You have an air fryer. Great! Now what do you do with it? If you're used to a conventional oven,
air fryers can be tricky to tackle. Keep watching to make sure you get the absolute best results.
The main reason air fryers have gained popularity in recent years is that you can prepare
traditionally fried food in a much healthier way. But you may be wondering what exactly makes it so
much healthier. Well, it all comes down to the amount of fat, generally oil, you have to use.
In an air fryer, you can cut down on most of that oil, if not entirely.
You usually have to deep fry your food if you want it to reach that desired crispness we all love.
But to do that, you basically have to soak whatever it is you're frying in oil for several
minutes. But because air fryers cook food at a super-high temperature using a high-powered fan,
you can use a lot less oil. Some foods, like meat, don't require any additional fat at all.
So, if you've been looking for a way to cut back on your oil intake without sacrificing taste,
then your air fryer is definitely going to get the job done.
Admittedly, we do love deep-fried food. Who doesn't? But there are some
downsides to deep-fried food, especially if you're making it in your own kitchen.
There are the health concerns, of course, but it's also just a super-messy process to
fry anything in your own kitchen, according to Tiny Kitchen Divas.
Seemingly no matter what you do, it's impossible to prevent all oil splatters
when you're deep-frying. And because oil is notoriously difficult to clean up,
deep-frying can be a huge hassle even after you've eaten the food. Plus, you're not
supposed to dump oil down the sink, so then you have to find a way to clean that up as well.
Here's another reason why people love their air fryers so much. Because you don't have to use
a ton of oil in your air fryer, you're not going to have any of these issues.
Therefore, not only can you get healthier fried food, but it's also a way easier and
more mess-free process. In the end, that saves you time, and who doesn't want that?
It's not just you and your circle of friends: Air fryers really are getting more popular.
The first modern commercial air fryer hit the market in 2010,
but it didn't gain a ton of traction until recently. However, over the past few years,
things have changed drastically. Go on any social media, and you will see
countless photos of the food people have made with their air fryers, even popcorn.
But you don't have to take our word for it: The proof is in the numbers. According to NPD Group,
as of July 2020, almost 40 percent of American households own an air fryer. That's a huge
percentage of people that are finding a way to use this appliance in their everyday lives.
If air fryers continue to rise in popularity, as seems to be the case, then we'll surely see
more air fryer-friendly recipes hitting cookbooks and recipe blogs in the coming months and years.
If you're like most people, you probably think about using the microwave to heat or defrost
leftovers. Sure, you can always use the oven, but many people go with the quicker option.
However, you may not realize that you can use your air fryer to heat leftovers. You know how
many fried foods or foods with breadcrumbs get sad and soggy when you put them in the microwave?
Well, you're not going to have the same problem when you use your air fryer instead.
"It's great. Doesn't take any time at all. Leftovers are great in your air fryer."
And since your air fryer can cook food quickly,
you won't wait forever like you would cooking with a standard oven.
There's plenty to love about air fryers, but that doesn't mean that they don't come without issues.
One of the most notable drawbacks is the amount of space they take up in your kitchen. Some people
opt for smaller air fryers, which obviously take up less room, but those aren't exactly ideal for
a large family. If you have a larger kitchen or plenty of storage space where you can keep your
air fryer when you're not actively using it, then you may not even see this as a problem.
However, for those who live in smaller spaces or don't have as much storage or countertop space
to work with, you really have to consider the pros and cons of keeping your air fryer around.
If you're really limited on space in your kitchen, you may want to find a closet or some other
out-of-the-way storage space where you can keep it when you're not using it.
Many people use an air fryer to replace deep-frying in their kitchens. It can also
be used in place of an oven since an air fryer is basically just a powerful convection oven.
However, if you're used to baking and roasting in your oven, be aware that
you're dealing with something completely different when you turn on your air fryer.
Some new users expect their food to take longer to cook. But these appliances really can cut
down on cook time significantly. Therefore, it's important to follow recipe directions closely.
And if you're reading a recipe that tells you to use an oven,
you're going to have to adjust the timing if you decide to use your air fryer instead.
Keep in mind that the less food you have in the basket of your air fryer,
the quicker it will cook. If you add more food, it will take longer.
In general, air fryers don't require much hands-on work to get the job done. You pretty
much just throw in the food, wait, and then eat. But if you want to cook your food perfectly,
there actually is a step that you should be taking every so often while your food cooks.
About halfway through your cook time, you'll want to shake the basket of your air fryer a bit.
This will ensure that your food won't stick to the basket.
When you do this, you may think that it's a good time to add cooking spray to the basket.
But that's something you'll want to avoid, unless it's fries and you spray at the beginning.
If you spray oil into the basket while it’s actually in the machine,
you're going to get a sticky residue on the surface of your air fryer.
Sure, you could argue that air fryers are perfect in some ways. They can help
you prepare healthier food, they're easier and cleaner to use than a deep-fryer, and they cook
the crispy fried food you crave. But nothing is totally perfect — not even your air fryer.
And the first time you turn it on, you'll understand why.
Air fryers can get quite loud. That's because they use high-powered fans that move heat
around to cook your food. Because that fan is moving so fast, it makes a loud whirring.
"Shhh. Too loud. Too loud."
Is this sound so loud that your neighbors will be knocking at your door telling you to turn it down?
No. But could it wake up a sleeping baby? It's possible.
Overall, we think the slightly annoying sound is worth it.
Plus, some brands are louder than others, so do your research if you want to avoid that.
Air fryers usually don't need an overly high temperature to cook your food properly.
And if you're used to cooking in an oven, it can take some time to get used to the difference.
Therefore, if you see a low temperature when you're following an air fryer recipe,
don't worry — it's probably right. And if you're adapting a recipe from an oven for use with an
air fryer, remember that you don't want to crank up the heat like you would in an oven.
With a bit of practice and patience, you'll get a handle on how hot your air fryer cooks,
so you can adjust accordingly.
Some people have endlessly decked-out kitchens that contain all the appliances anyone could ever
wish for. But not everyone is quite so lucky. Maybe you live in a big city in a small space.
Or maybe you don't have central air conditioning,
and the thought of turning on your oven in the middle of the summer sounds laughable.
Whatever the case may be,
using an oven on a regular basis may just not work for you. And if that's the case,
you may be happy to learn that an air fryer can essentially replace an oven in your kitchen.
Of course, an air fryer can't do absolutely everything an oven can do. No, cooking a massive
turkey for a Thanksgiving gathering probably isn't going to happen, but when it comes to
everyday cooking, an air fryer can do most of the jobs an oven would normally take care of.
"I'm telling you folks, you stick with me and in one week
we will gather enough food to feed a bear!"
"What?"
"Just a figure of speech."
You already know that you shouldn't mist your food with cooking spray while the
basket is in the air fryer — that's just asking for a huge mess. However,
that doesn't mean you should be afraid to add more oil during the cooking process at all.
And just a small amount of oil can make a huge difference when it comes to using your air fryer.
Try adding more oil to your food halfway through the cook time.
Of course, this isn't necessary if you're cooking foods that are already quite moist.
Most meats, for example, aren't going to need any additional oil. Other foods, though,
like vegetables, tofu, or tempeh may benefit from an extra drizzle of whatever oil you're using.
Give it a try, and see how much more crispy your food ends up.
So, what happens if you start smelling smoke while you're using your air fryer? Well, first,
you should probably turn it off. The next step is simple: Clean your air fryer! Most problems with
smoking ultimately came down to a dirty air fryer. America's Test Kitchen suggests cleaning the area
around the air fryer's heating element, as any residual oil there could be causing the smell.
If that doesn't work, you may want to clean the whole appliance.
Some of the removable parts of air fryers are dishwasher safe, but don't place yours in the
dishwasher until you're sure that they are. You should also clean the outside of your air fryer.
Using a bit of detergent along with water will ensure that you can clean up any leftover oil.
You won't have to do this deep clean every time you use your air fryer,
but do it on a regular basis so you don't have any issues.
You already know that you can cook fries, chicken wings, drumsticks and steak,
in your air fryer. But you probably didn't realize that you can cook an entire chicken.
Yes, you read that right. Meghan Splawn wrote for The Kitchn about her air fryer experience,
and she actually managed to cook an entire chicken
in her air fryer — even though she had an air fryer on the smaller side.
If you've been cooking for a while, then you probably feel confident about cooking
chicken in the oven and shrimp in a pan. But if you're new to using an air fryer,
you may not have that same familiarity you've come to depend on for other cooking methods.
This can make it difficult to ensure you're cooking food all the way through. For foods
like fries or veggies, this isn't a big deal — just try it and keep cooking if
need be. But with meat, you really want to make sure it's cooked thoroughly.
That's why we recommend using a meat thermometer when you cook meat in your air fryer.
That way, you don't have to rely on guesswork.
Otherwise, you could end up with under- or over-cooked meat, and nobody wants that.
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