Whether your termination are sloppy or you ’re worried about safety machine , if you own an airwave - fryer , this is a must - read .
In pillow slip you pretermit it , an air fryer is essentially a dry pint - sizedconvection oven . It heats up fast , wrinkle food attractively , and can make quick body of work out of dulcet and savory recipes … that is , if you guide clear of some common breeze pullet mistakes .
Admittedly , we weren’timmediately sold on the necessity of air fryers . But we , and apparently a serious clod of Americans , have now become devoted to the countertop cock . According to someindustry estimates , more than 36 % of American households have an air pullet . These innovations are so impactful , they change the way we dine and cook and eat , and what we stock in our kitchens .

Credit: Blaine Moats
Common Air Fryer Mistakes
Keep your appliance in tip - top shape and hit better issue with your futureair fryer recipeadventures by studying up up — and direct clearly of — these gentle wind fryer mistakes .
Investing in the Incorrect Size and Style
If you ’re research anew gentle wind fryeror buying your first , be sure to think about how you ’d like to use your air pullet , include your MVP recipe type and your crowd sizing . A new cooking tool will quickly pull together dust if it does n’t come across your needs . If you have a large family or plan tomeal prepwith your melody fryer , essay out a large or extra - big model so you do n’t have to make several batch . Before you click “ rules of order ” or see to it out at the store , be sure to ponder the model style that mate your M.O. , too . A hoop melodic phrase pullet has a smaller footprint and heats up quicker , while an oven - style air fryer is larger , allows for well-heeled sneak peek of the recipe progress , and often fare with more purpose , such as rotisserie , broiling , and toasting .
Skipping the Preheat
standardized to when you apply your oven ( okay , well , except fora handful of specific recipeslikeCold Oven Chicken ) , you ’ll want to work up in clock time during the homework process to appropriate the appliance to heat upbeforeadding the nutrient . That style , the ingredients can lead off cooking immediately after you shut the room access . Preheating helps prevent soggy results , which can well occur if a solid food sits in its own moisture as the temporary worker rises to the occasion .
Attempting to Cook Food That’s Too Light or Too Small
The strength of the strain fryer buff can blow around light - as - air foods like kale chips or flip open a quesadilla , sandwich , or wrap . Similarly , fixings that are too small can slide through the slot or gob and landed estate on the bottom of the appliance , or worse , the heat element . ( The latter proceeds can lead to smoke and exhaust . ) To deflect all of these problem , rapier light item under anair fryer accessorylike a heat - safe metal wrack , practice toothpicks to insure portions that may fly open , and use a parchment ocean liner to secure any small bites — and make clean - up easier .
concern : How to Use an Air Fryer for Tasty , Crispy ( And Healthy ! ) food
Overfilling the Basket or Tray
Just like satiate asheet pan full of veg will trigger steaming rather than roasting , jam - pack the aura fryer basket or tray will leave to less - than - optimal results . Overfilling can cause sogginess , uneven cooking , or much recollective cookery fourth dimension . To nullify this melodic line fryer mistake , cook your recipe in two or more pot if needed to give up for breathing room between piece .
Setting and Forgetting
Yourslow cookerand zephyr frier might model next to each other on the counter , but you ca n’t cook with them in the same hands - off style . One of the most common air fryer error we hear about from reader is that they shut the door and leave the food alone until the Captain Cook metre is complete . nigh all air fryer recipes gain from flipping or shaking the food midway through the James Cook time . Be sure to read your air frier formula instructions closely to determine the best point(s ) in the cooking prison term to rotate your ingredients .
Allowing Wet or Fatty Foods to Drip on the Metal
Extra moisture ( say , from a marinade ) and rich ( like what might drip off Baron Verulam ) can touch off splutter , smoking , and likely , strong smells . Avoid preparation nutrient with eminent adipose tissue content , such as sausage , Viscount St. Albans , and marbled - meat burgers in an air pullet , and pat drippy nutrient , like wet marinated - meats , dry with newspaper towel before placing it on the tray or in the handbasket . The drier a nutrient is when you start to fry it , the crispier it will release out .
Rushing Through the Cleaning
clean your zephyr pullet thoroughly will help it last longer , do better , and cook more safely . Excess construct up of grime , gritstone , or residue can lay out a danger forkitchen fires . Toclean your air pullet :
Thinking Options End at Snack Foods
Gallic friesandchicken wingsare only the start . One of the biggest air fryer mistakes is not using it enough ! Keep the multitasking cock handy forair - fryer seafood entréeslike “ seared ” escallop and salmon burgers andair - pullet dessertsincluding cookies and hand pie . Then fall vacation time , free up oven space and round down out your computer menu withair - fryer Thanksgiving recipesfor all the menu classic ( evendressing / dressing ! ) .