How To Use An Air Fryer

I'm going to let you into a secret. I'm not a very good cook.

But after I learned how to use an air fryer, my family's meal-time comments went from "Are you sure that's dead?" and "Can you get vaccinated for salmonella?" to "Are you sure you cooked this, Dad?" and "How much did you pay for the gourmet takeout?"

Today, class, I'm going to teach you how to get your own back-handed accolades from semi-grateful teenagers by divulging all the air fryer expertise and knowledge I've gained over the last 5 years writing about these incredible contraptions.

I'll be using my trusty Instant Pot Duo Crisp for this lesson, but the practical advice applies to all air fryer models. Are you ready?

Jump to:

• Types of Air Fryers - Which One Do You Have?
• Setting Up Your Air Frying Function
• Selecting Your Cooking Function, Temperature, and Time
• Start! Cooking Foods to Perfection
• Cleaning Your Air Fryer
• What Can You Cook in an Air Fryer?
• Air Fryers - Cook Tips and Tricks
• FAQs

Types of Air Fryers - Which One Do You Have?

There are tons of air fryer models to choose from. The subtle differences in features and functions make each one slightly different to use despite the basic premise being the same.

Here's a brief overview of the more popular air fryer types that you'll come across in your search for the perfect appliance.

Drawer Air Fryer: This is the most common type of air fryer and is usually pretty affordable as they only have a couple of pre-programmes and cooking functions. The air fryer basket sits inside the drawer, and you slide it in and out during operation.

Twin-Basket Air Fryer: This fryer type operates in the same way as a regular drawer air fryer. However, you've got the added bonus of having two baskets, each with its own time and temperature settings, so you can cook two foods at the same time regardless of their required heat and time to cook.

Dial-Operated Air Fryer: These no-frills air fryers have no features or functions and are super-easy to use. Like old-style microwaves, they have two twisty dials that you turn to select your times and temperatures. They are the most affordable type of air fryer by far.

Touchscreen Air Fryers: If you're into gadgets and gizmos, touchscreen air fryers are a must. You can't be seen twisting dials and being inaccurate with the time. Touchscreens should be a staple, and they make air fryers a joy to use.

Multicookers: Multicookers, like toaster ovens, are built for versatility. They don't only air fry; they slow cook, pressure cook, and saute, enabling you to cook almost any dish imaginable. They also happen to be my favorite kind of air fryer.

Also see: Can You Put Oil in an Air Fryer? What You Need to Know

Setting Up Your Air Frying Function

Before you learn how to use an air fryer like an absolute boss, you'll need to set up your appliance, especially if you're using it for the first time or are switching over from pressure cooking, slow cooking, or sauteing on a multicooker.

It's pretty easy, though, so you shouldn't have to refer to this more than once.

Assemble the Air Fryer Basket - Clunk Click

Most air fryers have baskets that need some primitive assembly that even I, the worst DIYer in human history, can achieve without too much mental anguish. Whether you're using a basket style air fryer, an air fryer drawer or a multicooker, the process is similar.

With the Duo Crisp, it's as simple as placing the round plastic base on a flat surface and clipping the non-stick basket into it. It doesn't take much pressure to get in, but it can be a little bit fiddly to get back out when you disconnect the parts for cleaning (which you have to do every time you use an air fryer, or things will get seriously gross).

In your air fryer, you might need to insert the perforated tray into the drawer, or it might already be there. The trays can sometimes be a tight fit, but the better-quality air fryers have rubber protectors to stop you from scratching the nonstick coating, so you can get a little rough with it if it's a bit stubborn.

Also read: Is An Air Fryer Flammable? Key Safety Tips To Know

Arranging Your Food - Handle With Care

Before you start arranging your food, lightly coat the ingredients with cooking spray to extend the life of your air fryer basket's nonstick coating and give your food a crispy exterior like that of regular deep-fried foods without using too much oil.

Airflow is one of the most important aspects when using your new air fryer, especially if you eat with your eyes and like your food to look as good as it tastes. So, you'll need to spread your ingredients out and let the superheated air do its thing.

Sometimes, it's just not possible to leave a gap between every morsel of food, and your ingredients will stand shoulder to shoulder; in this case, give the basket regular shakes and not just the singular shake that the appliance manual suggests.

Selecting Your Cooking Function, Temperature, and Time

It's time to cook up a storm. Fortunately for you (and definitely for my technophobic self), air fryers are ridiculously easy to use.

If you're using the Duo Crisp (I hope you are; you'll love it!), you can select one of the cooking functions from the five air fryer features on the control panel with a simple press of the button.

Readers using other models should consult the air fryer's manual for the different cooking features and what they do. But most air fryers operate in the same way, and one press of the cooking feature should suffice.

Note: Some more affordable air fryers have dial-operated control panels, which are the easiest of all the air fryers to use. When you've correctly positioned your food and reinserted the air fryer drawer, turn the temperature dial to the correct heat setting for your recipe and then the time dial to the required number of minutes to cook your food.

Select the air fryer option that works best for your recipe (which could take a little trial and error if you're an air fryer noob) by pressing the button once, which should give you another cheeky beep and change the LCD to the default time and temperature.

On the Duo Crisp, the time and temp choices will be set to the previous choices you made for that cooking function unless this is your first time using a specific feature, in which case it will be set to the default.

After selecting your cooking process, you can adjust the time and temperature for your cycle. It doesn't matter which you adjust first, but I always go for the temperature first because ... OCD.

Most air fryers have plus or minus buttons (or sometimes arrows) to adjust the counter to the desired cook time with a bunch of individual presses for small incremental adjustments or hold the button down to make larger changes in double-quick time.

Changing the cooking time is achieved in exactly the same way as changing the temperature.

Then press start! Easy, eh?

Yes and no.

The process itself is super simple (and probably is on most air fryers), but in their infinite wisdom, the Duo Crisp has a time constraint on choosing your settings. So if you have pressed a button within about 5-10 seconds since your last input, the LCD turns off and puts you back to square one. It's literally the worst thing about this air fryer.

To avoid frustration, it's a good idea to make a note of your desired settings on a notepad or in your head before you press your first button.

Also see: CRUXGG Air Fryer Review: Style Meets Substance in the Kitchen

Start! Cooking Foods to Perfection

Press start to begin the cooking process and put your feet up for a little bit.

The air fryer will do its thing, blasting hot air all around the removable basket, cooking meat, making food crispy, and delivering delicious baked goods.

Note: There won't be a start button if you're using a dial-operated air fryer. The cooking cycle will begin as soon as you turn the time dial, which is why it's important to set your temperature before your time (See! I knew there was a reason I set the temp first!).

When the cycle is halfway done, you'll hear a notification beep, letting you know it's time to shimmy, shake, or flip the food inside the air fryer basket to ensure it cooks evenly.

Like the rest of the process, shaking your funky stuff is simple to do.

Note: Dial air fryers don't usually have a halfway notification, so you'll need to set a timer on your phone (or do some serious Mississippi counting) to remind you to shake your air fryer basket.

Pull out your air fryer drawer, open your appliance, or place your air fryer lid on the cooling mat provided (Yay, Duo Crisp!).

Using a silicone glove, tea towel, or oven mitt, carefully lift the basket out of the inner pot and give it a good shake. It's important to jiggle the food around sufficiently so it cooks evenly. If you're using a drawer basket air fryer, you won't need to use an oven mitt ... unless you really want to.

To restart the cooking cycle, simply close the lid, slide the drawer back in, or put the lid back in place, let your ears be massaged by yet another soothing beep, and the air fryer will put the pedal to the metal and re-engage the turbo boosters.

Put your feet back up, grab a cup o' Joe, or watch a little Netflix while your air fryer finishes the work it was born to do.

One last set of beeps will effectively ring the dinner bell. It's time to eat.

Also Read: How To Preheat Air Fryer: Simple Steps & Guide

Cleaning Your Air Fryer

Cleaning an air fryer is easier than you’d think, whether you’re a hands-on cleaner or you let the dishwasher do the work. First, make sure the air fryer has cooled down somewhat. Many people would have you believe the air fryer components need to cool completely before washing.

But those people are wrong.

Start your clean-up session while the accessories still have a modicum of heat. A basket and inner pot, perforated tray, and stainless steel rack are far easier to remove stubborn grease from while they're warm than when they're cold.

The removable parts, like the air fryer basket and inner pot, are all usually dishwasher safe and can be thrown straight into the appliance, saving you some scrubbing.

For hand-washing, use warm, soapy water and a soft sponge (NEVER use abrasive material like wire wool or a brilo pad as they'll destroy the nonstick coating) to tackle any grease or stuck-on bits.

For the air fryer lids or heating elements, just wipe down the element with a damp cloth. NEVER submerge them in water, or you will condemn them to certain death.

Finally, dry all parts with a paper towel to keep your air fryer clean and ready for your next round of crispy delights and delicious meals.

Pro Tip: Keep your expectations real. You won't keep your air fryer looking brand new forever. Over time, the air fryer basket and other accessories will become discolored. If you try too hard to remove these stains, you will damage the dishwasher-safe components, more food will stick during cooking, and the staining will worsen.

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

What Can You Cook in an Air Fryer?

Your meal options for air fryers are pretty much limitless, you can cook most foods in this thing.

Frozen food, fresh ingredients, or reheating last night's takeout.

Using an air fryer, you can create masterpieces, snacks, and treats in only a few minutes, just like you could in a regular convection oven ... but faster.

But here's a short list of classics that air fryers excel at cooking.

• Classic Fried Favorites: French fries, chicken wings, mozzarella sticks.
• Quick Breakfast Bites: Bacon, hash browns, mini quiches.
• Healthy Veggie Sides: Zucchini fries, roasted Brussels sprouts, cauliflower bites.
• Unique Snacks: Chickpeas, crispy tofu, sweet potato chips.
• Protein Boosters: Shrimp, salmon bites, crispy chicken breast.
• Reheating Food: Last night's pizza, burgers, or cheese steak.

Air Fryers - Cook Tips and Tricks

Now you know how to use an air fryer; I'm going to arm you with a small selection of tips and tricks so you can perfect your recipes, have fun in the kitchen, and avoid common mistakes that result in meals that elicit scorn and ridicule from your spawn!

Also Read: What Does C7 Mean on Instant Pot? Here's How to Fix It

Preheat on the Fly

While some manufacturers recommend preheating, with the Duo Crisp, it's optional. You can skip it entirely and let the air fryer heat up along with your food, saving you time (just a few minutes, but it's better than nothing), effort, and a little on your energy bills. But if you want to preheat your air fryer, adjust your cook time, or you'll be left with charred and blackened food.

Mist, Don’t Pour

When it comes to oil, go light, remember this isn't deep frying. Use a spray or mister for a thin layer, which lets the air fryer work its magic without sogginess. It keeps things healthier and takes on that golden, crispy finish without turning your food into a greasy mess. It goes without saying using significantly less oil is better for your health and wallet.

Space is Key for Crispiness

Resist the urge to load it up. Food in a crowded basket doesn’t crisp up as well. For best results, arrange food in a single layer with a little breathing room so the hot air can circulate evenly. If you’ve got a lot to cook, batch it for that next-level crunch.

Mid-Cook Shake or Flip

Give your food a shake or flip halfway through cooking to ensure even browning and all-around crispiness. Plus, it’s oddly satisfying to give those fries or nuggets a little toss, watching them bounce around the outer basket, getting an all-over tan like it had a deep fry.

Layer Smartly with Accessories

If you’re making a full spread—like wings and fries—try stacking them on the trivet or grilling tray in your basket air fryers. This lets you air fry two layers at once, keeping everything evenly crisp. Just remember to switch the top and bottom halfway for a perfectly even cook.

Related: Your Easy Guide On How To Turn On An Air Fryer For Crispy Food

Don't Just Accept the Mess

Using basket-style air fryers can be a messy business (though not as grimy as cooking with a deep fryer) unless you utilize the bits and bats you probably already have in your kitchen.

You can line your basket or air fryer drawer with aluminum foil or parchment paper to catch the grease while you're cooking food and then throw it away when you're done.

Be mindful that using parchment paper and foil will restrict the airflow around the basket, so you'll need to turn your food more often.

Check out some of these delicious air fryer recipes: Recipes

Now you know how to use an air fryer, I'm off to make donuts.