Air Fryer Magic: Cooking Multiple Foods Together

Air fryers have become increasingly popular since 2017, with sales of the appliances reaching over $1 billion in 2021. They provide a healthy alternative to deep frying, with 70% fewer calories and less of the chemical acrylamide, which has been associated with cancer. One of the most frequently asked questions about air fryers is whether you can cook multiple things at once. The good news is that you can, and doing so can save time and energy. However, there are some important things to consider.

Choose compatible foods

When cooking multiple foods in an air fryer, it is essential to choose compatible foods with similar cooking times and requirements. For instance, chicken wings and drumsticks are a great combination, as are fries and onion rings. However, avoid pairing foods with vastly different cooking needs, such as chicken breasts and frozen vegetables, as they require different temperatures and times, which can lead to chaos in your air fryer.

It is also important to consider the size and arrangement of the food items. Cut them into similar sizes to ensure even cooking, as smaller pieces will cook faster and more evenly than larger ones. Additionally, avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket by arranging the food in a single layer, as this can obstruct airflow and lead to uneven cooking. If you have a large quantity of food, consider cooking in batches to ensure everything cooks evenly.

Utilize the accessories that come with your air fryer, such as racks or trays, to maximize space and separate different foods. These accessories not only help to increase your cooking surface area but also simplify cleaning and prevent food from sticking to the basket. If your air fryer does not come with these accessories, they can be purchased separately.

When cooking multiple foods together, start by setting the temperature about 25 degrees lower than the recommended temperature for each item. Then, increase the cooking time by a few minutes until everything is fully cooked. Remember to occasionally shake the basket or tray to ensure even browning and prevent sticking or burning.

Cut food into similar sizes

When cooking multiple foods in an air fryer, cutting them into similar sizes is a crucial step to ensure even cooking. Here's why this matters and how to do it effectively:

Even Cooking and Texture:

Cutting your food into uniform sizes is key to achieving evenly cooked and textured results. When all the pieces are similar in size, they will cook at the same rate. This means you won't end up with some items overcooked and dry while others remain raw or undercooked. This technique is especially important when cooking foods with different cooking requirements, such as chicken wings and vegetables, which have different cooking times and temperatures. By cutting them into similar sizes, you can more easily cook them together without worrying about overdoing one item while waiting for the other to finish.

Maximizing Space and Air Circulation:

Air fryers rely on rapid air circulation to cook food evenly. When you cut your food into similar sizes, you can maximize the space in your air fryer's basket or rack. This ensures that hot air reaches all the pieces uniformly, preventing overcrowding that could lead to uneven cooking. Cutting your food into uniform sizes allows you to make the most of the available cooking space, especially when using stackable racks or layers.

Planning and Timing:

Before you start cutting, it's essential to plan the quantities of each food item you want to cook together. Consider the number of servings and the size of your air fryer's basket or rack. Cut your food into sizes that will fit comfortably in a single layer, or if using multiple layers, ensure proper spacing for air circulation. This planning step will help you determine the cooking time and temperature needed for all the items to cook through simultaneously.

Creative Combinations:

When cutting your food into similar sizes, feel free to get creative with your food combinations. While you should still choose compatible foods with similar cooking times and requirements, cutting them uniformly gives you more flexibility. For example, you could pair chicken wings with onion rings or sweet potato fries, ensuring they cook evenly. This technique allows you to experiment with different food pairings and create delicious, evenly cooked meals in your air fryer.

In summary, cutting your food into similar sizes before air frying ensures even cooking, maximizes space and air circulation, simplifies planning and timing, and opens up a world of creative food combinations. So, take out your knife and cutting board, plan your meal, and get slicing for the best results in your air fryer!

Use cooking racks or trays

Using cooking racks or trays in your air fryer can be a great way to cook multiple items at once. Most air fryers come with racks or trays that allow you to cook multiple items simultaneously without them touching each other. If your air fryer doesn't come with these accessories, you can purchase them separately online.

Racks and trays are particularly useful when cooking larger pieces of meat, kebabs, or anything that needs careful rotation. They can also be helpful when cooking lightweight foods, as they prevent them from flying up into the heating element. Additionally, some users have found that racks help achieve a better char on meats than a crisper tray.

When using a rack or tray, it's important to choose compatible foods that will cook at similar rates. For example, chicken wings and french fries may not be the best combination, as they cook at different rates. Instead, try pairing chicken wings with onion rings or sweet potato fries, which will cook more evenly.

It's also essential to cut your food into similar sizes before placing them on the rack or tray. This will help ensure even cooking and prevent some items from being overdone while others are still raw. Additionally, be sure to adjust the cooking time and temperature accordingly when cooking multiple foods. Start by setting the temperature about 25 degrees lower than what's recommended for each item, and then increase the cooking time by a few minutes until everything is fully cooked.

Finally, don't forget to shake the rack or tray occasionally during cooking to ensure even browning on all sides and prevent sticking or burning.

Adjust cooking time and temperature

When cooking multiple foods in an air fryer, it's important to adjust the cooking time and temperature accordingly. This is because different foods cook at different rates, and you want to ensure that all your food is cooked properly. For example, chicken wings and french fries will cook at different rates, so it's better to pair chicken wings with onion rings or sweet potato fries, which will cook more evenly.

To adjust the cooking time and temperature, you can refer to oven-to-air fryer and deep fryer-to-air fryer conversion charts, which are easily available online. These charts will help you determine the right cooking time and temperature for the foods you want to cook. For example, if an oven recipe calls for a cooking temperature of 400°F for 30 minutes, you should set your air fryer to 375°F and start checking your food at the halfway point, around 15 minutes. If your food is getting too dark, you can turn the temperature down to 350°F or shorten the cooking time.

You can also use a general rule of thumb to reduce the suggested temperature by 25°F to 50°F and cut the time by about 20%. So, if an oven recipe calls for cooking at 425°F for 60 minutes, you can air-fry the food at 400°F for about 40 minutes. It's important to keep in mind that these are general guidelines, and the specific adjustments may vary depending on the type of food and the model of your air fryer.

Additionally, when cooking multiple foods in an air fryer, it's recommended to cut them into similar sizes to ensure even cooking. You can also use cooking racks or trays to cook multiple items at once without them touching each other. This will help you manage different cooking temperatures and times for each food item.

Shake the basket or tray

When cooking multiple foods in an air fryer, it is important to shake the basket or tray occasionally to ensure even browning on all sides. This will also help prevent sticking or burning. Shaking the basket or tray is a simple yet effective way to ensure your food cooks evenly and efficiently.

To achieve optimal results, it is recommended to select foods with similar cooking times and requirements. For example, chicken wings and drumsticks are a great combination, as they roast well together. Similarly, fries and onion rings make a perfect pair. However, it is best to avoid pairing foods with vastly different cooking needs, such as chicken breasts and frozen vegetables, as they require different temperatures and times, leading to uneven results.

To maximize the space in your air fryer, consider using air fryer racks or trays. These accessories elevate and separate your food into two or three sections, allowing for multiple layers without sacrificing air circulation. Stackable racks, skewers, and even baking pans are available to accommodate different food items and quantities. These accessories not only help with even cooking but also simplify the cleaning process by preventing food from sticking to the basket.

When cooking multiple foods together, it is crucial to cut them into similar sizes. This ensures that everything cooks at the same rate, preventing some items from being overdone while others remain raw. By following these tips and techniques, you can cook multiple foods in your air fryer efficiently and achieve delicious, evenly cooked results every time.

Frequently asked questions