How to properly use an air fryer (airfryer)?
by Karine Lemoine
The air fryer, or airfryer, makes it possible to obtain a crispy texture with much less fat than conventional frying. It is still necessary to use it correctly to take full advantage of its results.
A few simple reflexes, often overlooked, however, make all the difference between well-browned foods and disappointing cooking.
Table of Contents
Here are the best practices you need to know to properly use an air fryer on a daily basis.
Preheating
Like a conventional oven, an air fryer reaches its set temperature gradually. Many newer models heat up quickly, but aWarm up for a few minutesremains recommended for most recipes, especially those looking for a crispy exterior from the first few minutes of cooking.
Do not overload the basket
The principle of the air fryer is based on the circulation of hot air around the food.An overfilled basket prevents this circulation: air can no longer reach all sides of the food, which then cooks unevenly and becomes less crispy, or even simply parboiled.
It is better to cook in several batches, placing the food in a single layer, if possible without touching each other, rather than piling everything up at once.
Shake or turn halfway through cooking
Even when properly arranged, food rarely cooks perfectly evenly in an air fryer. Shaking the basket or turning the food halfway through cooking exposes all sides to hot air and provides a more even result, especially for smaller pieces such as fries or nuggets.
Adapting classic recipes
To convert a recipe intended for a traditional oven, a common rule is toreduce the temperature by about 20°Cand to reduce cooking time by about a quarter compared to the original indications, as air circulation makes cooking faster and more efficient. These benchmarks remain approximate and deserve to be adjusted according to the model used and monitored during the first tests.
Our tips
►Dry food well before cooking
Food that is moist on the surface produces steam instead of crisping: food buffered with absorbent paper before cooking browns better.
►Use very little oil
A drizzle of oil or a fine spray is enough: the objective of the air fryer is precisely to limit the quantity of fat used.
►Clean the basket after each use
The fat or crumb residues that build up can smoke or burn during subsequent cooking, and affect the taste of the next courses.
Preheating, a basket that is not too full and monitoring halfway through cooking are the three reflexes that make the most of an air fryer.
You can also read:Immersion frying in a Dutch oven or panandHow do you clean a deep fryer.
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