Air Fryer Mistakes To Avoid!
If you don’t have an air fryer by now — you’re seriously missing out (especially on all the surprising things you can make with it.) If you do have an air fryer, you know the obsession is real.
But first, what is an Air Fryer? An air fryer is a countertop appliance about the size of a traditional Crock-Pot or Instant Pot. As the name suggests, a fan quickly circulates hot air (like a convection oven does) to “fry” food, cooking and crisping its exterior without all of the grease and oil that traditional frying requires. The best part? Air fryers heat up a lot faster than your standard oven and are less prone to hot spots because air circulates more evenly throughout it.
We use it to cook just about everything from warming up quick bites to even baking cinnamon rolls! Look out for my favorite air fryer recipes coming soon!
So from one air fryer aficionado to another, here are 10 common air fryer mistakes that can happen to the best of us — plus how to easily fix them:
1. Don’t buy a cheap, low-quality air fryer.
Don’t give in to your frugal impulses and buy a low-quality air fryer. It’s easy to want to save extra cash, but it may cost you more in the end.
Instead, wait for a deal on a high-end model. Look for the hottest deals on reliable brands like PowerXL, Phillips, Black and Decker, NuWave, and Ninja.
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2. Always clean your air fryer after every use.
Don’t make this air fryer mistake. First off, you don’t want the taste of fish sticks or chicken nuggets that you cooked last night on the cinnamon rolls you’re cooking for breakfast this morning. Ew.
Second, your air fryer will smoke a lot more if you don’t clean it after every use.
3. Purchase the correct size air fryer for your family.
Smaller air fryers tend to be between 2.2-3.7 quarts, while larger sizes tend to be between 5-6 quarts, and extra-large sizes tend to be between 8-16 quarts.
Here’s a basic rule of thumb: if it’s for two adults, buy a small one. If it’s for a family, buy a large (or extra-large) fryer.
4. Allow the air fryer at least five inches of space all around for the best airflow.
The air fryer needs adequate space for airflow to ensure it doesn’t overheat and can operate efficiently. Air fryers rely on convection to get food crisp — and convection requires proper space and airflow.
Make sure you don’t place any object on top of the air fryer either and set it on top of a heat-resistant pad or mat.
>>READ MORE: HOW TO KEEP YOUR PANTRY WELL STOCKED
5. Always preheat the air fryer before adding food.
Simply turn on your air fryer for a few minutes to get it warmed up just as you would your oven. Be careful adding food into your air fryer after that. This will ensure that the food crisps rather than steam.
6. Use oil while cooking to prevent soggy, dry, or chewy food — but don’t go overboard.
Most people think that you don’t need to use oil in an air fryer to make healthier food, but that can lead to soggy, dry, or chewy food.
You do need a light layer of oil before cooking food in an air fryer to prevent the food from over-cooking as well as keeping seasoning on foods.
Air fryers move hot air around to cook foods, so spices or anything super light will be blown around the basket. It may not seem like a big deal, but it can clog your filter, which can eventually lead to a broken air fryer.
I use spray-on cooking oil to make sure I’m applying an even layer of oil.
7. Avoid putting too much food in the basket.
When you overcrowd the air fryer, it won’t cook thoroughly, and it increases cooking time. Cook in batches for faster, better air fryer fare. Remember, convection and airflow.
8. If there’s white smoke coming out of your air fryer, clean the oil pan.
White smoke indicates that there is too much fat in the food items that are being cooked. Ensure the oil collection pan doesn’t have excess oil or fat and is completely clean. Also try to use an oil with a higher smoke point, like avocado oil instead of lighter oils like coconut oil.
9. If you’re breading food, do it the right way.
Season your food, coat with flour, then egg, and then add the breadcrumbs. Be diligent about pressing the breadcrumbs onto the food with your hands so they don’t fly around the pan.
10. Being Afraid To Open Your Air Fryer To Check On Your Food.
People often expect their air-fried foods to be perfectly cooked once the timer goes off, but this is not always how it works. It’s not like an oven that’ll lose heat, so keep an eye on it. Occasionally opening it to stir or flip what’s inside and to check that is cooking evenly and properly.
Leave your tips and tricks in the comments below! Thank you so much for being here Family!
