Right now, there isn’t a household appliance more popular than the air fryer. In fact, over 25 million air fryers sold throughout the U.S. during the last two years. With air fryer usage up by 60 percent and air fryer cookbook sales up by 11 percent, it’s safe to say this easy-to-use appliance is only gaining popularity. To help you get the most from your air fryer, we asked experts to share their best air fryer tips.
What exactly is an air fryer?
Before we dive into the best air fryer tips, it’s important to clarify the most asked question about America’s favorite kitchen appliance, “What is it?”
Simply put, an air fryer is a countertop convection oven. This small appliance requires little or no oil, and with nothing more than hot air and a circulation fan, it makes food perfectly crispy. To get the most out of your air fryer, try these creative and easy air fryer tips in your kitchen.
1. Rely on your air fryer during the summer
Photo courtesy of Everyday Dishes
“Did you know that almost any recipe that you make in the oven, you can easily do in the air fryer?” says Lindsay Viker of Everyday Dishes. “All you need to do is reduce your temperature by 25 degrees and your cooking time by 20 percent. Of course, this is a general rule of thumb and will vary by device, so make sure you check on your food as you start experimenting with new air fryer recipes. This is especially nice during the summer months when you don’t want your oven to heat up your whole house!”
2. Always use parchment paper with your air fryer
“Using parchment paper is a great way to prevent sticking on the air fryer basket and make cleaning up afterward much easier,” says Ashley Ward, the Airfryer Master Chef. “One way to prevent the parchment paper from blowing up to the heating element is by using a food-safe magnet to secure it in place or placing a small rack on top of it.”
3. Start your morning with easy eggs
Give your favorite cooking pan or skillet a break — use your air fryer to make eggs. To cook eggs in your air fryer, first, you need to decide how you want your eggs prepared.
If you want to make fried eggs, set your fryer to 375 degrees and crack an egg into an air-fryer-safe container like a ramekin within your air fryer. Let your egg cook between 3-5 minutes until the egg white is solid and firm and the egg yolk is runny. Top with salt and pepper.
Looking to make soft-boiled, jammy or hard-boiled eggs? Set your air fryer to 300 degrees Fahrenheit and place your desired number of eggs into your air fryer basket. Here’s how long you should cook your eggs:
- Soft-boiled eggs: 9-10 minutes
- Jammy eggs: 11-13 minutes
- Hard-boiled eggs: 14-15 minutes
Once your air fryer has done its job, drop your eggs into an ice bath for at least five minutes. This will make peeling your eggs easier and it will stop your eggs from cooking any further.
4. Treat yourself to crispy chicken wings
“Air fryer chicken wings are a revelation,” says Alea Chappell from Trendgredient. “No more messy battering or breading, frying in oil or retrieving soggy chicken wings from your oven. Simply pat your wings dry with a paper towel, season them with salt and pepper, throw them into your air fryer and then, toss them in your favorite wing sauce. The chicken wings come out crispy every time!”
5. Plan ahead
“One of my favorite air fryer tips is to check the food early anytime you try air frying a new food or new recipe,” says Summer Yule, MS, RDN of Summer Yule Nutrition and Recipes. “Air fryers do not cook consistently between brands, and your air fryer may cook faster than the recipe directions advise. It’s also a good idea to keep a list by your air fryer of cooking times and temperatures for your favorite foods. This will make meal preparation fast and easy!”
6. Indulge in your wildest cravings
“I love using my air fryer for almost anything, however, I really enjoy using them to make homemade pizza bites,” says Kim Abbage Hart from Cooking With Kim. “With just a few simple ingredients like whole-wheat English muffins as the base, pizza sauce and my favorite toppings, it’s become one of my preferred ways to curb my craving for pizza! Here’s how you can make these simple bites, plus some creative topping ideas!”
7. Stock your freezer with your frozen faves
“With the rising costs of food, the air fryer can be a valuable tool for saving money!” says Valerie Skinner from Thyme & JOY. “You can easily cook frozen foods in your air fryer including meat, vegetables, appetizers and side dishes. This means you can stock up on discounted meat and vegetables and freeze them for later. The air fryer will use its convection magic to defrost AND cook your food at the same time to make food taste just as good if not better than fresh!”
8. Make your own jerky
“Our favorite air fryer tip is to not be afraid to be adventurous and experimental with recipes,” says Tyler and Zoe from Grad Food. “For instance, if you have a “dehydrate” function on your air fryer, you can make the most tender and moist Teriyaki Beef Jerky you’ve experienced that’s way better than store-bought (see our recipe here). And if you’re wondering which air fryer to buy or looking for other delicious air fryer recipes, check out our Air Fryer Guide here!”
9. Don’t forget to use a food thermometer
“Air frying is a great way to cook or reheat so many foods,” says Angela from The Short Order Cook. “Since each model will heat and cook differently, stop wondering if the food is done and invest in an instant-read thermometer. This is the best way to ensure your food has a safe internal temperature. No more guessing if your chicken nuggets, reheated ribs or crispy potstickers are hot, ready and safe to eat.”
10. Indulge your sweet tooth
Air fryers can help you make just about any meal — including dessert. One of the best air fryer tips is to make caramelized grilled fruit using your handy dandy countertop convection machine!
For a delicious peachy dessert, cut a peach in half and remove the pit. Brush each half of the peach with a little bit of olive oil and cook in your air fryer for 7 to 12 minutes at 350 degrees. Top your air-fried peach slices with maple syrup, granola, graham cracker or serve your slices a la mode.
Not into peaches? Apples work well in the air fryer, too. Try making an air-fried apple crisp or simply eat air-fried apple slices with a little bit of cinnamon, sugar and butter.
11. Don’t overcrowd your air fryer basket
One of the most important air fryer tips and lessons to learn is to not crowd the basket. Whether you’re making shrimp, chicken nuggets, vegetables or even a handmade pizza, always leave room for optimal ventilation. Overcrowding will result in soggy food that doesn’t cook evenly. And trust us, no one wants that!
12. Lock in flavor and moisture with a marinade
“We love chicken tender in the air fryer, however sometimes it can get a bit chewy,” says Mary O’Donnell, owner and CEO of Terrapin Ridge Farms. “We always recommend marinating first with our Cilantro Lime Ranch dressing — it’s one of our favorite air fryer tips because it keeps the chicken moist and gives it a bright lime flavor. Yum!”
13. Read the manual
“Read the manual,” says James from 911 Dad. “It sounds simple, but you might be surprised to learn there are optimal cooking instructions specific to your machine. Knowing how to use your air fryer as intended by the manufacturer will set you up for success when customizing recipes and adjusting temperatures or cooking times.”
Air fry away
Touted as a healthier alternative to deep-frying, air fryers are worth the hype — especially if you know how to use them correctly. Keeping these expert air fryer tips in mind, get ready to level up in the kitchen.
