I got my first air fryer about 5 years ago when I first moved out of home. It was my only kitchen appliance and I literally used it every single day. It was perfect for a single serving of food! Over the years, I have had the time to perfect my craft and my air fryer is still a staple in my kitchen.
In this post, I'll walk you through everything you need to know - how it works, the best foods to air fry, how to clean it, and other helpful tips for getting the most out of your air fryer!
How air fryers work?
Air fryers are like a small, but mighty convention oven. Air fryers work by circulating hot air around food allowing it to cook evenly with a crispy exterior. This means you can enjoy the fried food without the unhealthy fat of adding lots of oil.
But, they don't just have to be used for food that is normally fried. They are very versatile so you can cook everything from chicken and fish to vegetables and even desserts. They're also great for reheating leftovers.
If you're looking for a healthy and convenient way to cook, an air fryer is a fantastic option. I frequently use it to cook single portions of food while I go and do something else. Here are just a few of the benefits of using an air fryer:
Healthier than deep frying. Air fryers use hot air to cook food, so there's no need to add oil. This makes them a healthier option than deep frying, which can be high in fat and calories.
Convenient. Air fryers are very easy to use. Just add your food to the basket, set the timer, and press start. There's no need to preheat the oven or babysit your food while it cooks.
Versatile. Air fryers can be used to cook a variety of foods. You can use them to cook chicken, fish, vegetables, and even desserts. They're also great for reheating leftovers.
Should I get an air fryer?
I'm probably a bit bias because I LOVE my air fryer. This is the air fryer I have, it's just so pretty! But air fryers can also be quite expensive and it's not something you need. If you're thinking of getting one, here are a few things to keep in mind:
What do you cook? If you only ever cook really large meals for families or more than 2, an air fryer might not be something that you would see benefit out of. While they are mighty, they can't actually cook that much food.
Size. Speaking of size, they come in a variety of sizes. You want to choose an air fryer that is big enough to cook the amount of food you typically cook. If you want to cook a whole chicken or pork roast, you need to consider this when looking at the size of the insert. I found that the depth is the most important aspect for these.
Price. Air fryers range in price from $50 to $300. The Kmart air fryer might be a good starter, but consider the quality of the appliance and how long it will last.
Features. Some air fryers have additional features, such as rotisserie function or a dehydrator function. If you think you'll use these features, look for an air fryer with them. I just have your simple, stereotypical air fryer and I LOVE IT! While the features are pretty cool on the others, I don't think it is something I would use regularly.
Air Fryer accessories
Air fryers are a versatile kitchen appliance, but they can be even more versatile with the right accessories. There are many air fryer accessories on the market, but these are my favourites:
Air fryer inserts. Air fryer liners or inserts help to prevent food from sticking to the basket and make cleanup easier. You can purchase disposable air fryer liners, or air fryer silicone liners for a more sustainable approach.
Baking paper or aluminium foil. Yes, you can use foil and baking paper in an air fryer. Similar to using these in an oven, they can prevent the food from sticking. They also stop the food from falling through the basket.
Mesh baskets. Mesh baskets are a good option for cooking delicate foods, such as fish or vegetables.
You can also get multi-racks which help you cook layers of food so the air fryer isn't overcrowded.
Pizza pans. If you're cooking a small pizza in the air fryer on a tortilla or other flatbread, pizza pans will help you to cook this.
Muffin and cake pans. I absolutely love cooking muffins in my air fryer. I have a silicone muffin pan and it is so quick and easy to use and clean.
This is the pack that I have previously purchased. It also includes a cake pan which is fantastic (just make sure you grease it well).
How to clean your air fryer?
I absolutely hate cleaning, so the air fryer is the best thing for me as I don't have to clean pans or worry about messy stove-tops.
But, that doesn't mean the air fryer doesn't need to be cleaned.
Here are the steps on how to clean an air fryer:
- Unplug the air fryer and let it cool completely.
- Remove the basket and any removable trays. These parts of the air fryer can go in the dishwasher (check the instructions).
- Wipe down the inside of the air fryer with a damp cloth.
- If there is any stubborn grease or food build-up, you can soak the basket and trays in warm soapy water for 30 minutes to an hour.
- If you don't have a dishwasher or can't add the air fryer basket and trays into the dishwasher, scrub them with a soft sponge or brush.
- Rinse the basket and trays with warm water and dry them thoroughly.
- Wipe down the outside of the air fryer with a damp cloth.
Can the air fryer go in the dishwasher? Short answer, yes. But only some parts. Check the instruction booklet your air fryer came with and it should tell you the parts that are dishwasher safe. I regularly will put the basket in the dishwasher and any air fryer accessories, but I will handwash the rest.
Tough stains in your air fryer? You can also use a baking soda paste to clean the air fryer. To make a baking soda paste, mix 2 tablespoons of baking soda with 1 tablespoon of water. Apply the paste to the inside of the air fryer and let it sit for 30 minutes. Then, scrub the paste away with a soft sponge or brush.
The best foods to cook
Air Fryer Chicken
Check out my Air Fryer Roast Chicken recipe.
Whether it be a full roast chicken or just a breast or a couple of wings, the air fryer should be your first option for cooking smaller portions.
I regularly roast a full chicken in the air fryer. Mind you, it has to be a relatively small roast chicken to fit. But a 1.5-2kg chicken has worked perfectly multiple times for me.
Air Fryer Pork
Check out my Air Fryer Roast Pork recipe.
Same as the air fryer chicken, air frying pork works just as well. Especially if you want a crispy skin on your pork belly!
Air Fryer Fish
Check out my Air Fryer Salmon recipe.
If I am cooking a piece of fish for myself and want super crispy skin without the clean-up of the pan, I will use my air fryer!
Air Fryer Vegetables
As your air fryer is like a convention oven, any veggies that you would usually bake can be baked or roasted in the air fryer.
Air Fryer Potatoes
Speaking of air fryer veggies, you cannot go past air fryer potatoes. They come out crispy on the outside and soft and lush on the inside.
You can go the usual roasted potatoes, sweet potatoes or pumpkins, or you can be a bit lazy and chuck in some frozen potatoes. My go-to approach with converting the times on the packet (whether it be for air frying fries, gems, wedges etc.) is to take off 5-10 minutes of the time they recommend, and 10 degrees (Celsius) off the temperature.
Experiment with the timings yourself and you'll eventually get a feel for how long different products should be in for.
Check out my Air Fryer Hasselback Potato Recipe.
Air Fryer Eggs
I am really bad at boiling eggs on the stove. I really do not understand how some people have perfected this. But, I am pretty good at making air fryer boiled eggs.
These are the temperatures and times that I use for different types of eggs. This might vary slightly based on your air fryer, but once you've got the method down, you'll never boil eggs differently again.
Soft Boiled: 9 minutes @120C
Semi-set: 11 minutes @120C
Medium: 13 minutes @120C
Hard-Boiled: 15 minutes @120C
Check out my Air Fryer Boiled Eggs Recipe.
Check out my Air Fryer Frittata Recipe.
Air Fryer Meals
Did you know you can actually cook entire meals in the air fryer! They aren't huge in size, but anything that you would traditionally cook as a single-pan recipe in your oven, will work well in the air fryer as well!
You can also use your air fryer to re-heat meals that you would usually put in the microwave. It stops the food that would usually go soggy from changing temperature.
Check out my Air Fryer Chicken & Veg recipe.
Check out my Air Fryer Meal Re-Heat.
What else do I need to know about air fryers?
Air fryers are loud. when they're running, you'll hear the fans and it'll make quite a bit of noise.
Have a peek. It's fine to pull out the basket and have a look partway through. The machine will cut off once the basket is out so there's no need to turn the air fryer off halfway through to have a look.
Shake, or stir. Depending on what you're cooking, it's best to shake or stir the food halfway through. This helps the food cook more evenly.
Food cooks fast. Food will cook faster than what a convention ovens do. Each air fryer is slightly different but they all come with a handy guide on accurate cooking times.
Turn down the temp. Most air fryer recipes might have lower temperatures than what you're used to. It's because they get very hot, very fast and there's not as much space as a convention oven. A slightly lower temperature will keep the food from getting too crispy on the outside.
Preheating. An air fryer does not need a lot of time to get up to temperature. Most manufacturers recommend preheating, but I have never preheated my air fryer and have never had any issues. Try it both ways and see what you prefer.
Don't overcrowd. It's so tempting to add lots of food into the air fryer, but this will not give you the best result. I would recommend one single layer on the bottom and cook in smaller batches.
truTRTL
Thanks for the great info!
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