How to Use an Air Fryer: An Ultimate Guide

Everyone is changing and adapting to the new norm of eating healthy. And what would be more helpful than getting yourself an air fryer? Fryers are versatile and convenient in their use. They make the crispiest fries, chicken, steak, and even brownies. Your food will cook with little or no oil, and it will be tender inside but quite crispy on the crust.

The air fryers are easy to operate. However, every brand will have different instructions and guidelines for handling them on the user manual. Various basic guidelines apply to multiple brands, and below are a few of the tips that will be helpful.

Shaking the Basket

When air frying food, it will be helpful to open it occasionally and slightly shake or toss the food like fries and potato wedges. It will ensure your food will cook through, and the crispiness will be even.

Avoid Overcrowding

Ensure to space out the food in the air can to avoid overcrowding. It ensures the food is evenly cooked inside and that each piece gets the crispiness you desire. It’s advisable to cook your food and snacks in batches to avoid overcrowding.

Spray With Oil

Spraying the food in the fryer lightly with olive oil or your favorite cooking oil. Spreading a little amount of oil ensures the food will not stick to the fryer’s sides, and your food will also acquire a pleasant taste from the oil.

Maintain Dryness

Before putting your food in the dryer, pat it dry with a paper towel to remove all the excess water from it. It will ensure there is minimum or no splattering and smoking while the food is cooking. Food with excess fat like chicken causes a lot of splattering, and it’s essential to check and remove excess fat that might collect at the bottom of the fryer every five to ten minutes.

The Timer

When frying your food, you will require to set different timers depending on what you are cooking.  However, some brands will cook faster while others might be a bit slow. And when you put the timer’s, some will keep going off. Don’t let this be a big issue. Check and reset the timer as soon as it goes off. Alternatively, you can set a timer on your phone or clock and closely monitor the time-lapse to avoid overcooking and burning the food.

Avoid Touching The Outside When In Use

When the air fryer is connected, it could be dangerous to carelessly touch it with wet hands, especially in the back area.  The fryer will not get visibly red hot, but it’s crucial to avoid any accidents when opening and closing the drawer.

How to Remove the Food

After your food is ready, avoid dumping it out into a bowl. Hot oil and steam collect at the bottom, and when you dump it out, it might splatter, and you may end up getting burnt. Use tongs to remove your food carefully.