If you own an air fryer, chances are you might be committing errors related to both using and taking care of it. One of the most significant blunders people often make involves their interaction with this appliance. air fryer not having one. An air fryer reduces the quantity of time spent cooking and the quantity of oil required, which implies bacon , whole chickens , burgers and fries it’s all completed in an instant.
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Air fryers are easy to use, yet several unwavering guidelines should be followed to achieve uniform cooking and optimal tastiness for your upcoming air-fried dish.
To assist, we sought advice from Cathy Yoder, also known as the "Air Fryer Queen." Empowered Cooks for her insights into the most frequent errors you might be committing when using your air fryer.
1. Miscalculating the capabilities of your air fryer
The undeniable strength of an air fryer lies in its capability to transform frozen fried foods into something that tastes and feels as though it was truly deep-fried. Nonetheless, falling into an air fryer routine is mistake number one when utilizing this appliance.
"Individuals often become preoccupied with perhaps two items, such as chicken nuggets and french fries According to Yoder, 'If you consider methods beyond frying, such as grilling or baking, you can often adapt those recipes for your air fryer.'
2. Wasting time preheating
Here’s an alternative viewpoint: Many air fryer recipes suggest starting with a preheating step. This process often involves letting the appliance run without food for a short period to heat up its non-stick interior, or utilizing certain models' dedicated preheat function which might require around five minutes. However, when Yoder experimented with multiple dishes using the same air fryer—both preheated and unpreheated—he discovered negligible differences in outcomes.
"It maybe made a difference of two minutes," she says. "I pretty much only preheat if something has a very short cooking time."
Best Air Fryers of 2025, According to an Expert: See at Pawonation.comSince air frying is meant to be a time saver, minutes matter. Many air fryers that have a preheat setting typically don't have a built-in temperature monitor, so if you accidentally open the basket during the preheat cycle, it will start all over again from the beginning, which is really a waste of time. (I have experienced this firsthand. It is indeed very annoying.) Plus, opening the basket after preheating just lets all the hot air out anyway.
3. Using nonstick cooking spray
Air fryers are meant to reduce the need for oil, resulting in healthier dishes, but the temptation to use some nonstick cooking spray -- even though the interior of most air fryers has a nonstick coating -- is real. But it's a bad idea: "It is said that some of those propellants in cooking sprays could damage the coating in the air fryer," says Yoder. And what's more: "Go look at the ingredients in there. You don't want to ingest that."
For items such as raw veggies that could use a little help from oil, for a highly convenient option akin to cooking spray, Yoder recommends just buying a spray pump and filling it yourself.
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4. Employing an excessive amount of oil
Certain vegetables Those without much natural fat might require some assistance when using an air fryer; however, according to Yoder, this isn’t usually necessary. In most instances, meats will produce sufficient internal fat as they cook: Chicken skin becomes crisp solely due to the fat within the meat itself. While oil can occasionally be useful depending on how you prepare your dish, it’s best utilized in small amounts.
"It’s helpful if you have some roughness or spices on the surface to assist with adherence,” explains Yoder, “and if you’re adding a breading , definitely make sure you include something to prevent the flour from drying out. However, since all the frozen items are packed with fat, there’s no need to add extra fat."
5. Using not enough oil or the wrong kind
Patchy spots of dried flour, incinerated broccoli florets and dehydrated potatoes can all be victims of not enough oil in the air fryer. When it is called for, you do need to consider what kind of oil to use. Olive oil is the grab-and-go for most of us, but "it has a lower smoke point," says Yoder, which can result in burnt flavors if you're air frying for a longer time at the top of its temperature range. "I just recommend avocado oil . It has a nice high smoke point, and it's healthy."
6. Overcrowding the basket
Air fryers operate using circulating air.
Yoder explains, “It’s basically like a small convection oven.” To achieve that perfect crispiness similar to deep-fried food, air must circulate freely around each item. This requires sufficient spacing between items and often necessitates laying them in a single layer. As Yoder points out, “The promotional images show air fryers filled to the brim with piles of french fries,” highlighting the ample capacity some models can handle. However, this does not indicate how they should ideally be used for optimal results.
The dishes with a more roasted character rather than fried can handle being slightly closer together without overfilling. However, ensure they do not touch the heating element positioned above the basket since this could lead to contamination issues. In general, maintain just one layer for best results.
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7. Not shaking or rotating the food
It's tempting to adopt a "set it and forget it" mindset when cooking with an air fryer, but the best outcomes rely on the smallest bit of participation.
"Shaking or rotating helps with even cooking," says Yoder, especially if you are packing the air fryer with more than just a single layer. Your fries, tots and poppers will better resemble actual bar food if you take a moment in the middle of the cycle to give a little shake, and your chicken parts will have appealing browning all over with a flip to the opposite side.
8. Starting with wet food
An air fryer differs from a slow cooker due to its airflow system, which functions optimally with dry foods. Therefore, if you plan to cook items like vegetables in an air fryer after washing them, ensure they are thoroughly dried first. proteins , you'll want to take a moment to dry those first.
Yoder explains, "If it’s damp, you’ll end up steaming the outside where we intend to char," which goes against the entire idea behind using an air fryer.
9. Failing to clean it adequately
Due to their mostly non-stick design, air fryers tend to be quite simple to clean, with numerous models featuring removable baskets that you can place right into the dishwasher. Nonetheless, it’s still feasible that your air fryer might air fryer isn't as clean as you think it is , even if you've been diligently scrubbing the residue from the basket.
"Not wiping down the heating unit inside of the air fryer is a common mistake," says Yoder. Think about it -- there's cooking happening inside of that drawer, including the kind of splatter similar to when you're doing a stovetop sauté. And if you're committing the overcrowding mistake, it's possible that your food is coming in contact with the heating unit, as well as whatever splatter is lingering there.
"It can be scary," says Yoder, but it's not hard to correct. "After you let your air fryer cool, just have a cloth or even a damp paper towel to keep the gunk from collecting."
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