Air Frying and Air Fryer Tips

1 - Opt for a reusable oil spray bottle

Traditional aerosol non-stick sprays can leave a sticky residue on your air fryer's basket, deteriorating its non-stick coating. Instead, invest in a reusable spray bottle. Avoid aerosol sprays entirely.

2 - Use breadcrumbs for breading instead of batter

Air-fried, breaded food turns out golden and crispy if you use breadcrumbs and evenly spray the food with oil. Using a wet batter can require a tip or too to get it to stick on the food with some air fryers with high-speed fans (see our article on batter splatter).

3 - Use a digital thermometer to check meat temperatures

The only reliable way to confirm that meat is thoroughly cooked is by checking its internal temperature with a digital thermometer.

4 - Delayed shutdown

Be patient. If your air fryer doesn't turn off immediately after pressing the power button, it's normal. Many air fryers have a delayed shutdown process where the fan continues to blow hot air out for about 20 or more seconds.

5 - Minimal oil is sufficient.

Air fryer recipes require very little oil to achieve a crispy finish. Too much oil will simply collect at the bottom of the appliance, potentially causing smoke. A light misting of oil over your food is adequate. Frozen, breaded foods already contain substantial oil, and vegetables merely need a light coating. Skin-on chicken, for example, doesn't require any, so if your food has some inherent fat (dark meat chicken, ground beef, fatty cuts of meat, etc.), then oil might be redundant.

6 - Utilise egg bite moulds

Egg bite moulds can be used to create a variety of snacks, muffins, and appetisers. Use them to bake cornbread muffins, mini cakes, donut holes, mini cheesecakes, meatballs, mini pancakes, and more.

7 - Silence the beeping

The air fryer's beeping sound can often be turned off by pressing the minus keys for about three seconds, or by disabling the beeping mechanism manually.

8 - Secure light items

During HI heat the air can flow hard and fast and play havock with lose foods. Fix lose items with toothpicks, such as the top slice of a sandwich to prevent it from blowing around. If you're melting cheese on burgers in the air fryer, use a toothpick to secure the cheese slice.

9 - Accessories

When you start air frying regularly, consider investing in accessories. Oven-safe baking dishes or cake pans can double as air fryer accessories, provided they fit in the air fryer basket. Cloves and tools for removing hot foods. Multilayer racks can be handy too.

10 - Enhance browning and crisping

Spray oil friendly foods with oil part way through cooking to enhance browning and crisping.

11 - Shake the basket midway through cooking

To ensure an evenly crispy result, shake your food or turn it over at least once during cooking. Some air fryers feature a "shake reminder" function; otherwise, you can set or judge your own time.

12 - Grease the basket

Even if your food doesn't need oil, it's an idea to take a moment to grease your air fryer basket. A quick rub or spray of oil on the bottom grates of the basket can prevent your food from sticking.

13 - Immediate soaking eases cleaning

To simplify cleaning, soak the basket in hot soapy water immediately after use while it's still warm. This will prevent food from drying on and sticking to the basket, potentially damaging any non-stick coatings.

14 - Avoid overcrowding the basket

For crisp, evenly browned food, make sure you don't overcrowd the basket. Overloading can prevent your food from crisping. If you're cooking larger quantities, cook in batches or consider investing in a larger air fryer.

15 - Avoid stacking food for even browning

For a uniformly browned and crispy finish, don't stack food on top of each other. Cook in batches if necessary.

16 - Preheat

The norm for any cooking appliance is to preheat it. Many air fryer brands recommend this to ensure even cooking. It can be a matter of choice, but when a crispy outer is needed quickly, it's not a bad idea to preheat if your air fryer has that option. If not, simply set it to the desired temperature and let it run for around three minutes before adding your food. We would suggest only preheating if the recipe instructs you to.

17 - Cooking times may vary

As with any kitchen appliance, wattage and calibration may vary, so you may need to adjust cooking times. Keep a close eye on your food, as the actual cooking time may vary by a few minutes from the recipe's recommendation.

18 - Use parchment paper to prevent sticking

For stickier or more delicate foods, parchment paper can prevent them from adhering to the basket. Pre-cut parchment paper with air holes can ensure optimal air circulation.

19 - Fried bread

For greasier items, like bacon, some people place a slice of bread at the bottom of the unit to absorb excess grease, then place it in the basket and air fry for a few minutes before eating it. Each to their own.

20 - Refrain from cooking lightweight foods

Lightweight foods, such as a slice of cheese or popcorn, can be blown around by the air circulation, potentially causing burning.

21 - Use your air fryer for reheating

Reheating food in the air fryer often results in superior crispiness compared to a microwave. It's particularly suitable for pizza, bread rolls, leftover chicken, ribs, etc.

22 - Clean the interior of the air fryer

While cleaning the basket after each use is common practice, don't neglect to clean the air fryer's interior regularly to prevent the build-up of grease and grime.

23 - Other pans can be used inside the air fryer

Any oven-safe dish or cake pan can be used inside an air fryer, including stainless steel, silicone, and oven-safe glass. Just ensure they don't touch the heating element.

24 - Remove the basket before emptying

Basket-style air fryers typically have a cradle or drawer into which the basket fits. Ensure you detach the basket before tipping out the food to avoid spilling any collected oil.

25 - Air fryer placement

Setting the air fryer directly on the kitchen counter is safe, but ensure it's not close to flammable or heat-sensitive surfaces. Likewise, do not place the hot basket directly on a surface that might melt or warp.