Congratulations! If you’ve clicked on this blog, chances are you have a new air fryer or you are considering to purchase a new one. But let me guess? You might not know how to use it yet.
Well, if that’s the case, you’ve come to the right place!
In this guide, I’ll walk you through EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT USING AN AIR FRYER and make you an air fryer pro in no time.
First things first, let’s understand what an air fryer is.
What’s an Air Fryer?
An air fryer is a handy kitchen gadget that lets you air fry, roast, bake, broil, crisp, dehydrate, and reheat your food. It’s super easy to use, and once you get the hang of it, you’ll love cooking with it!
There are two main types: basket air fryers and air fryer ovens. Basket air fryers have a removable basket for your food, while air fryer ovens look like toaster ovens and have racks inside. Air fryer ovens usually offer more cooking options and can fit more food, but they do take up a bit more counter space. Both types work in a similar way, so you can’t go wrong! Now let’s go to everyone’s favorite part:
What Can You Cook in an Air Fryer?
You can cook just about anything in an air fryer! From proteins like chicken, fish, and pork to healthy vegetable sides, tasty appetizers like zucchini fries and chicken wings, and even delicious desserts and baked goods. If you haven’t tried making hot chicken wings, healthy donuts, or mouthwatering nuggets in an air fryer, you’re really missing out on some of life’s simplest pleasures.
The air fryer is great for achieving that extra crispy or crunchy texture. Like French fries, fried chicken, and baked potatoes with crispy skins. Many people love cooking meats such as steak and chicken because they come out juicy and full of flavor.
However, not all air fryers deliver that juicy result. That’s why choosing the right air fryer for your kitchen is important.
I always recommend the Hamilton Beach Digital Air Fryer Oven 12 L, 1500 W. It’s budget-friendly and consistently makes juicy steaks every time!
How to Use an Air Fryer?
- Dry Foods Well for Crispiness: Moisture can prevent foods from becoming crispy. Before adding oil or seasonings, make sure to pat food dry with a clean kitchen towel or paper towels.
- Choose the Right Temperature: A good rule of thumb is to lower the temperature by 25 degrees compared to what you would use in a conventional oven. Check your air fryer manual for recommended temperatures or follow trusted recipes.
- Don’t Overcrowd the Basket: To ensure foods get crispy and cook evenly, always place them in a single layer in the air fryer basket. If needed, cook in batches.
- Shake or Flip Halfway Through: For small pieces like Brussels sprouts or French fries, shake the basket about halfway through cooking to promote even browning. For larger items like pork chops or chicken, flip them over halfway through.
- Air Frying Presets: Most air fryers come with preset programs for common foods, which include cook times and temperatures. While you can use these, I often prefer the manual air fry function to set the time and temperature myself.
- It’s Okay to Check Progress: Feel free to pull the basket out during cooking to check on how your food is progressing.
Air-Frying Mistakes We Can Avoid!
We’ve all learned some air-frying lessons the hard way, so here’s what to skip:
- Overfilling: We often think packing in more food is better, but that just leads to soggy results. Keep some space for even cooking!
- Wrong Temperature: We might assume air fryer temps are the same as oven temps, but they’re not. Let’s test with frozen foods first to get it right.
- Ignoring the Timer: It’s tempting to set the timer and walk away, but we need to check on our food. Some things can burn on top, so shaking the basket helps!
- Using Wet Batter: We might try to make pancakes or battered fish, but it usually ends up messy. Stick to breadcrumbs for better results!
- Cooking Big Meals: When we’re cooking for a crowd, the oven is often a better bet. Air fryers are great for smaller batches, but that can take a long time.
- Being Nervous About Baking: Many of us think baking in an air fryer won’t work, but it can! We can make delicious pastries and cakes with ease.
- Not Using the Right Dishes: Let’s remember that oven-safe dishes can maximize our air fryer space. A cake tin fits perfectly!
Wrapping up
I have a Good news.
You’re now an air frying pro! With these tips, you can avoid common mistakes and make the most of your air fryer. Now that you’re informed, using your air fryer will be easy and enjoyable.
