly without scorching.

Here's how to pre-soak your skewers:

• Buy wooden or bamboo skewers in bulk.
• Transfer the skewers to a 9x13-inch baking pan and cover them with warm water.
• Let the skewers soak for at least 30 minutes for bamboo and 10-15 minutes for wood. Ensure the skewers are fully submerged.
• After soaking, drain the water and wrap the skewers in aluminium foil, plastic wrap, or place them in a reusable container.
• Store the skewers in your freezer until you're ready to use them.

Now you're ready to cook your kebabs in your air fryer! Just make sure the kebabs fit inside your air fryer, and you're good to go.

Frequently asked questions