You Can Grill In An Air Fryer according to The 6 Steps

Grilling outdoors in a chilly wind may not be your favorite fantasy. And you certainly wouldn’t want an uninvited cloud to show up in your backyard, just to throw cold water on your weekend cookout plans.

But what if we told you that you could escape the fuss and grill your favorite meats, veggies, and burgers any day of the year, regardless of the weather? The only thing you need to have is…

*drumrolls*

…a simple air fryer. Yes, you heard that right! You can grill in an air fryer with our 6-step guide, or you can choose an air fryer grill combo.

An air fryer is a revolutionary kitchen appliance that can do much more than just pop out a guilt-free version of French fries and onion rings. It can bring all those outdoor grill flavors and summertime vibes conveniently to your kitchen countertop.

Keep reading to find out how you can turn your air fryer into an indoor grill and throw a grand BBQ feast any day of the year.

Using a Grill Plate to grill in your air fryer

Just like grilling, air frying is a fast and dry cooking method that uses intense heat and a minimal amount of oil. This leaves a thin, browned crust on the outside while keeping the food tender on the inside.

However, you must be wondering how would you get those iconic dark sear marks and savory char flavors in an air fryer. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

While it’s completely optional, you can simply purchase a separate grill grate to upgrade your regular air fryer. There are plenty of accessories available online, like this game-changing Ninja Foodi Grill Grate. It retains all the juices and flavors that evaporate from food, leaving the perfect grill marks and a smoky char layer on the outside.

Note: Make sure to find a grill plate that fits your air fryer basket.

Air Fryer grill combo which already has Grill Function

Here’s something even better: Some of the air fryers come with multiple cooking functions, like this all-in-one Ninja Foodi Indoor Grill. Besides a crisper basket and a cooking pot, it also comes with a high-density, non-stick grilling grate that can grill your food at low, medium, or high heat, depending on your preference. 

What’s more? It takes up minimum space, reduces smoke, ensures easy cleaning and the food comes out tasting like it was made on an outdoor BBQ grill — charred, moist, and full of flavor! 

Another similar appliance that may deserve a space on your kitchen counter is this PowerXL Grill Air Fryer Combo. This little magic box can work wonders. You can recreate any recipe in just half the time without turning your kitchen upside down.

Enjoying grilled steaks, salmon, or kebabs in the comfort of your own home couldn’t be easier. Invite some friends over and start your hassle-free indoor grilling adventures. 

But, before you can claim yourself as the ultimate grill master of your group, we have made a list of some basic steps you need to follow. check the detailed Power XL air fryer grill combo review.

Step-By-Step: How to Grill in an Air Fryer with 6 steps

1: Preheat the air fryer: 

A traditional outdoor grill exposes the food directly to a high heat source, such as a glowing bed of charcoal.

In order to achieve the same heat intensity and char flavor, it’s important to preheat your air fryer. The temperature should range between 380°F to 400°F before you place your food inside the basket.  

2: Oil your Grill Grate: 

Spraying the grill grate with high smoke points oils, such as avocado, vegetable, sunflower, canola or peanut oil will not only prevent delicate proteins from sticking but also create those classic cross-hatched grill marks. You’ll also be able to flip your food more easily. These oils can withstand high heat and won’t burn. In the end, you get perfectly seasoned and appealing grilled food. 

Last but not the least, do not use too much oil before grilling — less is more! 

3: Place the Food Evenly 

Pat your meat or veggies dry with a paper towel, sprinkle some salt and pepper and carefully place them inside the air fryer basket. There should be enough space inside the appliance for the hot air to circulate. To achieve even cooking and an all-around sear without burning, the food needs to be spread out in a single layer inside the air fryer. 

If you need to feed a large group of people, cook in small batches. Remember, efficiency is the key. 

4: Time to Cook!

Now, the next step is to set the timer and start the cooking process.

Most air fryers come with an instruction manual with recommended cooking times and temperatures for commonly grilled foods. The best practice is to experiment on your own. Just keep in mind your desired doneness.

When the timer is halfway through, open the air fryer and flip the food over as you do on a grill. This will give you an evenly browned top layer on both sides.  

5: Grab the Thermometer 

When you’re grilling a chicken breast, pork chop or fish fillet in an air fryer, it’s important to cook them to the right temperature.

When the timer goes off, grab a standard thermometer and insert it at least two inches into the center of the meat, to make sure it’s cooked through.

Carefully take out the food with the help of tongs. Let it rest for a few minutes before serving.

Pat yourself on the back for pulling it all off.  

6: Don’t Delay Cleaning  

This step is often overlooked. Let’s admit it. All of us feel a little lazy when it comes to cleaning our kitchen appliances. 

However, if you host BBQ dinners every weekend and use your air fryer frequently, it is VERY important to clean it thoroughly.

Most of the removable parts of an air fryer, such as the grill grate can be easily washed with warm soapy water. 

And once in a while, you also need to clean the interior walls of your air fryer with a damp cloth to remove the grease and food residue that is often left behind. 

Pro Tips for Grilling in an Air Fryer 

Believe it or not, it all comes down to seasoning. That’s right! 

While sprinkling some salt, pepper, garlic or onion powder is generally accepted as the best way to season meat, it certainly does not replicate that smoky char flavor. That’s why we recommend you to season your pork, beef or seafood generously with flavors like smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, Cajun seasoning, Italian seasoning, black cardamom, chipotle peppers, etc. You can also add some Indian seasonings and spice blends, such as tandoori masala or tikka masala to enhance the smoky flavors of the meat. 

Another small yet interesting tip is to cut an onion or lemon in half and rub it over the grill grate once you’re done cooking. It can get those burnt food residues off the grill much more easily. You can thank us later.  

Which One is Healthier — Air Frying vs Grilling

Here’s the deal: Both grilling and air frying are considered healthy cooking methods because they promote a low-calorie intake. However, one of them has a significant advantage over the other. 

According to the studies, the smoke that rises and coats the meat on a traditional outdoor grill contains a group of compounds called carcinogens. They are known to cause various types of cancer in humans and animals. 

On the other hand, an air fryer ensures a smoke-free and environmentally friendly indoor grilling, while maintaining the same barbeque flavor. 

Finally, don’t forget to eat your vegetables! It is better to grill these babies in an air fryer rather than the traditional grill because they tend to dry out faster. Also, they lose up to 40% of their nutritional content, color and taste due to the excessive heat of the grill.

Quick and Easy Recipe — Air Fryer Grilled Chicken Breast

Before we sign off, we’d like to share this amazing air fryer grilled chicken recipe with you. It only takes 20 minutes to cook but tastes incredibly delicious! You can serve it with some pasta, salad or even some leftover rice.

• 1. Preheat your air fryer to 390°F.
• 2. Take the boneless chicken breasts. Rub each side with a little olive oil.
• 3. Season the chicken generously with chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
• 4. Place the chicken breasts in the air fryer and set the timer for 20 minutes.
• 5. Cook the chicken for 10 minutes on each side.
• 6. When the timer goes off, grab your thermometer. The internal temperature should reach 165°F for the chicken breast to be cooked through. 
• 7. Remove your perfectly grilled chicken breasts from the air fryer. Let them rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Final Words

Question: Can you grill in an air fryer? The simple answer is YES! ABSOLUTELY! And you can use an air fryer grill combo directly without any hassle

We live in a fast-paced world and the traditional way of grilling can be a hassle for some people. 

An air fryer is a life-changing, convenient and versatile appliance that can provide a one-stop solution to all your grilling problems. 

Happy Barbequing!