Air fryers were originally introduced to the public in 2010, and while some may still link them with 3 a.m. infomercials, they are here to stay after more than a decade. With a wide range of models, sizes, and brands available, the air fryer has evolved into a vital piece of multi-purpose kitchen equipment that can perform many of the functions of microwaves, deep fat fryers, and convection ovens. If you are new to the world of air fryers, there are a few things you should be aware of.
How Does It Work?
The air fryer's most crucial feature is a high-powered fan that efficiently circulates air within the frying chamber, resulting in uniformly cooked food that is wonderfully crispy on the surface and tender on the inside. Because of the near closeness of the food to the rotating fan, food cooks faster and more closely to the texture of deep frying without using a large amount of oil. How much less oil is there? Cooking food with a flat surface, such as a fillet of salmon, requires only 1-2 tablespoons of oil per serving. You just need 1-2 tablespoons of oil per serving for frying breaded chicken, shrimp, or veggies. Nothing comparable to traditional frying.
Air fryers are not only amazing for preparing quick and delectable meals, but they are also great for reheating leftovers. So, the next time you have some extra pieces of pizza, fried chicken, or vegetables from the night before, avoid the microwave and revive them in the air fryer for a new level of crispness. Follow these five fundamental tips to get the most out of your air fryer.
1. Understand when to preheat
Preheating works especially well if you want a rapid sear on smaller or thinner pieces of meat. Preheating can also help you avoid overcooking when cooking leftovers or breaded frozen meals. However, if you are cooking larger portions of food, such as steak or chicken, you can skip the preheating step.
2. Before adding seasonings to meals, combine them with oil
Toss your meal in a bowl with oil, salt, herbs, and spices before placing it in the air fryer. Otherwise, the air fryer's powerful fan may blow seasonings right off the meal.
3. Prevent overloading
By stacking the food in a single layer and, if required, cooking in batches. Given the size restrictions of most air fryers, it's easy to overcrowd them. The food's exposure to the flowing hot air, on the other hand, generates that crispy texture and suitable browning.
4. During cooking, shake the basket or rotate larger pieces
Contrary to popular belief, you must shake or turn the contents of the air fryer at least once while cooking to guarantee that the food is cooked evenly.
5. Halfway through cooking, spray with oil
If the food begins to seem dry, add another spritz of oil halfway through cooking. This will promote even browning and the nicest, most even crisp on dry-battered, coated food. Commercially available cooking sprays, some of which contain substances that can damage the nonstick coating of the air fryer basket, are preferable to spray bottles or misters.
