These air fryer tips and tricks will be a big help to you! Whether you are a newbie at using the air fryer or have been using the air fryer for a long time already, you will find these tips and tricks very useful the next time you cook with your air fryer!
AIR FRYER VERSUS AIR FRYER OVEN
The exquisite flavor and satisfying crunch of deep-fried food are achieved with air frying, a cooking technique that needs a bit to no oil at all. The method an air fryer operates is that it instantly distributes high-temperature air throughout the basket, heating the food across all sides to achieve a crisp, fried coating and even browning on all edges.
A traditional air fryer is a piece of countertop equipment with a basket resembling a deep-frying basket. There are different sizes of countertop air fryers, depending on the brand and model. Usually, these are made compact making them a great fit on your kitchen counter.
On the other hand, a full-sized oven with an air fry cooking option built within the oven chamber is known as an air fryer oven. With this cutting-edge technology, you can now take advantage of all the perks of air frying regardless of whether you use induction, gas, or electric range.
An in-range air fry technology cooks food to a flawlessly crisped finish by quickly circulating hot air around the dish that uses a powerful fan. Making use of an air fryer oven will be perfect for you if you do not have much space on your countertop and if you are cooking not just for yourself but for a big family – this has tons of capacity compared to a traditional air fryer.
However, if you want something in a smaller size but not an air fryer basket, there are also models that have countertop air fryer ovens. These are also slightly bigger than the traditional air fryer and instead of a basket, it comes with trays. Whichever type you have, I'm sure you are going to need these air fryer tips and tricks!
AIR FRYER VERSUS CONVENTIONAL OVEN
Your fave items and dishes have a virtually endless array of new uses when cooked in an air fryer. Make crispy on the surface, juicy and tender within air-fried delicacies out of your favorite vegetables, luscious meats, and delectable sweets.
The size of an oven and a stand-alone air fryer is the primary distinction. An oven is a full-sized machine that can handle numerous dishes or larger amounts, whereas an air fryer is a piece of countertop equipment that typically cooks one meal at a time. The function of each appliance is the second key distinction.
In order to quickly cook and crisp up a variety of meals, an air fryer circulates heated air. While food is cooked in a traditional oven using still air. Conventional ovens utilize heating elements on the top and bottom of the cooking chamber, but the air is somewhat stable and does not assist in removing moisture from the outer layer of the food for a crispy finish.
TIPS AND TRICKS FOR A NEW AIR FRYER
If you just bought yourself a new air fryer and will be using it for the first time. Here are a couple of things you should remember to keep your air fryer in great shape! Check the list down below to know how you should be cleaning your air fryer.
- PACKAGING AND TAPE
Before anything else, check everything that is included in the package of your air fryer. Remove any tape stuck to it or plastic covers. This is important that you check all sides because when you use your air fryer it is going to get hot. If you forget to remove one it can melt the plastic or tape and damage your unit.
- AIR FRYER MANUAL
This is one of the most important air fryer tips and tricks you need to know, check and read the manual that came with the air fryer. This way you will learn what can and can't be done with the model you have. There are some things that can and can't be done depending on the brand and make of an air fryer. Before you check the next points in this list it is better to read through your manual first.
- WASH THE BASKET
Don't think that just because oil won't be needed for cooking in the air fryer, it is not going to be dirty… it will be. So, to properly wash the air fryer basket, you are going to need some hot, soapy water. If your appliance has a crisper plate that can be removed, this too needs to be cleaned in hot, soapy water.
Be sure to dry the objects completely after rinsing them. Once they are all dried up, you can put them back in the air fryer.
- DISHWASHER SAFETY
The market is filled with a wide variety of air fryer brands and designs. Before putting your air fryer basket in the dishwasher, always check your air fryer's manual to be sure it is dishwasher safe. If not, you will have to wash it by hand and follow the steps from the previous point.
- FOOD RESIDUE
If there is thick food residue left within your air fryer basket, submerge the basket in a sink of warm, soapy water. Do not scrub hard and force it to come off, this can damage the finish of the air fryer basket. Simply soak it for about 5 minutes for it to soften. You can try washing it again after it has been soaked, if the residue is still hard to remove, you can always soak it longer and just repeat the process.
- HEATING ELEMENT
The best approach to clean an air fryer's heating element when it becomes soiled and has food residue on it is to use a little cleaning brush. However, if it can be wiped down with a damp cloth you won't need the brush anymore.
Also, it is better to clean it before it completely cools down so that the residue won't be harder to remove. Just be cautious and not wipe it right after cooking, wait for a couple of minutes before doing so.
- MAIN UNIT
The main unit does not usually get real dirty but if it does it would just need some minimal cleaning. Take note that you can not soak the main unit in water. Just grab a damp cloth and wipe it around the area where needed.
AIR FRYER TIPS AND TRICKS FOR THE BEST RESULTS
Have you been cooking in the air fryer for quite some time now? You might not be getting the best results with your dishes. Here is a list of air fryer tips and tricks that surely will give your meals the best results possible:
- WATCH THE FOOD
In particular, when you are initially starting out, it is crucial to monitor your meal as it cooks. Determined by the size of your fryer, food will cook at varying speed rates. Just to be safe, watch and check your food while it is cooking once in a while.
- SHAKE THE BASKET
The results of your food can be greatly improved by shaking the air fryer basket. Make sure to shake the basket slightly while pausing the cooking process a few times if you're cooking smaller items like French fries, chopped vegetables, etc. By doing so, the food will become more evenly crunchy and less likely to adhere to the basket.
- ADDING OIL
In an air fryer, you still need to use a little bit of oil. The amount of oil needed to produce a crispy finish is not that much. Before loading your ingredients, slightly coat the air fryer basket with olive oil to prevent food from sticking.
For a crispier texture, lightly spraying the dish with olive oil is also beneficial. However, you won't need to put oil every time you cook. The recipes will state whether or not this step is required.
- USE A MEAT THERMOMETER
Utilize a meat thermometer to determine the doneness of your meat. You can get precisely cooked meat thanks to this. Trust me, a meat thermometer will be a great investment and it will come in very handy if you are not sure how to check meat doneness correctly. This can also save you a lot of time.
- RECIPE CONVERSION
Converting recipes from your traditional oven is simple. Simply lower the air fryer's temperature by 25° F. To prevent overcooking and just check on the dish occasionally. Don't worry because there are lots of recipes that include the cooking time and temperature for air fryers.
- REMOVE THE FOOD FROM THE AIR FRYER BASKET
To avoid overcooking the food, remove it from the air fryer basket as soon as it's finished cooking. If you leave it in the basket, it can get overcooked, soggy, or even dry. Because the heat is still trapped in the basket, you have to take out the food immediately.
- SECURE LIGHTWEIGHT FOODS
The flowing air may fling the contents in the basket around while frying delicate meals. Secure food with toothpicks or even a pie weight to solve this problem.
- COOKING TIME
Generally speaking, cooking times for smaller items will be less than for bigger ones. Always follow recipes as they are written to avoid cooking food longer or shorter than it should be. Cooking time will also depend on other factors like temperature and food portions.
- USE APPROPRIATE TOOLS
If your air fryer comes with different types of equipment or trays, it is best to use appropriate tools depending on the dish you are cooking.
- CLEAN YOUR AIR FRYER REGULARLY
If your unit contains a crisper plate and basket, it is crucial to clean these before making use of them. Wash, rinse, and dry with hot, soapy water. Avoid using steel wool, scouring pads, or abrasive cleaners to get the frying basket clean.
- KNOW YOUR AIR FRYER
Carefully read the instruction guide before using your air fryer. You may improve your air frying experience by following the directions and recommendations provided by each type of air fryer. There might be suggestions in there that you did not know about your air fryer.
- AIR VENTS
Check to make sure the air intake or outlet vents are not clogged while in the usage of an air fryer. The device can overheat if this happens. Hot air is flowing inside the air fryer which means that the steam from that air needs to be vented out.
- PREHEATING
Others don't need any preheating, while some models advise a brief preheat period. In order for you to know this information, you have to check your air fryer's manual. Some may even have a setting for it on their air fryer.
- DO NOT OVERCROWD THE BASKET
For the best results, always arrange food in an even single layer in the air fryer basket. Also, when cutting up ingredients, ensure that you do this as directed by the recipe. This will ensure that the food cooks in the air fryer properly.
- CHECKING THE FOOD WHILE COOKING
At the very least when you first create a recipe, check occasionally to make sure you're not overcooking. Simply pull open the basket if you want to shake, toss, or turn food while it's cooking. You'll be informed when this is necessary for other recipes.
- BE CAUTIOUS
The air fryer basket will be very hot both during and after use, so keep that in mind. When touching the basket, wear oven mitts or hot pads at all times.
- TRANSFERRING FOOD
Don't turn the air fryer over once you're done cooking to remove the food from the basket. You should use heat-safe tongs to transfer food from the basket or take it out of the appliance.
- USE PARCHMENT LINERS
Food that sticks to the air fryer basket is prevented with liners. When prepping seafood, these are really useful. The finest liners for air fryers are those with openings that allow air to flow around the food even when the liner is there.
- FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH THE CONTROLS
Get acquainted with the display and control panel on your air fryer. Depending on your model, this can be a gauge or a digital panel. A basic panel will feature controls for the time and temperature. There might be settings for various food types and cooking methods on more advanced screens.
- CUT FOOD INTO EVEN PIECES
Food that has been sliced into uniformly sized chunks will cook more quickly and taste so much better. The small portions of food may be overcooked and the large pieces may be undercooked if the size of the meal is inconsistent.
- PAT FOOD DRY
Unbreaded items should always be dried with a paper towel. In particular, this applies to vegetables and meats. Eliminating the extra moisture will stop meals from steaming and give them a crispier texture. This quick process can have a significant impact on the flavor and texture of the food.
- ALWAYS ARRANGE FOOD IN A SINGLE LAYER
Food cooked in a single layer will have the best possible air flow around it. The meal will be fried and crisped on all sides. To get the greatest results in a small air fryer, you might have to cook in batches.
- AVOID AEROSOL COOKING SPRAY
The nonstick coating of the air fryer basket may be harmed by the chemicals included in many aerosol cooking sprays. Instead, apply oil with a basting brush, oil mister, or spray bottle.
- TYPES OF FOOD
While using the air fryer is so easy and effortless, sadly not all types of food are allowed in the air fryer. This information can be written in your manual if not, there is a list that can be checked online if you are not sure if the food you will be making can be cooked in the air fryer.
- USE HEAT-RESISTANT TOOLS
Most air fryer baskets are non-stick it is important that this should not be scratched. Be sure to use tools that are made with silicone tips.
- COOLING RACK
Some recipes would require cooling. And when cooking fried food in the air fryer, cooling them for a minute or so can make them more crispy.
- BAKING PAN
A whole new world of recipe options becomes available when using a baking pan that will fit within the air fryer basket. You can use the air fryer to cook meals that you would usually cook in the oven. In the air fryer, a baking pan can be used to cook frittatas and casseroles.
- SAFE SURFACE
You should make sure when using your air fryer it should be standing on a flat surface. Also, the things surrounding the appliances should have spaces between them and the air fryer itself.
- CHOOSE THE RIGHT AIR FRYER
If you haven't bought one yet but planning to, you should consider every factor when getting one. The size, portion, function, etc. Be sure to get the best fit for you!
- GREASY FOOD
Sometimes when the food is greasy it tends to build up at the bottom of the basket. You can place a foil underneath to catch the grease or one trick you can do is to place a slice of bread. Owners of air fryers who care about the environment may actually exchange their aluminum foil liners for a piece of 100% biodegradable bread.
However, you still want to avoid food waste. So, if you want to use bread to catch some grease be sure to use it for super greasy food only.
If you loved this air fryer tips and tricks post, be sure to check out these other great posts:
- Ultimate Air Fryer Cookbook (150 Recipes)
- My Air Fryer Stopped Working, Now What?
- How to Make Crispy Crowns in the Air Fryer
Be sure to PIN this for later and SHARE on Facebook!
- Printable Easter Bunny Note to Child - March 20, 2023
- Easter Egg Filler Ideas for Adults - March 13, 2023
- Laundry Cheat Sheet for College Students - March 7, 2023
Leave a Reply