Learn how to use an air fryer with this comprehensive guide with all the tips and tricks you can think of! We've even included our favorite Air Fryer recipes for you to try.
Did you just get a new Air Fryer and don't know what to do with it? Or have you had an Air Fryer but don't know how to use it outside of crisping up Chicken Nuggets? Don't get me wrong, Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets are the best, but there is so much more you can do with an air fryer.
From Deliciously crips yet tender vegetables, to full meals Air Fryers really are the best. I personally love that using the Air Fryer means you don't have to heat up the oven!
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Tips for using your Air Fryer
- Don’t Over Crowd- Air Fryers work best when the food isn’t touching, or just slightly overlapping. When the food is overcrowded, it takes longer to cook and crisp up.
- Check your food- It’s ok to pull the basket out and check the food. Especially when you are getting to know your air fryer, check to make sure your food isn’t burning.
- Right Temperature- Make sure to set your air fryer to the right temperature, according to the recipe or written instructions. This will give you better cooking results.
- Shake- It’s important to shake the basket halfway through the cook time. This will help the food cook evenly. You also may need to flip the food over depending on what your are cooking.
- Extra Liquids- Make sure to remove extra liquids with a paper towel for ultimate crispness.
- Parchment Paper and Tin Foil- You can put both parchment paper and tin foil into an air fryer for easy clean up.
- Cleaning-Clean the basket after every use to help reduce a sticky oil buildup that can happen.
- Oils- Use oils with lower smoking points, like Avocado oil, when possible. Olive oil will work but it also leaves a sticky residue on the basket over time.
- Preheat- It’s important to preheat your appliance just like you would an oven. It helps the food cook evenly.
General Use
Air Fryers are so versatile! You can use them for so many different meals, side dishes, desserts, or for reheating food. When you learn how to use an Air Fryer, you don't need to use extra oil to get a fried-like texture and taste.
Most of the time, when making a dish you will need to flip the food halfway through or give the basket a shake it ensure your food is cooking evenly. This is really important when you making Air Fryer Gnocchi.
One kitchen appliance can make the best Garlic Bread and also make a tender and perfectly cooked Steak. According to The Food Network, it's all about getting to know your Air Fryer. How powerful does it cook? How efficient is it? These are things you need to consider when using your air fryer.
One setback is the size of your basket. If you haven't purchased an Air Fryer yet, make sure to consider the size of your family. Some baskets are so small it takes multiple rounds of cooking to feed your family. Get a larger basket for big eaters!
Top Tip
One of the biggest things to remember is that all Air Fryers are different. From the various Ninja Foodi's, Chefman, Corori, Instant Pot, and all the other brands, you have a wide variety of machines. They all do the same thing but temperature and cooking times can vary.
Get to know your Air Fryer and be ready to adjust recipes as needed!
Reheating Food
One of the best features of the Air Fryer is reheating food to "day of" freshness. Gone are the days of soggy leftover French Fries, or limp taquitos. You can now crisp them up ten times faster than prepping and using the oven.
Most things can be reheated from 350°F - 375°F. Place your food items to be reheated in the air fryer and close the lid. If you have quite a bit of food, check it and rotate it every 2-4 minutes. For something small, check it every 1-2 minutes. For something really small, about 30 seconds.
I made this Egg Bites recipe and the next morning I reheated them in the air fryer. It made a huge difference in texture and my whole family loved it!
Meals
Meals in the Air Fryer? Yes! And once you start making them in your trust kitchen appliance, it's all you are going to want to use. Some of our favorite meals to make are Air Fryer Spatchcock Chicken, Air Fryer Hot Dogs, Air Fryer Salmon Bites, Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs, and Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos.
Even basic meals like Quesadillas can be enhanced by cooking them in the air fryer. It adds a crispy outside to a gooey cheesy center. Or make Taco Tuesday a hit with Chicken Tacos in the air fryer.
Sides
Make pre-made sides or sides from scratch in your Air Fryer today! We have great recipes for pre-made sides that crispy them up perfectly or add an extra flavor boost to a standard freezer product. You'll love the extra flavor added to Air Fryer Pizza Rolls, Air Fryer Texas Toast, Air Fryer Bagel Bites, and the crispy texture of Air Fryer Hot Pockets.
Goodbye soggy fries with this Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fry recipe made with frozen sweet potato fries. Try your hand at making your favorite sides like Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks.
Homemade sides also cook well in this kitchen appliance. I made a homemade Buffalo Chicken Egg Roll and instead of deep frying it, I made it in the air fryer! You can also try our recipes like Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes, Corn Ribs, and Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes. They all make delicious homemade sides without using the oven or deep frying.
My family loves it when I make Air Fryer Zucchini Fritters. They are a great way to use up garden vegetables while making a cheesy, crispy, vegetable snack.
Vegetables
Making vegetables in the air fryer has been a huge game changer in our family. They come out so crisp and tender and my kids love them. It's so much faster to "roast" them this way rather than using the oven.
Our favorite air fryer vegetables are Air Fryer Green Beans, Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts, Air Fryer Butternut Squash, and Air Fryer Asparagus. What's great, is that they reheat well too!
Desserts
Have you ever wanted a S'more in the middle of winter? Air Fryers have you covered. Air Fryer S'mores are a fun way to make a family friendly dessert all year long.
Also, enhance the flavor and texture of premade dishes like Pillsbury Cinnamon rolls. Try this Air Fryer Cinnamon Roll recipe. It's the only way we'll eat them now!
Breakfast
Try making breakfast foods a little quicker and more convenient by using your air fryer. Make hard-boiled eggs in the air fryer, or even crisp up bacon and turkey bacon in the air fryer. Try these Air Fryer Frozen biscuits. While making eggs in the air fryer is fast, it will leave an unpleasant smell in your home for a short time.
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