Air fryer tips for beginners

Did you receive an air fryer for Christmas in recent years? Is it gathering dust on your countertop because you’re not sure how to use it, or what to use it for?

If you’re an owner of this popular kitchen gadget, here’s a primer on what it is and how to use it.

How do you fry food with air?

Air fryers cook food with a little bit of oil and a lot of hot air. A heating element and exhaust fan circulate hot air around the food, giving it a crunchy exterior.

Only about a tablespoon of oil is needed for a batch of food put into an air fryer, versus a quart of oil used in a traditional deep fryer, making this a healthier option for preparing typically greasy foods such as fries. Less oil means less fat and fewer calories, a healthier eating option.

Air fryers are typically small and don’t take up much counter real estate in the kitchen, so they’re also a convenient option for anyone with limited space.

Tips for cooking with an air fryer

• Set up your air fryer on a level and heat-resistant surface in your kitchen.
• Brush or spray a small amount of oil onto foods before air frying to get a crunchy exterior.
• Space food evenly in the air fryer to ensure even cooking.
• If using a recipe intended for a traditional oven, decrease the cooking temperature by 25 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Use a food thermometer to determine when food is cooked thoroughly.
• Halfway through cooking, flip or toss the food so it cooks evenly on both sides.
• To prevent overcooking, check food 5-10 minutes ahead of suggested cooking time (air fryers cook faster than traditional ovens).
• Always preheat an air fryer, just like a traditional oven.
• Use air fryers occasionally rather than as a primary cooking method, because even though you’re eating healthier fried food, you are still eating fried food.

Air fryer cooking temperatures

Many of the foods you can cook in an air fryer conveniently use the same cooking temperature, another reason these kitchen gadgets are so simple and easy to use. Cooking times may vary, but there’s less variation in temperature compared to a traditional oven.

For example, these vegetables share an air fryer cooking temperature of 400 degrees Fahrenheit: asparagus, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cherry tomatoes, green beans, mushrooms, onions, squash, whole baked potato and zucchini.

Fish and seafood are similar: Fish fillets, scallops, shrimp and tuna steak all have an air fryer temperature of 400. Many other frozen foods and some meats have the same cooking temperature of 400.

Most air fryer cookbooks will provide the appropriate cooking times for each item, as those will still vary across different foods. Cooking times and temperatures may also vary depending on the type of air fryer, amount of food to be cooked and whether any other ingredients have been added to the food.