Airfrying 101: Tips & Tricks

Air fryers have become a cult-favourite kitchen appliance over the last couple of years – and for good reason! It has been deemed as a healthier method of cooking compared to deep frying, as it requires little to no oil. Despite the lack of oil, you are still able to enjoy that golden, crispy bite that you crave. This lower quantity of oil also makes clean up a whole lot easier, as you won’t have to deal with a garish greasy aftermath. The cherry on top? The air fryer heats up quicker and cooks food faster, which is ideal if you are a busy parent or lead a busy lifestyle. If you are new to the world of air frying – don’t panic! With these simple tips and tricks, you will become a pro in no time.

Shake or Flip Food Halfway Through Cooking

If you want your food to cook evenly, make sure to shake the basket or flip your food halfway through. Small foods like fries or vegetables are fine to be shaken but you might want to use a pair of tongs to flip over larger items like chicken breast and large cuts of meat.

Be Careful with Lightweight Foods

A common mistake with using an air fryer happens when a person tries to cook lightweight foods. Every air fryer has a fan at the top, which can cause light food products to fly around haphazardly as air circulates. For example, if you were to place spinach in your air fryer, you will find that it will fly up into the heating coil and burn.

Don’t Overcrowd the Basket

This is another important tip for even and effective cooking. Ensure that you only ever have a single layer of food at a time. This will result in crispier and golden results. If you only have a small air fryer, it is worth cooking your food in batches. If cooking your food in batches sounds like a pain, opt for a larger air fryer altogether to avoid this issue.

Add Water or Bread When Cooking Greasy Foods

If you are cooking fatty or greasy foods such as bacon or sausages, you will need to make sure to add either bread or water at the bottom of your air fryer. Add a couple tablespoons of water to the bottom of your air fryer to prevent your food fat from landing directly on hot metal (which causes white smoke). The purpose of the bread is to soak up grease or dripping, which makes the later cleaning process a lot easier. It is also a more environmentally friendly choice in comparison to using aluminium foil for the same task.

Use to Reheat Foods or to Cook Frozen Foods

Do you know that feeling of trying to reheat fish and chips the next day, only for them to be soggy and disappointing? An air fryer is an excellent solution to this problem, as it is THE appliance for making crispy foods crispy again. Perfect for leftover takeout, ranging from domino’s pizza to Chinese! It is also an awesome way to cook frozen foods, such as crinkle cut fries, spring rolls or samosas.

Preheat Your Air Fryer Before Cooking

Just like an oven, it is necessary to preheat your air fryer. This allows your food to start cooking straight away and also makes cooking times in recipes a lot more accurate. Either click the preheat button on your air fryer or turn it on for a few minutes beforehand.

Add Oil Halfway Through the Cooking Process

A good tip for crispier food is to add extra oil halfway through the cooking process. You won’t need a lot but a little oil can make the world of difference! However, it is important to remove the food from the air fryer first to ensure an even coating. It also prevents any oil build-up from gathering on the inner part of the air fryer.

Use the Correct Amount of Oil

Some fattier foods may not require any oil at all. However if you are using oil to make your food extra golden and crispy, make sure you are not using too much. Air fryers are typically a healthier option, as they don’t require a lot of additional oil. Usually, air frying foods will only require 1-2 teaspoons. If you are cooking breaded products, you may need a little more (think 1-2 tablespoons instead of teaspoons).