5 ways to make the most of your air fryer

An air fryer is one of those kitchen gadgets that can quietly become your best friend. It can turn yesterday’s pizza into something worth eating again, crisp up chicken without a deep fryer and roast vegetables while you get on with other things. But to get the best out of it, you need to use it for more than just chips.

Do not overcrowd the basket

The biggest mistake people make with air fryers is trying to cook too much at once. It is tempting to fill the basket to the brim, especially when everyone is hungry, but overcrowding prevents hot air from moving properly around the food.

Air fryers work by circulating hot air around the ingredients, which helps create that browned and crispy exterior. When food is piled on top of itself, some pieces may become beautifully crisp while others remain pale, soft and slightly disappointing.

This is particularly important when cooking chips, chicken wings, vegetables and other foods where you want an even crunch. Spread the food out as much as possible and cook in batches when necessary.

It may feel annoying to cook twice, but it is better than serving half-crispy food and pretending it was intentional.

Experiment beyond chips and chicken

Your air fryer deserves a bigger job description. While chips, chicken wings and sausages are obvious choices, the appliance can handle much more.

Try roasting vegetables such as carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, courgettes and peppers. You can also cook fish fillets, meatballs, chicken breasts and small cuts of meat. Depending on the model, you can even bake foods such as muffins, small cakes and pastries.

An air fryer is also excellent for reheating food. Pizza, samosas, spring rolls and fried chicken can regain some of their crisp texture instead of becoming soft and chewy as they sometimes do in a microwave.

You can also use it for quick breakfasts. Bacon, sausages, potatoes and even toast-like snacks can be prepared with relatively little fuss. The more foods you try, the more useful the appliance becomes.

Use just enough oil

An air fryer does not need a pool of oil to produce crispy food. In fact, using too much can leave food greasy and create unnecessary smoke.

For fresh vegetables and potatoes, a small amount of oil is usually enough. Toss the ingredients lightly before putting them into the basket so that the surface gets an even coating.

Oil can also help seasonings stick to food. A little oil mixed with paprika, garlic, black pepper, herbs or other spices can give vegetables and meat a much more interesting flavour.

Some frozen foods already contain oil, so you may not need to add any. Always check the packaging and adjust accordingly.

The goal is not to drown the food. Think of oil as a supporting actor rather than the star of the show.

Shake or turn the food halfway through

Although an air fryer circulates hot air, some foods still benefit from being moved around during cooking.

For smaller foods such as chips, nuggets and vegetables, shaking the basket halfway through can help expose different surfaces to the hot air. Larger pieces, including chicken portions and fish, can be carefully turned using tongs.

This simple step can make a noticeable difference to the final result. Instead of having one side nicely browned and the other looking as though it has not received the memo, both sides get a better chance to cook evenly.

It is also a useful moment to check your food. Air fryers vary considerably in size and power, so cooking times in one recipe may not work perfectly for another machine. Start checking food slightly earlier until you understand how quickly your particular air fryer cooks.

Keep it clean and give it room

Cleaning may not be the exciting part of owning an air fryer, but it matters.

Food crumbs and grease can build up in the basket and around the cooking area. Over time, this can create unpleasant smells, affect the flavour of food and cause smoke when the appliance heats up.

Allow the air fryer to cool before cleaning it and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for washing the basket and other removable parts. Avoid harsh scrubbing materials if the basket has a non-stick coating.

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