How to Use An Air Fryer for the First Time

What Is an Air Fryer?

An air fryer is a countertop appliance that cooks food by circulating hot air around it. This rapid circulation helps food cook quickly while creating a crispy exterior with little or no oil.

Air fryers come in many different sizes and styles, but most have a removable basket or cooking tray and temperature and time controls. Some models also have preset cooking programs.

Conventional Oven vs Air Fryer

An air fryer is essentially a small, powerful convection oven that circulates hot air around food. The main difference is the size and airflow. Because an air fryer has a smaller cooking chamber and food sits closer to the heating element, it can cook food faster and often create a crispier exterior.

A convection oven has a larger capacity, making it better for cooking larger portions or multiple dishes at once. For smaller meals and foods you want crispy, the air fryer is often the more convenient choice. I rarely use my oven anymore, only to make larger pizzas or casseroles, and make a lot of food in my air fryer now!

How to Use an Air Fryer

Place the food in the basket in a single layer whenever possible. Avoid packing the basket too tightly. Hot air needs to circulate around the food to help it cook evenly and become crispy.

For many foods, flipping halfway through cooking or shaking the basket helps everything brown more evenly. This is especially helpful for French fries, vegetables, chicken pieces, and other foods that benefit from even browning.

Use a food thermometer when cooking meat and poultry. Chicken, for example, should reach an internal temperature of 165°F in the thickest part.

Carefully remove the basket when your food is finished because it will be hot. Transfer the food to a plate and allow it to cool slightly before serving.

Helpful Air Fryer Tools

Instant-read thermometer: Probably the most useful tool, especially for chicken, steak, pork, and fish. It takes the guesswork out of knowing when food is done.

Silicone-tipped tongs: Great for flipping chicken, fish, vegetables, and other foods without scratching the basket.

Oil sprayer: Lets you apply a light, even coating of oil when you want food to brown or crisp better.

Silicone liner: Makes cleanup easier and can be useful for saucier foods. Make sure it is designed for your air fryer's temperature range.

Parchment liners: Helpful for sticky or breaded foods, although they should only be used according to the manufacturer's recommendations and with food weighing them down.

Do I need to preheat my air fryer?

Some recipes call for a preheated air fryer, while others do not. If a recipe specifically says to preheat, allow the air fryer to heat for a few minutes before adding your food.

Do You Need Oil in an Air Fryer?

You do not always need oil when using an air fryer. Many frozen foods already contain oil, while naturally fatty foods such as chicken thighs can cook without adding much additional oil.

For foods that benefit from a little extra browning, lightly coating them with oil can help. An oil sprayer or brush makes it easy to apply a thin, even coating.

Air Fryer Tips for Beginners

• Don't overcrowd the basket. One of the easiest ways to prevent crispy food is to pack the basket too full.
• Start checking food early. Your air fryer may cook faster than the recipe you're following, especially if it is a smaller model.
• Use a thermometer for meat. Cooking time is only an estimate. Internal temperature is the best way to determine whether meat is safely cooked.
• Don't be afraid to experiment. Once you understand how your air fryer cooks, you can start adjusting temperatures and cooking times to suit your preferences.
• Keep the basket clean. Cleaning the basket after each use helps prevent old food and grease from affecting the flavor of your next recipe.

What Can You Cook in an Air Fryer?

One of the best things about an air fryer is how versatile it is. You can make everything from crispy chicken and vegetables to frozen foods, pizza, appetizers, seafood, and desserts.

It is also great for reheating foods that you want to keep crispy instead of soft. French fries, pizza, chicken wings, and other fried foods can often be reheated beautifully in an air fryer.