Air-frying is not a trend. It's a cooking method that offers many benefits. To become proficient, you need to learn how the appliance works and what you must do to get the most out of it. The BestReviews Testing Lab has evaluated dozens of air fryers. We know how they work on a practical level. If you want to truly understand this countertop marvel, here’s everything you need to know.
The marketing for an air fryer was a double-edged sword. It immediately convinced people the appliance was something to try because you could fry foods in a healthier way. But the same buzzwords that got people interested in the product also limited their expectations to simply making foods crispy when, in fact, it can do so much more.
An air fryer can have a few different designs, ranging from basket to oven and beyond. However, the cooking method is always the same. An air fryer has a small cooking chamber (when compared to a full-size oven) and at least one heating element along with a fan. The fan circulates the hot air around the food to cook it quickly and evenly like a convection oven, making it an efficient way to cook.
And most air fryers can perform all the same functions as your oven, allowing you to do far more than cook a healthier version of comfort food. You can bake, toast, warm, dehydrate and more in this versatile appliance.
There are many reasons why someone would choose an air fryer over another appliance. Here are several:
An air fryer is a countertop appliance that cooks food using dry heat. The heating element, located in the top of the air fryer, heats up the air. A fan blows that hot air directly onto your food. Since the food is cooked in a basket, the air circulates around the food. This efficient method of transferring heat enables caramelization of surface sugars in foods, giving them a crispy texture with a robust flavor. As the outside crisps, it also seals in the juices to keep the insides decadently moist.
While it is definitely possible to cook without adding any oil at all to your food, some people find that rather bland when compared to deep-fried foods. If you need a little more pizzazz, you can start with one tablespoon of oil. Remember to coat your food; do not pour the oil directly into the basket. If that's not enough, you can increase as needed, but the whole point is to minimize your oil usage in an air fryer.
An air fryer is a countertop appliance. You need to place it on a sturdy, level surface that is close enough to an outlet that you do not need an extension cord. Because an air fryer cooks at the same high temperature as an oven, you will need space around it for the hot air to vent. Typically, this is 5 inches on all sides, but you'll need to consult your owner's manual for the specifics of your model.
Before using your air fryer for the first time, you'll want to remove all tape, cardboard, plastic and foam that secured the model during shipping. You also need to wash off any areas that are involved in holding the food, such as the fryer basket and the crisper tray. Many air fryers, but not all, also need to run through a heating cycle to burn off any coatings applied at the factory to protect your unit until its first use.
In general, an air fryer works like an oven. You will have controls that you use to select the temperature and cooking time. Depending on your model, you might have other specialty features. You will need to consult your owner's manual to learn what they do and how to access them.
An air fryer needs to warm up before being used. If you do not preheat, you won't be cooking at the correct temperature. This can lead to your recipe not turning out as expected. Many models have a built-in preheat, like an oven, that will alert you when the air fryer reaches the designated temperature. Once the air fryer is hot enough, you insert your food and cook according to the directions.
If you are impatient and skip the preheat step, your food may not be fully cooked when the recipe says it should be done. Extending the cooking time will help, but you will lose the benefit of the food cooking at a consistent temperature. If you are using a smaller air fryer, the preheat function won't be as impactful because the oven may reach full temperature in as little as two minutes.
To get the best results with an air fryer, it’s important to prepare the food properly. The most important aspect is cutting the pieces to a uniform size. This is because larger pieces take longer to cook. If you have a mix of large and small pieces, some may be overcooked, while others will be undercooked. You also want to refrain from overcrowding the basket — if the air can't circulate, your food won't cook evenly.
Another important prep step to remember is to dry your food before placing it in the air fryer. Any moisture that is on your food will inhibit creating a crispy exterior. It's okay to coat your food lightly with oil, as this will help with crisping, but condensation or water will yield less than satisfactory results. This tip holds true for marinating as well. After the food has absorbed the flavors, pat the surface dry before placing it in the air fryer. If you're adding seasoning, it’s best to do this before cooking as well.
Cooking with an air fryer is very simple. One reason is because you will most likely only be cooking one type of food, such as french fries or hot dogs, at a time.
Anything you can cook in an oven, you can cook in an air fryer. Though you’ll need to downsize larger portions of food, an air fryer is a much more versatile appliance than many people give it credit for.
When considering which foods you shouldn't cook in an air fryer, all you have to remember is that an air fryer has a fan. Any food that can be displaced by the air current of a fan should not be cooked in an air fryer. This includes foods with wet ingredients, such as sauces and batter. The fan can splatter these ingredients around, coating the heating element and, in general, making a mess.
Additionally, anything that is light enough to be lifted by an air stream is not suitable either. This includes leafy vegetables, cheese slices and even pieces of bread. For example, placing a cheese sandwich in an air fryer to make a grilled cheese can be risky because it has the potential to lift apart while cooking.
With all the testing we've done, we've found most air fryer recipes call for cooking food at 350 to 400 degrees for eight to 12 minutes. Obviously, there are dishes that won't fit inside those confining parameters, but it gives you a good idea of how simple an air fryer is to use. For some recipes — ones you don't want as crisp, or meat that you want to cook low-and-slow — it is better to lower the temperature and cook the food for longer.
Some air fryers have presets that allow you to cook certain foods at the press of a button. These are comparable to the popcorn button on your microwave. They are purely a matter of convenience. You can achieve the same results, sometimes even better results, from dialing in the time and temperature manually.
Basic air fryers have a single basket that you fill with food and cook one batch at a time. More advanced models, however, may come with features like two baskets, a baking rack or other accessories that let you get even more out of the appliance. For example, if your model has two baskets, it's like having two separate air fryers. You can cook two different foods at the same time. And if your model has a sync finish function, it means those foods will be done cooking at exactly the same time.
If your air fryer is an oven model, you could put something on the baking rack, such as pizza or hot dogs, and cook french fries beneath in the basket. While this is convenient, since you are heating your food in the same cooking chamber, you will have to watch to see when each item is done — they won't automatically finish at the same time.
There is very little you have to do to keep an air fryer running safely and efficiently.
For a long appliance life, it’s essential to clean an air fryer after every use. You also need to keep grease from building up on any windows or the heating element. Consult the owner's manual to learn how to perform these and other deeper cleaning tasks.
While some parts may be dishwasher-safe, never submerge the base. Also, never clean with abrasive materials as these will damage the nonstick coating.
An air fryer is a relatively safe kitchen appliance. As long as you place it on a stable surface with ample room for the heat to vent and you remove all nearby items, you will have no problems while cooking. The primary safety concern is removing the food after it has been cooked. The basket and crisper tray will be very hot. You want to avoid touching them or placing them down on a surface that could be damaged by heat.
If you need to reach into the basket to remove your cooked food, use a pair of silicone-tipped tongs. These will reduce the risk of touching the hot basket with your hand, and the silicone tips will protect the nonstick coating on your air fryer.
If the food that you cooked created an abundance of grease, be extra careful when handling the basket so you do not spill the hot grease. Also, remember that pouring hot grease down your sink will create a clog. Let the grease cool and solidify before dumping it into a trash can.
Now that you know everything you need to know about how to use an air fryer, here's a quick at-a-glance list to remind you of the key points:
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Allen Foster writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
