Air Fryer Usage: Instant Frying Or Not?

Air fryers are a great way to cook food without using much oil. They work by circulating hot air around the food in a holed basket, and can be used to fry, bake, grill, and broil anything from frozen items to fresh vegetables, fish, and meat.

Before using your air fryer for the first time, wash it to remove any plastic smell and packaging residue. Place your air fryer on a stable, heat-proof surface with ample space around it for easy access and ventilation. Make sure not to place it against a wall, as it needs airflow. You can also season the basket to prevent food from sticking.

When cooking with your air fryer, preheat it before adding food and avoid overcrowding the basket. Oil will give you a crispier result, but you only need a little bit. Food cooks faster in an air fryer, so keep a close eye on it. Shake, toss, or flip the food a few times during cooking to allow the air to circulate better around it and ensure an even and crisp result.

Clean your air fryer after each use to prevent a buildup of crumbs and grease, which can contaminate your other dishes and cause a pungent smell or even smoke. You can wipe down the drawer and basket with a paper towel, or hand wash them.

Preheat the air fryer

Preheating an air fryer is a good idea for achieving a crispy and crunchy texture with fried or breaded foods. It is also useful for foods that need a good sear, like steaks or burgers. Preheating will also decrease the overall cooking time.

To preheat an air fryer, set the temperature to the desired cooking temperature and press start or preheat. Leave the basket in so that it gets hot. Let the appliance warm up for a few minutes before placing the food in the air fryer. Smaller air fryers will preheat faster than larger ones. A small air fryer can preheat in two to three minutes, while a larger one may need four to five minutes. Most air fryers preheat to 400° F in three to five minutes.

Some air fryer models have a light that indicates when the unit is preheated. Manufacturers recommend preheating, but it is not always necessary. You can try preheating and not preheating to see which method gives you the best results. It may depend on the recipe.

• Preheat for three to four minutes at 400° F to cook steaks or burgers with a grill-like browning and sear.
• Preheat for a crispy and crunchy texture with fried or breaded foods like chicken tenders or fries.
• Preheating is not necessary for foods that cook for a long time, like a whole chicken or baked potato.
• Preheating is also not necessary for delicate foods that you want to cook at a slower rate, like shrimp or tomatoes.
• Preheat for five to seven minutes at 400° F if you are cooking vegetables like potatoes, sweet potatoes, or Brussels sprouts.
• Preheat for about 20 minutes at 400° F if you are cooking chicken.

Use oil sparingly

Air fryers are a great way to cook food without using much oil. In fact, some foods that already contain fat, like chicken with the skin on, don't need any extra oil at all.

If you are cooking foods that benefit from a light coating of oil, like vegetables, then it's important to use sparingly. Excess oil will end up in the drawer beneath the basket and could start to smoke.

There are a few ways to add oil to your food. You can spritz or brush it on, or toss your food in a bowl with oil before adding it to the air fryer. If you want to spritz your food with oil once it's already in the basket, use an oil mister rather than a cooking spray, as cooking sprays can damage the non-stick coating.

If you're cooking bacon or another fatty food, it's a good idea to add a cup of water to the bottom of the air fryer basket to catch the grease and prevent smoking.

Don't overcrowd the basket

While air fryers are a great way to cook food quickly and conveniently, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure optimal results. One of the most important things to remember is not to overcrowd the air fryer basket. Here are some reasons why you should avoid overcrowding and how to make the most of your air fryer:

Firstly, overcrowding the basket can lead to uneven cooking. Air fryers work by circulating hot air around the food, and if the basket is packed too tightly, the air may not be able to reach all the food items effectively. This can result in some parts of your food being undercooked or overcooked, affecting the overall quality of your meal.

Secondly, overcrowding can also cause your food to steam instead of crisp. Air fryers rely on proper airflow to create that signature crispy texture. When you overcrowd the basket, the air has a harder time circulating, leading to a steaming effect rather than the desired crisping. To achieve that golden, well-crisped result, it is best to cook in batches and allow for adequate airflow.

Additionally, it is important to consider the type of food you are cooking. Certain vegetables, such as Brussels sprouts and broccoli, can be stacked and loaded without any issues. However, for most other foods, it is recommended to cook in single layers or smaller batches. This ensures that each piece of food receives the same amount of heat and airflow, resulting in even cooking and browning.

Another benefit of not overcrowding the basket is faster cooking times. Air fryers are known for their speed and efficiency, and by giving your food the space it needs, you can take advantage of this feature. Cooking in smaller batches allows for better airflow, reducing the overall cooking time and helping you get your meal on the table quicker.

Finally, not overcrowding the basket can also help extend the lifespan of your air fryer. Overworking your air fryer by packing it too full can put a strain on the appliance and may even lead to breakage. By cooking in batches and giving your air fryer some breathing room, you can help ensure that it lasts for many meals to come.

Shake or flip food during cooking

Air fryers are convection ovens that cook food by circulating hot air around it. However, the confined space of the basket, the positioning of the heating elements, and the tray or basket itself can sometimes block the hot air from cooking the undersides of the food. This can lead to uneven cooking, with the top side of the food cooking faster and becoming crispier than the underside.

To ensure even cooking and browning, it is recommended to shake or flip the food at least once during the cooking process. Some recipes suggest shaking or flipping the food every five minutes, especially for larger items like breaded fish fillets. For smaller foods, such as cauliflower florets, French fries, or chicken nuggets, a good shake or toss in the middle of the cooking cycle will expose new parts of the food to the heating element, resulting in more even cooking.

Flipping or shaking the food also helps to prevent uneven cooking and the possibility of having a soggy underside. Additionally, it is important not to overcrowd the air fryer basket to allow proper airflow and even cooking.

Clean the air fryer after each use

It is important to clean your air fryer after each use. This is because food goes directly into the air fryer without any casing, so crumbs and grease can build up and contaminate your other dishes. These can harden, making them harder to scrub, so it's best to add cleaning the air fryer to your post-meal cleaning checklist.

If you're not a fan of cleaning your air fryer, you can buy air fryer liners, which can be put in the dishwasher.

How to Clean the Air Fryer

• Wash the tray with soapy water. Take the tray out and place it in a bowl of soapy water. Wash it with a sponge and hand dry it with a towel.
• Wipe down the front with an all-purpose cleaner. Use a damp microfiber cloth and an all-purpose cleaning spray, then go over it with a dry microfiber cloth.
• Remove the crumb tray and air fry basket. Unplug your air fryer and remove the crumb tray and basket. Clean them with warm, soapy water using a non-abrasive sponge or rag.
• Soak parts in warm and soapy water if food is stuck on. Use a soft-bristle brush to clean the mesh of the air fry basket.
• Wipe the inside and outside of the air fryer. With the basket and tray removed, use a cloth dipped in warm water to wipe out the inside of the air fryer, then dry the inside with a soft cloth. Wipe down the exterior with a damp cloth.
• Dry and replace the crumb tray and air fry basket.

Frequently asked questions