Have a new air fryer?
Here’s everything you oughta know to get the most out of it.
You must be the owner of a new air fryer, or the soon-to-be owner of an air fryer.
Alison Conklin
Everybodys talking about these things, and now you get to see what the big deal is for yourself.
How do they work?
What kinds of foods can you make in your new air fryer?
Alison Conklin
Here’s everything you oughta know about a basic basket-punch in air fryer.
The Deal with Air Fryers
First off:Air fryers are not deep fryers.
Air fryers are full of hot air, and thats what is great about them.
Instant Vortex Plus 10-Quart Air Fryer.Tamara Staples
The upshot is that air fryers are much less messy and oil-intensive than deep-frying.
Even better, these lil ovens can do much more than crank out faux fried food.
This air fryer has one function only: air frying.This guide covers basket-pop in air fryers.
They also hold more food than basket-punch in air fryers.
How Air Fryers Work
Your air fryer is like an amazingconvection oven.
It’s small, yet mighty, and you could roast, broil, or bake in it.
You cannot deep fry in it.
Need a refresher on convection cooking?
But for our purposes, the convection oven analogy is good enough.
Simply Recipes / Nick Evans
This will probably include a removable basket and a grate or perforated tray in the bottom of that basket.
Wash and dry them.
Put the air fryer on a heat-resistant surface, at least eight inches away from the wall.
Alison Conklin
Replace the grate and basket.
Simple Tip!
It should be just a one-time thing.
Alison Conklin
Now you are ready to cook food!How about fries?
Really, isnt that the big sell on these things?
Potatoes are cheap, andwe have a great recipe for you.
Heres the rub:You cannot fit a lot of food in basket-throw in air fryers.
You and your air fryer will have a much better relationship if you accept this.
Dont expect leftovers, either.
Even a large air fryer (about four to five quarts) often needs to run food in batches.
Consumer Reportsfound thatthe actual capacity of some air fryers was a tad smallerthan what manufacturers claimed.
This can seem like a drag, but remember,air fryers cook food fast.
To Preheat or Not to Preheat?
That is the question.
Manufacturers recommend preheating, but if you like,you could skip preheating altogether.
I never preheat my air fryer.
Try it both ways, and see what gives you the best result.
It might depend on the recipe.
Mistakes to Avoid
Don’t be too generous with oil.Use a light hand with that oil!
Cooking greasy foods likebacon?
Add about 1 cup of water to the bottom of your air fryer basket.
This water will catch the grease and will prevent smoke.
Don’t grease the drawer with cooking spray.Seems like that would be a good idea, right?
But the baskets have nonstick coating, andcooking spray can damage the finish over time.
(Really, it says so in the manual!
What, didnt you read it?)
I found pre-fried frozen foods didnt need the help of extra grease.
A lot of recipes call for you to shake the basket every five minutes.
For larger items, like breaded fish fillets, flip them instead.
This can burn you, make a mess, and lead to greasy food.
When the times up it goes PING!
and the machine stops.
On one of the models I used, five minutes flew by suspiciously fast.
But do realize that not all timers run accurately.
Don’t put the hot drawer on the countertop.Think of the drawer as a hot pan.
When you pull it from the unit, the bottom especially will be hot.
Not hot enough to burn you, but don’t get all grabby with it.
If theyre gunky, hand wash.
Most models have parts that are dishwasher safe, so check with your manual.
