Whether you're feeling creative, health-conscious, or just kinda lazy, the air fryer is a mechanical
miracle for home cooks. Still, just because they're easy to use doesn't mean you can't use them wrong
Not everything should be cooked in an air fryer. Take fish, for example. It probably
seems reasonable to fry up a filet in your air fryer. Truth is, though, it's incredibly easy
to overcook fish if you're not monitoring it closely. Steaks and hamburgers can also be
difficult to get right using an air fryer, so you're probably better off rustling them up on
on the stove. Meanwhile, lightweight veggies, bread and croutons, and other foods containing
loose, dried herbs and seasonings aren't going to work well, as they're likely to get blown
around inside the fryer. The worst-case scenario here is that some of this debris could end
up damaging your machine. Similarly, overly wet batters and sauce-heavy foods can splatter
and burn when cooked in air fryers. When in doubt, do a little research first
You should always embrace the things that make cooking — and cleaning up — easier
and that includes using parchment paper in the kitchen. While you definitely can and
should use this stuff in your air fryer, there are a few caveats that you ought to keep in mind
For example, parchment paper is designed to stand up to high temperatures, but if it blows around
inside the air fryer during the preheating process, it could touch a heating element
and this is liable to burn it. Also, keep in mind that air fryers work by circulating air
which means that using sheets of standard parchment paper to cover the basket's surface
interfere with the process. Sheets of parchment paper specifically meant for use in air fryers
usually have holes in them. Try to use this kind if you can. If you're the kind of person who buys something new without doing much research, there's a good
chance you've found that you don't use your air fryer that often. Most likely, this is because you
bought one that doesn't have the features you really need. The most obvious example of this
concerns the choice between a single or double-basket air fryer. If you find that you use
your oven rather than your fryer because you often make multiple dishes, then it stands to reason that
you should have bought a model with multiple drawers. There are a whole bunch of different programs and settings to choose from, too. Are you planning on baking, roasting, grilling
or dehydrating. Do you love rotisserie chickens? Some air fryers have a rotisserie setup
which could be a game-changer if you're a fan of this meal. You might also need an air fryer
that's dishwasher-safe. Alternatively, if you're the impatient type, you may want to choose the
kind that doesn't require preheating. On top of that, if you're running short on space in the
kitchen, you'll want to consider an air fryer with a reheat function, as this means that it
can basically double up as a microwave. Heck, you can even get one with a window if you want
to see what's going on inside it. Simply put, when your air fryer is useful, you'll use it more
Setting up an air fryer is never as simple as just picking a spot on your kitchen counter and
plugging it in. It's important to choose the right location for it, and failing to get this right
could create a serious safety issue or lead to permanent damage to your kitchen. After all
air fryers heat up, and some parts, even on the outside, can become hot enough to burn
If you have your air fryer sitting against or close to a wall or under a row of upper cabinets
it probably isn't getting the air it needs to work properly. If there's anything flammable
nearby, such as curtains, there's also a very real fire risk. As well as this, air fryers release
steam, and this can damage walls and cabinets over time. The back of the unit is typically the hottest
part, but it's easy to overlook. Make sure you keep at least 5 inches of clearance between the
appliance and any surfaces. You'll also need to make sure you have a heat-safe surface underneath
the air fryer. If you're not sure, it's always better to be safe than sorry. You can buy heat-resistant
countertop mats online for around $20, and you can't put a price on your well-being
If you've owned an air fryer before, or if you've used someone else's before deciding
to take the plunge with one of your own, it might be tempting to skip over the instruction manual
And who could blame you? They're not exactly page-turners. That said, it could cause you real problems if you toss that manual in a drawer and forget about it
not least because all air fryers are made slightly differently. So sit down for a few minutes and give that manual a look over
Even if you've been using your air fryer for a while, you might discover new modes
timers, or preset programs, you could learn some tricks that will make cleaning the appliance easier
Or you can get some model-specific tips, such as how to adjust the temperature of recipes
and how much oil you should be using. While you don't have to build up a whole new recipe repertoire, assuming you can use your
air fryer for old recipes while keeping things like temperature and cooking time the same is a
pretty big mistake, one that can ruin dinner for sure. There are countless recipes that can be
adapted to an air fryer with just a few tweaks For starters Taste of Home says that a good rule of thumb is to remember to lower the cooking temperature by 25 degrees Fahrenheit Then check out the recommended cooking time You going to want to take somewhere around 20 off that and there a
bit of a catch. When you're thinking of the time it takes to cook something in an air fryer
it's not always as clear-cut as you might be used to if you're cooking something on a stovetop
Different air fryers are going to have different cooking times, so depending on your model
your cooking time might be a little more or less. Taste of Home says that french fries
for example, can take anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes. When you're getting used to a new air
fryer or trying a new recipe, think of a cooking time as more of a guideline than something that's
set in stone, and know that it's not going to take the same amount of time as other cooking methods
It's normal to assume that the temperature settings on our kitchen appliances are correct
but that's not always the case. According to Taste of Home, the actual temperature that an
air fryer runs at might not be near what you think you're setting it at. They found that different
models ran either hotter or cooler, and that can mean the difference between crispy, delicious
fries and fries that are not so great. Fortunately, double-checking the temp of your air fryer is
pretty easy to do and just requires the use of an oven thermometer. And don't worry, this
isn't just a one-time purchase that's going to get thrown in a drawer. Over time, the
dials on your appliances can loosen and become much less precise. We found that it's best
to check the temperature of your oven at least once every six months or so in order to make
sure you're actually cooking things at the temperature you think you are. Once you know
you can make any adjustments necessary. No one wants a side of food poisoning along with their
meal, so here's the thing. Even though air fryers seem like a pretty foolproof way to cook
you should definitely be double-checking to make sure everything's reached the proper temperature
before serving. Brain's report tested a variety of air fryers and found that they had one thing
in common. They all took longer to get food properly cooked than most guidelines suggested
They recommended toasting a slice of bread as a test. Some air fryers could toast it in about
three minutes, while others took up to 10. That's not a huge deal when you're talking about bread
but when you're talking about cooking chicken, it could mean the difference between enjoying
a delicious meal and getting up close and personal with salmonella. So when it comes to meats, you're going to want to not just eyeball it, but use a good
instant-read thermometer to make sure your meal is cooked all the way through. Take poultry, for instance. According to the USDA, all poultry needs to be cooked
to a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. That's when it's safe
and when it comes to food safety, it's better to be 100% sure you're on temperature
especially when you're using a cooking method that varies so widely. It turns out it's sort of a misnomer to call an air fryer by its name
because you do in fact need to use oil when you cook with it. In the air fryer, you really only need about one to two teaspoons for most items
or up to one to two tablespoons for breaded items that you want to get really crispy
Basically, it takes less than a spoon of oil for this thing really to make it work
That's because, while the hot air racing through your machine will cook things
without oil they can come out dry, burned, and leathery. Using just a touch of oil will help your food crisp up
This is especially true with fried and breaded items that you're heating up or cooking in your fryer
The oil on the outside of the food will get heated by the air, helping to cook the breaded items to a crispy golden brown
If you're trying to avoid added fats in your diet, you can use a nonstick cooking spray or oil from a spray bottle
to make sure you use just enough to coat your food. food. Just be sure to spritz your ingredients before you put them in your air fryer basket
which will help keep your machine clean. Now that you know you still need oil in your air fryer, it can be easy to go too far in
the other direction. For a lot of us, the impulse is to keep using the same amounts of
oil as we do in traditional cooking methods, so that we can ensure everything comes out
of the air fryer crispy and delicious. But unlike with traditional frying, where you
want your food to be submerged at least partially in oil, in the air fryer you really only need
a little bit of oil, like one to two teaspoons for most foods. Using any more oil can lead to
soggy, burned food and is also a fire hazard. There are some things that just have a permanent
place in kitchens across the country, and PAM is one of those things
America's favorite no-stick spray This non-stick cooking spray can be a lifesaver, and it's easy to see how you might be tempted to
pull out that aerosol can and see if it'll make cleaning up your air fryer a little easier
But don't do that. Air Cookers notes that most air fryers already have nonstick coatings, and these coatings
can actually be damaged by the additives in some aerosol sprays Some propellants currently in use will cause nonstick coatings to flake And if you noticed this happening with your pans it entirely possible your Pam habit is to blame Fortunately there a quick fix Pick up a non pump sprayer or
mister bottle and use it to add a mist of your favorite oil to not just your air fryer basket
but countless other cooking projects. It's tempting to just use your air fryer time and
time again without cleaning it in between cooking sessions, especially since, unlike traditional
frying, you're not left with a sloppy pan of oil to clean up. But that would be a mistake
A number of problems can arise if you don't clean your air fryer often enough
Crumbs and food particles left behind in the basket can burn the next time you use your fryer
Additionally, leftover oil residue in the drawer can smoke, imparting your food with
off flavors and posing a fire hazard. The air fryer can also start to stink
making your kitchen smell foul. Instead of putting it off until next time
you should hand wash the air fryer basket, bottom tray, and drawer with warm water and
dish soap after every session. All of the pieces should remove easily from your machine. Your
machine will stay running smoothly so you can keep cooking your favorite foods. There's no such thing as a miracle product, so there are some things you need to do to make sure
your air fryer works like a charm. You can't just throw your food in and then set the temperature
As with most other cooking methods, you need to preheat the air fryer before you use it
If you put a potato wedge in a cold pan of oil, it'll be a greasy beige mess when it's cooked
through. The same is true of food made in the air fryer. You should preheat your air fryer for 10
minutes before you start cooking. Use that time to chop veggies and bread meats or to catch a few
more minutes of your favorite Netflix show. Preheating the air fryer will ensure that the
ingredients in your basket start cooking immediately, crisping up on the outside instead
of slowly steaming into a soggy mess. By the time your food is properly crisped outside
it will be steamy and tender inside thanks to that quick preheat. Fried foods are nothing without seasoning, so you'll likely want to add a hefty pinch
or sprinkle of your favorite spices to anything you make in the air fryer. However, you need to be careful
The air fryer works through convection, aggressively pushing hot air around your food to cook it
I simply let the hot air do the work for me. This means any seasoning that isn't fully adhered to your ingredients can end up getting
caught up by the rush of air, leaving you with unseasoned food and a filthy air fryer
It's a whirlwind of super-heated air. The same goes for crispy coatings and other light ingredients
To ensure that you don't wind up with a flying salt and pepper disaster, be mindful about when you season. For instance, spray veggies with oil before adding seasoning so
it has something to stick to. Or season the flour, beaten egg, and crispy coating directly
when making chicken tenders and the like, instead of sprinkling them with seasoning after breading
Maybe your favorite churro recipe uses a batter, or you're used to dunking hot dogs into a thick
cornmeal sludge before making your famous corn dogs. Well, if you want to keep using loose batters to bread your foods, you'll need to stick to
traditional pan and deep frying. If you try to put ingredients covered in a wet batter in your
air fryer, the batter will sink through the basket and wind up burning in the drawer below
Instead, make crispy fried foods by using dry breadings or doughs. Many swear that a classic
three-part breading process works best in the air fryer. First, coat your ingredient in seasoned
flour, then dip it in beaten egg, and finally coat it in breadcrumbs. Spritz each piece lightly with
oil and cook in your air fryer until done. Your result? Golden brown, crispy air fried foods that
have less fat than their traditionally made counterparts, but just as much flavor
If you got your air fryer because you're trying to eat healthier foods like unprocessed fresh
veggies, you might be surprised to hear this next fact. You're better off using frozen vegetables in
your air fryer, not fresh. Unfortunately, raw veggies tend to scorch in the air fryer before
the insides can be cooked all the way through. Frozen vegetables, on the other hand, have more
moisture. This allows them to cook fully before starting to brown, so you don't wind up with a
charred exterior and frozen interior. Luckily, most frozen veggies are frozen at the peak of
freshness, so you still get the same robust flavor you'd expect when cooking a raw vegetable
sometimes even better. How many times have you microwaved or baked your leftover pizza
orange chicken, or french fries only to be greeted with a plate of food that's soggy when it should
be crispy, burnt and hard when it should be soft, and leathery and tough when it should be tender
All of those leftovers end up going to waste. The air fryer is a champ when it comes to reheating
your favorite leftovers Pizza stays crispy on the bottom while melting the cheese on top Tater tots and fries are re to perfection Pretty much any solid food is better reheated in the air fryer than anywhere else With a name like air fryer
it's understandable that some people think you can only make fried foods in one of these devices
Luckily for the more adventurous foodies among us, this isn't the case. While frozen and leftover
fried foods both taste delicious when you make them in your air fryer, it's even better for
making crispy breaded foods from scratch. You'll be able to customize the recipe to your liking
meaning you can skip the additives, preservatives, and high sodium found in most frozen foods
so that you wind up with much crispier food than if you baked in the oven. Better yet, your foods will still be lower in fat than if you fried them in the traditional manner
Try breading chicken or pork chops, or making a fresh batch of chicken parmesan in your air fryer to save time
One of the reasons why air fryers are such a great tool in the kitchen is that they're versatile
It turns out you can even make your favorite baked goods in one. Why make baked goods in the air fryer
It doesn't use up as much energy as heating up your entire oven, and in the warmer months
it's one way to make sure that you aren't turning your house into an oven just because
you were craving chocolate cake. The other reason? It's easy to convert conventional oven recipes into air fryer recipes when it comes to baked goods
Set your air fryer to the same temperature as the original recipe calls for and cook your
items for the same amount of time. The one thing you will need to be conscious of is the size of your air fryer
Some have round baskets, others have square baskets, so you need to be mindful of which
inserts you can use inside your fryer. Remember, too, that ramekins and silicone molds can also be
used in your air fryer to make individual-sized desserts that will cook up quickly. And on that
note, you do always need to use some sort of pan or insert when baking in the air fryer. If not
batter and dough will seep through the holes at the bottom of your air fryer basket, burning and
creating a potential fire hazard. Most air fryers come with a basic basket, and that's all you'll
need to make classic favorites like french fries, frozen fried foods, and many reheated leftovers
But if you really want to get your money's worth out of the air fryer, investing in some
accessories will help. As we've already noted, your air fryer should always be set on a heat-proof surface
There are accessories that go inside the air fryer that can make it more useful too
Look for cake pans, silicone molds, ramekins, racks, and other cooking devices that can
fit inside your air fryer basket. These will help you make a much wider variety of foods in your air fryer without having to
worry about spillage, overflow, or burning, so you can get as much use out of your new
device as possible. Also, be on the lookout for things that make cleaning up your air fryer easier
This includes oil sprayers, which will help prevent stuck-on food, and parchment paper
lines, which keep the bottom of your fryer clean. It doesn't matter how much you like to cook — there's one universal truth that goes along
with that. No one likes to be the one to clean up. And sure, air fryers might be convenient, but they can be a hassle to clean
As easy as it might be to take a shortcut at the end, you shouldn't. Getting the basket and drawer of an air fryer clean is a pain, and getting them dry is even
more of a pain — if, that is, you're using a towel. There's no need. In order to get your
air fryer completely dry — and avoid that almost inevitable, slightly funky smell you'll notice if
you leave something that's sealed sitting on your countertop for a bit — Blue Jean Chef says
there's an easy fix. After giving it a thorough scrub, replace the basket and the dryer and turn
your air fryer on for just a few minutes. All that extra moisture? Gone
If you've tried every trick in the book, taken every bit of advice you've been given
and are still having trouble getting your air fryer meals to come out as good as everyone
else swears theirs do, here's some good news — it might not be anything you're doing at all
Witch is a consumer watchdog and advocate group in the UK, and they looked at air fryers to see how price impacted quality
They found that in many cases, price did make a difference. While there were some cheap air fryers out there that got the job done when it came to something
like a single serving of fries, spending a little more money made a huge difference when it came to
things like capacity, the versatility of being able to cook more than one thing at a time
and smart controls. If you buy a cheap air fryer, you might find yourself dealing with a model that
doesn't even have a power cord long enough to safely position it in your kitchen. BBC Good Food
found similar things. When they tested a series of air fryers, they found one decent budget model
while all their other recommendations were between $207 and $345. The bottom line seems to be that if
you went on the cheap side for your air fryer, there's a good chance it might not put out a
satisfactory meal even if you do everything right. An upgrade might be in order