The air fryer has become the must-have appliance in kitchens across the UK and Ireland: it cooks more healthily, more quickly and with far less oil. But to get the most out of it (and make it last for years), it pays to know a few tricks. Here are the most useful ones.
1. Always preheat for 2-3 minutes
Just like an oven, an air fryer performs much better when you preheat it. A couple of minutes is enough for food to turn golden on the outside and stay juicy inside right from the start.
2. Don’t overcrowd the basket
The secret of the air fryer is the hot air circulating around the food. If you fill the basket to the brim, the food steams instead of browning. Spread it out in a single layer and, if need be, cook it in two batches.
3. Shake or turn halfway through cooking
For even browning (especially with chips, croquettes or vegetables), open it halfway through and give the basket a good shake. Thirty seconds that make all the difference.
4. A light spritz of oil, no more
You don’t need litres of oil, but a light spritz helps breaded foods turn out crispy. Avoid shop-bought aerosol sprays with propellants: use a refillable oil mister with your own olive oil.
5. Protect the basket so it cleans up in seconds
The most tedious part of owning an air fryer is cleaning it. This is where reusable silicone moulds or liners really help: they catch the grease and crumbs, then you simply lift them out, wash them and you’re done. No more scrubbing the basket every day, and your air fryer stays looking like new for much longer.
6. Pat food dry first
Excess moisture is the enemy of crispiness. Pat meat, chicken or vegetables dry with kitchen roll before putting them in: you’ll notice the difference in texture.
7. Never put in loose paper or anything light
The fan moves a lot of air. Loose baking paper can fly up and touch the heating element. If you use a liner, make it silicone (it’s heat-resistant and stays put) or baking paper held down by the food on top.
8. Clean it once it’s cool, but on the same day
Let it cool down and clean the basket the same day so the grease doesn’t dry on. With a silicone liner, most of the time you can skip this step altogether.
In short
With these small habits, your air fryer will cook better and last longer, and cleaning it will no longer be a chore. And if you’d rather forget about scrubbing the basket, a set of reusable silicone liners is the best few pounds you’ll ever spend on your kitchen.