Air Fryer Safety: Opening Mid-Cook

It's perfectly fine to open your air fryer mid-cook. In fact, it's the only way to check on your food and ensure even cooking. Opening the air fryer to flip or shake what's inside will help you achieve this. It's also a good idea to check your food regularly when cooking something that can overcook easily, such as steak or eggs.

It's safe to open your air fryer mid-cook

Opening your basket while cooking is the only way to check on whatever appetizing air fryer recipe you're making. It's an accepted rule that ovens should remain closed during cooking, but this doesn't apply to air fryers. Most companies advise against putting a paper towel in the air fryer as they catch fire easily, but there are no such warnings about opening the air fryer mid-cook.

Opening the air fryer helps ensure even cooking

It's perfectly fine to open your air fryer mid-cook. Not only is it safe, but opening the air fryer to flip or shake what's inside will help ensure even cooking. This is particularly important when cooking food that can easily overcook, such as steak or eggs. Checking your food regularly is more important than relying solely on the cooking time, as it's not always easy to save overcooked food. Opening the air fryer basket while cooking is the only way to check on the progress of your recipe.

Checking your food regularly is more important than relying on cooking time

It's perfectly safe to open your air fryer mid-cook. In fact, it's important to do so to ensure even cooking. Checking your food regularly is more important than relying on cooking times, especially when cooking foods that can easily overcook, such as steak or eggs. Opening the basket is the only way to check on your food, and you may need to flip or shake what's inside.

While it's an accepted rule that ovens should remain closed during cooking, the same does not apply to air fryers. You can open the air fryer to check on your food, whether it's done or not.

It's also a good idea to preheat your air fryer before cooking, just as you would with a conventional oven. This will help ensure even cooking.

However, it's important to note that most companies advise against putting a paper towel in the air fryer as they can catch fire easily.

Preheating your air fryer is important

It's perfectly fine to open your air fryer mid-cook. In fact, it's a good idea to open it to flip or shake what's inside to ensure even cooking. You should also open it to check on food that can overcook easily, such as steak or eggs.

Don't put paper towels in the air fryer

It's perfectly fine to open your air fryer mid-cook. Not only is it safe to do so, but opening it to flip or shake what's inside will ensure even cooking. This is especially important when you're making any food that can overcook easily, such as steak or eggs. Checking your food regularly is more important than relying solely on the cooking time, as it's not always easy to save overcooked food.

Now, onto the topic of paper towels. While some people use paper towels in their air fryers, most manufacturers do not recommend them. Paper towels can catch fire if they come into contact with the heating element or get too hot, posing a serious fire risk. They can also affect the airflow in the fryer, leading to uneven cooking and potentially damaging the air fryer. It's best to stick to using aluminium foil or the accessories that come with your air fryer for optimal results. If you want to absorb excess oil, try using a paper towel to pat the food before or after cooking.

Parchment paper, on the other hand, has a silicone coating and can withstand high temperatures of above 200°C or 400°F that most air fryers operate at. Hence, parchment paper or lining paper that specifically says it is for use in ovens or air fryers is great for lining air fryer baskets. These perforated ones are even better as they allow free circulation of air for even cooking.

In summary, while it's safe to open your air fryer mid-cook, it's not advisable to use paper towels inside it due to the fire risk and potential for uneven cooking. Instead, opt for parchment paper, aluminium foil, or the accessories that come with your air fryer.

Frequently asked questions