3 Air Fryer Hacks You’ll Wish You Knew Sooner

If you own an air fryer, it’s probably already transformed the way you cook. This popular appliance has a lot going for it: it’s affordable, easy to use, heats food quickly, and helps create healthier meals compared to traditional frying.

But air fryers aren’t just for homemade fries or crispy salmon. You can use them for everything from roasting coffee beans to avoiding greasy smoke. With a few clever tips, you can get even more out of your air fryer. We’ve gathered the most useful hacks that every air fryer lover should know. If you dont own a air fryer, check out this article to find air fryers with in your budget.

Preheating your air fryer

One of the best things about air fryers is how simple they make cooking. Just press a few buttons and you’re good to go. But for some recipes, it helps to preheat your air fryer.

Like with an oven, preheating ensures the appliance reaches the right temperature before cooking begins. This cuts down on cook time and improves the texture, especially for frozen foods or dishes meant to be crispy. Some air fryers preheat automatically. Others need you to do it manually. Either way, check your recipe or manual to get it right.

Use the right oil

Air fryers let you enjoy the taste of fried food with less grease and fat. Still, most recipes need a small amount of oil to get that golden, crispy finish.

Choosing the right oil matters. High heat can break down oils with low smoke points, leaving food with a burnt or bitter taste. To avoid this, use oils like canola, sunflower, or vegetable oil — all of which handle high heat well.

Skip aerosol sprays. Many contain additives like soy lecithin, which can damage your air fryer and leave behind sticky residue. Instead, brush oil on your food or use a refillable spray bottle with pure oil.

Parchment paper is your non-stick friend

One of the few annoyances when it comes to using an air fryer is the sticking problem: Whether you simply forget to add a bit of oil, underestimate the amount needed, or take all the necessary precautions anyway, sooner or later, you’re going to encounter food that just doesn’t want to be parted from your favorite countertop appliance once the cooking cycle is done. And sometimes, there’s only so much that cooking oil can do to prevent this.

With that scenario in mind, it’s our pleasure to point out the wonderfully heat-resistant solution that is parchment paper. Commonly used to line baking sheets, parchment paper can handle temperatures well over 400 Fahrenheit as well as prevent sticking and make clean-up that much easier. Many times, you can even find specially shaped parchment paper liners specifically made to line air fryers. While it may be tempting to use aluminum foil for the same purpose, always use caution to ensure that said foil can’t be blown loose inside the air fryer — if it touches the heating mechanisms, it can be a major fire hazard. Parchment paper is a far safer solution.

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