[Tips] 10 Tips for Using the Airfryer
Congratulations! Bought your new airfryer and can't wait to use it?
The airfryer, one of the latest kitchen appliances around, has been marketed as the solution to healthy living. It requires 80% less fats to produce food that tastes just as crispy and is easy to use. Well, I have to agree that it is my favourite kitchen appliance as it works like an oven and more. I have warmed up leftovers in the airfryer before and even made leftover french fries crispy again. Reheating food in the airfryer is certainly healthier then doing so in a microwave oven!
While an airfryer can work like an oven, grill and toaster, not much information is available on how to really use it well if you are a newbie. So, here are our top 10 tips. Do bookmark or pin this page so you can refer to this again. Have fun!
1) Invest in an oil spritzer.
Yes, the brochures say that you will be frying with air and the food will be crispy. When I started out, I naively thought an airfryer really worked magically like that, but seriously, you will need a little oil to make the food crunchy and golden-brown on the outside and tender on the inside. So do invest in an oil spritzer to help you spray some oil onto the food. You can get things more crispy by spraying halfway through too. If you can't find a spritzer in your area, a good o' food brush would work too.
2) Always line the bottom of the airfryer base drawer
Lining the bottom of base drawer with aluminium foil makes cleaning up much easier. Using kitchen towel paper/ baking paper also works (and is a cheaper alternative!), but always be very careful. There was once I used baking paper without putting on the mesh basket, and the paper flew up and caught fire!
3) Try using the airfryer without the mesh basket.
Wait, did I say I didn't use the mesh basket? Yes! You can remove the mesh basket and start cooking in it like an oven. Contrary to what most believe, the hot air really doesn't escape. I like how the useable capacity is much larger this way. That said, do check that your airfryer's design is suitable or similar to mine first.
4) Check your kitchen cupboards.
[Refer to our Almond Cookies airfryer recipe here.]Now that you know how to unlock the airfryer's full potential, you will soon realise that you will want some baking pans etc. While basic items may be included with your airfryer and some brands even sell accessories that fit snugly into their appliances, do check out what you already have at home before buying a bunch of new stuff. Corningware and Pyrex bowls, as long as they fit into the airfryer, can be used. In fact, as long as the accessory is oven or microwave oven safe, it can be used in the airfryer too! Metal plates work well too.
Don't overload the poor airfryer. It works by having hot air circulate within the enclosed cavity. Do split up the food into batches instead of filling it up to the brim.
6) Convert your favourite oven recipes.
Want to explore new airfryer recipes but cannot find many online? Convert your favourite oven recipes for the airfryer! If it is your first time converting your oven recipes, start off by lowering the temperature by 20% and reducing 40% of the cooking time. If you are not sure, just set the airfryer at a shorter time first. It is better to work with an uncooked dish than a burnt one!
7) Open midway.
[Refer to our Apple Pie airfryer recipe here.]
For most food, do check halfway through the cooking time and shake/ flip if you want the food to be crispy on all sides. If you are going to be multi-tasking while airfrying your food, just set the timer at half the required time so that the cooking can be stopped before flipping. I do this all the time!
8) Use silicone cups to hold the food together.
[Refer to our Portuguese Egg Tart airfryer recipe here.]
I have not managed to find muffin trays that fit into the airfryer, so I find silicone cups really useful. If you are not sure if your silicones can be used at high heat, line the cup with muffin paper cups.
9) When baking cakes, cover with aluminium foil.
[Refer to all our airfryer cake recipes here.]
The heating element for most airfryers is at the top. Especially since a cake would go nearer the heat as it rises, it is crucial to cover the cake pan with alumnium foil and poke a few holes before setting it to bake. Just a few minutes before the cake is ready, just remove the aluminium foil to allow the cake to brown to perfection.
10) Soak basket in warm soapy water right after use.
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For easy cleaning, remove the basket from the airfryer and soak it in warm soapy water, right away after use, for around 30 minutes. This works especially well if there are food bits stuck in the basket. Scrub gently with sponge thereafter.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, I would have to say that you should just be adventurous and keep experimenting. Feel free to add on to our Tips list by sharing your comments and do explore our other great recipes and tips below:
- 5 Easy Airfryer Dishes (And Tips) for The Beginner
- 6 Fun Airfryer Recipes Kids Can Make
- 5 Easy Festive Airfryer Cookies Recipes (Lard-Free!)
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