Cooking With Air Fryers

Air fryers are among the most popular cooking appliances found in kitchens today. If you still don’t have one, here is some information that might help change your mind.

What Are Air Fryers?

An air fryer is not a deep fryer although it can be used to create the same types of recipes. Basically it’s a small convection oven that cooks at high temperatures while circulating extremely hot air around the food. The crispy, fried texture comes from the hot air circulation, and not from deep frying the food in hot oil.

Different Models

There are many different air fryer models and price options to choose from. The higher price range air fryers have more features and higher wattage, but all models generally produce quality food. 

Air fryers range from a 2-quart capacity all the way up to 30 quarts. When picking a size, you’ll want to consider counter space, number of family members, and whether you want to cook large batches on a regular basis.

Models also differ in their cooking method or style. There are three main styles of air fryers:

1. Paddle – A paddle air fryer uses a rotating paddle to stir food inside a pan so it cooks more evenly. Most paddle types allow you to remove it so it doesn’t get in the way when cooking certain types of foods (eg. large chicken pieces or steak).

2. Basket – These air fryers use a basket with holes, making it easier for air to circulate around the food. The food still has to be stirred at least once during the cooking process to ensure even cooking. The holes in the basket rule out cooking anything with too much liquid (e.g soups, sauces), but these models are excellent for meats and vegetables. They’re less expensive than paddle type fryers.

3. Countertop Convection Oven – These models are actually convection ovens, and resemble toaster ovens in shape. They’re larger, with wire racks in the center, so are able to cook more items at the same time. There’s also a wider range of cooking options to provide more meal versatility (e.g. air fry, broil, bake, roast, dehydrate, reheat, rotisserie, ferment, toast, warm).

Can You Use Oil in an Air Fryer?

Although no oil is needed in air fryers, you can still use a small amount to add an extra crunchy layer to whatever you’re cooking. Many recipes benefit from using a little oil. Check the owner’s manual for the amount that should be used for your brand of air fryer.

It’s generally recommended that you add oil to the food beforehand, and not spray it on the inside surface of the fryer. You can do this in a number of ways: toss it with food in a bowl, baste it on, oil the food in a ziplock bag, or spray food with an oil sprayer. You can also sprinkle or spray oil on the food once it’s in the fryer, but you may not get as good a coating needed to attain a crispy outer layer.

Oil sprays with propellants are not good for your air fryers. It’s been reported that these remove the non-stick coating inside the machine.

For all air fryers, choose oils with higher smoking points. Common ones include: avocado, ghee, extra light olive oil, coconut, and vegetable oil.

Air Frying Benefits

For those who love the flavor and texture of fried food, air frying has many benefits:

• Air fryers require a fraction of the oil needed for deep fryers, resulting in a more healthy meal.
• The reduced intake of oil for fried food can result in lower calories.
• Air fryers are safer than deep fryers because you’re not working with a large container of scalding oil.
• They’re easy to clean after each use. Some air fryer baskets can go into the dishwasher.
• Air fryers are faster than conventional oven cooking, and with most recipes they don’t need any pre-heating time. For example, a chicken breast takes 10 to 15 minutes at 400°F.
• They’re easy to use. Many models have digital controls with a good selection of preset times and temperatures. The owner’s manual will also usually have a chart with times and temperatures for various food items.
• Air fryers are versatile. You can cook vegetables, meat, fish, pasta, and even bake cookies and other treats. Avoid foods with a wet batter as they’ll end up chewy and not crispy (besides dripping and creating a burned mess).

How to Use an Air Fryer

Every brand has its own instruction manual, but here are some basic steps for all air fryers:

1. When brand new, first clean the paddle, pan, or basket, and any accessories with hot soapy water. Rinse and dry before use.
2. Plug in the air fryer. It gets hot, so protect the countertop if it’s not heat resistant. Pull the fryer out at least 5 inches from the wall to provide enough air circulation, and to prevent heat damage to the wall. For first time use, some manufacturers recommend running the air fryer empty for 10 minutes. Follow the time and temperature stated in your manual.
3. If this isn’t a first time use, pre-heat the air fryer if the recipe calls for it. Pat any moist food dry beforehand, because excess water is going to end up steaming the food instead of frying and crisping it. Place the food in the basket, or in the pan (if paddle model), and fill it only half full so the air can circulate properly. Then close the drawer or door so it’s secure.
4. Select the functions you want, such as Air Fry, a food preset, or temperature and time. Then start the machine.
5. Turn or flip the food to achieve even cooking if required by the recipe. Sometimes food can also settle and begin to stick, so stop the air fryer to shake the basket during the cooking process to help restore the airflow.
6. When cooking is finished, remove the food. Remember the basket and air fryer will be hot.

For the very best in repair and maintenance of your major appliances, you can count on C&W Appliance Service. Get in touch with us at (855) 358-1496 or submit our online service request form.