What Is an Air Fryer?
Air fryers come in a variety of shapes and sizes. While some look similar to toaster ovens
or mini convection ovens, most of them are cylindrical, taller and
deeper than they are wide, and have a removable basket (or two).
Still, what is an air fryer exactly? Air fryers are countertop kitchen appliances
that cook food by rapidly circulating hot air around it, allowing food
to get crispy and browned on all sides. The top or base of an air fryer
has a heating element that can typically reach temperatures of up to 400
or 450 degrees Fahrenheit, along with an electric fan to circulate air.
The removable basket slides in and out of the base of the air fryer,
and it’s slotted to allow air to flow through it.
If all this sounds pretty similar to your convection oven, that’s
because the two work in pretty much the same way. However, air fryers
have a few advantages. They can preheat and cook faster than ovens.
Since they hold less food, you can also get crispier textures using an
air fryer while also using less cooking oil. Finally, they’re more energy efficient. Still, there are times when you’re better off using your oven. Air fryers aren’t the best for larger portions or certain foods, such as saucy or cheesy dishes.
How to Use an Air Fryer
The best way to use an air fryer ultimately depends on the model and
type of food you’re making. However, using an air fryer is relatively
simple, and many of them operate in the same way. Even if you’ve never
used one before, they’re pretty intuitive to use, and have just a few
buttons that make it pretty clear.
Here’s how to use a standard air fryer:
- Preheat the air fryer to the desired temperature.
- Remove the basket and place your food inside, arranging the food in a single layer with some space between each item.
- Return the basket to the air fryer and set a timer for the required amount of time.
- Flip food or shake the basket halfway through the cooking time.
- Carefully remove the cooked food, and serve or allow it to rest if needed.
- Unplug the air fryer and wash the removable parts once it’s cooled down.
This method works well for recipes like air fryer chicken thighs and baked potatoes, but you may need to make a few adjustments for other recipes. For crispy vegetables,
for example, spray or mix the food with oil before adding to the
basket. You may also need to shake the basket more often, such as every
few minutes, to encourage even browning. For some foods, such as eggs or cakes, you may need special equipment like silicone molds.
Air Fryer Tips
Air fryers are so popular because they’re convenient, versatile, and
efficient, and many are budget-friendly. Once you start using an air
fryer, you may never go back. Over time, you may even learn some cool
tips and tricks. Here are a few must knows to get you started for the
best (and crispiest) results:
- Don’t overcrowd the basket. Air fryers work by
circulating hot air around food, but this is hard to do when the basket
is stuffed. Leave some space between food, so it all has a chance to get
crispy.
- Use silicone or wooden cooking utensils. Many air fryer baskets have non-stick coatings, which you’ll want to avoid scratching with metal cooking utensils or forks.
- Pat foods thoroughly before placing them in the air fryer.
Foods like raw poultry and fish naturally contain moisture, but this
also applies to freshly rinsed vegetables. Use paper towels to remove as
much moisture as possible, which allows for maximum crispiness and
browning.
- Convert oven recipes to air fryer recipes. If a
recipe says to use the oven, simply reduce the temperature by 25 degrees
and the cooking time by 20 percent in order to use your air fryer
instead.
- Clean after each use. With a non-stick coating, your air fryer may look squeaky clean after you use it, but you still need to give it a good rinse to avoid smells and grease buildup, which is a fire hazard.
Air Fryer Safety
You’ll also want to familiarize yourself with the basics of air fryer
safety. Cook in a well-ventilated area, and be aware of the smoke point
of the oils you use to prevent smoke. Never place an air fryer on top of your stove,
fill it with oil, or use it near flammable materials. Even using more
oil than a recipe calls for can become a fire hazard. Wear oven mitts
and practice caution when handling a hot air fryer or food. And, of
course, read the manual so you know exactly how to use your specific air
fryer.
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