Air fryer is an incredibly convenient, compact, and easy to use kitchen appliance. But there are some things that you can do to make sure that you are really getting the best out of it. I thought I could share with you some tips to make your journey into using an air fryer even easier. You don’t need to make the same mistakes that I did. Instead you can learn from my lessons as I take you through my tips and tricks.
Having an air fryer is like having any other kitchen appliance or gadget. Once you get to know how to best use it and look after it you can get more out of it. I want you to feel 100% confident in using your air fryer. I want you to experiment with new dishes and I want you to fall in love with using it. So here are a few of my air fryer tips to help you:
Space
Whilst air fryers are usually quite small and compact, and let’s face it that is one of the reasons we love them, they do still need a little bit of space when in us. Ideally you want a 4-6inch gap all the way around your air fryer whilst it is in use. That will stop any vents from getting blocked. And help to reduce and risk of your appliance from overheating. You also want to make sure that you never put anything directly on top of your air fryer.
Ditch the microwave
We all love leftovers, and I find some recipes taste so much better the next day. But rather than popping your leftovers in the microwave to warm them up put them in the air fryer. They come out tasting much nicer. You don’t get that tell-tale sogginess that you do with a microwave and in fact it gets a little bit crispier.
Instructions
Read and follow your air fryer instructions. Most of the time they will tell you to pre-heat your air fryer before you add your food, as will most recipes. Do it. You will find that by pre-heating you get a much more even cook. And you won’t have to add extra minutes on at the end when things haven’t come out quite the way you wanted them too.
Oils
Whilst a little spray of oil on your food can help to add flavour and give the desired crispness try to be sparing with them. One of the aims of your air fryer is to help you make healthier food by using less oil. Less oil also means your air fryer is even easier to clean.
Keep food still
Some foods may need a little help to stay together as they cook, if you are making things like sandwiches or vegetable rolls ups then don’t be afraid to use toothpicks, or an alternative, to pop through the food and keep them together. Your air fryer is moving hot air around inside in order to cook your food and you don’t want anything toppling over or being blown apart.
Don’t over fill
I’ve certainly done it and you probably have too. But too much food in your air fryer pan and you will not get your food cooked evenly. I know it’s tempting to add in as much as you can. But in the long run it will increase your cooking time and you won’t get the same great tastes and textures. Learn to be patient, the more you experiment and cook with your air fryer the more you will learn about how much you can put into it.
Cleaning
Air fryers are quick and easy to clean. With most models once you pop the draw out you can then take out the internal tray. And give both parts a quick wash in some soapy water. Do that and rise it off and then pop the air fryer back together and run it for a couple of minutes. And this will ensure it is completely dry and ready for its next use.
Cooling before Cleaning
It might be tempting to toss your air fryer basket/tray straight into some soapy water after you have used it. But this can lead to damage. Always allow your air fryer to fully cool before placing nay of it into water. This will help to prevent any shrinkage, cracking, or shape deformation that can occur when cold water touches hot metal.
There you have it, eight of my top tips to help you get the most out of your air fryer and ensure that you can enjoy using it for as long as possible. If you have any tops tips then I would love to hear from you. And don’t forget to come and follow me on Instagram for more tips and lots of delicious recipes.
Check out the other articles in my blog.