However, to maximize the functionality of the air fryer and make delicious dishes, housewives should remember the following tips:
1. Preheat the air fryer
Manufacturers often advise users to preheat the air fryer for about 3 minutes before adding food to ensure accurate cooking temperature, making the food tastier.
2. Utilize the oil already in the food
Some foods like french fries or tofu will need to be brushed with oil when frying to make them more fragrant and crispy. Conversely, some others like ground beef, fatty meat, or dark-colored chicken meat already contain fat, so you don’t need to add additional oil.
3. Grease the air fryer basket
Even if the food does not need oil, you should still grease the mesh of the basket to prevent the food from sticking to the air fryer.
4. Do not overcrowd the fryer
The air fryer uses circulating hot air in the fryer. Therefore, if you put too much food, it will not cook evenly or become as crispy as desired. If you have a large amount of food to fry, you should divide it into batches and fry them one by one, or invest in a larger fryer that suits your cooking needs.
5. Flip small-sized foods
For small-sized foods like french fries or chicken wings, you should occasionally open the fryer, flip or shake the basket to ensure even cooking. When you open it, the fryer will temporarily stop and resume at the previous temperature when closed.
6. Brush or spray oil during cooking
This little trick will make your food golden and crispy. When the fryer is halfway through, brush or spray a little oil on the surface of the food. This will help your food achieve maximum crispiness.
7. Add water or bread when white smoke appears
During cooking foods with a lot of fat, white smoke may occasionally appear from the fryer. In that case, add about 2 tablespoons of water to the bottom of the fryer and continue cooking as usual.
In addition, to reduce oil when preparing dishes such as smoked meat, you can also add a slice of bread to the bottom of the fryer.
8. Do not put too small-sized foods in the fryer
Most air fryers have a large fan on top. This makes small and lightweight foods easy to be blown onto the fan when the fryer is running and can be dangerous.
9. Adjust the temperature for different types of food
Many housewives want to shorten cooking time by increasing the fryer temperature to the maximum. However, this can make some dishes dry and less tasty. Therefore, refer to the cooking instructions that come with the fryer or on culinary forums to produce the best quality dishes.
The secret to delicious food using an air fryer that you didn’t know
An air fryer helps reduce the amount of oil used in food preparation. However, if you don’t know how to use it properly, your meals will be less tasty and unappetizing.
