How to Use an Air Fryer? Recipes And Accessories

The statistics show that air fryer is expected to reach $1,425.7 million by 2026, registering a CAGR of 6.1% from 2019 to 2026. You don’t want to be left out on the steps of using an air fryer, right? But when I first get it in 2017, just like you, I really didn’t know how to use it. Luckily, today I am gonna show you how to use an air fryer correctly according to my 5 years of experience, and its recipes and accessories are also important factors that will affect your cooking experience. After reading the article, trust me, you will be captivated by air frying!

Firstly, you should know how an air fryer works before using it.

How Does An Air Fryer Work?

Air fryers feature a heating design at the top section accompanied by a fan that spreads hot air. Place your food in the air basket below and switch it to heat.

The hot air will circulate, reaching the baskets and heating your food, giving it a crispy outside with less oil. And that is not enough; your food will brown nicely, offering you a delicious flavor that you will love.

Do You Need to Preheat the Air Fryer?

Preheating an air fryer depends on the food you are cooking, although many air fryer manuals instruct you to preheat it before putting your food inside. However, you can skip the preheating process.

Preheating helps your food to cook evenly and properly. For instance, some recipes may instruct you to preheat your fryer before cooking, and skipping the process may interfere with the cooking procedure hence undesirable results.

You may not need to preheat your air fryer when preparing food like brussels sprout and broccoli since their edges brown quickly before the inside cooks thoroughly.

5 Steps for Using An Air Fryer

1. Do Not Overcrowd Your Basket

I know you love crispy and delicious meals to satisfy your craving. But anyway, who does not love that? You aren’t alone; I also do!

When cooking, ensure that you give your food enough space for hot air to circulate effectively to get crispy results and evenly cook. Always ensure that you place your food in one layer in your basket, and you can also prepare it in batches.

2. Shake It

Have you ever cooked chips or French fries?  Yes, you say! You already know how much foods compress when not shaken, giving undesirable results.

Now, it’s good to shake your basket halfway to your cooking time for evenly cooked and browned outside. Also, if you are cooking chicken or pork chops, flip halfway through your cooking time.

3. Keep It Dry

Before putting your food into the air fryer, pat them dry to prevent excess smoke and splattering. Also, if you are cooking foods rich in fat, such as chicken, ensure no fat is left at the base machine.

4. Set Temperature

It’s good to set the air fryer temperature and timer depending on the food you want to prepare. Normally, non-vegetable foods take about fifteen minutes to cook, while vegetables take ten minutes to fry. The air fryer comes with manual temperature recommendations for various foods, and you can follow the recipes’ instructions from sources you trust.

5. Sprinkle Your Foods with Some Oil

Apply oil to your food using the oil brush before placing it in the air fryer to prevent food from sticking to the air fryer basket. If you are preparing non-vegetable foods, you will not need to sprinkle any oil. 

Do air fryers use oil?

It is essential to use less oil in your air fryer to avoid food from sticking to your air fryer basket. You can toss your food or use the oil brush to grease the food.

Remember that you should not put oil in your basket; instead, apply it straight to the food you want to cook.

I recommend you to use the following oils;

1. Happy Belly Canola Oil

The oil is perfect for frying and cooking and has 14 grams of fat in each serving, hence non-cholesterol foods, making it a great addition to your kitchen. After opening, you may require to refrigerate it.

2. Pompeian Pure Grapeseed Oil

The oil is ideal for high heating with all air frying, baking, grilling, and deep frying recipes. Also, it is light with a subtle flavor, and you will love its farm-crafted quality. 

3. BetterBody Avocado Oil

The avocado oil is great for baking, sauteing, and frying with a raised smoking point of about 500 degrees F. It also features minerals, vitamins, and nourishing properties, making it a multipurpose oil.

Is An Air Fryer Versatile?

You can cook anything from frozen foods to chicken wings, egg rolls, and pizza rolls with an air fryer. You can also use it to make foods like French fries, potato chips, drummettes, chicken wings, and vegetables.

The air fryers’ simplicity makes cooking a breeze even for a young kid. Now, you are free to challenge yourself with every frying skill. I will take you through the safety rules to follow later in this article for correct air fryer usage.

Can You Put Foil In An Air Fryer?

Yes you can, air fryers apply hot air to heat food, therefore, you don’t need to worry about whether to use a foil since it will cause sparks.

Furthermore, it has powerful fun that spreads hot air around your food, giving it a golden brown and crispy outside that you desire.

How to Reheat Food in An Air Fryer

Air fryers are a perfect deal for reheating foods and giving them a crisp back up. You will take less time to reheat your food, so don’t worry when in a hurry.

When reheating your meals, use 30 degrees temperature low than the temperature you could use to cook the food.

Are Air Fryers a Safe Kitchen Appliance?

No doubt, air fryers are safer kitchen appliances as they come with manual instructions to follow, making it a walking breeze for even a child to cook.

Here are some of the rules to follow for safety purposes and correct air fryer usage;

• Whether your air fryer is off or on, do not put it on the stove
• Keep the air fryer six to twelve inches from your wall
• Unplug the air fryer when not in use or after using it
• Use silicone tongs to take your food from the air fryer to prevent your hands from burning

What to Consider When Getting An Air Fryer

With many air fryer models, types, and brands available, you must consider what suits your family best before purchasing.

First, it is important to consider your family members and the kind of meals you want to cook. If you are getting an air fryer for two persons, you go for a small-sized air fryer and a medium-sized one for four persons.

Secondly, we all need a spacious counter that is not overcrowded. Don’t you? So, considering the kitchen’s countertop is another essential benefit.

Finally, a budget should be a priority before getting an air fryer to serve your family. Besides, ‘we all go for what we can afford.’ For instance, if you are on a budget, a small-sized air fryer will be the best option.

What Size Do You Need?

However, the size of the air fryer you need ranges from small to medium to large and extra-large. To know the size of air fryer you need will depend on the type of food to prepare and the number of people involved.

For example, a couple or one person will need 1-2 quarts(small) and 2-4.5 quarts (medium) for three to four people. And two to five people will need 4.5-6 quarts (large) while 6plus quarts (extra-large) will be suitable for six to ten persons.

What Can I Cook in An Air Fryer?

Are you an air fryer beginner? You must be wondering what to cook in it. An air fryer is an advanced oven that is small-sized and cannot cook large amounts of food at once. 

Some people think an air fryer is not a life-saving machine, but it is, considering that it cooks everything, being fast and safe, giving you a crunchy and crisp exterior.

Now, you got the right countertop appliance if you cook once or twice a month to cook healthy meals from fried chicken to pork to French fries and vegetables.

How Can I Clean My Air Fryer?

A delicious meal relies on cleanness which should be a priority for your air fryer too, but how can I clean my air fryer? You ask!

It is important to clean the air fryer after cooking, and here are ways of doing it;

• Before cleaning your air fryer, leave it for about ten minutes to cool and focus on your kitchen to avoid accidental burns.
• After cooling, remove crumbs trapped in your basket chamber, and a brush will help remove errant crumbs sticking to the hinges.
• To clean your basket, pan, or tray, use warm and soapy water with a sponge. If food has crusted on the pan or basket, you will need to soak it in the hot soapy water for about 20-30 minutes before using the scrubbing brush. Lastly, clean the inside of the air fryer with a sponge.

Ways of Keeping An Air Fryer Long-Lasting

• Ensure that you have a grate in your air fryer basket
• Don’t store near hot materials like the gas stove
• Don’t block the outlet for hot air at your air fryer’s backside
• Don’t leave the food remains and fat stick under the grate
• Wash the grate and air fryer basket regularly
• You may require to reduce the temperature for exceptional cooking

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do You Use An Air Fryer for the First Time?

First, preheat your air fryer before placing your food in the basket. Secondly, insert the air basket into your air fryer after putting the food in. Finally, switch it on to fry.

What Cannot be Cooked in An Air Fryer?

You should not place any food that contains wet batter, such as corndogs, in an air fryer.

Can You Cook a Whole Chicken in An Air Fryer?

Air fryers are best known for cooking a whole chicken. You can cook a whole chicken even from frozen and make desirable crispy results, but make sure your air fryer is big enough.

Wrap up

It does not matter your position with an air fryer, knowing how to use it correctly is essential for a long-lasting encounter. Our article above has made everything easy for you, and I am sure you want to purchase one for your family.

Now, what are you waiting for? Carry your head high to the market and get one that suits you best. Just leave a comment and tell us your experience with the air fryer.

Thanks for reading!