If you’re a new Air Fryer owner, this post offers up 20 air fryer tips you’ll want to know before you start using it. No need to worry that you’ll miss some little tip that you wish you’d known from the beginning!
I really encourage you to make a Pinterest board for all the new recipes you’re going to make in your new toy. Maybe you’ll want to add this delicious Nashville Chicken, Air Fryer Masked Potato Cakes, or Blackberry Hand Pies for the Air Fryer or any of our delicious Air Fryer Recipes HERE.
If you don’t have an Air Fryer, we definitely recommend getting one! You can find the best deals HERE.
20 Of The Best Air Fryer Tips
1. Keep it away from any surface that can’t handle the heat. In other words, make sure the counter space for your fryer can withstand heat without causing any damage.
2. Pre-heat the air fryer. Turn it on the temperature your food needs and let it heat up for roughly 3 minutes. Always pre-heat unless the recipe says not to.
3. Your Air Fryer needs to have about 5″ of space around it. It requires good airflow to do its job.
4. Don’t get the basket too full. If you pack lots of food in the basket, you run the risk that everything won’t cook the way it should.
5. Flip or shake your food. At least once during the cooking time, flip everything over or give the basket a good shake to make sure food is cooking evenly.
6. Grease the basket. It will prevent the food from sticking.
7. Do not use sprays like Pam on your Air Fryer. They’ll potentially mess up the coating inside the fryer. Most users choose an oil mister bottle and fill it with good oil.
8. Get yourself some silicone utensils. They’re super handy.
9. Air Fryer liners are a thing. They’re super cheap and they’ll help keep your fryer clean.
10. You can use oven-safe pans in the Air Fryer and may already have pans that fit. You can also shop for all sorts of inserts made specifically for the Air Fryer.
11. Reheat pizza like a champ. Preheat to 160F, put the pizza in the basket and cook for 5 minutes.
12. The Air Fryer reheats all sorts of things better than a microwave. While it is truly great at reheating pizza slices, you’re going to love it for almost all your leftovers. Preheat it to 350 and then reheat your food for 5 minutes. You can go longer if need be.
13. Don’t use a lot of oil. At most, you’ll only ever need about 1 or 2 TBSP of oil. Normally you’ll use much less.
14. Save the drippings. All that bacon fat that drops in the drawer? Pour it into a container and keep it for use in another recipe. If the fat is from something you don’t want to save, keep a big jar with a tight-fitting lid that you pour fat into. You can keep the jar in the refrigerator until it’s full and then dispose of it properly.
15. Don’t stack food in the basket. It won’t cook properly.
16. Prevent your spices from blowing away. You can’t drop them in because the same air circulation that cooks your food will blow them all over the place. Instead, mix spices with a little oil and coat your food that way.
17. Frying bacon or some other food that is fatty? Add a couple of tablespoons water in the drawer beneath the basket to help keep the grease from smoking.
18. Excessive smoke coming out of the vent means it’s time for a deep clean. Once it’s unplugged, remove the basket and drawer, and turn it upside down. You can use a soft brush or soft sponge to clean the element.
19. Battered foods can make a mess. A wet batter on food will drip away when you’re cooking. It won’t do anything to make your food crisp. (Using a breadcrumb coating on a lightly oiled food will work better.)
20. Use regular soap and water to clean it after every use. And be sure that you clean it right away after you use it. If you wait it’ll be much harder.
We have created this Air Fryer Cooking Times Cheat Sheet for you to Print for Free! Print it HERE
Ready to Get Started With Your Air Fryer?
I’m excited for you to share your experience using it. Do you love it? What do you like about it and what do you wish it would do? We would love to know any Air Fryer Tips that you might have as well!
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20 comments on “20 Of The Best Air Fryer Tips and Cooking Times Printable”
Love love love our airfryer
I have a largish sized Simply Ming Air Fryer I bought from HSN about 3yrs ago I loved it from day one. I love making my marinated chinese spiced country style ribs in it, everything comes out so perfect. I recently received an Emeril Lagasse 360 airfryer oven which I haven’t used yet I really want to but I’m feeling intimidated by it’s size & having to learn how it will cook, I know I have to jump in sometime so just purchased some flatbread & fixins’ to make quick pizza’s I figure this would be a stress free first test
I don’t know what brand of airfryer you have written instructions for I have a philips airfryer and do not have to pre heat, it’s non stick so food doesn’t stick to the basket. ,, I can open it while going to add spices etc doesn’t flick it everywhere, I can fill up to top of the basket no worries, I cook battered frozen fish no problems, in fact I use it for everything even stir fries.
By reading the comments you gave actually scared people off using one, I haven’t used an oven fir several years now and would highly recommend a philips airfryer as it’s the best. It’s the only one with a patented base that cooks the food without turning or shaking the basket
I live in Australia and I know several people who have more than one and highly recommend it
Useful
Thanks for all the info
I love my air fryer!
Very helpful thank you
I haven’t used mine yet.. Just got it for Christmas.. am excited to try it out tho…
Bread does not toast in it. Everything else is good.
Good to know about the cooking spray.
Can parchment paper work for the liner?
This is great info thank you for taking the time to do this.
My father at 90, loved his Air Fryer! He had to take over the kitchen chores when my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2015. So from 2016 to 2018, he was cooking several dishes in their Air Fryer. They loved it!! He was proud of himself cooking their meals. ❣️
Thank you was very helpful
New owner of air fryer and use all the help I can get.
I find with my air fryer if i stop midway in the cooking process I cant get the basket to resit properly and have to wait for it to cool down. Is this common?
Thank you.
Thank you so much for these helpful hints! I received one for Christmas
Thank you for all the great information!!!! I used sfine if it right away! I really appreciate the cooking chart!! I plan on printing it out and keeping it with my fryer!!!
Not all air Fryers are equal there is some that are very inexpensive are just as good as a more expensive once and probably better You probably have one of the ones that have high wattage and it swells the basket till it cools
Get ideas and thank you for the temperature and time for cooking
Having an issue with my air fryer smelling like burning wires. I’ve used it about 12 times and it was fine now the food tastes like it. I used a vinegar and lemon juice mixed to help eliminate the odor I also washed everything really good other tips ?
I really love the convenience of the appliance.