6 Mistakes to Avoid When Using Your Air Fryer
Air fryers have seemingly become everyone's best friend in the world of domestic cooking. I feel like everyone I know has one, and for good reason. They're great little machines that are convenient and takes some of the pressure off my oven.
But there are some mistakes you should avoid making to protect the integrity of the air fryer itself and to ensure food safety and hygiene. So let's take a look at some of the mistakes you need to avoid making when using your air fryer:
1. Overcrowding the basket
It can be tempting to shove a load of food in your air fryer, more so if you've got more people to cook for, but this isn't actually going to help you. You shouldn't overcrowd the basket when cooking, regardless of the food you're putting in there.
Overcrowding can block air flow, therefore resulting in uneven cooking. The whole point of an air fryer is to cook food with the circulation of hot air, so it defeats the points if you put too much in the basket.
2. Forgetting the pre-heat the air fryer
It might not seem like a big thing, but it's almost like not preheating the oven before you put something in. The great thing about air fryers is that they heat up pretty quickly, so you're never waiting long. But if you don't pre-heat it first, the texture and consistency of the food you're cooking can differ, making chips more soggy, for example.
3. Using too much cooking oil
It's very rare that I will put oil into the air fryer, because that's the whole point of them, they're supposed to be healthier for you. However, if you do have to put oil in, don't add too much. Excessive amounts of oil can cause smoke and it may cause your food to go soggy. In extreme cases, it could even damage the air fryer itself. If I have to put oil in, I'll often use a spray oil to give the basket a light coating.
4. Not shaking or flipping the food half way through
When using an air fryer to cook anything, it's important that you're there at regular intervals to remove the basket and give it a shake. In addition, if you're using it to cook chicken breasts or pork chops, for example, you'll need to make sure you're flipping the food periodically to ensure even cooking and to prevent one side from burning.
5. Neglecting to clean your air fryer
When I say "clean" the air fryer, I really mean the basket and the outer casing. You should NOT clean the inside of your air fryer unless it's absolutely necessary. Doing so could cause damage to the heating element.
All I do is take the basket and the tray out, clean those thoroughly, leave them to air-dry and I'll wipe down the outside if it's a bit dusty or dirty, which is rare. That's all that's needed. But you have to clean the basket properly with hot, soapy water after every use to maintain hygiene and to be food-safe.
6. Trying to cook absolutely everything in it
Air fryers are extremely versatile and efficient, which is why they're so popular and why people will then try to cook everything in it. But you should do your research before trying to cook different foods in it.
For example, wet or heavily-breaded foods don't cook well in an air fryer. This includes things like soups, stews and casseroles. Also, delicate baked goods cannot be cooked in an air fryer either. Sometimes, you need to stick to a conventional oven to get the job done.
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I hope you enjoyed this blog post and that you found it useful? Let me know in the comments below what you refrain from doing with your air fryer and I'll see you all again soon with some brand new content!
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