You’re excited to try out your new air fryer. Air fried food is not only healthier because it uses little to no oil, but it also retains the food's flavor and provides a crispy texture. It’s sleek and promises to give you perfectly crisp results but you need to learn how to turn on an air fryer before anything else.
Whether you are an air-fry pro or are simply getting started with air fryers for the first time, these countertop appliances offer a surprisingly effortless way to quickly cook just about anything.
In this guide, I’ll show you how easy it can be to roast, bake, air fry, and reheat, as well as how to turn your air fryer on.
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What is an Air Fryer?
An air fryer is a modern kitchen appliance that cooks food by circulating hot air around it. It uses a powerful fan to distribute heat evenly, creating a crispy outer layer similar to deep frying but with significantly less oil or sometimes none at all.
This method of air frying allows you to enjoy healthy cooking versions of traditionally fried foods like french fries, chicken wings, and even desserts. Air fryers are versatile, compact, and easy to use, making them popular for quick, convenient, and healthier cooking options in many households.
For safety tips and specific usage recommendations, it is important to read the air fryer's manual provided by the manufacturer.
Related: Are Air Fryers Healthy? Exploring Benefits and Risks
Types of Air Fryers
You probably picture the most common type when you think of air fryers: The basket-style air fryers, in which a tray or removable basket for cooking sits inside of a drawer, or belly. These air fryer basket type of appliances are compact units primarily used for air frying, though some also have additional settings, like roasting.
There’s also the air fryer oven, a typically more expensive style that is basically a convection toaster oven with an air fryer basket for air frying. This type combines two countertop appliances into one, offering more versatility and space for larger batches.
If you want a countertop appliance to get your crispy fix, both options get the job done. However, if you’re cooking in larger batches, you might consider a larger air fryer oven for more space and fewer trips for reheating. Toasters, especially ones with powerful fans, can dry out food.
Do Air Fryers Really Air Fry?
There’s been a bit of debate since these popular air fry gadgets made their way into kitchens. Air fryers work like tiny ovens. When you use an air fryer, circulating hot air acts as the vehicle for cooking and browning food in the chamber rather than hot oil.
Basket type Air fryers and countertop convection ovens cook faster when cooking meat and other meals, because a powerful fan rapidly moves that heat all around the cooking surface for more direct heat, yielding nicely colored results in less time compared to deep frying.
Unlike deep frying in oil, though, foods are roasted, not submerged, in air, so in the strictest sense of the word it isn’t deep frying.
Compared to a deep fryer, air frying is a healthier alternative that can achieve similar caramelization and crunch, though it may not be 100% identical to deep fried foods, plus food cooks fast in this nifty appliance!
Getting Started with an Air Fryer
Your air fryer will work for a long time if you maintain it regularly. There are also several basic safety protocols to keep in mind so you avoid damage or malfunction when you use an air fryer.
I highly recommend cleaning out built-up grease, avoiding stacking too much food, not overcrowding the air fryer basket to ensure proper air circulation and cooking, and reading through all instructions before you use an air fryer for the first time.
Check this out: Air Fryer Hacks: Genius Ways to Use Your Air Fryer
Learning How to Use an Air Fryer
You plug in the air fryer, but where is the start button for the actual cook food program? Before pressing any of those roast or bake buttons or manually selecting a cooking temperature, air fryers must heat up the chamber in order to cook food.
Like your range’s oven, air fryers need a little time to heat up for those ideal results and some machines do have built-in preheat features for convenience, like a timer set specifically for bringing up the temperature of the internal air to whatever is best for the frying process.
It is important to preheat the air fryer before starting the cooking process, as this ensures optimal cooking results and only takes a few minutes. This ensures your food will cook evenly.
During cooking, it's a good practice to shake or turn the food halfway through the cooking time to ensure even browning on all sides. Many air fryer recipes require just a light coating of oil or none at all, making it a healthier alternative to traditional frying methods while still delivering delicious, crispy textures.
Although basket air fryers take much less time to heat up (around 5 to 10 minutes, compared with a conventional oven that often needs at least 20 to 30), make sure not to get impatient and check to see if your food’s cooked before giving the machine enough time to cook.
Pro Tip: Use baking sheets at the bottom of the basket to make cleanup easier.
Do you need to preheat an air fryer?
While air fryer preheating may be touted for best results by most appliance manufacturers (it says so in those trusty manuals), there are always exceptions to the rule. And, as it turns out, many chefs recommend air fryer preheating in general with a few key exceptions. Some air fryer recipes specifically recommend preheating most foods for best results.
If you like foods with super-crispy outer layers but want to avoid blackened edges, especially if it’s broccoli or brussels sprouts you are baking for that almost burned taste, then opt to bake or air fry in a cold air fryer, ie. do not preheat air fryer. This makes even doneness a bit more attainable and avoids too-dark edges.
Pro Tip: Before air frying, spray some olive oil, cooking oil, or cooking spray over your meals for a crispy texture.
Air Fryer buttons and features
Listed below are a few of the features available on air fryers, depending on the air fryer models of course:
- Power Button: This button turns the air fryer on and off.
- Temperature Control: Allows you to adjust the air fry cooking temperature typically between 180°F to 400°F (82°C to 204°C) depending on the model and recipe requirements.
- Timer: Sets the cooking time, usually up to 30 minutes, after which the air fryer automatically shuts off or alerts you.
- Preheat Button/Setting: Some air fry models have a preheat function to ensure the air fryer reaches the desired temperature before cooking.
- Cooking Modes: Advanced air frying models may have preset cooking modes for specific foods like fries, chicken, fish, or even baking and roasting.
- Start/Stop Button: Initiates the cooking process or stops it if pressed during cooking.
- Basket Release Button: Allows you to detach the cooking basket for easy food transfer or cleaning.
- Digital Display: Shows the current temperature, cooking time, and selected settings for easy monitoring.
- Keep Warm Function: Keeps food warm after cooking is complete, usually for a short period until you're ready to serve.
- Indicator Lights: Signals when the air fryer is powered on, preheating, cooking, or when the cooking cycle is complete.
These features and buttons make air fryers intuitive to use and are available for a variety of cooking needs, from frying and baking to roasting and reheating food.
A few Tips on How to Clean your Air Fryer
Cleaning your air fryer is straightforward and helps maintain its performance. Here's how to do it:
- Cool Down: Allow the air fryer to cool completely after use.
- Remove Parts: Remove the cooking basket and tray or any accessories. Check if there is any leftover food inside.
- Wash: Wash the basket, tray, and accessories in warm, soapy water. Use a non-abrasive sponge to clean stubborn residue.
- Wipe Exterior: Wipe down the exterior of the air fryer with a damp cloth. Avoid harsh cleaners that could damage the nonstick coating surface.
- Dry Thoroughly: Ensure all parts are completely dry before reassembling. You can place them on a paper towel, or a dishcloth to air dry.
- Optional: Some parts may be dishwasher-safe; check the user manual for specific instructions.
If you regularly clean your air fryer, it ensures your air fryer remains in top condition, ready for your next delicious meal.
Delicious Recipe: Red Potatoes Air Fryer
Troubleshooting Tips
You should avoid some potential safety and cleaning risks and read those manufacturer-written guidelines so you avoid issues like smoke or overheated machines.
| Issue | How to Avoid It |
|---|
| Food is dry or burned | Reduce the cook time. Lower the temperature by about 25 degrees if it's much higher than what your oven uses. Use more oil. Toss foods or flip them mid-cook for even results. |
| Too much oil in the bottom or machine is smoking | Decrease the amount of oil added to the food. Use parchment paper or foil to prevent oil and grease from splattering. Thoroughly clean the tray, basket, coils, and chamber after each use. Ensure the air fryer is dry before use. |
| You need a smaller appliance for a small meal; Foods cooked in batches take too long, Larger dishes don't fit in the basket | Swap the basket air fryer for an air-fryer toaster oven if you need more space for larger food items and larger-capacity meals. For example, two large fish filets can fit onto a single level without stacking, allowing them to cook and brown more evenly. |
FAQs about how to turn on the air fryer
Yes, most air fryers have a start button that initiates the cooking process after setting the desired temperature and cooking time.
Maybe it isn't plugged in? I kid. Though plugging in should always be the first troubleshooting point, the second most frequent cause is improperly closing the drawer or cover, since the unit should automatically shut off or turn off when that section is out or up.
Yes, most air fryers can cook frozen foods like french fries or chicken nuggets without the need for thawing. Adjust the cooking time as frozen foods may take 2-5 minutes longer to cook than fresh ones.
Many air fryers feature dishwasher-safe components, such as the cooking basket and baking pan. After use, allow the air fryer to cool, then remove and wash these parts with warm, soapy water or place them in the dishwasher.
Air fryers, similar to convection ovens, use a heating element and fan to circulate hot air around food. However, air fryers typically cook foods faster and with a light coating of oil, resulting in crispy, healthier versions of your favorite dishes.
Conclusion
And there you have it—getting your new air fryer up and running is simple and quick! Just plug it into a power source, set the temperature and air fry cooking time using the user-friendly controls, and hit that power button.
Whether you're whipping up crispy fries, juicy chicken wings, or even baking a dessert, your air fryer is ready to bring delicious meals to your table with minimal fuss and maximum flavor. Happy cooking!
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