In recent years, the air fryer has become more and more popular, a bit like a microwave oven more than ten years ago. It is almost a must-have for every household.
The main reason is that it is very convenient to use, and takeaways such as fried chicken, pizza, and barbecue can basically restore 80% of the crispy taste, which is much better than a microwave oven.
Although the small capacity cannot make large cakes and bread, some quick dishes are indeed more convenient than the oven.
So today I will help you summarize the experience of using the air fryer.
I really wrote down all the questions I could think of and gave them away with all my heart~
How To Use An Air Fryer?
In the beginning, place the air fryer on a horizontal surface, preheat it in advance according to the needs of the ingredients, and then put the ingredients into the container to cover. Then connect the power supply, adjust the timer and thermostat switch to a suitable position, and the switch will automatically operate at this time. Finally, when the cooking is finished, unplug the power supply, open the lid, and take out the food.
Second, what are the skills for using the air fryer
1. Remember to warm up
Before cooking ingredients, the pot needs to be heated first. Doing so saves time and makes it faster. To preheat the fryer, just turn on the power for two to three minutes before use, or if the air fryer has a preheat setting, press it directly to use.
2. Spread a little oil on the surface of the food
The main advantage of this appliance is that it does not need to use a lot of oil to make the food crispy. Many users actually don’t know that putting a small amount of oil on the ingredients during cooking can increase the crispness of the ingredients.
3. Don’t put sauces and cooking ingredients in the pot
In order to prevent all kinds of sauces or seasonings from producing sticky sediment in the pot, it is best to marinate in advance to taste or to take out the food from the pot and code it outside.
4. Shake the basket while cooking
Carefully moving the contents of the pan will allow it to heat more evenly throughout the pan. During the cooking process, shake the basket to ensure that all the food is browned and cooked faster, which is very helpful for friends who are in a hurry.
Apart from how to use an air fryer, I have mentioned Dangerous actions used, the difference between oil paper/tin foil, cleaning tips, how to bake more crispy, what is the reason why the outside is burnt and the inside is not cooked/the taste is too dry, will air frying cause cancer…
Finally, I also sorted out the air frying time and temperature of some common foods. If you need it, you can live there~
The heating principle of the air fryer
An air fryer is like a small oven with its own fan.
Using rapid circulation of high-temperature air to heat food, while removing surface moisture, the surface forms a deep-fried crisp.
Dangerous moves in air fryer use!
1. Do not put oil paper/tin foil during preheating
When the air fryer is in use, there is strong air circulation inside, and the paper in the empty pan will be blown onto the heat pipe, which is easy to burn.
2. Do not put greased paper under light food
It is also the same reason. Light food can’t hold the oil paper, and the fan inside will float up when it blows, and it is dangerous to touch the heat pipe.
3. The heating time should not be too long, and the food should not be burnt too much
On the one hand, long-term operation is easy to accelerate the aging of the pot.
On the other hand, often eating too much-burnt food will accelerate the body’s saccharification, and there is a serious risk of cancer!
What is the difference between tin foil/oil paper?
Tin foil conducts heat better.
Wrapping food in tin foil can reduce the evaporation of water and make the food more tender and juicy.
Especially when making some fish and seafood, it can be wrapped in tin foil, the taste is more tender and juicy
The tin foil also prevents overheating from scorching.
Frozen bread is reheated. If it is relatively large, you can wrap it in tin foil and put it in the air fryer, so that the outside will not be burnt and the inside will be ice.
The oiled paper has better anti-adhesive properties
When making some pasta snacks, you can put a piece of foil paper, which is not easy to stick to the bottom.
How to make food more crispy in an air fryer?
1. Oil the surface
Although the selling point of the air fryer is “no oil frying”, if it is food without fat itself, it will be relatively dry and hard when fried, and the taste will be much better if you brush a little oil on the surface, especially potatoes and pumpkins. starches.
2. Increase the temperature for the last few minutes
In the last few minutes, the inside of the food is already cooked, and the surface is not yet colored. You can increase the temperature by about 10 degrees and fry for 2-3 minutes. This will make the color better and the taste crisper.
3. If you want the food to be more crispy, it is better not to put the paper on it.
Because the principle of air frying is high-temperature heating air flow to take away moisture and make the surface of the food more crispy, so if the paper is not used, the airflow effect is better, and the food surface will be crisper.
In addition, when some pre-fried semi-finished products are heated, some oil will be forced out. If the paper is placed underneath, the bottom of the food may be soaked in the oil. (It will be a little troublesome to wash without putting the oil on the paper. It depends on which point you care about~)
Why is the food burnt on the outside and undercooked on the inside in the air fryer?
The temperature is too high. Properly reduce the temperature and extend the time.
What is the reason why the food is very dry?
It took too long to bake. You can try increasing the temperature and shortening the time.
Does the air fryer need to be turned over?
If ingredients overlap – required. Allow every side to have access to air.
If there is paper underneath – required. This will make the reverse side crispier.
If there are few ingredients and there is no paper pad-you don’t need to turn it over. Because the air circulation is actually equivalent to being baked on every side.
If you are not sure, you can open it halfway and take a look. If the coloring on both sides is much different, just turn it over~
Does the air fryer need to be preheated?
I generally don’t warm up.
Because the air fryer is characterized by fast heating, basically it can reach the working temperature immediately after starting to operate.
Moreover, the air fryer is small in size, preheated well – put the ingredients in – and then turn off the process, the preheated temperature has already dropped haha~ so I don’t think it is necessary.
Does the air fryer need to be tiled?
The best heating effect is to lay it flat and leave a little space between the food to facilitate airflow and heat more evenly.
Does the air fryer need to be turned on?
The newly bought pot will have a bit of a plastic smell. For the first time, you can put a few slices of lemon peel/orange peel, at 180 degrees for 5 minutes, and repeat it several times. Not only does the smell of plastic disappear, but the whole room is full of an orange fragrance.
How to clean the air fryer?
Usually used – pad tin foil/oil paper with soup
Usually, when heating some food with soup/sauce, you can put a layer of tin foil/oil paper, and take it out together after finishing, not only does not need to wash the pot but also saves washing the dishes haha. (The precautions for using tin foil/oil paper are written in front, please remember not to put it in an empty pan when it is heating!)
Ordinary oil cleaning – hot water method
Pour hot water directly into the pot while it is still not cold, and it will be easier to wash off after soaking in the water. You can add a little dish soap for better effect, but remember to rinse it off.
Severe oil stains – baking soda method:
After the air fryer is used up, add water, then add 1 scoop of baking soda to stir and melt, heat at 180 degrees for 10 minutes, the oil stains can be easily washed off.
How to clean the heating tube on the top of the air fryer?
It can be wiped dry with a clean damp cloth/cotton swab while ensuring the power is turned off.
If the oil stain is serious, you can use a little detergent, and then wipe it repeatedly with a clean damp cloth. Be sure to wipe it clean to avoid residue.
Other cleaning considerations:
1. Try to clean the air fryer when it is still warm so that it is easier to wash.
2. Do not use sharp tools such as steel wool to brush. Because it will scratch the non-stick coating of the pot. You can use a toothbrush with a smaller brush head to clean the crevices and holes.
3. If the pot still smells after washing, you can also put a few slices of lemon peel in the same way as boiling the pot, and heat it at 180 degrees for 5 minutes.
Do Air Fryers Cause Cancer?
I saw the news that air fryer causes cancer before, and it shocked me
It is said that heating carbohydrate-rich foods in an air fryer may produce acrylamide, which has a potential cancer risk.
But in fact, no matter what kind of pot is used, as long as it is heated at high temperatures, such as frying, baking, frying, etc., this substance may be produced, so this pot cannot be completely buckled on the head of the air fryer.
It can only be said that we still need to pay attention to our eating habits, eat less food cooked at high temperatures, eat more boiled cold dishes to balance our diet, and don’t just keep eating because the air fryer is “oil-free”.
Air fryer common food time, temperature.
The temperature and time of the air fryer are actually very flexible. It is related to the type and amount of ingredients.
The commonly used temperature is 160 degrees -180 degrees.
If it is a general-sized ingredient, you are not sure, you can try it at 180 degrees for 15 minutes.
Also, if it is big and not easy to cook, it will take longer. If you are not sure for the first time, remember to open it halfway and check it so that you don’t overbake it.
The time & temperature tables for some common foods are listed below (for reference only, the situation of each pot is different, so adjust flexibly~)