Best Oils For Your Air Fryer And Why

Air fryers are a great way to cook food with less oil than traditional frying methods. When choosing an oil to use in an air fryer, it's important to select one with a high smoke point that won't burn at high temperatures. Examples of oils with high smoke points include avocado oil, peanut oil, sunflower oil, and light olive oil. It's also important to note that the amount of oil used in an air fryer is significantly less than what would be used for deep frying or sautéing.

High smoke point oils

When choosing an oil to use in an air fryer, it's important to opt for a high smoke point oil that won't burn at high temperatures. Examples of high smoke point oils include avocado oil, peanut oil, sunflower oil, light olive oil, grapeseed oil, canola oil, and clarified butter. These oils are suitable for air frying as they have a higher smoke point than low smoke point oils like flaxseed oil, walnut oil, and butter.

Avocado oil is one of the best oils to use in an air fryer as it has a high smoke point and a neutral flavour that won't overpower your food. Peanut oil is another good option, as it has a high smoke point and a mild flavour. Sunflower oil is also suitable for air frying due to its high smoke point and neutral flavour.

Light olive oil is another option for air frying, but it's important to choose a refined olive oil rather than extra virgin olive oil, which has a lower smoke point. Regular virgin olive oil can be used if you're cooking at 400°F or lower, as it has a smoke point of 410°F.

Grapeseed oil and canola oil are also suitable for air frying as they have high smoke points. Canola oil is a good option if you're looking for a neutral-flavoured oil, while grapeseed oil has a slightly nutty flavour that can enhance the taste of your food.

Finally, clarified butter, also known as ghee, is a great option for air frying. It has a high smoke point and is commonly used in French and Indian cuisine. Clarified butter is simply butter with the milk solids and water removed, giving it a higher smoke point than regular butter.

Low smoke point oils

It is best to use high smoke point oils in an air fryer, as these won't burn at high temperatures. However, if you want to use a low smoke point oil, you should be aware that it will start smoking before you reach the target temperature. Low smoke point oils are better suited for drizzling over finished dishes, making salad dressings or using in low-temperature cooking. Some examples of low smoke point oils include flaxseed oil, walnut oil, and butter. If you want to use olive oil, choose a refined olive oil rather than extra virgin olive oil, which has a lower smoke point of 320-374°F. You can also use virgin olive oil if you're cooking at 400°F or lower. Virgin olive oil has a smoke point of 410°F.

Oils to avoid in air fryers

When using an air fryer, it's important to choose an oil with a high smoke point. This is because air fryers cook food at high temperatures, and oils with low smoke points will burn and smoke before the target temperature is reached.

Oils with low smoke points include flaxseed oil, walnut oil, and butter. These oils are better suited for drizzling over finished dishes, making salad dressings, or using in low-temperature cooking.

Nonstick cooking sprays should also be avoided in air fryers. These oils have added chemicals that can damage the air fryer basket lining.

When choosing an oil for your air fryer, opt for high smoke point oils such as avocado oil, peanut oil, sunflower oil, or light olive oil. These oils will not burn at high temperatures and are suitable for the high heat of an air fryer.

Oils to use when air frying

When cooking with an air fryer, it's best to use oils with a high smoke point that won't burn at high temperatures. Some examples of high smoke point oils are avocado oil, peanut oil, sunflower oil, light olive oil, grapeseed oil, canola oil, safflower oil, vegetable oil, soybean oil, and clarified butter.

You can also use a non-aerosol oil mister with your oil of choice, but you should never use a nonstick cooking spray in your air fryer as these have added chemicals that will damage the air fryer basket lining.

If you're using olive oil, it's best to choose a refined olive oil rather than extra virgin olive oil, which has a lower smoke point of 320-374°F. Virgin olive oil has a smoke point of 410°F, so you can use this if you're cooking at 400°F or lower.

The amount of oil you need to use when air frying is significantly less than what you would use when deep-frying food or sautéing it in a skillet. You can lightly spray your food with oil using a spray bottle, and if the food needs to be flipped, you can spray it again on the other side to ensure even colouring.

Oils to use when deep frying

When it comes to deep frying, it's important to choose an oil with a high smoke point that won't burn at high temperatures. Some examples of oils with high smoke points are avocado oil, peanut oil, sunflower oil, light olive oil, and grapeseed oil.

It's worth noting that the amount of oil needed for air frying is significantly less than what you would use for deep frying or sautéing. You can lightly spray your food with oil using a spray bottle, and if needed, flip it over and spray the other side for even colouring.

While some oils, like PAM, are great for baking, roasting, and pan-frying, they should not be used in an air fryer. These types of oils have added chemicals that can damage the air fryer basket lining. Instead, opt for a non-aerosol oil mister that you can fill with your chosen oil.

If you're looking for a heart-healthy option, olive oil is a good choice for air frying, but it's important to choose a refined olive oil over extra virgin olive oil, as the latter has a lower smoke point. Virgin olive oil can be used if you're cooking at 400°F or lower, as its smoke point is 410°F.

Clarified butter, also known as ghee, is another option for air frying. Unlike regular butter, which has a low smoke point, ghee has a high smoke point and is commonly used in French and Indian cuisine.

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