Air fryers are good at cooking every little thing from chips to rooster and past – however though they’re simple to make use of, you may find yourself with lacklustre outcomes. Widespread issues embrace burnt or dry meals, beneath or overcooked meals, or uneven outcomes. Just a few meals like these can go away you questioning if air fryers are value it in any case.
Fortuitously, the answer is often simply as easy, and some small modifications to your routine might make all of the distinction. Make sure you’re not making these widespread errors and your air fryer will grow to be your go-to equipment for each meal from breakfast to dinner.
If it’s time to improve your air fryer, try our round-up of the perfect air fryers we’ve reviewed. For extra focused suggestions, you may browse our round-up of the perfect Ninja air fryers and countertop cookers, and to get extra cooking house, see our picks for the perfect dual-drawer air fryers and the perfect air fryer ovens.
1. You’re not utilizing the precise settings
The most typical drawback with meals not cooking correctly in your air fryer is often to do with the settings: usually the temperature is simply too excessive or low, or meals hasn’t been cooked for lengthy sufficient – or for too lengthy. This can lead to soggy frozen meals, chips that aren’t crispy sufficient, or meat and fish that’s cooked however dry.
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In case your meals is crispy on the surface and undercooked within the center, or your desserts have a crust and fail to rise, the temperature is simply too excessive. In case your meals is dried out, the cooking time is simply too lengthy. However different cooking issues would possibly take a little bit of experimentation to resolve.
Your machine is an efficient place to start out when understanding what settings to make use of: usually there might be devoted meals presets you need to use as a information, which might be adjusted for amount.
Examine your air fryer’s directions too: there could also be a desk displaying occasions and temperatures for various meals. You would possibly discover {that a} mixture of cooking temperatures works finest for various meals, with a low and gradual setting to cook dinner the meals via, adopted by a warmer setting to crisp it.
Fast tip: If you happen to’re attempting to cook dinner a recipe designed for the oven in an air fryer, don’t overlook to transform the time and temperature. As a information, cut back the time by about 20-25%, and cut back the temperature by 20°C.
Helpful purchase: Use a meat thermometer for meals reminiscent of steak, joints of meat, poultry and fish. You should buy one from Amazon UK for £9.99.
2. You’re overfilling the basket
Air fryers work by circulating sizzling air round your meals. Which means in the event you overfill the basket, air doesn’t flow into correctly, and the meals received’t cook dinner evenly. It could appear environment friendly to cook dinner in large batches however you’ll solely find yourself including on minutes and should be offered with soggy or pale outcomes.
In case your fries received’t crisp up and also you’ve tried adjusting the cooking time and temperature, the issue might effectively be that you simply’re overfilling the cooking basket.
It’s finest to unfold meals out in a single layer on the crisper plate and cut back the general quantity.
Rachel Ogden / Foundry
If that proves tough regularly, it might be an indication that you simply want a extra capacious mannequin or a dual-drawer air fryer with extra floor space inside. Take a look at our round-ups of the perfect dual-drawer air fryers and the perfect air fryer ovens for our prime suggestions.
3. You’re forgetting to show or shake meals
Even in the event you do unfold your meals out so air can flow into, there are some dishes that can want a serving to hand to realize most crispiness. Shaking the basket or drawer usually, or turning meals midway via with a pair of silicone-tipped tongs signifies that the new air can attain each a part of the meals, leading to extra even cooking and browning.
Rachel Ogden / Foundry
For instance, do-it-yourself chips might have shaking no less than twice as they cook dinner. Some air fryers actually have a shake alert to remind you. It’s finest to test on all meals as they cook dinner although, to ensure they’re not burning or cooking inconsistently.
Helpful purchase: You may get silicone-tipped tongs from Amazon UK for £8.99. They’re dishwasher-safe too.
4. You’ve uncared for the cleansing
Your air fryer wants cleansing after each use, even when there’s solely a little bit residue and a few crumbs. Not solely can leaving this behind result in an unappealing greasy build-up, it might probably additionally lead to smoke the following time you employ the air fryer, doubtlessly contaminating no matter you’re cooking.
Pour away any oil or fats into the bin, then wash the drawer and the crisper plate or basket – both by hand, or within the dishwasher. Avoiding the dishwasher as a lot as doable will make your non-stick last more.
Nevertheless, even when the drawer seems squeaky clear, you should still discover lingering smells. These are sometimes attributable to cooking greasy meals, reminiscent of bacon, sausages and burgers, that spit as they’re air fried. You’ll want to provide your air fryer a deeper clear to take away splatters across the cavity.
Rachel Ogden / Foundry
Make sure that the air fryer is unplugged however attempt to clear the grease away whereas it’s nonetheless barely heat. Use heat soapy water and a material to wipe down the inside cavity and air filter, or you need to use a degreaser: most are sprayed on, left to work for a couple of minutes, then might be wiped off with the grease.
For extra cussed grease, use a paste of baking soda and water with an previous toothbrush earlier than rinsing away. Don’t be tempted to make use of oven cleaner: it’s too harsh and may take away your air fryer’s non-stick coating.
Helpful purchase: You may get a specialist air fryer cleansing spray from Amazon UK for beneath £5.
5. You’re utilizing an excessive amount of oil
Whereas it could be referred to as a fryer, air fryers don’t want something like the quantity of oil that you simply would possibly use if you’re pan frying or roasting. A tablespoon of oil, tossed via, must be sufficient for a batch of do-it-yourself chips, whereas some meals could solely want a small spritz to create a crispy, browned exterior. Fatty meals, reminiscent of sausages and burgers, received’t want any oil in any respect, and the identical goes for poultry cooked in its pores and skin.
Rachel Ogden / Foundry
Helpful purchase: An oil spray bottle will assist to make sure you spritz meals, reasonably than soaking it in oil. It’s not costly, both. A cleverly designed glass bottle you could set to both pour or spray oil will set you again simply £7.99 from Amazon UK.
Lastly, at all times test the recommendation given by your air fryer directions as as to if the equipment works finest when preheated. It often solely takes a couple of minutes to do and can assist produce higher outcomes than if meals is put within the basket from chilly.
For extra inspiration, take a look at our article on 5 new issues to attempt in your air fryer.
If you happen to’re trying to improve your present mannequin, take a look at our round-up of the perfect air fryers throughout all manufacturers and kinds.
