How Do You Avoid Air Fryer Mistakes? Air fryers advertise low-fat cooking with extra-crispy results; however, a poorly executed cooking session can leave you with a less-than-impressive meal.
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We can all agree that the best air fryers have become common appliances in many homes throughout the world. As soon as you get the hang of using it, the air fryer may even replace your regular oven. However, many of us are dissatisfied because our meals do not appear or taste as we expected. Therefore, we have compiled a list of the most common mistakes individuals make when air frying to help you prevent them.
Biggest Air Fryer Mistake People Make
Purchasing the Wrong Air Fryer Is The Biggest Air Fryer Mistake
When it comes to air fryers, buying the wrong model is a common mistake. Before clicking “add to cart,” think about what you want to cook and how much food you plan to cook in the air fryer. If you have a big family or are meal prepping for a lot of people, you may want to search for the extra-large sizes.
Not only are there several sizes available, but there are also various models. The first type of air fryer that comes to mind is probably the basket variety, but there are other oven-like options. Oven air fryers are larger, feature more cooking capabilities (bake, toast, broil, and rotisserie), and allow you to see the food as it cooks, while basket air fryers take up less counter space, warm faster, and don’t heat the kitchen.
Make your decision based on how much counter space you have, the kind of food you cook most often, and how often you plan to use the other cooking functions. In addition to which air fryer you want, you can also consider which Air Fryer Accessories are for you.
Not Preheating Your Air Fryer
It is recommended that you warm your air fryer just like you would your conventional oven. If you turn on the appliance beforehand, it will be ready to cook as soon as you put your food inside. This will help you avoid eating food that is either cold, undercooked, or soggy. You’ll find some great benefits to using your air fryer.
Not Checking On Your Air Fryer While Cooking Is An Air Fryer Mistake
Air fryers shouldn’t be left unattended because of the fire risk. Additionally, your food will taste much better if you flip it halfway through cooking. Check out if cooking with your air fryer is healthy.
Overfilling The Air Fryer Basket
Every one of us has done it at some point—we’re in a rush to get dinner on the table, so we stuff the air fryer’s basket to the brim with more food than would fit. If you overfill the basket, food will cook unevenly, and it may even get into contact with the air fryer’s heating fan, which might damage it.
Related: Putting Glass in the Air Fryer
Using Canola Oil, Or Coconut Oil
We recommend using a higher smoke point oil, like avocado oil, in your air fryer as an alternative to canola or coconut oil, both of which might cause smoke to form in the appliance.
You Use Too Much Oil
Use caution when adding oil, as too much can cause problems similar to those caused by using the incorrect oil. Food will turn out differently if too much oil is used. About a teaspoon or two of oil is all you need.
You Don’t Use Oil
The third mistake associated with oil is related to not using any oil. Be careful to add a small amount of oil to your meal before cooking so it can absorb the heat and brown and crisp up. Other Air Fryer Do’s and Don’ts.
Air Fryer Mistake: You Use Wet Food
Air fryers are unable to remove moisture from foods like batters, whereas deep fryers are capable of doing so. Don’t toss soggy, limp vegetables in there and hope for the best. Instead, use an air fryer to quickly crisp up meals that have already been breaded or fried.
Not Opening The Air Fryer To Check On Your Food
Many people who use air fryers have the misguided expectation that their food will be done when the timer goes off, irrespective of whether it has been cooked according to the recipe. Unfortunately, this is not the case, and your meal needs to be checked several times as it cooks to make sure it tastes good.
Air Frying Food That Does Not Weigh Enough
You need to make sure the food inside the air fryer is heavy enough so the fan doesn’t blow it all over the place because hot air is circulating at fast speeds to cook the meal. Tortillas, kale, and several types of bread are among the foods that require additional weight in order to cook properly in an air fryer.
Not Cleaning Your Air Fryer After Every Use
Your air fryer will last longer if you make a habit of wiping it down after each use. If you leave your air fryer for a long time, the oil and food will be hard to remove from the basket if you don’t clean it after each use.
Aside from diminishing its useful life and performance, this buildup poses a fire hazard. Keeping up with the cleaning is easy with these instructions for cleaning an air fryer.
Related: Clean your air fryer more easily with liners
Your Air Fryer Is Not Getting Any Air
Although compact and powerful, even the greatest air fryers require some personal space. This is because the high temperatures and consistent airflow inside these compact convection ovens ensure uniform crisping of the food throughout. You should give your air fryer at least five inches of clearance on all sides. And make sure it’s sitting on something firm, so it doesn’t go tumbling to the floor when the vibrations start.
Putting Small Food In The Air Fryer
If you put something too small in the basket of an air fryer, it may fall through the slots and onto the heating element. Fast combustion of the fragments could contaminate your cooking space with smoke and odours. Everything above a quarter of an inch, or about the size of a typical French fry, is safe. If you’re not sure if the food is still good, throw it in the basket and give it a good shake over the sink or trash can. If there’s a chance that something could fall out, skip putting it in the air fryer. There are also a variety of other foods you shouldn’t cook in an air fryer.