Air fryers cook food to crunchy perfection but use very little fat. Hot air circulates around the food, as it does in a convection oven, only faster, reducing cook times and creating all that crispiness!
When to use an air fryer
Your air fryer will crisp up everything from vegetables and crumbed poultry or fish to frozen fries and dough-wrapped foods, such as empanadas and spring rolls.
What to look for in an air fryer
Capacity is probably the most important feature to consider when shopping for an air fryer. If you’re cooking for a family of five or six, you’ll want the largest unit (one that holds around 5-7 litres); if you’re an empty nester, a small 2-litre model works fine for one or two people. Look for features that speak to you, such as timers, presets for commonly cooked foods, a dehydrator function, or higher wattage for a more powerful cooker.
How to clean an air fryer
No matter what foods you cook in your air fryer, you should wash it after every use in order to prevent buildup. Most air fryer baskets come apart for easy cleaning. First unplug the unit and allow it to cool completely. Then shake out any crumbs that might’ve fallen to the bottom, and load the parts into the dishwasher (or wash by hand, if you’d prefer). Use a damp sponge to wipe the outside of the appliance as well as the inside heating element. Once everything is clean, be sure to thoroughly dry all of the fryer’s parts before you reassemble them.
How to store an air fryer
You can tuck your fryer away in a cupboard or, if you want to keep it within easy reach, just push it to the back of your kitchen bench.
Tips to getting started with an air fryer:
- Place your air fryer on a level, heat-resistant bench, making sure there are several inches of space behind the air fryer where the exhaust vent is located.
- Preheat the air fryer for 2 or 3 minutes.
- It’s worthwhile to buy a kitchen spray bottle to spritz oil on food. It’s much easier than drizzling or brushing, and you’ll use less. Or simply use nonstick spray.
- Don’t overcrowd the basket, or the food won’t crisp and brown evenly. Ideally, spread food in a single layer, or arrange it so air can circulate around.
- Turn food over halfway through the cooking time for even browning. Remember to shake the basket a couple of times during cooking to distribute the ingredients. This is especially helpful when air-frying potatoes or vegetables.
- Open the air fryer to check for doneness—and do it as often as you like. Peeking won’t interfere with the cooking or timing.
- Clean the basket and the drawer with hot, soapy water after every use. To dry the basket and drawer after washing, put them back into the fryer, and turn it on for a couple of minutes.