Air fryer FAQ: How to avoid common cooking mistakes

1. Mistake: Food is too greasy or too dry
Reason:
Air fryers typically use hot air instead of the oil used in traditional deep frying. While this reduces oil usage, some foods still require some oil for their texture and appearance. Not enough oil can result in a dry, hard surface and lack of crispness, while too much oil can make the food appear greasy and unhealthy.
Solution:
Oil Use: While air fryers don't require a large amount of oil, spraying some oil can help food crisp up, especially fried foods like French fries and fried chicken. Use a spray bottle to apply the oil, ensuring a thin, even coating of the food.
Choosing the Right Oil: Healthy vegetable oils like olive oil and coconut oil are recommended. Avoid oils high in saturated fat, such as lard, for a healthier food.

2. Mistake: Food not preheated or not preheated long enough
Reason:
Air fryers require a certain amount of preheating time to reach the ideal operating temperature. Many people skip this step and simply place food directly into the machine. Insufficient preheating can result in uneven cooking of food, potentially leaving it burnt on the outside and undercooked on the inside.
Solution:
Preheating: Most air fryers require preheating for about 3-5 minutes before use. Preheating helps distribute the temperature evenly inside the unit, ensuring that food is evenly cooked from the start.
Check your unit: Some air fryers have a preheating function that automatically preheats after you set the temperature. If not, you can manually run the unit to the set temperature before adding food.

3. Mistake: Overfilling the air fryer basket
Cause:
Air fryers rely on circulating hot air to heat food. If the basket is overfilled, the hot air cannot circulate evenly, resulting in some parts of the food being burnt while others remain undercooked. Furthermore, overfilling the basket increases cooking time, affecting the final result.
Solution:
Avoid stacking food: Place food in a single layer whenever possible, ensuring ample space between each piece. This allows for effective circulation of hot air, ensuring that each piece of food is evenly cooked.
Cook in batches: If you have a large amount of food, cook in batches, adding only the appropriate amount of food at a time to ensure optimal results for each batch.

4. Mistake: Not Turning or Shaking the Food
Cause:
Air fryers heat food by circulating hot air, but this air flow isn't always uniform. If food isn't turned or shaken for extended periods, it may become overly browned on one side and undercooked on the other.
Solution:
Turn the food regularly: Turn the food every 3-5 minutes during cooking to ensure even cooking on both sides. For smaller items like fries or chicken wings, shake the basket to redistribute them.
Use specialized tools: For foods that stick easily (like fish fillets), use baking paper or a special mold to prevent the food from breaking or sticking to the basket when turning.

5. Mistake: Improper Cooking Time and Temperature Settings
Cause:
Each food requires different cooking times and temperatures. Using an air fryer with temperatures that are too high or too low can affect the texture and doneness of the food. For example, roasting vegetables may require a lower temperature, while frying chicken wings requires a higher one. Solution:
Follow the recipe recommendations: If you're using an air fryer for the first time, refer to the temperature and time recommendations in the recipe. Many air fryer brands and recipe books will provide precise cooking times and temperatures.
Adjust gradually: If you're already familiar with cooking certain foods, you can adjust the time and temperature to suit your taste. Typically, the temperature setting should be between 160°C and 200°C, depending on the type of food.

6. Mistake: Not adjusting the cooking time for the size of the food
Cause:
Foods of different sizes or thicknesses require different cooking times. For example, a thicker chicken breast will take longer to cook thoroughly, while thinner cuts of vegetables won't.
Solution:
Adjust the cooking time appropriately: For thicker or larger foods, extend the cooking time. For example, when grilling a large steak or chicken breast, add 5-10 minutes.
Use a thermometer: For foods that require precise cooking, such as meat, use a food thermometer to check the core temperature to ensure the food is cooked through and not overcooked.

7. Mistake: Ignoring Food Size
Reason:
The size and shape of food directly impact air fryer cooking performance. Unevenly cutting large pieces of food can result in burnt exteriors and undercooked interiors.
Solution:
Cut evenly: To ensure even cooking, try to cut food into similar sizes and shapes. This allows the hot air to penetrate each piece evenly, preventing some parts from being overcooked while others remain undercooked.
Slice thinly: For meat or vegetables, slicing food thinly can speed up the cooking process and ensure a tender texture.

8. Mistake: Using the wrong materials or tools
Reason:
Air fryers have specific requirements for certain materials. Using unsuitable tools (such as plastic containers or ordinary aluminum foil) may pose a safety hazard or affect the taste of the food.
Solution:
Use specialized tools: Ensure you use heat-resistant baking sheets, baking paper, or molds. Avoid using plastic tools that are not suitable for high temperatures. Aluminum foil is acceptable, but be careful not to overwrap the food. Avoid covering the food surface: When using aluminum foil or baking paper, avoid completely covering the food surface. This allows the hot air to reach the food and create a crispy crust.

9. Mistake: Not cleaning the air fryer
Cause:
During use, food residue and grease can easily accumulate inside the air fryer, especially when frying greasy foods. This residue not only restricts air circulation, but can also cause odors and even damage the appliance.
Solution:
Prompt cleaning: After each use, quickly clean the basket and bottom tray, especially greasy foods. Avoid leaving food residue for long periods of time.
Deep cleaning: Periodically deep clean the air fryer to ensure there is no accumulated grease. This can be done with warm water and a mild detergent.

10. Mistake: Ignoring the food surface temperature
Cause:
If the food surface is burnt, it may mean that the outside is too hot, but the inside may not be fully cooked, especially with thicker foods (such as chicken breast or flatbreads). Solution:
Control the temperature: If the food is darkening on the outside but still undercooked on the inside, lower the temperature and cook for a longer time. Grilling at a lower temperature ensures that the inside is cooked through gradually.
Monitor the temperature: Use a thermometer to check the internal temperature of food, especially meat, to ensure the center is safe to eat.