How To Preheat Air Fryer: Simple Steps & Guide

Most of us have been there at one point or another. After air frying like a champ for a while, we come across this killer recipe that states that we should preheat the air fryer before adding the food. Then the question comes along " ?"

Wait a second, why would I preheat an air fryer? When we stop and think about it for a second, air fryers use convection heating like a traditional oven, and we preheat that, right?

Let's look at whether we need to preheat an air fryer and the benefits of performing this simple task.

Jump to:

What Is An Air Fryer?
Is It Necessary To Preheat An Air Fryer?
How To Preheat Air Fryer
Do I Leave The Air Fryer Basket In The Air Fryer During Preheating The Time?
Why You Should Preheat Your Air Fryer
What If I Don't Preheat My Air Fryer?
How Long Does It Take To Preheat An Air Fryer?
How To Know If The Air Fryer Is Preheated
Safety, Safety, Safety
Air Fryer Recipes
How To Clean An Air Fryer
Wrapping Up

What Is An Air Fryer?

An air fryer is a countertop appliance that fries food with hot air instead of hot cooking oil. It uses convection heating like a regular oven, but the hot air blows down on the food inside the cooking compartment instead of around it, as an oven does.

There are several types of air fryers: basket style, toaster oven style, and multi-cookers, but the cooking process is the same for all types. There are tricks to make food crispier, but regular air frying gets food crispy enough for most folks.

Is It Necessary To Preheat An Air Fryer?

No, it is not necessary to preheat an air fryer. However, you should preheat your air fryer before adding food inside. It is as simple as turning the air fryer to the desired temperature while prepping the food.

The preheating time probably will be shorter than the time it takes you to prep the food, and that's okay. Keep the air fryer running until you are ready to add food to the cooking chamber.

How To Preheat Air Fryer

Preheating an air fryer is simple and only takes a few steps. Once you do it, it will become second nature.

Always read the owner's manual before operating any kitchen appliance. In this case, see if there is a preset button. If not, just follow the next steps.
Set the air fryer to the desired temperature recommended for your particular recipe.
Turn the air fryer on for 2-5 minutes, depending on its size (see recommended times below)

Do I Leave The Air Fryer Basket In The Air Fryer During Preheating The Time?

You should leave the air fryer basket in the air fryer during preheating for several reasons. First, many models will not operate if the basket is left out for safety reasons. Second, you want the basket at the same temperature as the desired cooking time before the food is added to the basket for more even cooking.

Why You Should Preheat Your Air Fryer

Preheating an air fryer allows food to cook evenly and adds crispiness to the final result. While it is not a requirement, it is an easy and quick process that produces good results, so preheating your air fryer before you fry in it is a good idea.

This is a good time to mention Instant Pots with an air fryer cooking mode. They do not need to be heated like a standard air fryer because no matter the mode used, an Instant Pot always preheats the inner pot before the cooking process starts.

Tips for extra crispy results

Preheating is a great way to air fry properly and produces outstanding results. One of the greatest benefits of air frying is that it requires no cooking oil, making it a healthier alternative to deep frying foods in grease. You can lightly brush food with cooking oil before air frying for crispier results, but most opt for no oil for health reasons.

Here are a few other simple tips to air fry extra crispy foods.

The hotter, the better. Higher temperatures produce crispier results. 400℉ is the best temperature for most foods.
Spray food with a light mist of cooking spray just before frying
Don't overcrowd the basket with the food. The sides of touching food will not cook to the same degree of doneness as the rest.
Flip the food when half of the cooking time has elapsed. This ensures even cooking on both sides.

What If I Don't Preheat My Air Fryer?

It is not the end of the world if you do not preheat your air fryer. However, the results will not be as good as those of preheated food. If the air fryer recipe you use specifically calls for preheating and you don't, the food may turn out subpar due to multiple temperature changes.

The point of preheating is so that food cooks at a steady temperature for a set amount of time. If an air fryer is not preheated, the food starts at room temperature and gradually gets hotter as the temperature increases.

Let's say you are air-frying chicken wings at 400℉ for ten minutes in a non-preheated air fryer. The wings do not start cooking at the correct temperature for at least two to three minutes. So, you are cooking your wings for seven minutes, not ten, and you will have subpar results.

Here are the disadvantages of not preheating an air fryer.

Food takes longer to cook
Food will cook unevenly
The outside of food will not get as crispy as a preheated air fryer
If you are batch cooking, the first batch takes longer to cook than the subsequent batches, and those batches may burn

How Long Does It Take To Preheat An Air Fryer?

Preheating an air fryer only takes two to five minutes, depending on the size and the temperature. In the following chart, the shorter time is for smaller air fryers like single basket style, and the longer time is for larger air fryers.

300℉ 2-3 minutes
301℉-350℉ 3-4 minutes
351℉-400℉ 5-6 minutes

How To Know If The Air Fryer Is Preheated

There are several ways to determine if your air fryer is preheated. If your model has a preheat button, an alarm will sound when the air fryer reaches the desired temperature.

You can also use an infrared temperature gun, which is a good idea to have in the kitchen anyway. These handy gadgets can measure the temperature of boiling or simmering water, and you can periodically check the temperature of your appliances, oven, and stovetop burners to ensure they are functioning at the correct temperature.

Barring these options, follow the time and temperature chart above for the best results.

Safety, Safety, Safety

Safety is always a primary concern when cooking, regardless of the appliance used. Although air frying is much safer than frying in 400℉ oil, there are inherent precautions you should always take to protect yourself from burns.

If your air fryer has a lid rather than a basket style, watch out for the heating element at the top. You can burn yourself on the element when flipping or removing food.

If you use a liner during cooking to prevent food from sticking to the basket or rack, only use silicone or parchment paper. You can use aluminum foil, but it needs to be perforated for proper airflow.

If you use parchment paper as a liner, it is important to always weigh it down during cooking. If not weighed down, it can rip and lodge in the heating element, which is a potential fire hazard.

You can use the food you are cooking to weigh down the parchment paper; there is no need for a special weight. Do not apply the liner during preheating, and wear oven mitts or pads when applying it to a preheated air fryer basket.

Also read: Air Fryer Won't Turn On When Plugged In? 7 Easy Fixes to Try

Air Fryer Recipes

Many air fryer recipes benefit from extra crispiness and are easy to prepare.

Fried Chicken
French fries
Chicken wings
Roast potatoes
Roasted vegetables
Pork chops

How To Clean An Air Fryer

Air fryers are pretty easy to clean, another advantage of owning one. The process is easier if you use a liner, though I never have. Even though I have never used parchment paper, I have never had difficulty cleaning my air fryer.

Air fryer models are built differently, but the cleaning process is the same. The first thing to mention is that you should never submerge the base of the air fryer. It has electrical components and, in some cases, digital components.

Always clean the air fryer right after using it. Unplug it, allow it to cool, and clean it right away. If you wait, food particles will harden and make the job harder.
Remove the basket (if applicable) and wash it with warm, soapy water and a sponge or soft cloth.
If you have stuck-on food or stubborn grease, soak the pans in warm, soapy water for 30 minutes before washing.
Wipe the bottom of the chamber where the basket goes with mild dish soap and a cloth.
Once the heating element is cool, wipe it down. If this is not done, built-up grease could become a fire hazard.
Wipe down the rest of the base and inspect the power cord for damage.
Make sure every component is dry before using the air fryer again.

Toaster Oven Style

If you have a toaster oven style, the cleaning process is similar to the regular method. Remove the racks and wash or soak after unplugging and allowing the air fryer to cool.

Wipe down the inside and outside of the base and inspect the cord for damage. Make sure the air fryer components are completely dry before using it again.

Wrapping Up

Air fryers are a smart and healthy way to enjoy your favorite fried foods. They take less time to cook than traditional frying. Many tips and tricks can make your food extra crispy, and preheating your air fryer is one of them.

Preheating your air fryer beforehand is simple and takes minimal time. Your food will cook evenly, and the exterior will crisp better. It will become second nature if you start preheating your air fryer while prepping the food.

Next time you whip a batch of fried goodies in your air fryer, preheat it and see the results yourself. I promise you won't regret it!