Air Fryer Cooking: No Tray, No Problem!

Air fryers are a convenient way to cook food quickly and efficiently. They work by allowing hot air to circulate around the food, cooking it evenly on all sides. Most air fryers come with a basket or tray to hold the food, but what happens if you want to cook something that doesn't fit in the basket, or you want to cook a large quantity of food? Is it possible to use an air fryer without the tray or basket, and if so, how does it affect the cooking process?

Advantages of removing the tray

Removing the tray from an air fryer can have several advantages. Firstly, it can provide more space for cooking, which is beneficial when preparing food for a larger group or when dealing with larger food items that require more room. This extra space can be particularly useful when cooking for a small gathering, allowing you to cook a good quantity of food without the constraint of the tray.

Secondly, removing the tray can be advantageous when dealing with specific recipes or desired textures. For instance, if you're cooking dishes that require slight moisture, removing the tray can help achieve that. Additionally, if you're not in the mood for crispy food, forgoing the tray can help prevent that extra crispiness. In such cases, you might need to flip or toss the food during cooking to ensure even cooking and prevent burning.

Another benefit of removing the tray is accommodating specific shapes of baking molds. Sometimes, the desired shape of a cake, cupcake, or cookie may not fit well on the tray. By removing the tray, you can directly place the mold into the air fryer compartment, allowing you to achieve the desired shape for your baked goods. Just ensure that the molds are air fryer-friendly and made of materials like silicone, steel, or ceramic.

Lastly, removing the tray can make cleaning easier, especially when dealing with foods that produce a lot of drippings or crumbs. Without the tray, the cleanup process can be more straightforward, although it may result in a slightly messier cooking process.

Disadvantages of removing the tray

While removing the tray from an air fryer can have its benefits, there are also several disadvantages to doing so. Firstly, the tray plays a crucial role in ensuring even cooking by allowing hot air to circulate around the food. Without the tray, you may experience uneven cooking temperatures and have to manually flip or toss your food at intervals to achieve evenly cooked results. This can be inconvenient and time-consuming, especially if you're cooking large quantities of food.

Another disadvantage of removing the tray is the potential for messiness. Without the tray, drippings and crumbs from your food can accumulate at the bottom of the air fryer, making the cooking process messier. This can also lead to increased cleanup time and effort. To mitigate this issue, you may need to use parchment paper, silicone liners, or aluminium foil to catch the drippings and prevent them from sticking to the bottom of the air fryer.

Removing the tray can also limit your ability to cook certain types of food. For example, delicate items such as fish fillets or small vegetables may be more challenging to cook without the tray, as the grill basket or mesh basket helps prevent small pieces from falling through or sticking to the air fryer surface. Additionally, recipes that require fat cutting or dripping, such as crispy foods, may not turn out as expected without the tray, as it allows excess oil, fat, or butter to drip away from the food.

Lastly, removing the tray may not be an option for all air fryer models. Some models are designed to work with the tray in place and may not function properly or turn on at all without it. Therefore, it is important to consult your air fryer's instructions or user manual before attempting to use it without the tray.

Air fryer models that can be used without a tray

It is possible to use an air fryer without the tray or rack in most models. For example, the Philips air fryer can be used without the tray, but the Cosori air fryer cannot. If your air fryer model cannot be used without the tray, there is a workaround: simply unscrew the handle from the tray and place the unscrewed handle where it fits in the compartment.

Some recipes require more space, and removing the tray can help with that. Removing the tray can also help with the cleanup, especially for foods that produce a lot of drippings or crumbs. However, removing the tray can affect cooking performance as it changes the air circulation. Without the tray, you may need to toss and flip the food at intervals to achieve even cooking.

• Power XL Vortex 5-quart air fryer: The outer basket can be pulled out, and the inner basket (or rack) can be removed. The air fryer will continue to run without the inner basket or rack.
• Instant Vortex Mini: This model has a removable tray and is easy to clean.
• Instant Vortex Plus 6-quart air fryer: This model has 13 preset functions, including air fry, slow cook, roast, broil, bake, cookies, pizza, toast, bagel, reheat, proof, dehydrate, and warm.
• Ninja DZ201 Foodi 2-Basket Air Fryer: This model has two 4-quart baskets, making it easier to use than its single-basket counterparts.

Air fryer accessories that can replace a tray

Yes, you can cook without the tray in an air fryer. Removing the tray can give you more room to cook larger quantities of food or bigger items. However, it may result in messier drippings and a slightly messier cooking process. It may also affect the airflow, requiring you to flip or toss the food to ensure even cooking.

Grilling Baskets

Grilling or mesh baskets with handles are ideal for grilling delicate items like fish fillets or small vegetables. They prevent small pieces from falling through the basket or sticking to the air fryer tray.

Baking Pans and Casserole Dishes

Metal or oven-safe glass baking pans can be used in your air fryer for dishes like lasagnas, casseroles, and baked goods.

Parchment Paper or Silicone Liners

While not exactly accessories, these are essential for easy cleanup. Placing parchment paper or silicone liners at the bottom of your air fryer will catch drippings and prevent food from sticking.

Rotisserie Attachments

Some air fryers come with rotisserie kits, allowing you to cook rotisserie-style chicken, roasts, and other large cuts of meat.

Aluminum Foil

In a pinch, aluminum foil can be used to create makeshift trays or baskets for certain foods. It can also be placed at the bottom of the air fryer basket to make cleanup easier.

Air Fryer Racks and Skewers

Many air fryer models come with racks or skewers that allow you to cook multiple layers of food simultaneously. They are great for making kebabs or cooking foods like chicken wings.

How to cook food evenly without a tray

Yes, you can use an air fryer without the tray or rack in most models. Removing the tray can give you more room inside the air fryer for cooking. However, the tray helps with even cooking by allowing good air circulation. Without it, you may need to toss, turn, or flip the food at intervals to cook it evenly.

If your air fryer model can be used without the tray, keep in mind that the cooking will be affected. Leaving the tray out will disrupt the air circulation, so you will need to turn the food to ensure even cooking on all sides. You may also need to watch the food closely to prevent it from burning.

To help with cleanup, you can place foil, parchment paper, or a silicone liner at the bottom of the air fryer to catch drips and prevent food from sticking. If you are cooking something that does not require fat cutting or dripping down, you can also place a mold or an air fryer-friendly container directly inside the air fryer compartment.

Frequently asked questions